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As climate-related risks such as floods and wildfires escalate, it is critical that we have a plan for managing those risks and minimizing harms to our community. This report, produced in collaboration between Snuneymuxw First Nation and the City, details 10 climate-related hazards threatening our region, identifies the highest risk events and locations, and presents this information in easy-to-read graphics and maps. Council voted in favour of endorsing this report to be used for public education and City land use and infrastructure planning. Staff will also build upon this report to update our 10-year plan for emergency and disaster management.

As a result of this motion, the current municipal election in 2026 will be the first time that people living on Snuneymuxw First Nations reserve lands will be able to vote for Mayor and Council in Nanaimo’s municipal elections. Previously, they could only vote for regional school board trustees and a regional director for Area C of the Regional District of Nanaimo. Clearly, excluding Snuneymuxw from the city limits has been an oversight that has lasted far too long. Just like every other area of the city, Snuneymuxw is impacted every day by Nanaimo City Council’s policies. This change is a necessary step towards reconciliation. Reconciliation is essential for a resilient and safe community for all.

Some industrial activities, such as producing oil and gas and burning waste for energy, harm our health by producing toxic air pollutants that harm our health and climate. Currently, any of these industries could be developed in an area zoned for industrial use, [such as at Duke Point]. For example, in 2014, there was massive public pushback against a waste-to-energy project that would ship in waste from Vancouver to be burned at Duke Point. With this motion, Councillor Manly proposes that these types of high-emissions industries should be reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis, giving the community the opportunity to decide when an industrial use is not worth it for our health and our climate.

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) purchased 360 hectares of land known as Hamilton Marsh to preserve it as a regional park and conservation area. The RDN needed the consent of at least two-thirds of service areas to borrow $21.2 million over 20 years towards this purchase. For Nanaimo residents, this means a cost of $2.50 per year for each $100 000 of assessed property value. Hamilton Marsh is a rare peat-based wetland surrounded by a coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem. It is home to many species of wildlife. This purchase aligns with Canada’s goal of protecting 30 percent of our land and water by 2030. Info about the marsh: https://hamiltonwetlands.com/

New developments have traditionally been required to build a minimum number of off-street parking stalls. This can lead to more land being turned into parking stalls than what is actually needed, especially in the downtown core where there are more options to walk, roll, or take transit. This amendment means developers can build the number of parking spaces they expect will be needed for the specific site. There is built-in economic pressure to get it right, since extra parking spaces cost more to build, but developments with insufficient parking will be harder to sell or lease.

This bylaw gave the City of Nanaimo the regulatory authority to finance home energy retrofits, offering up to $15,000 in zero-interest financing amortized over a 10-year term via property taxes. This means that an interest-free loan for home energy upgrades can be tied to the property, so that if the owner sells the house shortly after doing the upgrades, the new owner will take over the payments via their property tax bill. Projects include electric heat pumps, solar panel systems or insulation. This program removes one of the barriers preventing homeowners from upgrading their homes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase climate resilience.

Transportation is responsible for a significant share of Nanaimo’s emissions - so lowering barriers to electric transportation can play a key role in lowering our emissions. This study outlines barriers to the uptake of EVs and e-bikes in Nanaimo. Nearly all of the barriers assessed were found to be either “critical” or “moderate” barriers - including factors such as affordability, charging station availability, and safe bike routes. Low-income populations surveyed agreed that electric bikes were a priority. Council voted in favour of staff finding ways to mitigate the “critical” barriers - solutions such as budgeting for increasing safe bike lane networks and improved charging infrastructure.

One of the high impact actions that both individuals and organizations can do to combat climate change is to make climate-responsible investments and remove our money from fossil fuel corporations. Counsellor Geselbracht raised the concern that the City of Nanaimo has $200 million invested through various banks, without clarity or transparency on where those investments are being directed. They may include investments in fossil fuel corporations, mining operations in locations with poor environmental and worker protection regulations, or a variety of other irresponsible companies. Counsellor Geselbracht suggested that the City move its investments into “Environment, Social, Governance” funds that are guaranteed to meet standards around environmental stewardship and social responsibility and are governed by a board that is separate from bank or company executives, so that our city’s investments align clearly with our values. This motion asked that staff prepare a report outlining the City’s responsible investment options.

The Regional District of Nanaimo has a goal to divert 90% of our solid waste from landfill. As a step to achieving that goal, this bylaw requires all businesses, institutions, and multi-family dwellings to have separate waste bins for garbage, recycling, and organics. Separate bins help to maximize recycling, repurposing, reusing, and composting, so that we can minimize the filling of our landfill, and the methane greenhouse gases that are produced by landfills.

This bylaw amendment includes the removal of yard setback requirements for heat pumps. This means that any homeowner could install a heat pump where it suits their home, without being restricted by how far away it is from their neighbour’s property. Heat pumps are an efficient electric method of both heating and cooling homes, meaning that they not only keep us safe from extreme heat events that are becoming increasingly common because of climate change, but they do so using clean energy!

The City of Nanaimo purchased 933 Park Avenue, known as the Five Acre Farm, in 2019. City council had been presented with several options for how the property could be used going forward, and in this vote they selected Option 5. Choosing this option means there will not be any affordable housing built on the property. The other options presented each included affordable housing development on 20-40% of the land.. Council's direction allowed the entire parcel to function as a unified ecological, agricultural, and low-impact recreational space, thereby advancing the goals set out in City Plan: Nanaimo ReImagined and its broader Climate Emergency response. It also supports the city’s integrated action plan by prioritizing climate adaptation, nature preservation and healthy community spaces. Report with details of the history and land: https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/projects/park-ave-concept-plan/viu-mabrri-environmental-report.pdf

This bylaw is for the Sandstone development, which proposes to build 2200 housing units in addition to substantial commercial and industrial space along Cedar Road. It is the development of previously undeveloped land (also known as a greenfield site) with environmentally sensitive areas including large stands of trees and wetlands. Virtually all major international climate, planning and environmental organizations strongly advise against greenfield urban development. Developing natural and environmentally sensitive areas is harmful. It contributes to climate change, as significant carbon is released by disturbing natural areas and by the loss of the natural cooling services that forests and wetlands provide. However, it was designated as a key urban node in the ReImagine Nanaimo plan, likely in recognition of the need for more housing and industrial land in Nanaimo. The development report identifies that park dedication will be a minimum of 36% of the area of the properties and supports reconciliation. However, due to the significant impact on existing greenspace and transportation, it is a climate step backwards, as many people living at Sandstone will need to drive to and from central Nanaimo and lost forests and wetlands take centuries to replace.

The bylaw implements the Provincial Zero Carbon Step Code for both Part 9 and Part 3 buildings. As of July 1, 2024, buildings must achieve zero carbon performance. This means that virtually all new buildings will be extremely energy efficient and will only be able to use energy systems that emit very little greenhouse gas. Buildings account for 31% of community greenhouse gas emissions, and most of this comes from burning fossil fuels for space heating and domestic hot water supply. Implementing this bylaw was a significant advancement of climate policy for Nanaimo. Here is a news article about the bylaw: https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/nanaimo-bans-natural-gas-as-primary-heat-in-new-homes-as-of-july-2024-7479488?

Funding pedestrian infrastructure from the Strategic Infrastructure Reserve supports climate policies with practical infrastructure that removes physical barriers to walking, cutting transportation emissions. Several projects were completed that included such improvements as raised crosswalks, curb ramps, tactile walking surface indicators, and pedestrian flashers. The city was also able to secure matching funding from the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant.