Grey County Council voted last week to become a member of the Ontario Clean Air Council (CAC), as a further move to support Going Green in Grey, the County’s new Climate Change Action Plan. The CAC is a network of over thirty-five municipalities and health units from across Ontario that work together towards environmental sustainability and clean air.
Gaby Kalapos, Executive Director of the Clean Air Partnership, discussed CAC priorities and membership benefits with councillors, which include direct assistance from Clean Air Partnership staff, evidence-based research in actionable format, and access to workshops and webinars. The group facilitates information sharing and provides a support network for communities acting on climate change, making it easier and more effective to adopt initiatives which have proven successful in other municipalities.
“By joining the CAC, Grey County signals our ongoing commitment to Going Green in Grey’s climate targets, and provides both County and local municipal staff important tools to make meaningful progress in collaboration with other Ontario municipalities,” explained Linda Swanston, Grey County Climate Change Manager.
Current CAC priorities include corporate climate action, transportation emissions reduction, and integrating climate considerations into municipal decision-making; items Grey County is also addressing through Going Green in Grey.
Going Green in Grey highlights realistic and actionable steps the County and residents can take to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and its harmful effects, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 and working towards net-zero emissions by 2050.
Council also approved a multi-year planting plan for the Grey County Administration Building site to naturalize the site with native trees and plants, while building community engagement and knowledge about nature-based climate solutions. A community planting event will take place this fall.
To learn more about Going Green in Grey, visit www.grey.ca/ClimateAction. Interested residents and businesses can also sign up for climate change newsletters on the website or contact staff to ask questions or arrange a presentation to a group or club.
To learn more about the Clean Air Partnership, visit cleanairpartnership.org.
