ICECAP

Our partners are taking action against climate change in the region. Known as the Integrated Community Energy and Climate Action Plans (ICECAP), GBB is helping area Councils and their communities mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and build resilience by adapting to a changing climate. 

The ICECAP is a partnership between the Municipalities and First Nations located in and around the Georgian Bay Biosphere region for the purpose of a collaborative, more cost-effective approach to energy management and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

All area Councils and their communities in the biosphere region have been invited to participate.

Regional Climate Action Plan

This Regional Climate Action Plan (RCAP) is a document that will help guide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction across the communities located in eastern Georgian Bay, Ontario. It is a plan for use by many different stakeholders that contains dozens of specific and achievable actions. The purpose of RCAP is to chart a course for a healthier, sustainable, and more liveable future for the residents of the eastern Georgian Bay region as a whole, now and for generations to come. Implementing this plan will contribute to the collective and inclusive climate action efforts happening locally and globally.

ICECAP Objectives

1. Encourage the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
2. Improve energy efficiency
3. Reduce the use of fossil fuels
4. Adapt to a changing climate by building greater resilience

Regional GHG Emissions

One of the first steps of ICECAP is the development of a baseline GHG emissions inventory. These baselines measure the amount of GHG emissions produced by each Council’s internal operations and their community’s daily activities. For the purposes of ICECAP, emissions from Council operations are referred to as corporate emissions, and the emissions produced by homes, businesses, and institutions are referred to as community emissions.

Establishing a baseline of GHG emissions is a useful tool to identify opportunities for reducing emissions, and to inform the development of a GHG reduction action plan. Both steps help to estimate cost savings from emissions reductions, and serve as a reference point to track improvements over time. A lot of information goes into calculating a GHG emissions baseline including: population statistics, information relating to the type, amount, and how energy is being used.

Overview of Total Regional GHG Emissions*

It is common for corporate emissions to represent a small percentage of a rural region’s GHG emissions. This means that each community’s efforts to take action on climate change can have a big impact. To measure and track your own efforts, it is important to know how much GHG emissions you produce and where those emissions are coming from.

You Can Help!

ICECAP is encouraging everyone to complete the carbon calculator. The carbon calculator is a short, 15-minute survey that helps homeowners, seasonal residents, and businesses calculate the GHG emissions produced by their buildings, vehicles, and waste. By completing the carbon calculator you will help ICECAP in the following ways:

• Monitor local energy and GHG emission trends.
• Develop energy and GHG emission baselines.
• Contribute to the development of local climate action and energy plans.
• Identify opportunities for energy efficiency, reducing GHG emissions, and saving money on energy in our communities.

ICECAP Member PCP Milestone Reports