Colwood is taking action to address and protect our community from the impacts of climate change. In 2019 Council declared a Climate Emergency in response to the urgent need to reduce global warming and adapt to a changing climate. In August 2023, Council endorsed the Climate Planning Foundations Report [PDF/5.5MB] and a new Climate Action Plan. See below for information about climate action in Colwood.
Input please! The City of Colwood is conducting a state of biodiversity assessment and developing a strategy to protect, restore, and enhance biodiversity.
Go to Biodiversity Conservation Strategy | Let's Talk Colwood to learn more and provide feedback.
Annual Climate Reporting
In our efforts to track and reduce emissions, Colwood annually posts a GHG Summary & Corporate Emissions Inventory. This inventory is also provided to the province along with an annual report for the Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) funding. In the future Colwood will be providing public annual reports to update progress on our Climate Action Plan. The following are the most recent reports from Colwood:
Climate Action Pathways
The following are key pathways of climate action for Colwood. Learn more about what Colwood is doing, how you can be involved, and priority climate actions for Colwood residents.
The City of Colwood has a strong commitment to climate action and is currently implementing a Climate Action Plan endorsed in 2023. Colwood became a signatory of the BC Climate Action Charter in 2007 and Colwood Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019. Highlights of Colwood climate initiatives are listed below and more to come as we actively work in collaboration for climate action with the community, key stakeholders, senior government and other partners.
Colwood Council and City staff are committed to helping our community reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy use to minimize the impacts of climate change, while also adapting to make Colwood as resilient to the changing climate.
A few highlights of Colwood's developing leadership and actions to date include:
- Establishment of an internal Climate Action Team
- Electrifying our fleet and equipment (see Colwood's shift to zero emissions vehicles)
- Reducing building emissions in new construction as well as municipal and community building retrofits (related work: Colwood moves toward adoption of Zero Carbon Step Code)
- Annual increases in sidewalks, bike lanes, and other active transportation infrastructure
- Local/regional partnerships for climate action
Municipal leadership in Colwood towards a net-zero and resilient community requires:
- Interdepartmental collaboration and climate-trained staff
- Collaboration and partnerships within the community, region and beyond
- Integrated climate action and internal tools to enable effective decision-making and maximizing co-benefits of climate action
- Effective communication on the urgency and approaches of climate action
- Having updated climate projections for planning and response
Leadership History
- Green Business Practices: Colwood City Hall was the first office on Vancouver Island to earn Green Certification from the Vancouver Island Green Business Certification (VIGBC). The Colwood Fire and Public Works Departments have since both earned certification.
- Solar Colwood 2011 – 2015: The Solar Colwood program resulted in 1,000+ renewable energy and energy saving upgrades
- Climate Planning: 2018 – 2020 Colwood was one of eight Vancouver Island communities in a collaborative adaptation assessment and planning program with ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) Canada
- Climate Leader: In 2018 Colwood was recognized as a Climate Leader by the province and the UBCM
Transportation is responsible for ~57% of all GHG emissions in Colwood and is one of our highest priority areas for climate action.
You can help: how can you reduce your mobility emissions for some or all of your transportation (see resources/ links below)
City of Colwood: we are working hard to increase infrastructure for active transportation and transit, as well as increasing charging for electric vehicles throughout the City. We’ll also be working on an e-Mobility Strategy in the near future.
Resources for Sustainable Transportation:
Transit
Use the Trip Planner: www.bctransit.com (and learn about local Transit)
Kids Under 12 Ride Free: find out more
New! RapidBus between West Shore and Downtown (starting April 10, 2024)
Biking
Capital Region Bike Map
Capital Bike Programs, Resources, & Bike Lending for Kids
BC Electric Bike Rebate Program (watch for next application period)
Walking
Find out what’s new and coming in Colwood for pedestrians
Get involved in the regional Ready Step Roll program for active & sustainable school transportation!
Feedback
Colwood is planning for Active Transportation improvements across the City. Check out the draft plans and new projects at LetsTalkCowlood.ca. Your feedback is important!
Ride Sharing
Check-out GOCO – post a ride/ request a ride
Get the app today!
e-Mobility
EV Purchasing
- Find out about EV rebates & Scrapit Vehicle rebates and incentives
- Check out this local factsheet [PDF/176KB] on EVs
EV Charging
- CRD Charge Your Ride: learn more about EVs and e-Bikes
- EV Charger rebates
- Find out where you can charge your vehicle and current status of a charging station:
Learn more, watch these videos:
Approximately 30% of our community’s GHG emissions are from buildings. Sustainable new buildings and retrofitting existing buildings are important areas of climate action in our work towards net zero emissions in Colwood and for a community resilient to the changing climate.
New Construction Requirements
The City was an early adopter of the BC Energy Step Code to increase energy efficiency in new construction. The City has now adopted the Zero Carbon Step Code to manage GHG emissions in new buildings (in effect March, 2024) and will follow the provincial timeline for increasing requirements for the BC Energy Step Code. Find out more at Colwood.ca/StepCode.
Building Retrofit Strategy
Colwood is developing a Building Retrofit Strategy to support and scale-up retrofits in existing buildings to renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, and climate resilience.
Go to LetsTalkColwood.ca/Retrofits to learn more, provide input, and join us at upcoming events to help shape the plan.
Resources – Check Out:
- the Home Energy Navigator: a free program to support residents in our region their retrofit journey. Get help planning upgrades/ retrofits (including reviewing heat pump quotes and energy evaluations), steps for government rebates, and other guidance.
- Better Homes BC: provincial website and services to help residents find rebates to save energy and lower greenhouse gas emissions in their homes.
Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change are interconnected crises that need integrated approaches for planning and action. Biodiversity and nature-based solutions (NbS) are also important climate solutions.
The City of Colwood is planning for increased biodiversity protection aligned with climate action. Our region is rich in biodiversity, but also has some of the rarest ecosystems in Canada – including many rare and threatened species. Learn more about biodiversity in our region and how you can take action: CRD Biodiversity at our Doorstep.
One of Colwood’s best locations to enjoy and learn about biodiversity is at the Esquimalt Lagoon, which is a Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Ecosystems at Esquimalt Lagoon, such as salt marsh ecosystems, store and sequester large amounts of carbon and provide many other ecosystem services.
“Biological diversity means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems". - 1992 International Convention on Biological Diversity
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) involves working with nature to address societal challenges. NbS is an umbrella term for different approaches that protect, sustainability manage and restore nature in ways that also increases human well-being and provides biodiversity benefits. Examples of NbS approaches:
- Green infrastructure/ natural infrastructure
- Ecosystem protection and restoration
- Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (EcoDRR)
- Climate Adaptation Services
Following NbS principles and guidelines is important for effective practices, increasing co-benefits and reducing negative consequences. Learn more about NbS from this IUCN Guidebook and about Canada’s nature-based climate solutions.
Biodiversity & NbS-related Initiatives in Colwood include:
- Development of an Urban Forest Strategy
- A Natural Asset inventory towards Natural Asset Management
- Waterfront Stewardship Plan
- …and watch for a State of Biodiversity Report & Biodiversity Conservation Strategy to be developed!
Colwood is working to reduce the impacts of waste through reduced consumption, zero waste, and supporting a circular economy. Working with partners to divert compostable organic waste and paper from the landfill, reduce emissions from waste, and increase locally grown and consumed foods are a few objectives Colwood is striving for. Learn about the Community Garden, Colwood's Branch Drop Off, and waste options for our region.
We're taking action to increase community safety and well-being by updating our disaster and emergency preparedness by developing plans for disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation.
Learn more about why Disaster Resilience is important and how we are engaging the community in our Disaster Resilience Initiative at Disaster Resilience Initiative | Let's Talk Colwood
Colwood is a community of climate champions.
- Learn about Royal Roads University Climate Action
- Check out active climate-related community groups, such as:
- CENiC (Citizen’s Environment Network in Colwood)
- ReImagine West Shore Community
The Colwood Good Neighbours program was started to support neighbourhood climate action and related community initiatives during the pandemic. Have ideas to help redesign this initiative for future success? Send your feedback to goodneighbour@colwood.ca