Regional climate leadership committee requesting funding to continue work

Rachelle Stein-Wotten

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder

Regional District of Nanaimo staff will prepare a report on how to support a funding request from the Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities Climate Leadership Steering Committee.

The committee formed four years ago and work includes developing a 10-year climate adaptation and mitigation plan for the region spanning rural, urban and First Nation communities. The group has undertaken research on including a territorial analysis and survey of local government priorities for climate action in partnership with the University of Victoria, held a community resilience summit for locally elected officials, staff and First Nations, a Youth Climate Summit as well as hired an Indigenous consulting company to facilitate First Nations engagement.

Nine regional districts within the advocacy group’s geographic region have received the request as well as Islands Trust, which has the lowest requested amount at $250. The request from the RDN trough the end of 2024 is $22,550. Amounts are based on population formula.

“The research and engagement … led the VICC Climate Leadership Steering Committee to determine that its greatest value moving forward is as an inter-regional network convener, facilitator, and advocate for effective and cohesive climate action,” the funding letter request says. Use of funds would include organizing an annual summit, holding committee meetings and working groups, developing a digital resource library for sharing best practices, data and new initiatives as well as senior-level government advocacy.

“This is a ground-up initiative from the regional districts,” Nanaimo Director Ben Geselbracht, who co-chairs the steering committee, said at the Sept. 12 RDN board meeting. “Its purpose is to advocate and lobby the provincial government for more funding for our regional districts but as an association with a stronger voice.”

Electoral Area A Director Jessica Stanley said the committee’s work is particularly valuable in its “ability for staff to collaborate and better understand this issue that we’re facing.”

RDN staff will deliver a report to the board on potential sources for the requested funding in the 2023 and 2024 budgets.