Karen Rothe

Professional: In 2007, BC’s Climate Action Charter had just been launched and I was responsible for explaining and helping local governments understand and implement the Charter commitments: Corporate Carbon Neutrality, Measuring and Reporting, and Sustainable Land Use as well as the governance and support structures.

Through my paid and unpaid work with Emergency Management BC, I have seen the results of climate change—more frequent and extreme storm events, including wildfires, floods, and droughts are now our reality. Every dollar invested in planning and preparedness saves between three to ten dollars in response. FireSmart is a good example of a successful program that is helping to save homes and communities .

Volunteer: For 22 years I managed 1936 strata. I experienced the challenges of replacing building systems and respecting the finances of the residents. I became acutely aware of the need for grant programs that support building owners and managers to “do the right thing” as responsible stewards when more environmentally responsible choices are more expensive in the short-term.

Personal: I have always chosen to live within walking or biking distance of my work. I was fortunate to be part of a family who valued and spent a great deal of time in the outdoors and was very conscious of an individual’s and group’s impact on the environment and how each person’s choice has a cumulative impact. Whether it is a building, the environment, or a community we are stewards for future generations and we should make decisions that reflect that

My environmental priorities reflect my emergency management and infrastructure experience. These priorities have the co-benefits of addressing shrinking green spaces, rising temperatures, flooding, and pollution. It will require an integrated plan for engineering, public works, and planning programs over several years with measurable results each year over four years. Program budgets, supplemented by grant funding, should reflect those priorities.

1. Climate Resilience (flooding and cooling): Critical stormwater systems need to be upgraded in combination with a requirement for permeable surfaces where practicable in new construction (buildings) and during infrastructure replacement, e.g., bioswales—a work with nature approach. In short, these requirements would address above ground (tree preservation and planting), on the ground (permeable surfaces); and below ground (smart infrastructure that can accommodate extreme weather events).

2. Reducing Emissions and Waste: Transportation design; new development; capital projects; and operational and capital purchases by the City must follow as far as practicable emission reduction objectives. I will support identifying innovative solutions and grant programs that support keeping buildings out of the landfill.

3. Increasing Green Spaces: Trees and vegetation are key to ensuring a livable and prosperous as well as climate resilient community. They give our City character that translates into economic benefits and people close to green spaces have better health outcomes. I will support the creation of green spaces for new development and underserved neighbourhoods.

Balancing development and other demands with these priorities will require informed decision-making supported by credible data. Short-term gain must not be the main driver.

This is an emergency management issue which includes the four pillars of prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery and it requires pragmatic immediate solutions in combination with longer term planning.

Trees can cut the urban heat island effect by almost 50%, which translates to a cooling effect of roughly 0.5–1.5°C. This cooling effect is particularly noticeable in hot. I support preserving trees and existing green spaces and planting new trees and creating new green spaces is critical as well as having a maintenance plan to ensure their survival as the climate changes.

Emergency Plans need to be in place, and exercised, to protect vulnerable populations. Cooling locations that are large enough to accommodate those who need them, such as libraries and recreation centres, need to be identified prior to the event. People need to have information about what to do and where to go before an event happens as well as when it happens.

Apartment building owners, homeowners, and renters need to have access to inexpensive or grant-subsidized heating and cooling system improvements. I support exploring those options under the umbrella of the Building Code and affordability, particularly for renters.

I also support heat-mapping that helps to prioritize neighbourhoods most at risk during extreme heat events, both in terms of action and budgeting the work will need to be phased.

What we think we know about climate change is being challenged everyday as scientists learn more about the variability of the weather systems and what that means for our ecosystems. We need to give ecosystems and the services the provide to our City more runway to adapt and survive. To that end, I support, in principle, changes to bylaws, development standards, and approvals that include increasing the amount of permeable area, particularly where engineering has identified a flood risk and increased building setbacks where mature trees would otherwise need to be removed.

In term of process, key areas for retention need to be identified to ensure that there is enough area for specific ecosystems to survive, particularly during a drought period. Neighbours need to be consulted about proposed changes to their green spaces; they know how they have been changing. That level of engagement will result in a better balance between development and green-space preservation and a more sustainable community overall. Engineering, public works, planning, and the community need to work together in lockstep.

Buildings and transportation are the main sources of emissions for most cities and Victoria is no exception. Again practicable, i.e., efficient, cost-effective, affordable, and measurable actions are needed.
Our landfill is nearing capacity. I support incentivizing the retention and retrofitting, instead of demolishing, existing homes and building new—apartments of single detached homes. Such incentives include improving the process for a homeowner to re-design their property, which often adds time and prohibitive costs to such a venture. Measurable results would be a streamlined system for processing such applications.

Congestion results in increased emissions, and integrated planning would help address that issue. I think transportation planning in the Capital Region is too ad hoc with BC Transit, Victoria Regional Transit Commission, Trandev, and a dozen municipalities with separate transportation plans. The region is becoming large enough to warrant a regional transportation authority to plan for coordinating and implement major transportation projects and delivering critical transportation services. I support Victoria taking the lead with other municipalities, the CRD, and the Province to create a regional transportation authority for the Capital Region. This would consolidate trail, road planning and public transportation under one roof, which would deliver economic benefits though the improved movement of people and goods as well as reduced emissions. Measurable results would be the decision to form a regional transportation authority and the beginning of implementation.