Official Community Plan

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2,300; 3% 2,200; 2%

2,700; 3%

2,300; 2%

2,800; 3%

3,300; 4%

4,500; 5%

10,500; 11%

6,100; 7%

35,900; 38%

Propane Imported Electricity

19,000; 20%

55,400; 59%

20,000; 22%

Wood Other Fuel Oil Natural Gas Diesel Gasoline

Fugitive Waste Industrial

19,500; 21%

Commercial Residential Transportation

Annual Emissions Per Capita: 2.94 tCO2e

Figure C-3 Courtenay Emissions (in tonnes) By Sector for Baseline Year 2016. Source: Sustainability Solutions Group, 2020.

Figure C-4 Courtenay Emissions (in tonnes) By Source for Baseline Year 2016. Source: Sustainability Solutions Group, 2020.

Why the modelling only tells part of the story

Compared to most Canadian cities, Courtenay’s total community emissions are low and at 2.9 tCO2e/year per capita, Courtenay is well below the provincial average of 13 tCO2e/year and national average of 19.5 tCO2e/year. Even so, reductions in emissions are paramount in order to meet internationally established targets that prevent global temperatures rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, other imperatives for pursuing energy efficiency and emissions reductions in the community include pollution reduction, economic justifications, and health benefits. This is particularly the case for active transportation which relieves congestion of the existing road network, is a more affordable form of transportation for the City to provide infrastructure for, and results in more active lifestyles which is strongly supported by the provincial and federal health authorities.

Community-wide energy and emissions modelling conducted for the OCP only tells part of Courtenay’s emissions story as it does not include the embodied energy of some ‘climate solutions’ such as electric vehicles, the emissions associated with the wider consumption patterns (beyond energy) that occurs within Courtenay’s boundaries, or as a result of activities by its citizens. In the pursuit of a truly net-zero emissions community, Courtenay should strive to reduce GHGs beyond what is measured in this OCP. At the time of the writing of this Plan, methods to measure the embodied energy of actions and technologies and consumption behaviours within communities are being developed as

City of Courtenay Official Community Plan