Media release
For immediate release 

 

Saanich, BC – The District of Saanich will launch its climate plan update with an expert panel discussion May 7. The public is invited to attend the free event and to participate in the plan’s development. 

As part of the ongoing Saanich Talks series, the event will feature three distinguished panelists, Dr. Jennie Moore, Dr. Tom Pederson and Dr. Nancy Turner. The speakers will outline what climate change looks like for the local community and share ideas about how to address it. 

In late 2017, Saanich Council committed to becoming a 100 per cent renewable energy community and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 per cent by 2050 from 2007 levels. Over the next 18 months, Saanich will develop an updated climate plan and work with residents and stakeholders to determine how to reach these new targets and adapt to a changing climate. 

“The transition to 100 per cent renewable energy combining energy efficiency improvements and community design will lead to a greater quality of life for Saanich residents,” said Saanich Mayor Richard Atwell. 

Multiple communities around the world, making up more than 1 billion people, are committing to using 100 per cent renewable energy. In Canada, Saanich joins Victoria, Vancouver, Nelson, Slocan and Oxford County. Renewable energy is already powering Saanich with 97 per cent of electricity currently sourced from renewables. An increasing number of residents and businesses are installing solar, switching from oil to heat pumps and more recently, purchasing renewable natural gas. 

Saanich is leading by example with solar thermal and an air source heat pump at Gordon Head Recreation Centre, electric vehicles in its fleet and photovoltaics and future biomass heating at Saanich Commonwealth Place. The updated Climate Plan will focus heavily on how the community can reduce energy consumption and waste in order to make a complete renewable energy future viable. 

Saanich Talks: Our community in a changing climate 

• Location: David Lam Auditorium, University of Victoria
• Time: 6:30 to 9 p.m.
• Date: Monday, May 7, 2018 
• Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for this free event. 

Panelists 

• Dr. Tom Pedersen, past executive director of Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, will outline climate impacts and policy solutions for our region
• Dr. Nancy Turner, emeritus professor and freeman of Saanich, combines ecological and traditional knowledge to address biodiversity in the time of climate change
• Dr. Jennie Moore, associate dean at BCIT, will present the results of our Eco-city footprint and explore what it takes to achieve “one planet” living in Saanich 

Learn more 

Visit saanich.ca/talks for more information about the event. To learn more about Saanich’s updated climate plan and to get involved, visit saanich.ca/climateplan. 

 

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Media contact:

Rebecca Newlove
Manager of Sustainability
rebecca.newlove@saanich.ca
250-475-5494 ext. 7118