Carbon Neutral Kootenays Project Overview
The Carbon Neutral Kootenays project is a collaboration by local governments and First Nations in the Kootenays to begin reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from municipal, regional, and First Nation operations. Many municipalities and regional districts have signed on to the Province of BC’s Climate Action Charter, thereby committing to reducing emissions and becoming carbon neutral in their operations by 2012. To assist this process, to provide efficiency and service to small communities, and to help develop local capacity, the Regional Districts of Central Kootenay, East Kootenay and Kootenay Boundary, as well as the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) have funded this initiative, which is being
facilitated by an experienced team, which includes Kootenay-based staff.
The project includes three regional districts and 29 municipalities. In addition, six First Nations have requested to be included, which will build on their own energy efficiency efforts. In 2009 the project will:
Compile energy and GHG inventories for local government operations and First Nations - which includes the energy consumed and the related emissions from buildings, recreation centers, utility services, and vehicles operated by the municipality.
Develop Carbon Neutral Action Plans, in consultation with staff, for the operations of each of the three regional districts;
