Jeremy Caradonna

Between 2022-2026, I led climate action efforts at the city, including 1) becoming the first city in BC to implement the Zero Carbon Step Code; 2) advocating via UBCM for the Province to allow local governments to regulate GHGs from existing buildings; 3) expanding urban first canopy; 4) expanding cycling and transit options to reduce transport GHGs; 5) advancing "cooling" policies in rental buildings and developing an adaptation strategy; 6) holding the cruise ship industry and Feds to account on environmental regualtions.

Three priorities. 1) We need to be able to regulate emissions from existing buildings. I want to work with the Province on a ZCSC for existing buildings. 2) Cooling in multi-unit buildings. We began regulatory work on this topic and there's more to do. The city now has a tax reduction program for property owners undertaking deep retrofits (e.g. heat pumps) and I want to dramatically expand it to keep tenants cool and safe. 3) Ecosystem services. This means restoring waterways, expanding the urban forest, and protecting foreshore infrastructure against climate chaos and rising sea levels.

There should be no conflict between environmental policies and economic development because protecting the environment comes first. Victoria has been adding new housing of late, which I support, but it has done so while *also* expanding the urban canopy. I would continue this work, if re-elected.

The city has done some good work to create cooling centres and misting stations during heat domes, and as noted above, retention and expansion of the urban forest is a city commitment. But there are huge opportunities to expand public cooling stations in strategic locations throughout the city. I have been working on doing just this as a CRD Director and Vice Chair of the Housing Corporation. One of our new policies is to create public cooling spaces in our new buildings, which can be accessed by residents and members of the public. In general, think the big change needs to come in multi-unit buildings. As noted above, we now have a pilot that offsets the costs of deep retrofits in rental buildings in exchange for tax reductions. But this program is not currently extended to commercial buildings or stratas, even though both face heating and cooling challenges. I'd like to work with residents and property owners to urgently retrofit buildings with appropriate cooling technologies.

The target of 40% coverage is very ambitious and will require changes to city policies. The most immediate solution, which I would commit to, is to plant 5,000 new trees on public property over the next four years, and to expand the Garry oak ecosystem wherever possible. One good example is Stadacona Park, where a new Garry oak meadow was recently planted. The 40% target can be measured and enforced via GIS systems that track canopy coverage via drones and LIDAR. We also need to strengthen and evolve the Tree Protection Bylaw and our approach to Green Stormwater Infrastructure. Recently, I was involved in giving direction to staff to explore ways of allowing fruit trees to be considered an acceptable replacement tree, in certain circumstances, under the Tree Protection Bylaw. We hear a lot of demand from residents who want to grow their own food, but who feel restricted by the list of acceptable replacement trees on the current list. We want to support tree canopy and urban agriculture at the same time. More generally, the commitment I make is to ensure that any new housing development retains significant green space, existing trees, and space for new plantings.

Victoria's GHG emissions are currently divided between housing (around 52%), road transportation (around 42%), and waste (around 6%). I would take a three-pronged approach, based on the origins of our GHGS. For buildings, the only action that will significantly drive down GHGs is to regulate emissions from existing buildings. We are phasing out oil tanks, but gas from Fortis is a major challenge. Currently, local governments lack the authority to regulate existing buildings' GHGs. This is why I am so focused on gaining this authority, because nothing will change until that happens. Second is road-related GHGs. Victoria can support decarbonizing ground transportation by 1) expanding EV charging stations, 2) supporting electrified bus transport and rapid transit, and 3) expanding low-carbon cycling infrastructure. As a Councillor, CRD Director, and Transit Commissioner, I have been actively involved in all of these efforts. The biggest challenge at the moment is flat ridership on BC Transit. We need to get more people on the bus via transit expansion, and also pursue LRT options via the Reconciliation Corridor Initiative and the proposed Highway 1 alignment. Third, I am committing to getting a new Municipal Waste Utility off the ground in Victoria, which would pick up garbage, compost, and recycling from all multi-unit residential buildings. Right now, MURBs rely on uneven service levels from private haulers and too much banner materials (e.g. compost) makes it into landfill. Having one municipal service with equitable service levels would help solve this issue and reduce landfill-related GHGs.