Regional Committee unanimously endorsed the Community Climate Action Plan

Waterloo Region – Municipal governments, community organizations and businesses have come together to develop a Climate Action Plan that commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent from 2010 levels by 2020.

The Climate Action Plan is inter-connected with a number of existing policies, programs and activities led by the community and local governments and will build on existing resources as well as support the collaborative development of new ones.

The Region’s Administration and Finance Committee today unanimously endorsed the Community Climate Action Plan and Reduction Target.

REEP Green Solutions, Sustainable Waterloo Region, the Region of Waterloo along with the Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo have joined a collaboration called ClimateActionWR that has guided the process to develop the Community Climate Action Plan.

Already endorsed by the city councils of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, the final endorsement will come from the Region of Waterloo at the Regional Council meeting on December 11, 2013.

The plan was developed on a framework that enables municipalities and community stakeholders to take collaborative action towards reducing GHG emissions across Waterloo Region. The community consultation and engagement that took place over the past two years as part of the plan’s development clearly supported this approach.

Waterloo Region’s community GHG emissions in 2010 were estimated at 3.6 million tonnes per year and are forecasted to grow more than 17 per cent by the year 2020 largely due to projected population growth and increases in demand for energy and fuel.

Reducing Waterloo Region’s carbon footprint will strengthen our local economy by supporting economic development and resiliency, energy security and stability, along with reduced local emissions of air pollutants that cause smog and adverse cardio-respiratory effects.

By achieving community-wide participation and endorsement of the Climate Action Plan, reaching Waterloo Region’s 2020 GHG reduction target will be a positive step forward for this community.

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For more information please contact:

David Roewade, Sustainability Planner, Corporate Resources, Region of Waterloo, 519-575-4757 x3308, DRoewade@regionofwaterloo.ca

Sarah Brown, Project Manager ClimateActionWR, 226-476-1659 sarah.brown@sustainablewr.ca

About ClimateActionWR

ClimateActionWR is a collaboration between REEP Green Solutions, Sustainable Waterloo Region, the Region of Waterloo, and the Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. The collaborative is building on existing community resources and propelling local sustainability efforts through the development of a community Climate Action Plan and reduction target. The action plan, when implemented, will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as support Waterloo Region’s future as a progressive, sustainable and collaborative community with a low carbon impact and high quality of life.