NEWS RELEASE
HRM Speaks Up for Copenhagen Climate Agreement
(Thursday, December, 17, 2009) - Halifax Regional Municipality is adding its voice to the chorus of calls in support of Canadian participation in a strong international climate agreement.
Regional Council voted Tuesday night in favour of the following resolution brought forward by District 14 Councillor Jennifer Watts:
“That Halifax Regional Council support a resolution from the David Suzuki Foundation requesting that the government of Canada Support a firm, ambitious, binding international climate agreement.”
More than 20 cities across Canada have passed resolutions confirming their commitment to climate solutions. The call for action comes on the eve of closely-watched negotiations in Copenhagen, where environment ministers and officials from countries around the globe are gathering for a United Nations conference on climate change.
“The voice of a municipality the size of ours would easily go unheard in Copenhagen, but add our voice to those of municipalities from across the country and the call becomes difficult to ignore,” said Mayor Peter Kelly.
As a member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Partners for Climate Protection program, HRM has signed on to meet significant milestones as part of efforts to lessen the ecological footprint of the municipality. The program’s five milestones are:
1. Creating a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and forecast;
2. Setting an emissions reductions target;
3. Developing a local action plan;
4. Implementing the local action plan or a set of activities; and
5. Monitoring progress and reporting results.
HRM has met four of those milestones and intends to complete a measurement program by the end of 2010 to meet the fifth requirement. Over the last five years, HRM has completed $6.8 million in energy efficiency projects which has resulted in savings of $1.2 million per year and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 10,000 tonnes per year.
“Municipalities across the country are demonstrating by their actions that we must address climate change now,” said Mayor Kelly.
A complete list of cities that have passed climate resolutions, including links to the resolutions, can be found at http://beta.davidsuzuki.org/do/municipalities-show-leadership/ .
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Contact:
Mayor Peter Kelly
490-4010
Richard MacLellan
Manager, Sustainable Environment Management Office
HRM
490-6056
