HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-15 - Climate Change and Environment Committee Minutes
Climate Change and Environment Committee
Committee Minutes
February 15, 2024, 4:00 p.m.
Conestoga Room
City of Kitchener
200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 407
Present: B. Wallis, Chair
Councillor S. Davey, Member
K. Bockasten, Member
J. Clary-Lemon, Member
B. Kurczak, Member
K. Loveless, Member
V. Nhio-son, Member
Councillor S. Stretch, Member
F. Tohidi, Member
B. Unrau, Member
Staff: S. Lodenquai, Committee Administrator
C. Musselman, Senior Environmental Planner
N. Goss, Manager, Policy & Research
A. Cipriani, Corporate Sustainability Officer
H. Irving, Sustainability Advisor
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1. Commencement
The meeting began with a Land Acknowledgement given by the Chair.
2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
None.
3. Discussion Items
3.1 Energy planning in the Region of Waterloo and planning for Thermal Utility
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The committee received the presentation entitled Thermal Energy in Waterloo
Region which included:
- an overview of energy distributed by utility and energy use by sector in
Waterloo Region
- low grade heat and GHG emissions
- the 4 calls to action
- thermal mapping
- thermal energy in leading communities
- thermal strategy
The presentation was followed by the opportunity for questions.
3.2 Harmonized Green Development Standards Project Update
The committee received the presentation entitled Green Development Standards
which provided an update on the project to establish harmonized green
development standard across all municipalities in Waterloo Region.
The committee asked clarifying questions about timelines and key stakeholders.
J. Oosterveld will be forwarding details on how committee feedback will be
collected and approximate dates of future status updates.
K. Charlesworth, Green WR was in attendance to introduce the community group
to the committee. K. Charlesworth supports the Thermal Utility and GDS staff
report noting concerns for the timelines proposed.
For Information.
3.3 CorCAP 2.0 Update - Monitoring, Metrics and Action Items, DSD-2024-070
After the January 2024 Climate Change and Environment Committee meeting,
where the committee passed a motion of support for a City of Kitchener
corporate goal to have net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, AM. Cipriani and H.
Irving returned to the committee with an overview corporate GHG emissions, lists
of 'Facility Action Items' and 'Fleet Actions Items'. The proposed list of metrics will
be use for progress tracking and will be reported on to council and this
committee, while the fleet specific metrics will be reported to the Fleet Users
Working Group, and the facility metrics will be reported through their yearly asset
management updates.
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The following questions were tabled for discussion:
What action items did you expect to see? Are there any missing?
What metrics would you expect to see?
What is the most important from your perspective?
General discussion took place, H. Irving captured any feedback. There was an
overall consensus for the proposed list of metrics.
On motion by J. Clary Lemon, it was resolved:
That the committee support the City of Kitchener proposed metrics for
annual reporting on progress on progress toward a net-zero by 2050 target.
Carried
3.4 2024 CCEC Meeting Format Schedule
Committee members reviewed the proposed schedule and discussed the
benefits of an in-person meeting format over an electronic meeting format.
On motion by K. Bockasten, it was resolved:
That the Climate Change and Environment Committee adopt an in-person
meeting format for 2024.
Carried
3.5 Sub-Committee Updates
K. Love led a brief discussion of options for funding climate/sustainability positive
behaviour given the magnitude of capital required to address climate change,
especially in reference to City of Toronto's green bonds and City of
Peterborough's climate levy.
4. Information Items
4.1 2024 CCEC Appointment
5. Adjournment
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 6:07 p.m.
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Shannon Lodenquai
Committee Administrator
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