Climate Resilience

Being a leader in climate change will set us apart from other cities. Addressing climate change and implementing mitigation strategies are not independent from economic prosperity. There is a clear shift in priorities across generations with younger Ward 11 residents demanding more action, while older Calgarians are also concerned about inaction.

Read more about Calgary's existing strategies:
Calgary Climate Policy
Calgary Biodiversity Strategy

This week (today probably), council will vote to approve the Clean Energy Improvement Program for Calgary. This is the right move for the City to take to support  home owners being able to finance retrofits on their homes through their property tax bill.

Recently the Calgary Climate Hub surveyed Calgarians across the city on their sentiments about climate change and the need to act in Calgary. The full data set is available here.

A few highlights:

• 86% of Ward 11 residents believe we need to "get serious about taking more proactive environmental actions"
• ​73% agree with the statement "Investing in climate change is an investment in long term economic sustainability and prosperity"
• 71% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that candidates should be addressing climate change in their platforms

So, how can Calgary become a leader and what issues do we need to address immediately to help move us forward to ensure we have resilient measures against the effects of climate change? We start by listening to the experts, both on staff with the City and those who are leaders in their field and in communities. I will continue to learn about what Calgary can do, here are a few of my priority areas, in short form. Please feel free to follow up for a more in depth conversation.

• We need to use our land better. Sprawl is costly to the environment. Using our existing built city means placing people closer to services and amenities, decreasing the need for travel, especially by car.

 

• Speaking of roads, we need to build infrastructure that supports active transportation like walking and cycling. Our transit service must also give people timely access to school, work, and play.

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• The sides of our major roads require maintenance through mowing. Naturalizing boulevards and green spaces adjacent to arterial roads means less mowing is required, better carbon capture through trees and shrubs, and a better environment for pollinators though native flowering species.

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• Converting green spaces to urban agriculture will support vulnerable Calgarians who often lack the means to access fresh fruits and vegetables. Community gardens also become valuable social hubs which strengthen neighbourhoods.

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• In park spaces, our focus should be on perennial species which support native wildlife and pollinators. This will decrease the need for watering. Building out the urban tree canopy continues to be a priority. While establishing trees takes water, once settled, they help keep the ground and air cool, further reducing the need for watering of lawns and green spaces.

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• Due to our population growth and decreasing availability of fresh glacier water, Calgary needs to be serious about decreasing our water usage. A report released in May of 2019 predicts that by 2036 we will reach peak limit. There are multiple communities which rely on the same water source further downstream who are also suffering from increased climate events like this year’s heat dome. Water is critical to farmers who grow crops, a major economic source for Alberta.

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• With both hot summers and cold winters, Calgary is a unique location to develop building materials that insulate against both heat and cold. Calgary could be a hub for advancement in building materials if that economy is challenged to improve.

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• Improving the efficiency of city owned buildings and partnering with civic organizations should be top of mind. Retrofits support the economy. Solar is the most obvious choice. I would encourage the City to make green certification a standard for any partner buildings like the new event centre. I would also like solar to be part of the new Green Line strategy.

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• There has been progress on extended producer responsibility, and Calgary should continue to move this forward. This has been championed by Councillor Demong as written about here.​

These are just a few of the many things we can do to make Calgary more climate resilient. Most importantly, we need to educate Calgarians on the benefits of climate mitigation strategies and how the work we do in this area will improve our lives socially and economically. Advising Calgarians of federal or provincial programs should be part of our commitment to informing residents about how to make their own homes and businesses more efficient.

Forward-thinking cities attract the best companies and the best talent. For Calgary to prosper we cannot ignore how our climate action must be part of our economic recovery. I also know I’ve likely got 40-50 years left on this planet and I want to be able to enjoy our city with clean air and fresh water for all of those years.

Kourtney