New tool allows Charlottetown residents to track city’s progress on climate action plan

Charlottetown residents now have a new tool to help them follow the progress P.E.I.’s capital is making on its climate action plan.

The climate action tracker shows how the city doing when it comes to its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions — both community and corporate — as well as progress on each action outlined in the plan.

“It's very important… as the capital city that we're leaders in the climate space,” said Kristen Gore, Charlottetown's acting climate action officer. “We wanted to make sure that we had this public platform available to increase the transparency and accountability as we move towards the actions and goals that are within the plan. 

“It also helps ensure accountability and also a shared climate responsibility within the entire community.”

The city launched its climate action plan in April with the goal of furthering its efforts in both climate adaptation and mitigation. It has three focus areas: connected and resilient communities, low-carbon infrastructure and municipal climate leadership. 

Key performance indicators (KPIs) on the tracking platform include things like total area of community gardens, housing density, total trees and shrubs planted annually and the percentage of LED street lights.

There are currently 46 KPIs, but Gore said there will likely be more.

“We are looking to expand that list as data becomes more available throughout the lifetime of the plan,” she said. “So it is very much a living document, and those are likely to change and to grow and progress.”

The tracker itself was one of the plan's goals. Gore said the data is updated frequently so residents can view the most up-to-date information. 

The action plan lays out a goal of a 50 per cent reduction in community greenhouse gas emission by 2030 in comparison to 2015 numbers, and a 75 per cent reduction by 2040.

Among the numerous actions listed to support this goal is developing a program to support renters and landlords in increasing the energy efficiency of their units and piloting some downtown streets as car-free zones, either seasonally or year-round.

The plan for corporate greenhouse gas emissions also uses 2015 as a baseline, with the goal of a 30 per cent emissions reduction by 2030, and 60 per cent by 2040.

Actions in the plan meant to support that goal include reducing emissions from city lawn maintenance practices through the use of electric equipment and natural methods — which some residents may have seen in action this fall, when Charlottetown enlisted sheep to maintain lawns.

The five-year climate action plan is expected to be reviewed in 2030.