NRRM council discusses updating greenhouse gas project

FORT NELSON, B.C. — The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) board considered updating and adding to its climate-energy policies at its recent meeting. 

The Northern Rockies Climate and Energy Action Plan was presented to the NRRM board during its February 24th committee of the whole meeting.

According to the NRRM’s regional development officer, Krista Vandersteen, the existing climate-energy policies, including its 2010 GHG Action Plan and 2015 Community Energy Management Plan (CEMP), are outdated.

“We don’t currently have a process for monitoring or tracking progress in reductions,” said Vandersteen.

The NRRM’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target was a six per cent per capita reduction between 2007 and 2020.

Provincial targets aim for a 40 per cent reduction in GHG emissions by 2030, 60 per cent by 2040, and 80 per cent by 2050.

Councillors acknowledged the municipality currently meets the requirements of the Local Government Act but may need to update the existing plans. 

According to a report to the council, a project to develop a new energy action plan will aim to satisfy the requirements of the Local Government Act by combining the CEMP and GHG Action plans, review and update emission reduction targets to align with provincial targets, and more. 

The full report can be viewed below: