Scaling up local climate action: A survey of climate policy priorities in the Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities region
Date
2021
Authors
Rhodes, Ekaterina
Krawchenko, Tamara
Pearce, Katherine
Shaw, Karena
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Canadian Planning and Policy Journal
Abstract
Regional planning can help functionally-connected communities share expertise and the costs of climate action and amplify collective concerns and needs to upper-level governments. Understanding communities’ climate impacts, policies and barriers to action is foundational to the development of regional-scale climate planning. In support of a nascent climate strategy in the Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities region of British Columbia, our study employs a web-based survey of local government officials (n=106) to identify the existing climate impacts, policy priorities, barriers, and opportunities that guide climate policy-making in the region, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We find that nearly all communities have experienced climate-related impacts and have implemented a variety of climate policies. However, local governments face substantial barriers—including a lack of financial resources, authority and staffing capacity—to pursue climate action and planning.
Description
Keywords
regional climate planning, climate policy priorities, climate policy barriers, survey of local government
Citation
Rhodes, E., Krawchenko, T., Pearce, K., & Shaw, K. (2021). Scaling up local climate action: A survey of climate policy priorities in the Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities region. Canadian Planning and Policy Journal, 2021(1), 36-69. https://doi.org/10.24908/cpp-apc.v2021i01.14469.