[All] Fw: Environmental Commissioner's Climate Change report

Thu Jul 10 11:13:21 EDT 2014

FYI

Lulu 

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu at rogers.com>
To: "regionalcouncillors at regionofwaterloo.ca" <regionalcouncillors at regionofwaterloo.ca>; BRENDA HALLORAN <bhalloran at rogers.com>; "Karen.Scian at waterloo.ca" <Karen.Scian at waterloo.ca>; "diane.freeman at waterloo.ca" <diane.freeman at waterloo.ca>; "Mark.Whaley at waterloo.ca" <Mark.Whaley at waterloo.ca>; "angela.vieth at waterloo.ca" <angela.vieth at waterloo.ca>; "jeff.henry at waterloo.ca" <jeff.henry at waterloo.ca>; "melissa.durrell at waterloo.ca" <melissa.durrell at waterloo.ca>; "scott.witmer at waterloo.ca" <scott.witmer at waterloo.ca>; "DRoewade at regionofwaterloo.ca" <DRoewade at regionofwaterloo.ca>; "EHodgins at regionofwaterloo.ca" <EHodgins at regionofwaterloo.ca>; "cgosselin at regionofwaterloo.ca" <cgosselin at regionofwaterloo.ca>; "keby at regionofwaterloo.ca" <keby at regionofwaterloo.ca>; "newsroom at therecord.com" <newsroom at therecord.com>; BobVrbanac <BVrbanac at waterloochronicle.ca> 
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2014 11:12:47 AM
Subject: Environmental Commissioner's Climate Change report

Dear Hon. Council Members, members of the press as well. 

I am so proud of our community right now. 

The Ontario Environmental Commissioner (ECO) report: "Looking For Leadership - The Costs of Climate Inaction" is now on-line at this link: http://eco.on.ca/

First off, I'd like to give my sincere thanks to City and Regional staff and Councils for their outstanding innovation and leadership in leading the way to programs to reduce storm water runoff. This was highlighted in the report as an example to assist other communities to help fund infrastructure upgrades for their storm water systems. I am so proud to come from a community who creates such tools like this for others to work with. This is a legacy our council and community can be very proud of. Such systems will not only save many dollars for taxpayers but it will very likely save lives and property as well. Thank you so much for leading the way on such an important initiative. 

I have created a brief list of highlights taken from this report for your information as a quick reference. 

-Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates 40 years storms are now predicted to occur every 6 years. 
-2013 due to catastrophic weather totaled $3.2 billion across Canada. 
-Insurance Bureau of Canada: Toronto flood July 2013 cost $940 million: Ontario's most expensive natural disaster. 
-Year-end losses in 2013 due to catastrophic weather in totaled $3.2 billion across Canada 
-70% of Ontario’s housing was built before 1990, the year that energy efficiency requirements were introduced. 
-Spray polyurethane & polystyrene foam insulation generates so much green house gases. Just 50% of the gas released by this product negates all benefits of use.
-GHG emissions associated with electricity production in Ontario declined 43% per cent by 2012 . 
-Partially offsetting these reductions, however, has been the 24 per cent increase in emissions from the transportation sector since 1990
-It appears Can. Fed Gov't has been oddly augmenting the results of true Green House Gas studies. For example, one Industrial complex had it's emissions categorized under electricity use than later on this same idustrial facility had their emissions allocated to the iron and steel sector in the 2013 reports.
-the ECO wants Ontario-specific GHG inventory with all its assumptions and methodology clearly documented.
-Can Fed. Gov't standard for natural gas-fired turbines & boilers is to be in effect by July 2015 however to date there is no published data yet. 
-Undisturbed forests can store up to 7x's the carbon as the above-ground forest biomass. 
-Once disturbed, forest soils can lose up to 50% of their carbon content. 
-The use of forest biomass to generate electricity contributes to tipping point – we simply cannot afford. 
-Eco report speaks of soil health and how healthy microbes increase carbon sequestering potential. (pesticide use can impact)
-Property insurance claims in Canada were mainly fires in the past. Today it's high winds and flooding. 
-Insurance is adapting to climate change but will do so in a manner that will not increase premiums. Strategies to achieve this means issues such as wet basements may not be covered. More homes will be uninsurable due to floods. (What are the potential impacts to our existing municipal facilities?)
-Ontario municipalities face $6.8 billion deficit for repair & replacement of storm water infrastructure.
-Waterloo Region's impervious surface fees was used as an example of how communities can recover funds to pay for storm water management.
-Waterloo Region was recognized for it's programs to credit home owners and businesses who reduce runoff or improve water quality via rainbarrels and green roofs. 

-In Ontario there is no clear lead ministry responsible for addressing urban flooding. 
-Upstream areas of watersheds paved over, increases runoff & may dramatically alter downstream flooding patterns. 
-When it comes to climate change: Changing precipitation patterns are also not reflected in old maps.
-Ontario's floodplain maps are outdated – the estimates range from 50 to 80%.
-On average, Ontario’s floodplain maps are 22 years old. Cost to update them for emergency planning is estimated at $24 million. 
-Ont. Insurance Agencies call for independent, science-based flood plain mapping: less subject to political influence. 

-Ontario can choose to either support proactive planning now or pay disaster relief again and again. 

I encourage staff and council to review the full document to glean further data to help plan the future of our community. This report is a great launching point for us to keep the momentum going on water management issues.  It notes various funding opportunities available as well.

Again, I must state how proud I am and how happy I am to see how progressive our municipalities and the GRCA are with the issue of storm water management. Thank you so much for all your work and for creating the planning tools that Canadians need to see to face the challenges of climate change. 

Louisette Lanteigne
700 Star Flower Ave.
Waterloo Ont.
N2V 2L2
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