A forum held in Prince George April 29 and 30, as the federal election took place, focussed on something largely left out of the election debates—climate change.
The forum was put together by the Northern Climate Action Network (NorthCAN), which aims to provide a hub for sharing information about local innovations and projects. NorthCAN was formed in April 2022 and includes nearly 400 members from across more than 50 B.C. communities.
The forum featured representatives from some north-central B.C. governments, health leaders, Indigenous communities, non-profits, advocates, and researchers. It brought together around 100 people to talk about local solutions and strategies for northern communities when facing issues related to climate change and its impacts.
With engagement opportunities, field trips and guest speakers, the forum highlighted some of the opportunities and challenges happening in the North.
Forest fires were discussed, and so were sustainable fuel sources and energy solutions for a more resilient North. So were better building practices, as the North looks to build much-needed homes. Opportunities for more sustainable and resilient structures were highlighted.
Researchers from the University of Victoria working on accelerating community energy transformation and leading the Northern Energy Dialogues Project discussed some of what they have heard and how their project will continue to look for ways for northern communities to develop a more diversified energy grid, and opportunities for renewable energy.
Increasing drought, glacial melt and demand for electricity mean hydroelectric power may not meet future demands and will be less reliable than it has been in the past, the researchers suggested.
One of the field trips available looked at ways to reduce carbon emissions associated with transportation in the North. It featured two businesses creating greener fuel options.
Arbios is an Australian company using new technology to develop the largest hydrothermal liquefaction facility in the world. The company is using tree bark, a forest industry residue, to make a precursor to renewable diesel fuel. The company's plant in Prince George was constructed in 2024 and is now going through testing with a goal to begin production fairly soon.
So far, the plant employs almost 30 people and operates two shifts. The goal is to move to 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week operation once the facility is in production.
While the diesel fuel, which would be created from the fuel precursor, would still produce carbon, the source for the fuel is from biomass, which can then be regrown in the life cycle of a tree, unlike fossil fuels, which take millions of years to form.
Across the highway from Arbios, Tidewater Renewables is Canada's first renewable diesel and renewable hydrogen production facility. Operating since 2023, the plant uses catalysts to turn plant-based oil sources into renewable diesel, not biodiesel. While biodiesel is a less stable fuel source and cannot be stored for long periods, the renewable diesel produced at Tidewater is stable for storage and remains liquid at temperatures down to -30°C.
Another interesting example of innovation taking place in the north was on display during a tour of the University of Northern BC's (UNBC) Wood Innovation Research Laboratory in downtown Prince George.
The laboratory uses passive building technology, requiring very little energy to heat it. The lab also managed to withstand an explosion and fire in a neighbouring building, which tested the building's envelope and structure.
Debris pierced the building's metal exterior sheathing and a burning natural gas line aimed at the lab for some time provided insight into how the building would do under extreme incidents. Water poured from sprinklers for hours inside, leaving inches of water on the floor of the laboratory.
The innovative construction and design limited the damage to one exterior wall and there was no damage to the structural integrity of the building's massive timbers. The lab continues to lead research into mass timber construction techniques.
The Cariboo also featured in the forum, with Cariboo Regional District Chair Margo Wagner participating in a panel of leaders discussing how local governments are addressing some of the challenges. They spoke about balancing priorities to improve quality of life, foster resilience, boost economic development and navigate transitioning to lower-carbon emissions.
Wagner was on stage alongside Mackenzie Mayor Joan Atkinson and Smithers Mayor Gladys Atrill.
She spoke about the impacts of wildfires and touched on some of the fuel management work being done in the region.
Williams Lake city planner Marie Whitehead also attended the forum to learn from other communities and collaborate on local solutions. She hosted a table to talk to attendees about the work the city is doing to develop Williams Lake's Active Transportation Network Plan.
Discussions around ways forward touched on topics such as policy change to enable more innovation and reduce the barriers to lowering carbon emissions such as building walkable neighbourhoods, more sustainable building practices, and better communication of the co-benefits of climate change interventions.
When buildings are able to be built using sustainable building practices, they are more comfortable and healthier for the people using them.
When cities are designed and planned to provide better access for people on foot or other mobility devices, the residents can live more affordably, are more active and enjoy better physical and mental health outcomes and have a greater sense of community.
When cities reduce heat island effects by increasing tree coverage, reducing paved surfaces to address increasing storm drainage problems, and encouraging things such as green roofs, they save money in the long term by reducing flood damage, reducing the health impacts of high temperatures on the population and support local businesses in their downtowns.
Community Energy Association (CEA) is a member-based non profit organization that works at the community level to reduce emissions, conserve energy and enable a transition to a low-carbon economy. The organization has been around since 1995 and has hosted NorthCAN forums for a number of years.
