Council embarks on the Kawartha Lakes Healthy Environment Plan

Council heard a presentation from Land Use Research Associates (LURA) and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) on "Climate Change 101". 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. Invitations to participate as a member on the Community Working Group will be sent out in early May.

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."

By joining Partners for Climate Protection, the City of Kawartha Lakes is undertaking 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 (FCM) is known and used nationwide. Membership in the program opens doors to extensive knowledge and collaboration with successful communities across Canada.

"Working through the five milestone framework will help us update our Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) 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.

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For further information, please contact:

Cheri Davidson
Manager, Communications Advertising and Marketing
705-324-9411 extension 1355
cdavidson@city.kawarthalakes.on.ca