Climate Action in Creston

To achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050, we need to make some big moves. Many municipalities use the following big moves to advance climate action in their communities. So, we are in good company and support.

Transportation

• Electrifying the car
• Moving beyond the car: Active transportation and public transportation
• Eliminating emissions from commercial vehicles

Buildings

• Upgrading existing buildings
• Improving efficiency standards for new buildings

Waste

• Waste reduction
• Waste and resource recovery
• Closing the loop

Energy Generation

• Diversifying energy sources

It's important to remember that although local governments have a big impact on the daily lives of community members, they have more control in some areas than others. The greater the control a municipality has over policy decisions, budgeting, infrastructure development, and capacity building, the more impactful the emissions reductions from the action.

Clear Authority

• Waste
• New buildings

Some Authority

• Moving beyond the car
• Electrified passenger vehicles

Limited Authority

• Existing buildings
• Low carbon commercial vehicles

To remain on track with the BC Climate Action Charter Targets for 2030, Creston’s emissions should be 21,000 CO₂e tonnes. The Town of Creston would have to reduce 2020 emissions by approximately 50% by 2030 to meet this target.

Provincial Targets

• 16% below 2007 levels by 2025
• 40% below 2007 levels by 2030
• 60% below 2007 levels by 2040
• 80% below 2007 levels by 2050

The International Panel on Climate Change states, “It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land. In general, we are seeing more extreme weather events, hotter average temperatures, and melting sea and land ice.

In Creston, we can observationally attest to these changes. For example, during the summer of 2021, Creston experienced extreme heat events with temperatures surpassing 40^oC. In the future, Creston can expect higher average temperatures, more hot days (check out this report for more on heatwaves in Creston), shifts in precipitation patterns, and likely an overall increase in precipitation. These changes are predicted to have damaging impacts such as increased wildfire events, drought, vegetation impacts, and negative water quality impacts.

Creston’s Official Community Plan (2017) sets out the following target commitments:

• 10% reduction from 2007 baseline levels in community-wide emissions by 2020; and,
• 20% reduction from 2007 baseline levels in community-wide emissions by 2030.

Creston did not meet its target for 2020, in fact, we surpassed our Business As Usual (BAU) scenario. The BAU scenario showcases the likely scenario if no behaviours were changed as well as takes growth and development into account. In 2020, the Town of Creston emitted approximately 40,241 tonnes of CO₂e (Carbon dioxide equivalent). We need more aggressive targets and actions to meet our 2030 and 2050 targets.