City of Kawartha Lakes launches Healthy Environment Plan

The City of Kawartha Lakes Council formally launched the Kawartha Lakes Healthy Environment Plan at Tuesday’s meeting.

Council heard how climate change will effect The City. During a presentation from Land Use Research Associates (LURA) and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) called “Climate Change 101” representatives said it all comes down to “water, water, water.”  Megan Meaney, ICLEI Canada said “Sometimes there will be more water and sometimes less”. Summer and fall low flows will be lower and last longer and more intense precipitation will increase flooding events” That will have an impact on municipal budgets according to Meaney.

The presentation touched on the multi-year project to design and implement the Kawartha Lakes Healthy Environment Plan.  City partners will work with a Steering Committee and Community Working Group to develop and implement the plan.

Council Champion Gord Miller noted, “I see this plan as an opportunity to bring all community energy initiatives together to care for our environment. We must work collaboratively in order to address the rapidly changing reality of climate change.”

Since 2016, the City has been working with Partners for Climate Protection, an arm of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities that assists municipalities across Canada to design and implement climate change action plans.

By joining Partners for Climate Protection, the City of Kawartha Lakes is committing to the completion of five milestones:

1. Create an inventory of community greenhouse gas emissions and forecast
2. Set an emissions reduction target
3. Develop the Kawartha Lakes Healthy Environment Plan
4. Implement the Kawartha Lakes Healthy Environment Plan
5. Monitor progress and report results

The Five Milestone Framework through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is known and used nationwide.  Membership in the program opens doors to extensive knowledge and collaboration with successful communities across Canada according to the city.

“Working through the five milestone framework will help us update our Integrated Community Sustainability Plan in collaboration with the City of Kawartha Lakes Environmental Advisory Committee and other community stakeholders. The project will engage the entire community over multiple years,” explained Denise Williams, Strategy and Performance Specialist for the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Invitations to participate as a member on the Community Working Group will be sent out in early May.