The municipality and the Climate Action Plan Working Group are looking for community input on the best ways to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Residents are encouraged to provide suggestions for corporation action as well as community-led initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The intent is to develop a plan that is by the County for the County.
A series of consultation events will occur in the coming weeks:
- Saturday, March 22, 10 am – 12:00 noon – Ameliasburgh Town Hall
- Saturday, March 29, 10 am – 1 pm – Wellington and District Community Centre
- Wednesday, April 2, 3 – 4 pm – Youth engagement at The ROC in Picton
- Wednesday, April 9, 4:30 – 6:30 pm – Milford Town Hall
- Saturday, April 12, 12 pm – Prince Edward Community Centre in Picton
At each of the consultation events, participants are invited to:
- Learn more about the work being done by municipal staff and the Climate Action Plan Working Group
- Explore the both the corporate and community initial greenhouse gas emission inventory findings
- Comment on actions proposed by staff and the Climate Action Working Group as well as provide their own suggested remedies. All viewpoints will be considered as the way forward for Prince Edward County is developed
As a result of particularly severe flooding in 2017 and 2019, County Council declared a climate emergency in 2019. In 2021, the municipality took another step in implementing effective measures to mitigate climate change when it became a member of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program.
The PCP program is a national network of more than 500 municipalities with the shared goal of taking action against climate change and reducing local greenhouse gas emissions. As a member of the PCP program, the municipality is committed to meeting five milestones over the next 10 years:
- Milestone 1: Creating a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and forecast (complete)
- Milestone 2: Setting emission reduction targets (complete)
- Milestone 3: Developing a Local Action Plan (underway)
- Milestone 4: Implementing the Local Action Plan
- Milestone 5: Monitoring and evaluating progress
These steps are followed by the corporation and by the community in a collaborative approach to developing a plan to address climate change. Municipal staff are leading the portion of the action plan aimed at reducing the GHG emissions within the local government’s direct control or influence. The Climate Action Plan Working Group is responsible for quantifying the GHG emissions generated within the community as a whole.
Visit Have Your Say to learn more about the initiative. If you have questions, you can contact Albert Paschkowiak, Environmental Services and Sustainability Supervisor, at 613.476.2148 extension 4004 or email apaschkowiak@pecounty.on.ca. Angus Ross, the Chair of the Working Group, can be reached at landaconcepts@rogers.com.