Sustainable Severn Sound recognizes municipal climate change commitments and launches climate action plan

Tay, Ontario: Municipal governments have control or influence over approximately half of all greenhouse gases (GHGs) in Canada, and consequently, have an important role to play in mitigating the effects of climate change. With support of external funders and the on-going contributions from the Towns of Midland and Penetanguishene, the Townships of Severn, Oro-Medonte, Georgian Bay, Tiny and Tay—Sustainable Severn Sound (SSS) is proud to announce the release of its first collaborative Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP). 

On June 21, SSS hosted an LCCAP release event at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons to celebrate the inaugural climate change action plan, with MP Bruce Stanton welcoming municipal representatives, partner agencies and members of the public to the event, congratulating local municipalities on the climate change action plan, and noting the need and value of collaboration in the local response to the climate change challenge.

The LCCAP will increase awareness of the local impacts of climate change, and has identified opportunities to reduce overall GHG emissions throughout the region. It includes a summary of both corporate and community-side GHG inventories, recommended GHG reduction targets, and key priorities for implementation. Not only will these actions help to protect our natural assets, green our communities, support healthy people, and save money; they will help to limit impacts of climate change in the future. 

With the Town of Penetanguishene, and the Townships of Tiny, Tay, Severn and Georgian Bay recently joining the federal Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program, SSS will be busy working with these municipalities to advance them through the proven five-milestone framework to reduce GHGs in their municipal operations and in the larger community. The PCP program is a joint program delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and ICLEI Canada and has 350 municipal members that have committed to reduce their GHG emissions and take action on climate change.

“Overall, this project has allowed SSS and our partners to lay the groundwork for climate action, developing a roadmap for reducing and measuring GHG emissions. Not only has SSS completed work for our municipalities that is recommended through provincial policy and best practices, our partners have demonstrated a public commitment to sustainable communities by joining the PCP program, and by supporting the LCCAP,’’ stated Tracy Roxborough, Sustainability Coordinator with SSS.

Over the coming months, SSS will develop a climate change action plan for each of their PCP member municipalities, achieving milestones 1, 2 and 3 of the PCP program. This will include the development of an implementation strategy to support measurable and effective actions to reduce GHG emissions. Hard copies of the LCCAP will be available at your local municipal office for pick-up, or upon request in early July.

For more information about this project, or to get involved, please visit sustainablesevernsound.ca.

About Sustainable Severn Sound

Sustainable Severn Sound (SSS) is a regional sustainability program supported by seven of the municipalities in the Severn Sound area, including the Towns of Midland and Penetanguishene, and the Townships of Georgian Bay, Severn, Oro-Medonte, Tiny and Tay. This project also receives in-kind support and Sustainability Committee representation from the North Simcoe Community Futures Development Corporation / Société d'aide au développement des collectivités Simcoe Nord (NSCFDC), the Severn Sound Environmental Association (SSEA), and the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU). SSS works to (1) educate municipalities on climate change best practices and connect them to resources, (2) encourage the adoption of practices/policies within their municipal operations to support climate action and sustainable communities, and (3) advocate for sustainable environmental practices within our service area.

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Contact

Tracy Roxborough, Sustainability Coordinator
Sustainable Severn Sound
Phone: 705-526-1371 x112