WhiteCAP_Plan_01SEPT..

Northern Climate ExChange WhiteCAP Draft Plan
The community vision defined by the Whitehorse Local Advisory Committee identifies a
number of priorities which include knowledge provision, partnership identification and
capacity development. These priorities have been considered throughout the planning
process. Other aspects of the vision, such as climate change mitigation and well-being
of the community have been factored into the planning process as special
considerations.
1.2 Special Considerations of the Whitehorse Adaptation Plan
Several special considerations emerged consistently throughout the adaptation planning
process in Whitehorse. While these considerations were not directly associated with
building the adaptive capacity of the community, the frequency with which they were
raised does indicate that a relationship exists between them and climate change
adaptation. These special considerations include: sustainable development, climate
change mitigation, and the special link between the community and the wilderness
surrounding Whitehorse.
1.2.1 Sustainable Development
Sustainable development has emerged as a dominant concern in the City of Whitehorse.
In 2009 the City of Whitehorse officially adopted The Whitehorse Strategic Sustainability
Plan which encompasses a wide range of community values, including a sense of
community, a high quality of life, nature, leadership, First Nations culture, the arts and
local businesses (COW, 2009). These values directly influence climate change
adaptation through their contribution to the social capital of the community, and in turn
the contribution of social capital to adaptive capacity (Adger, 2003). Other attributes of
sustainable development, such as increases in efficiency of resource use and in the
flexibility of land use, can also make a significant contribution to the adaptive capacity of
the community (Fellows, 2006).
1.2.2 Climate Change Mitigation
Climate change mitigation is a priority for the community of Whitehorse. The mitigation of
climate change through the control of greenhouse gas emissions will reduce the severity
of the impacts to which the community will have to adapt. As a result, a balance between
mitigation and adaptation is the most effective way to respond to climate change
vulnerabilities (IPCC, 2007). Often adaptations have a mitigative aspect that can reduce
the greenhouse gas emissions of a community while increasing their adaptive capacity.
Adaptations that reduce greenhouse gas emissions have the added benefit of reducing
the overall risk of the community to climate change, a distinct advantage over
adaptations that increase the greenhouse gas emissions of a community.
Several opportunities for reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of Whitehorse were
identified through the adaptation process. Many correlate to the Community Action Plan
established by the City of Whitehorse in 2004, which suggested a number of
educational, operational and policy actions that would reduce the carbon footprint of
community buildings, transportation, the land use sector, waste management and the
improvement of data compilation and monitoring (COW, 2004). Where possible the
recommendations of this plan should compliment the action plan.
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