Community Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan approved by city council

Sault Ste. Marie City Council approved the Community Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan 2020 – 2030 during last night's meeting.

A news release issued by the City of Sault Ste. Marie explains that the goal of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan is net zero by 2050.

“The plan builds on and provides direction for existing city policies that consider environmental sustainability," said FutureSSM climate change coordinator Emily Cormier in the release. "It also recognizes the shared responsibility for making emissions reductions by both municipal operations and the community."

Full text of the city news release follows:

At its meeting of Dec. 14, 2020, City Council unanimously approved the Sault Ste. Marie Community Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan 2020 – 2030 (the plan). Both the plan and council presentation are available on the city’s website.

“The plan represents a significant step forward for the City of Sault Ste. Marie, and lays the foundation for further emissions reduction efforts in the future,” said Emily Cormier, climate change coordinator with FutureSSM. “The plan builds on and provides direction for existing city policies that consider environmental sustainability. It also recognizes the shared responsibility for making emissions reductions by both municipal operations and the community. The plan reinforces the need for an integrated sustainability agenda that addresses long term economic, social and environmental priorities, as part of building a healthier and more climate change resilient community.”

The city’s goal for greenhouse gas reduction is net zero by 2050. To achieve this goal, the city will take a staggered approach and focus on a greenhouse gas reduction target of 10 per cent municipal and 5 per cent community between 2020 – 2030, with an increasing scale of reduction target between 2030 and 2050.

As identified in the Partners for Climate Protection five-milestone framework, the city is currently working towards implementation and will monitor progress and report on results. In addition, the city’s newly established Environmental Sustainability Committee will oversee the review and implementation of the plan.

“The plan should be viewed as a living document and it is recommended that it be revised regularly to acknowledge changing technology, funding and legislative initiatives,” adds Cormier.

For more information on the plan, and next steps, visit the city’s website.