Climate Change Plans and Data

Updated on October 29, 2025

Climate Change Plans and Data

The Regional District of Nanaimo is committed to leading in climate adaptation and mitigation. The RDN has developed plans to support this commitment, striving for corporate carbon neutrality by 2032. For more information about the RDN’s climate change actions and progress, explore the sections below.  

Plans

Climate Action Plan 2025-2029

The regional Climate Action Plan will direct the RDN’s climate action over the next five years. Implementation is supported by staff from multiple RDN departments and guided by advice from the RDN’s Climate Action Technical Advisory Committee (CATAC). Annual progress reports will be available here.  

Corporate Carbon Neutral Plan

The RDN adopted the Corporate Carbon Neutral 2032 Plan (CCNP) in 2021. THE CCNP identifies 34 actions required to reduce emissions from RDN services. The RDN’s corporate emissions come from both stationary sources (e.g., space heating, hot water and electricity consumptions) and mobile sources (e.g., vehicles and equipment).  

The implementation is guided by best practices for carbon reduction, prioritizing conservation, efficiency and fuel switching; offsets are used only when necessary:

  • Avoid: includes energy conservation and operational optimization 
  • Reduce: includes energy and operational efficiency
  • Replace: includes fuel switching to renewable sources
  • Offset: includes carbon credits 

The plan recognizes the integrated nature of climate action and that change is needed to support climate action in our operations. Some key actions include:

  • Fleet electrification
  • Update of RDN sustainable building standards
  • Implementation of a comprehensive deep energy retrofit program for RDN facilities
  • Integration of corporate carbon neutral actions with asset management and financial plans
  • Identification of high value heat recovery opportunities withing RDN facilities

Read the Corporate Carbon Neutral 2032 Plan 

Community Energy and Emissions Plan (2013)

In 2013, the RDN completed the Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP). The CEEP: 

  • Provides an energy use and emissions inventory for the RDN and member municipalities for the year 2007 
  • Provides a forecast for emissions to the year 2050 
  • Establishes an aspirational emission reduction target of 80% below 2007 level by 2050 
  • Outlines the range of reduction measures necessary to achieve that target  

As of 2023, we have updated our inventory, but the CEEP remains the primary point of reference for our reduction targets.  

Read the 2013 Community Energy and Emissions Plan 

Reports and Data

Climate Projections 

The RDN worked with the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium (PCIC) at the University of Victoria to develop climate projections for our area. This work helps us understand what the predictions of the latest global climate models likely mean for the future climate of our Region. These predictions include anticipated changes to temperature high/lows and estimated frequency and intensity of rainfall events, dry spells and heat events.  

This project produces extensive data sets for our area and sub-regions. If you are interested in using this data, review the data guide and send an inquiry to sustainability [at] rdn.bc.ca (sustainability[at]rdn[dot]bc[dot]ca).  

This work benefitted from the input of staff from City of Nanaimo, Town of Qualicum Beach, District of Lantzville and City of Parksville, as well as Vancouver Island University and area consultants. 

Community Emissions Inventory  

The RDN worked with Stantec Consulting to develop a regional community greenhouse gas inventory for 2021. 2021 was the most recent year when most complete external data was available, making it a good year to compare to the 2007 baseline. While the RDN has published earlier emission inventories, this current inventory work uses and updated methodology (GCP Basic +) and includes more emission sources than previous inventories.  

The full report is posted here to help our residents gain an understanding of regional emission sources and trends. As with all community greenhouse gas inventories, the numbers are only estimated and based on the best data available to the team at the time of the work. The inventory is best used to draw general trends and understand relative contribution of different sources to community emissions. 

Climate Action Technical Advisory Committee Final Report  

The RDN’s Climate Action Technical Advisory Committee (CATAC) was established to provide advice and recommendations to the RDN Board on emerging climate issues. They are also responsible for updating RDN’s strategy for community climate mitigation and adaptation.  

The report has three main components:

      1. Top Priority Areas with Immediate Impact

      2. Acknowledgment and Continued Support of Ongoing RDN Climate Initiatives

      3. Key Strategic Supports for Successful Implementation

The CATAC recommended these top three priorities for immediate action:

  • Water supply security
  • Removing barriers to climate action from RDN policy
  • Increase support for climate adaptive home retrofits

These actions are supported by the following elements:

  • Equity
  • Educate to Mobilize
  • Active Advocacy
  • Collaboration and Regional Participation
  • Interdepartmental Approach
  • Reporting, Accountability, Adaptive Approaches

Since the CATAC Final Report, CATAC has published a status report. Review the report card below, or read the full report.

Task Description 

Status 

Timing 

Water security support by natural assets  

1.1. Document state of supply planning across water purveyors and unserviced areas in the RDN

In progress 

Delayed

1.2. Continue work on existing water budgets

In progress

Delayed

1.3. Published RDN water supply planning info in public-friendly format

In progress

On time

1.4. Develop preliminary natural asset management approach and supporting policies, expand inventory work

In progress

On time 

Policy/zoning/standards review 

2.1. Work plan development and identification or priority policies

In progress

On time

2.2. Summary of best practices, key recommendations for updates and implications

In progress

On time

Support for climate-adaptive home retrofits

3.1. Green building and retrofit outreach plan and materials redesign

In progress

On time

3.2. Initial outreach/support program design, piloting

In progress

On time

3.3. Home efficiency financing feasibility assessment

In progress

On time

Provincial Reporting

Since 2014, the RDN has reported on corporate (Regional operations) GHG emissions to the B.C. Government. From 2014 - 2020, the RDN reported through the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP). As of 2022, the RDN reports through the Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP).   

Local Government Climate Action Program  

The RDN allocates LGCAP funds to support a range of climate-related initiatives, including: 

  • On-the-ground climate action 
  • Decarbonization of our facilities 
  • Public outreach 
  • Programs designed to assist residents in adapting to climate change 

To be eligible for funding through the LGCAP program, RDN provides annual reports to the provincial government. These reports provide details on Emission Reduction Goals and Emission Sources. They also cover Actions and Initiatives, listing measures to adapt to and build resilience to climate impacts. These reports are vital tools for tracking RDN's emissions reduction progress and demonstrating its commitment to climate action to both the provincial government and the community. You can access previous reports below. 

CARIP Reports  

The Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP) was replaced with LGCAP and was a conditional grant program that provided funding to Climate Action Charter signatories. This funding supported local governments in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move forward on achieving their climate action goals. 

Past CARIP Reports summarize actions taken by the RDN to reduce corporate and community-wide emissions and reports on progress towards achieving carbon neutrality. 

Partners for Climate Action  

The RDN has been part of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) since 2002. The PCP is a network of Canadian municipal governments that have committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to acting on climate change.