Common Energy Climate Trust Planning Tool
From Common Energy UVic
The Common Energy Climate Trust Planning Tool is used by the Common Energy Climate Trust Project to develop this section of the plan.
[edit] What are the needs that the project will address?
The Common Energy Climate Trust Project will address the needs to:
- decrease GHG emissions both on campus and in the Greater Victoria Region;
- overcome high capital costs associated with infrastructure and technological investments;
- make sustainable building, transportation and behaviour more economically practical than the business-as-usual options;
- clearly represent those who will be affected by the climate crisis locally: students, youth and future generations;
- lower the point at which it becomes economically advantageous to invest in offsets off campus rather than investing in emissions reductions projects on-campus. That is, the need to increase the amount of on-campus emissions that can be reasonably reduced from an economic standpoint. This will inherently decrease the University's need for offsets (though it will not eradicate the need for offsetting);
- create publicly accountable, effective, and local options for offsetting on-campus emissions;
- take a constructive and innovative approach to financing GHG reductions projects so that they are economical and self-sustaining, yet compatible with current economic structures;
- develop a local and green economy for GHG reduction technologies and projects;
- have the revenue generated from pricing carbon invested in GHG reducing projects;
- bring the different stakeholders (students, faculty, staff and community) together to discuss solutions;
- have our economy represent our values as a society, that is, where we invest will be determined through public discourse, and through a discussion of values;
- develop a balanced governance structure so that all stakeholders (not just financial) are represented; and
- be flexible for future economic challenges that will result form the climate crisis, and other sustainability problems.
[edit] What is the problem that we are trying to solve?
The CECT project is attempting to deal with the economic challenges present in the Climate Crisis. In order to approach this challenge, the project is framing the challenge with the following question:
How do we develop a financial institution that will help to fund projects to reduce emissions, develop a sustainable region, and move UVic BCN?
By framing the issue as such, the problems that we are trying to solve become clearer.
The financial impediments to GHG emissions reduction projects
The project is trying to overcome the financial impediments to GHG emissions reduction projects (technological, infrastructural, and behavioural) that may otherwise act as barriers to the development of solutions to the climate crisis. Interestingly, the mechanism behind a Climate Trust makes it more economical to invest in GHG reduction project than conventional technology where the need for a retrofit or building construction is already present. That is,if an older building requires an updated heating system, the need is already present. If the Trust then invests in an energy efficient heating system and the recipient of the loan is then required to pay back energy savings into the fund, the initial burden is not too high that a conventional heating system is more feasible. Over the lifetime of the heating system, an energy-efficient system will then become more economical, both in the short and long term. This means that the Trust not only overcomes high capital costs, but that it also shifts the balance such that energy-efficient technologies are more economically feasible than their conventional equivalents.
[edit] What do we need to know to solve the problem?
- What are potential pilot projects?
- Where does the University stand on governance/policy/investment?
- What are traditional governance systems for UVic-related entities?
- What have other schools done?
- Where do revenue sources lie? For seed funds? For ongoing continuous revenue?
- What do we have to offer as students that the University needs us for?
- Does the University have any similar projects?
- How does the University already fund retrofits?
- How does this fit into the provincial plan?
- What are the legal issues with developing such an institution?
[edit] Who should we ask to get that information?
- West Coast Regional Initiative
- BC government
- AASHE
- BCSEA,
- Offices at UVic: financial planning, VP Facilities and Operations, Facilities Management (capital projects and maintenance), University secretary
- Seed money: UVSS, University administration, Alumni association, GSS, provincial government
- Ongoing revenue: student fees, internal carbon tax
[edit] How are the decisions that affect this problem made?
- Who controls the funding sources for the B.C. government's provincial climate change action plan?
- Who makes the decisions on building retrofits, transportation strategies, and on-campus projects?
- What influences such decisions?
- What parts of the University's governance structures will need to be engaged in the governance of the Trust?
- What is the financial relationship between UVic and outside entities on these types of projects?
[edit] Who do we need to engage to make this change?
- Members of the Provincial government's Climate Action Team
- UVic's Facilities and maintenance
- Community groups on and off campus
- The GHG emissions inventory team (IESVIC)
- BC Sustainable Energy Association (Project selection criteria)
- IESVIC
- Interested Faculty
- UVic Environmental Law Clinic (for the information on the legal standing of a Trust)
- UVic Finances
- Government players (i.e. Ministry of Environment)
- Local businesses that specialize in sustainable technology
- Students
- UVic Sustainability Project
- UVic Student Society
- Business groups, such as the Victoria Values Based Business Network Association.
[edit] What is it going to take, and how are we going to do it?
(e.g. The following Actions and Proposals will contribute to the beyond climate-neutral plan...)
