Climate Action Plan Adoption Consideration

Executive Summary

The purpose of this report is to present Council with the final Climate Action Plan for consideration of adoption.

The Climate Action Plan (CAP) establishes a five-year implementation framework (2026-2031) within a broader 10-year planning horizon. While some actions are expected to be completed within five years, others will continue over a longer period. The CAP will be reviewed and updated approximately every five years to reflect progress, emerging priorities, technological advancements, funding opportunities, legislative changes, and evolving community needs.

The CAP identifies 59 actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare Langford for the growing impacts of climate change, including extreme heat, wildfire, flooding, poor air quality, landslides, drought, high winds, extreme cold, and overlapping climate hazards.

The CAP is informed by technical analysis, including a Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) and greenhouse gas emissions modelling, as well as community engagement. Input was gathered through a public survey and collaboration with 19 multi-sector partner organizations through interviews, focus groups, and workshops, including a dedicated youth workshop. A draft of the Strategy was made available for public review and comment from August 27 to September 9, 2026.

Background

In 2023, Council adopted the 2023-2027 Council Strategic Plan, which directed staff to develop a Climate Action Master Plan, including targets for emission reductions.

In June 2025, Council adopted Bylaw No. 2200, establishing a new Official Community Plan (OCP) for Langford. As part of this process, staff reviewed and updated the City’s climate action targets and policies to ensure alignment with legislative requirements and the regional climate action policies, as a first step toward developing a Climate Action Plan (CAP). These updated OCP policies and targets helped establish the overall scope and strategic direction for the CAP.

The CAP process began in November 2025 and was completed through collaboration between the City of Langford and several consulting partners. Introba led the Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions modelling; Shift Collaborative led community engagement; and Licker Geospatial provided mapping and GIS analysis.

The project commenced with a review of existing plans, policies, and data to identify gaps and opportunities. It then progressed through three integrated streams: community engagement, technical analysis, and action planning.

Community engagement included both broad public participation and targeted discussions with key interest-holders. Residents and businesses shared their experiences and priorities through a public survey, while workshops, focus groups, and interviews gathered input from organizations that support populations disproportionately affected by climate change, as well as those involved in infrastructure, public services, emergency management, health care, education, environmental stewardship, development, business, and community services. A dedicated youth workshop with Belmont Secondary School students also helped inform the CAP.

Technical analysis included a CRVA and GHG emissions modelling for both community-wide and corporate (municipal) emissions. The CRVA examined nine climate hazards across four vulnerability categories and assessed future conditions in the 2050s and 2080s. Emissions modelling evaluated projected emissions through 2050 and identified the sectors with the greatest opportunities for reduction.

Actions within the CAP were developed and prioritized using community feedback, technical analysis, existing City plans and initiatives, internal workshops, and leading municipal best practices. A prioritization matrix was used to evaluate each action based on its potential to reduce emissions, strengthen resilience, deliver community benefits, and be implemented using available resources.

Key components of the CAP were presented to Council on August 17, 2026. The draft CAP was then released for public review through Let's Chat Langford between August 27 and September 9, 2026. To support participation, additional notification was provided through the City's website, email newsletter, and social media channels.

Commentary

The CAP is structured around six Big Moves, five strategies, and 59 actions. The six Big Moves describe the long-term outcomes the City is working toward, including:

1. Prepare Langford for climate-related emergencies and community health risks.
2. Create low-carbon, resilient buildings and infrastructure.
3. Enable clean, connected, and low-carbon transportation choices.
4. Protect and enhance natural systems that support climate resilience.
5. Advance a circular economy and reduce waste through prevention, reuse, repair, and resource recovery.
6. Strengthen local food systems and food security.

The actions are organized under five strategies that describe the approaches the City can take to achieve the Big Moves: Plan and Regulate; Lead by Example; Invest in Infrastructure and Services; Enable Community Action; and Partner and Advocate. Each action identifies the Big Move it supports, anticipated co-benefits, and an implementation timeframe of two, five, or ten years. Appendix A of the CAP provides additional information on partnerships, funding opportunities, and monitoring and reporting indicators.

Climate Risk in Langford

The CRVA evaluated how climate hazards may affect people, infrastructure, ecosystems, services, and the local economy. It found that wildfire is Langford's highest-rated climate risk, with flooding, multi-hazard events, extreme heat, poor air quality, and landslides also presenting significant risks.

The assessment also identified where people, infrastructure, services, and natural areas may be more exposed or vulnerable to climate hazards. Climate hazard and vulnerability mapping will support land use planning, capital investments, asset management, emergency management, and decisions about where resilience measures may have the greatest benefit.

GHG Emissions in Langford

Between 2007 and 2024, Langford's total community GHG emissions increased by 54% as the community experienced substantial population and development growth. Over the same period, per-capita emissions declined by 35%, demonstrating that emissions did not increase at the same rate as population growth. In 2024, transportation, buildings, and waste accounted for 83% of community emissions and represent the primary focus of the emissions-reduction actions in the CAP.

Under the expected policy scenario modelled for the CAP, per-capita community emissions are projected to decline by 64% below 2007 levels by 2035 and by 80% by 2050. Total community emissions are projected to remain approximately 19% above 2007 levels in 2035 before falling to 21% below 2007 levels by 2050. Based on this modelling, the CAP establishes a target to reduce community per-capita emissions by 65% from 2007 levels by 2035 and by 80% by 2050, while striving toward net-zero community-wide emissions in the longer term.

Corporate emissions, which include emissions from municipal operations and contracted services, account for less than 1% of community-wide emissions. Despite representing a relatively small share of total emissions, leading by example was identified as a critical component of achieving the CAP's objectives.

The CAP establishes corporate targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 2024 levels by 2035 and achieve net-zero corporate emissions by 2050. Actions include improving municipal buildings, electrifying and right-sizing the fleet, reducing emissions from contracted services, integrating climate considerations into purchasing and capital projects, and coordinating implementation across departments.

Implementation and Funding

Implementation will be coordinated across City departments and integrated with departmental work plans, annual budgets, capital planning, asset management, and existing City initiatives. The timing of individual actions will depend on available funding, staff capacity, legislative requirements, partnership opportunities, and coordination with other municipal priorities. The identified timeframes are intended to guide the sequencing of work while allowing implementation approaches to adapt as conditions change.

Adoption of the CAP does not, by itself, authorize expenditures associated with its actions. The implementation and advancement of specific projects and funding requirements will continue to be considered through the City's established budgeting, procurement, and Council decision-making processes.

Monitoring Progress

The City will use an internal action tracker to record the status of each action, key milestones, implementation considerations, and next steps. This will support coordination across departments and help identify where additional resources, partnerships, or Council decisions may be required. The City will report annually on CAP implementation progress, summarizing actions initiated, advanced or completed, and key barriers or changes affecting implementation.

The CAP is expected to be reviewed and updated approximately every five years. Each review will consider implementation progress, updated emissions and climate risk information, changes in legislation and technology, community priorities, funding opportunities, and lessons learned. This process will allow Council to confirm or revise priorities and establish an updated set of actions for the next implementation period.

Final Public Feedback on the Draft

As noted, public engagement on the draft CAP was conducted between August 27 and September 9. Many respondents expressed appreciation that the City is taking practical and meaningful action to address the impacts of climate change. Public feedback described the CAP as “thorough”, “well thought out”, “more rigorous than most municipal climate action plans”, “reassuring”, “giving hope”, “farsighted and inclusive”, and “easy to read and follow”. Comments also recognized the depth of analysis supporting Langford’s Climate Action Plan, as well as the extent of climate-related work already underway and how the CAP builds on that existing foundation.

Many of the comments received were related to topics addressed through other City plans and initiatives, including enabling housing in complete communities through the OCP; traffic, biking, and parking matters addressed by the Transportation Master Plan, Active Transportation Plan, and Zoning Bylaw; parks and trail network improvements through the Parks and Trails Master Plan; and tree preservation and planting through the Urban Forest Management Plan and Development Permit Area guidelines. Some comments also related to measures already reflected in the draft CAP. These comments underscore the importance of maintaining alignment across the City’s long-term plans and initiatives, recognizing that climate action, land use, housing, transportation, parks, and urban forestry are interconnected policy areas that collectively support a healthy, resilient, and sustainable community. In addition, several themes emerged through the engagement process that staff consider valuable enhancements to the final CAP. As a result, staff recommend the following revisions:

Rainwater collection

Comments encouraged greater support for rainwater collection, including the use of rain barrels and underground water reservoirs, as well as potential rebates to support the purchase of rainwater collection bins. Action 4-2 has been updated to reflect this recommendation.

Green infrastructure

Comments recommended incorporating or aligning with CRD Green Stormwater Infrastructure Common Design Guidelines within the municipal framework. Action 1-1 has been updated to reflect this recommendation.

Preservation and expansion of agricultural land

Feedback emphasized the importance of preserving and expanding agricultural land. While many factors affecting agricultural land fall outside municipal jurisdiction, the City plays an important role in protecting existing agricultural land through Zoning Bylaw No. 300, which complements the provincial Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) regulations. Municipal authority is also limited by provincial Agricultural Land Reserve legislation. While a new action is not proposed in the current CAP, Action 1-9 has been refined, with the Province and ALC added as potential partners to support this work.

Food Security and Food Systems Resilience

Respondents supported the CAP’s inclusion of food security while identifying opportunities to further strengthen local food systems resilience. Recommendations included partnering with and supporting the volunteer-run Goldstream Hatchery to help boost salmon populations and revitalize critical salmon habitat, and considering food storage, preparation, and distributions during climate-related emergencies and disruptions. Action 4-7 has been updated to better reflect local food security considerations, while Actions 2-12 and 4-4 have been revised to strengthen support for local food access, distribution, and resilience planning.

Improved Regional Transit

Feedback emphasized the importance of improved regional transit and strong regional collaboration. Action 5-4 has been updated to include advocacy for City representation on the Victoria Regional Transit Commission, where regional transit decisions are made.

Equity Lens

Feedback highlighted the importance of applying an equity lens during implementation to ensure climate resilience benefits reach populations experiencing greater climate-related risks or barriers to adaptation. Action 2-2 has been revised to reinforce this approach. Feedback also identified opportunities to use language that more accurately reflects that climate-related vulnerability is shaped by individual circumstances and systemic factors rather than being an inherent characteristic of a group. Language throughout the CAP has been adjusted accordingly; for example, by referring to populations disproportionately affected by climate change, populations at greater risk of climate-related impacts, or people facing barriers to adaptation, where appropriate.

Coordination for fire flow and water system resilience

Feedback identified opportunities to strengthen references to wildfire perimeter protection and water system resilience, particularly through coordination with the CRD Juan de Fuca Water Distribution System. While the CAP already recognizes the importance of maintaining water supply during climate-related emergencies for both fire protection and essential community needs, Actions 5-6 and 5-9 have been updated to more clearly identify Juan de Fuca Water Distribution System as a key partner.

Evacuation Planning

Feedback sought clarification regarding the relationship between evacuation planning and transportation infrastructure investments. Staff note that emergency management and evacuation planning are ongoing municipal functions and that the CAP is not intended to direct specific road construction commitments. The CAP does, however, provide guidance to strengthen evacuation planning and multi-modal transportation planning based on the Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment. Action 1-6 has been revised to clarify this.

Regional Emergency Coordination

Feedback identified additional opportunities for collaboration in regional emergency coordination. Action 5-6 has been updated to include Health Emergency Management BC as a potential partner.

FireSmart

Several updates have been made to improve clarity regarding wildfire resilience actions. Action 1-7 has been revised to remove reference to a specific brand of sprinkler systems. The discussion of existing City initiatives has been clarified to note that expansion of cleanup days and FireSmart events remains subject to future funding approvals. Action 3-7 has also been updated to include evaluation of future funding opportunities for FireSmart programs.

Emission Reduction Targets

Feedback identified the need for clearer explanations of the relationship between the CAP’s emissions modelling, reduction targets, and existing OCP targets. Section 6 has been revised to clarify that the per-capita emissions reduction targets are based on modelling completed during development of the CAP and that the community-wide net-zero target represents a long-term aspirational goal. Related OCP targets will be updated at a later date to align with the CAP targets.

Emissions from Buildings

Feedback identified the importance of reducing emissions from existing buildings through retrofits, incentives, and energy-efficiency improvements. While many tools influencing existing building emissions fall outside municipal authority, the CAP contains several actions supporting education, incentives, reporting, and retrofit opportunities. To strengthen this work, Action 1-16 has been revised to explore broader building energy and emissions reporting opportunities and advocacy for additional local government authority related to existing building emissions. The CAP also continues to support low-carbon new construction to reduce future retrofit requirements and emissions from the growing building stock.

Circular economy and waste reduction from building construction

Feedback encouraged additional advocacy to modernize provincial legislation and regulations to support renovation, adaptive reuse, and “density without demolition” approaches. While Action 1-15 already advances construction waste reduction and circular economy objectives, additional advocacy measures have been incorporated.

Solar-ready building requirements and retrofit policies

Respondents supported the inclusion of solar-ready requirements and identified opportunities to further reduce barriers for smaller-scale solar installations, such as balcony solar units. Action 1-13 has been revised to reflect these considerations.

Children and Youth participation in Climate Action

Feedback highlighted the important role children and youth can play in climate action and community resilience. Action 4-6 has been revised to better reflect these considerations.

Climate-related mental health and well-being

Comments noted the importance of recognizing climate-related mental health impacts, including climate anxiety and concern for the future. Particular attention was also given to the impacts on children and youth. Actions 4-4 and 4-6 have been updated to better reflect these considerations.

Funding for Climate Action

Feedback raised questions regarding affordability, potential impacts to residents if federal or provincial programs were reduced or discontinued, and the degree to which some actions rely on future grant funding rather than dedicated budget allocations. Feedback also noted that several City initiatives may pursue similar grant opportunities and highlighted the importance of coordinating implementation and funding across related initiatives.

The City recognizes the importance of climate action and has internal staffing resources to support long-range planning, climate policy, and implementation of the CAP. Several actions in the CAP are linked to other City plans and initiatives that have their own operational budget lines. Funding and implementation are expected to be coordinated across City departments to maximize efficiencies, align priorities, and leverage funding opportunities where appropriate. Actions 2-1, 2-3, and 3-3 specifically support coordination and integration across City Departments and initiatives.

The Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) has provided funding for climate action initiatives for the next few years, and additional funding opportunities will be explored through other federal and provincial grants over the coming years. Appendix A has been updated to provide additional clarification regarding LGCAP and future funding opportunities.

Big Moves

The two-page descriptions for each Big Move within Section 7 have been revised to place greater emphasis on the intended outcomes and improve readability.

Comprehensive Action Table

Feedback identified opportunities to strengthen implementation information. An appendix of preliminary indicators and targets identified for each Big Move has been added to support implementation and progress tracking. Where available, targets align with existing City plans, and additional indicators and targets may be developed as actions are implemented. Section 9 has also been updated to reflect this addition to the CAP.

While high-level cost estimates were considered as part of the action prioritization process that informed development of the CAP, detailed cost of each action will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and implementation would be subject to standard budget and council decision making processes. Further details on lead departments, and implementation start dates will be finalized after adoption of the CAP as part of implementation planning.

Financial Implications

All funding for the development of the Climate Action Plan was secured through the Provincial Government’s Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP). Many of the actions can be undertaken using existing staff resources, while funding for implementation of actions requiring capital budget or external resources will remain subject to the City’s annual budget process, Council approval, and grants, as required.

Legal Implications

There are no known legal implications.

Strategic Plan Alignment

2a - Develop a Climate Action Master Plan Including Targets for Emissions Reductions.
2e - Develop an Overarching Disaster Mitigation Strategy with Respect to Climate Change and Build Resiliency as a Community Based on Specific Initiates.

Options

Option 1

That Council adopt the City of Langford’s Climate Action Plan as presented.

OR Option 2

That Council take no action at this time with respect to the Climate Action Plan and request further information.

Submitted By

Vijitha Mammen, MSc AED, LEED AP BD+C, Climate Action Planner

Concurrence

Leah Stohmann, RPP, MCIP, Director of Community Planning and Development

Melisa Miles, Manager of Legislative Services

Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities

Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng., Director of Engineering and Public Works

Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance

Marie Watmough, Director of Legislative & Protective Services

Braden Hutchins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer

Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer

Attachments

• Schedule A - Climate Action Plan
• Schedule B - What We Heard Summary