Policy directions

1. Use research and data on climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation and natural hazards in the City’s operational, land and facilities planning.

a) Work with host Nations to include traditional knowledge in the City’s climate change plans and adaptation strategies.

b) Design buildings and infrastructure to lower the impacts of natural hazards and climate change.

c) Prevent, respond and recover from natural disasters.

Why we are proposing these policies

• This policy direction builds on the commitments to address climate change in the City’s Declaration of Climate Emergency and the Burnaby Climate Action Framework and the City Energy Strategy.
• These policy directions align with the Emergency Disaster Management Act and funding opportunities from the federal government.
• Research by the Canadian Climate Institute shows that for every dollar spent on climate change adaptation we can save $13 to $15 in the future.

Policy directions

2. Build communities that can accommodate growth and support the City’s GHG emission targets.

a) Use land use and regulatory policies that encourage “complete communities” that include shops, recreational opportunities and other amenities, so residents do not need to drive as often.

b) Use urban design and development practices that help make the built environment safer and more comfortable as climate change impacts the city.

c) Prevent the impacts of natural hazards caused by climate change by protecting sensitive areas through Development Permit Areas (DPA) and guidelines.

3. Help community members become more prepared for climate change, extreme weather and natural hazards.

a) Encourage different organizations and sectors to work together to adapt to climate change.

b) Educate community members and businesses on how to prepare for emergencies.

c) Help build strong communities so neighbours can help each other in emergencies.

d) Create a system to understand how vulnerable Burnaby is to climate change.

e) Support people who are more at risk or more exposed to the impacts of climate change.

Why we are proposing these policies

• Transportation emissions make up 36% of the city’s GHG emissions. Reducing the need for residents to drive to get to amenities will significantly reduce emissions.
• Building infrastructure that can better withstand and adapt to climate change will save money in the long run and reduce the impact of climate change on people who are more exposed or at risk of extreme heat, wildfires, smoke and more.
• People who are isolated are more at risk in natural disasters.
• Individuals and households need to be prepared for emergencies.

Policy directions

4. Explore opportunities for energy sources and storage that reduce GHG emissions, including:

a) Systems that distribute energy to multiple buildings or across a neighbourhood (eg. district energy).

b) Renewable energy projects.

c) Small- and large-scale batteries and energy storage.

Why we are proposing these policies

• Different or diversified energy sources can reduce GHG emissions and improve the community's ability to adapt to a changing energy landscape.
• Energy storage can be used for back up in case of emergencies as well as to store renewable energy when more energy is produced than used.

Policy directions

5. Continue to improve energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions in new and existing buildings.

a) Use low-carbon energy sources.

b) Speed up the process to make existing buildings more energy efficient and climate-ready.

c) Support the measurement and reporting of energy use in buildings.

e) Protect natural plants and trees around buildings to provide cool, shady areas and manage storm water runoff.

e) Help people who are more at risk or more exposed to climate change.

6. Reduce the amount of waste and carbon emissions in building materials and the development and construction industries by:

a) Offering incentives for using low-carbon materials.

b) Using guidelines and zoning regulations that promote prefabricated construction.

c) Repurposing or relocating buildings instead of demolishing them.

d) Establishing and sharing best practices.

Why we are proposing these policies

• Existing buildings are the source of 40% of emissions across the city and are Burnaby’s biggest opportunity to reduce emissions.
• Every new building contributes to emissions, and it’s easier and less expensive to build a low-carbon energy efficient and climate-ready building from the start than to adapt it later.
• These directions align with the BC Energy Step Code and the BC Zero Carbon Step Code.
• Embodied carbon (the GHG emissions it took to make and transport a material) is a growing source of GHG emissions in buildings. Reducing the embodied carbon in new buildings could reduce overall GHG emissions of a new building by up to 30%.

Policy directions

7. Make it easier for people to own an electric vehicle and other zero emissions vehicles.

a) Support the building of more electric vehicles and other zero emissions vehicles, infrastructure, including charging stations.

b) Consider providing incentives for zero emission vehicle retrofits including upgrades to electrical capacity.

c) Education and awareness about electric vehicles and other zero emissions vehicles, and federal government incentives.

Why we are proposing these policies

• Transportation emissions make up 36% of Burnaby’s GHG emissions.
• Transitioning from fossil fuel powered vehicles to zero-emission vehicles will make up 20% of the emission reduction Burnaby needs to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

Policy directions

8. Assess and manage natural hazards to keep the risk at a level acceptable to the community.

a) Use strategies to reduce the risk of natural disasters, including protecting, accommodating and relocating infrastructure.

b) Direct growth and infrastructure development away from areas that are vulnerable to natural hazards by using Development Permit Areas (DPA) and guidelines.

c) Consider how climate change will increase the risk of natural hazards.

d) Include host Nations in climate change planning.

9. Manage natural hazards on steep slopes.

a) Restrict development on steep slopes through Development Permit Areas (DPA) and guidelines.

b) Vary setbacks to avoid development on the top of sleep slopes.

c) Consider the type of land use on the bottom or top of steep slopes.

d) Protect native plants to prevent erosion and runoff and maintain natural beauty.

10. Reduce the risk of flooding on community health and safety, infrastructure, property and natural areas.

a) Manage construction or alterations on floodplains using Development Permit Areas (DPA) and guidelines.

b) Maintain and update flood data to understand flooding risks.

c) Evaluate and prevent the risk of critical infrastructure in flood plains.

d) Repurpose and design public infrastructure to minimize the impacts of flooding.

e) Work with residents and businesses to protect properties in flood plains.

11. Designate the Still Creek corridor from Boundary Road to Burnaby Lake as a special study area.

a) Manage growth in a way that considers natural impacts, restores the flood plain and adapts to climate change.

Why we are proposing these policies

• Natural hazards, like flooding, extreme weather, and the rise of sea levels, are going to become more frequent and more severe.
• Protecting, accommodating and relocating infrastructure can reduce the impacts of extreme heat and flooding.
• The risks of building on steep slopes can be reduced with land use and site-specific guidelines and requirements.
• Flooding is a major risk to the Still Creek and Big Bend areas, and reducing flood risk will prevent property damage, injuries and loss of life.
• Still Creek has a high risk of flooding, which is going to become worse with climate change.
• The Still Creek Integrated Stormwater Management Plan recommended the area should go through a community planning process.

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Development Permit Areas (DPA) and guidelines are a set of regulations that apply to specific areas with related requirements and considerations for any development or alteration of land. The Local Government Act provides authority to municipalities to create development permit areas and guidelines and can cover a range of topics such as hazardous conditions, natural environment and form and character for development.