Sooke’s vision of a Small Town and Net Zero community is not going as planned. Sooke’s target of a 7% annual reduction of GHG emissions is not looking achievable. The next GHG emissions report card for everyone in the CRD is due this fall. Past reports have been discouraging.

Given the trend toward more severe climate events around the world, from record heat, to record ocean temperatures, to record droughts, to record wildfires, to record floods, the weather is getting a lot of attention.

The global plan to mitigate climate change by weaning the world off fossil fuels is also not going as quickly as required. Having failed to reduce GHG emissions to slow global warming, what costs will we face to adapt to our new, harsher climate? All levels of governments are grappling with the climate actions needed, what they will cost and who will pick up the bill.

While it is easier and more comforting to commission reports and fund small local climate projects, neither has a significant effect on climate change. These small ways of showing concern are not a substitute for the bold actions needed.

We have scientific information that emissions are still rising. Adaptation will require the use of best practises in transportation and building standards, environmental and resource protection, electricity production and use. We need to adapt and adapt quickly. Delayed action is causing a rapid rise in insurance costs, environmental and property damage and human loss and suffering.

Even Sooke, a small town on the west coast of Vancouver Island, will need to adapt and become more resilient to climate change. No place is immune. Sooke hasn’t experienced a truly devastating climate event yet, but this is no excuse for complacency as we watch an avoidable global tragedy unfold.

William Wallace