Climate Change Action Plan
Project Description:
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is developing a Climate Change Action Plan to identify locally beneficial ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit our community’s exposure to the impacts of climate change (i.e. flooding, erosion, droughts, heat waves, extreme weather).
Why Develop a Climate Change Action Plan?
In 2019, Council issued a climate emergency declaration that called for the identification of actions to address the local impacts of climate change. Council’s 2018-2022 Strategic priorities also calls for the creation of a climate plan for Chatham-Kent.
Local Priorities, Local Benefits:
If climate change is a global issue that requires a global response, why is Chatham-Kent developing a local climate plan? The reason is because a good local climate plan addresses local priorities and creates local benefits. While we may not be able to change certain things – such as the global trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions – we can work together to reduce the impact of flooding, heat waves, and energy costs on our residents and businesses, we can help protect and strengthen our local industries, improve public health, and enhance our local environment. Focusing on things we can do locally, that respond to our priorities and our needs as a community, and that create benefits for our residents and our businesses today and tomorrow, is what this plan is all about.
How the Plan Will be Developed:
There are three main parts to the plan creation process:
- Gathering Information
- Establishing Priorities
- Identifying Actions
The information gathering part included developing a local climate analysis and greenhouse gas emissions inventory - both available in the document library.
Establishing priorities is the current focus of the project. This is being done through the survey that you can access through the link below.
Once priorities have been identified, a second survey is planned for early 2022 that will ask for your input on actions that should be taken to address the top climate issues facing our community.
Take the Survey!
Tell us your climate priorities, help shape the plan. Click on the link below
Share Your Story
#CKlimateImpacts
Understanding the various ways that climate change impacts Chatham-Kent is an important step in the climate change planning process because it helps to identify and prioritize the climate challenges facing our community. These local priorities will then be used to guide the selection of climate actions.
Have you, your family, or your workplace been impacted by climate change? If so can you tell us how?
