Climate Change Connection – Update 158 – August 6th, 2008

Climate Change Connection – Update 158 – August 6th, 2008

(1)  Updated  – Manitoba Climate Change Funding Guide – August 2008
(2)  NEWS – New report shows provincial action on climate change heating up
(3)  NEWS – World Ports Commit to Reduce Emissions
(4)  PerthWorks – A Community planning solution
(5)  News Release – Power Smart Rebate Doubled For High-Efficiency Furnaces
(6)  News Release – REACT Inc. to provide each citizen in Stonewall with a reusable tote bag
(7)  New bike corral Downtown Winnipeg in the Civic Parkade
(8)  Green Boating

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(1)  Updated  – Manitoba Climate Change Funding Guide – August 2008
http://www.climatechangeconnection.org/Resources/ClimateChangeConnectionpublications.htm#Funding_Guide

There are numerous sources of funding available for community projects, but finding them can be time consuming.  This guide is designed to facilitate finding support for projects that enhance sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  There are over 50 funding programs included in the guide.  The guide provides a description of each fund, who is eligible to apply, the amount of money provided, deadlines for applications, and contact information.

To view the updated version, visit http://www.climatechangeconnection.org/Resources/ClimateChangeConnectionpublications.htm#Funding_Guide.

If you would like a paper copy of the funding guide, please email climate.connection@mts.net.

Please contact us at 943-4836 if you have any questions or comments about the guide.

Funding deadlines to note:
  September 1st – Water Stewardship Fund, Page 47
  September 10th – MEC Community Contributions Grant, Page 51
  September 15th – MRAC, Page 32
  September 26th – Environmental Youth Corps, Page 38
  September 30th – The Winnipeg Foundation, Page 33 and Shell Environmental Fund (>$500), Page 53

(2)  NEWS – New report shows provincial action on climate change heating up
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/latestnews/dsfnews07160801.asp

QUEBEC CITY – Most provinces are stepping up with strong targets and policies to reduce greenhouse gases in the absence of federal leadership on climate change, says a new David Suzuki Foundation report.

“The leadership vacuum at the federal level is being filled with action from the provinces and territories,” said Dale Marshall, report author and a climate change policy analyst with the Suzuki Foundation. “Most provinces and territories realize the urgency of climate change and they are moving ahead on their own to put policies in place to reduce emissions.”

The Suzuki Foundation released its new report today at the Council of the Federation meeting in Quebec City, where provincial and territorial premiers are meeting to discuss what they can do on climate change.

The report, Provincial Power Play: Breaking Away from Federal Inaction on Climate Change, looks at provincial and territorial action on climate change, compares their greenhouse gas emissions, assesses their climate change plans and evaluates their records.

The report finds most provinces have stronger climate change targets and policies than the federal government. Some provinces (British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec) are leading the pack when it comes to putting real solutions in place. Other provinces and territories (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut) have started taking action but require more effort to move forward. Some (Newfoundland, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan) have weak or vague climate plans. The worst offender (Alberta) has skyrocketing emissions and no plans to decrease them anytime soon.

British Columbia was rated the best of all 13 provinces and territories. Alberta was rated the worst.

Provinces with progressive policies include:

.    British Columbia emerged as a national leader on climate change with its carbon tax, mandatory fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles and a commitment to cap and reduce emissions from industry.

.    Quebec has a strong plan that commits it to reducing greenhouse gas emissions loosely in line with the Kyoto Protocol. The province also plans to address industrial emissions through a cap-and-trade system.

.    Manitoba has adopted legislated, Kyoto-like targets and released a new, stronger climate change plan. It has shown national leadership on installing ground-source heat pumps, a renewable technology that delivers heating and cooling using the earth’s energy.

.    Ontario made advances in renewable energy, conservation and efficiency programs. It intends to implement a cap-and-trade system that mandates emission reductions from heavy industry. However, Ontario’s current energy plan remains heavily dependent on refurbishing its old nuclear plants and building new ones, diverting resources from clean-energy options.

Provinces that are moving forward but have some catching up to do include:

.    New Brunswick committed to reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2012. It set targets for renewable energy and strengthened the province’s energy-efficiency agency. However, these benefits will be negated if the province allows unsustainable energy projects like another large oil refinery and liquefied natural gas terminal to proceed.

.    Nova Scotia has also legislated targets for greenhouse gas emissions and is moving forward on renewable energy and energy efficiency. It still has to do more to reduce emissions from its coal-fired power plants.

.    Prince Edward Island reached its target of having 15 per cent of its electricity come from renewable energy three years ahead of its 2010 timeline. But PEI has been stagnant on climate change for a few years and lacks a climate change plan.

.    Newfoundland is pursuing some renewable energy projects, however, emissions from its two main sources of greenhouse gases – electricity and offshore oil and gas – remain unaddressed.

Provinces at the bottom of the list with weak or nonexistent plans to reduce emissions include:

.    Alberta has a new climate change plan, which is weaker and more vague than its 2002 plan. Alberta also has the highest greenhouse gas emissions in the country. The province plans to increase its emissions until at least 2020, by which time emissions will have risen 45 per cent above 1990 levels.

.    Saskatchewan introduced its first climate change plan in 2007 with an ambitious target for greenhouse gas reductions. However, the new provincial government has scrapped many of its climate change programs.

“The provinces that have good plans need to continue to implement them, and invest the resources required to make their emission goals a reality,” said Ian Bruce, a climate change specialist with the Suzuki Foundation. “Others that are on the cusp of action and leadership have an opportunity to move forward.”

As well, the Suzuki Foundation is calling on the federal government to follow the lead of the provinces and set strong, national standards across Canada (in order to create a level and fair playing field)
. This is especially important in order to rein in greenhouse gas increases in Alberta.

Download the full report, Provincial Power Play: Breaking Away From Federal Inaction on Climate Change, at:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/files/DSF_ProvincialPowerPlay_Web.pdf

To view Manitoba’s Climate Change Action Plan, visit http://www.gov.mb.ca/beyond_kyoto/index.html.

(3)   NEWS – World Ports Commit to Reduce Emissions
The ClimateBiz | July 15th, 2008
OAKLAND, Calif. — Fifty-five ports from around the world agreed to cut carbon dioxide emissions and boost air quality with the endorsement of the World Ports Climate Declaration.

The ports lent their support to the initiative last week at the C40 World Ports Climate Conference held in Rotterdam. Now, under the direction of the International Association of Ports and Harbours, they will explore ways of addressing emissions, including work on developing carbon footprints and a global indexing system that can be used to reward clean chips and punish polluters.

Ports for container ships are one of the largest sources of emissions and pollution in the U.S., according to a study released earlier this year. The U.N. International Maritime Organization estimates that shipping is responsible for 3.5 percent of emissions worldwide. The shipping industry, however, is not included in the Kyoto Protocol.

More ports will be invited to sign the declaration after it is finished. A follow-up gathering will take place in November in Los Angeles, a port recognized as being on the forefront of reducing port-related emissions.

“Long Beach and L.A. (ports) live and breath air quality issues,” Meredith Martino, manager of government relations and environmental policy for the American Association of Port Authorities, told GreenBiz.com last week. “They don’t have a choice, they have to be extremely proactive.”

In the U.S., ports have taken positions on alternative fuels and cleaner conventional fuels but haven’t figured out the best way to address greenhouse gas emissions.

“I think ports are still trying to get their arms around greenhouse gas emissions … There’s a lot of variation in how ports are addressing it,” Martino said.

(4)  PerthWorks – A Community planning solution
http://www.perthworks.com/index.html

PerthWorks is currently a concept and a process, but is on its way to becoming a real live sustainable neighbourhood in Perth, Ontario. Located on a 2.3 acre brownfield site, minutes from down town, the intent is to demonstrate an alternative form of small-town development that is friendlier to the environment, less costly to service and more supportive of a healthy and friendly neighbourhood lifestyle.
PerthWorks has tremendous potential to establish a process that could be replicated by other small rural municipalities, who otherwise have little opportunity to get innovative “green” developers to invest in their community. Recognizing this, the planning portion of this project has received support from both Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

A proto-type “SmartHome” was constructed by the students of the Algonquin College Advanced Housing Program,and has been relocated to the PerthWorks site as a demonstration of an affordable approach to sustainable housing.

(5)  News Releases – Power Smart Rebate Doubled For High-Efficiency Furnaces

http://www.hydro.mb.ca/news/releases/news_08_07_30.shtml

Programs enhanced to help reduce the use of natural gas

Manitoba Hydro’s successful Power Smart programs will be bolstered with two new energy-efficiency initiatives to help Manitobans reduce their use of natural gas, including doubling the high-efficiency furnace rebate and a new enhancement for furnaces in the Lower Income Energy Efficiency Program, were announced today by Finance Minister Greg Selinger, Minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro, and Manitoba Hydro President and CEO Bob Brennan.

The new initiatives include:

– Doubling the existing high-efficiency furnace rebate to $500 from $245, which is a time-limited offer leading up to the winter heating season, from August 5 to October 13, 2008.

– Enhancing Manitoba Hydro’s Lower Income Energy Efficiency Program by assisting low income households with upgrading to high-efficiency natural gas furnaces. Incentives and financing will be used to ensure savings from reduced energy use exceed monthly payments.

In addition, Manitobans will also be assisted through federal rebates of up to $500 for installing a high-efficiency natural gas furnace and through Manitoba Hydro’s convenient Residential Loan Program, offered at 6.5 per cent. Manitoba Hydro further offers many other Power Smart* programs to assist customers, including insulation rebates through the utility’s Home Insulation Program.

The utility’s Power Smart programs have been expanded and have earned Manitoba top ranking in the country. Participation in the programs to date have prevented over one million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere, equivalent to taking almost 300 000 cars off the road.

“These new incentives will reduce the upfront costs associated with energy efficiency upgrades”, said Selinger. “Many of us rely on imported natural gas to heat our homes and we are now facing higher prices. These enhanced Power Smart* programs will help more Manitobans control their energy bills, as well as reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.”

Manitoba Hydro will also implement a “Is Your Home Ready for Winter” public awareness campaign to provide information on the easy and practical steps to conserve energy and reduce energy bills, as well as provide coupons for low-cost energy savings items.

“In light of natural gas rate increases,” added Bob Brennan, “customers are becoming concerned about the cost of heating their homes. We are here to provide customers with expertise and direction on how to reduce their energy use with a specific focus on home heating.”

Manitoba Hydro’s Lower Income Energy Efficiency Program is underway throughout the province, including projects in Winnipeg’s Centennial neighbourhood and in Brandon through the Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation. The program, which offers free audits and small-scale energy conservation items such as CFL bulbs, low flow showerheads, and incentives for adding insulation, will be enhanced. The projects are supported by Power Smart, the Affordable Energy Fund, and the Manitoba government.

Manitoba Hydro offers many other Power Smart programs for all Manitobans to assist in implementing energy efficiency initiatives and savings.

Selinger noted that in Manitoba the PST is not levied on home heating fuels including natural gas.

In the most recent Public Utilities Board ruling, the PUB noted that Manitoba Hydro “has been making an increasingly significant investment in DSM programs, and has gone beyond the efforts made by the vast majority of other utilities, with spending increasing in recent year. . . “

(6)  News Release – REACT Inc. to provide each citizen in Stonewall with a reusable tote bag
http://www.mbeconetwork.org/newsitem.php?news=83

Shell Environmental Fund p
rovides funding; Town of Stonewall provides support

Stonewall, MB – The Rockwood Environmental Action Community Taskforce (REACT) Inc., with lead sponsorship from the Shell Environmental Fund, and administrative support from the Town of Stonewall, is very pleased to be able to inform citizens of Stonewall that from August 1st, 2008 to October 31st, 2008 inclusive, one free usable tote bag for each household will be available for pick-up from the Town of Stonewall office during normal office hours.

The goal of REACT’s TOTE (Trim Our Trash Responsibly) project is to be the first community in Canada to provide each and every household with a free usable tote bag, in order to reduce our reliance on one-time use bags made of plastic and paper.  One-time use bags account for 5% of waste in our landfills, and depending on their composition, can take up to 1000 years to break down.  Reusable totes help to reduce overall waste, as well as the associated costs of landfill disposal.

REACT has decided to take a local rather than government-led approach to reducing waste.  Rather than waiting for government regulation to be passed to eliminate one-time use bags, by providing each citizen with a tote, they have the ability to effect change themselves.

In addition to the totes, REACT has provided decals for store owners to place on their doors, to let citizens know they support the use of reusable bags.  This, in conjunction with store owners that have already taken the initiative to place similar notices on the entrances to their stores, will further encourage all citizens to switch their shopping habits and adopt a more environmentally friendly approach when it comes to bagging their purchases.

Rockwood Environmental Action Community Taskforce (REACT) Inc. is a local volunteer organization located in Stonewall, MB that is committed to environmental responsibility.  Our mission statement is “to assist (our) members and the community as a whole to become more environmentally responsible.”

REACT’s website can be found at http://www.reactinc.org.

(7)  New bike corral Downtown Winnipeg in the Civic Parkade

If you are looking for secure bicycle parking in downtown Winnipeg, a new bike corral is now open in the Civic Parkade across from Red River College’s Princess Street campus. The corral uses a card reader for access (fun to use!), and currently has space for 50 bikes. The cost is $50 per year. Contact the Exchange District BIZ at 942-6716.

The bike corral is the result of a partnership between the Winnipeg Parking Authority, Red River College, and City Councilor Mike Pagtakhan.

Spread the word! Let’s show that safe bike parking is needed in Winnipeg.

(8)  Green Boating
Whether you like to fish, water ski or just cruise along the shore, there are many things to consider before starting the motor of your boat.

Unfortunately, recreational boating can be a major drain on the environment. It’s estimated recreational boaters in North America put more than one billion litres of hydrocarbon pollution into the water each year – that’s 15 times the amount of the Exxon Valdez spill (http://www.eartheasy.com/play_eco-friendly_boating.htm).

So what can you do to clean up your wake?

The most eco-friendly and energy-saving boats, of course, rely on humans or wind for power. But for those who prefer a motorized vessel, here are some boating best practices to consider this summer.

Purchase a boat with an inboard, four-stroke that has direct fuel injection. These are much better for the environment and cheaper to run, as an estimated 25 per cent of all fuel and oil used in a conventional two-stroke engine ends up in the water (http://www.georgiastrait.org/files/share/PDF/GreenBoating2007.pdf).

Look for ways to increase your boat’s fuel efficiency.  Eliminate unnecessary idling, avoid running the engine at full throttle, reduce your load – only take as many passengers and as much gear as required for that specific trip, and get regular oil changes and engine tune-ups.  Half a litre of oil will cover 0.4 hectares of surface area, so spills are no minor thing.  Avoid fuel and oil spills by installing a fuel saver and ensuring you do not overfill your tanks.

Avoid the temptation to take a spin on a jet ski.  Virtually all of them have conventional two-stroke engines and are typically driven at full throttle.  Riding one of these for even just one hour produces more smog emission than driving a 1998 passenger car for more than 22,000 kilometres (http://www.ehponline.org/members/2003/111-4/focus.html).

Other tips include, making sure sewage and garbage don’t end up overboard and all recyclables make back to shore and into the blue bin.

Most of the content from this Green Boating article was produced by C3 Views.

Susan J. Lindsay
Project Manager
Climate Change Connection
3rd Floor, 303 Portage Avenue
R3B 2B4
Tel:  204-943-4836
Fax:  204-989-8476
www.climatechangeconnection.org