Late in November, 2013, Kitchener city council unanimously endorsed Waterloo Region’s first-ever climate change action plan. The plan will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by six percent from our 2010 levels by 2020. Waterloo and Cambridge Councils did the same earlier this month.
Kitchener has already made important investments designed to reduce environmental impacts. This includes transportation and energy conservation. They also have programs to assist residents and business to be part of the transition to a low-carbon economy. This includes car and bike sharing.
In addition to reducing Kitchener’s 3.6 million tonne carbon footprint, these moves are designed to strengthen our local economy. The top 13 projects in the plan will provide $350-million to the local economy and create 5,400 jobs. The net effect of the plan will be reduced costs, increased our energy security and less smog.
The Waterloo region has experienced first hand the exorbitant costs associated with extreme weather events. Two severe storms in the Waterloo Region in July cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Click here to access the full plan and a summary version.
© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
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