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Home My WebLink About2025-09-18 - Climate Change and Environment Committee Agenda Climate Change and Environment Committee Agenda September 18, 2025, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Conestoga Room City of Kitchener 200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 407 People interested in participating in this meeting can email Committee Administrator, Eda Islemecioglu at eda.islemecioglu@kitchener.ca. Please refer to the delegation section on the agenda below for the registration deadline. Written comments received will be circulated to the Committee prior to the meeting and will form part of the public record. *Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. If you require assistance to take part in a city meeting or event, please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994.* Co-Chairs: V. Nhio-son & K. Charlesworth Pages 1.Commencement The meeting will begin with a Land Acknowledgement given by the Chair. The City of Kitchener is situated on the traditional territory of the Chonnonton, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee Peoples. We recognize our responsibility to serve as stewards for the land and honour the original caretakers who came before us. Our community is enriched by the enduring knowledge and deep-rooted traditions of the diverse First Nations, Metis and Inuit in Kitchener today. 2.Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof Members of Council and members of the City’s local boards/committees are required to file a written statement when they have a conflict of interest. If a conflict is declared, please visit www.kitchener.ca/conflict to submit your written form. 3.Delegations Pursuant to Council’s Procedural By-law, delegations are permitted to address the Committee for a maximum of five (5) minutes. All Delegations where possible are encouraged to register prior to the start of the meeting. For Delegates who are attending in-person, registration is permitted up to the start of the meeting. Delegates who are interested in attending virtually must register by 1:00 p.m. on September 18, 2025 in order to participate electronically. 3.1 Item 4.1 - P. Gilbride, Executive Director, Reep Green Solutions 4.Discussion Items 4.1 Presentation - Reep Green Solutions 15 m 1 The Delegation will provide a 5-minute presentation. 4.2 Update on the Cold Water Ice Pilot Project, DSD-2025-368 20 m 15 F. Wade, Sustainability Advisor, will provide a 5-minute presentation on this matter. 4.3 Council Report Template Discussion 20 m Committee/Council Report Template Change(s) Sub-committee will provide a 5-minute presentation on this matter. 4.4 CCEC Terms of Reference Clarification 15 m N. Goss, Manager of Policy & Research, will provide a 5-minute presentation on this matter. 5.Information Items 5.1 Sub-Committee Updates 5.1.a Sustainable Food Systems 5 m 5.1.b Committee/Council Report Template Change(s) 5 m K. Charlesworth, P. Boot, and P. Nojo will provide a 5-minute sub-committee update. 5.1.c High Performance Development Standards 5 m K. Charlesworth, B. Wallis, and J. Phan will provide a 5-minute subcommittee update. 6.Adjournment Eda Islemecioglu Committee Administrator IMPACT REPORT 2024-2025 1 Pie Charts Reep staff visited Crow Shield Lodge to learn about Indigenous teachings and take steps toward reconciliation together. Our tree team planted two sugar maples at Wilfrid Laurier University beside a large black walnut tree, which was chosen to get free care from an arborist through Tree Trust. 2 How Close Are We to Our 2030 Target? By 2030, people impacted by Reep Green Solutions have taken 10,000 meaningful actions to collectively shift our community to a resilient, low- carbon future. 3 Celebrating 25 Years of Impact We are celebrating 25 years of helping people in Waterloo Region live more sustainably. Thanks to your support, we have helped thousands take action on climate change and work toward a greener, stronger future for our children and community.4 Rooted in Reep's Beginnings The results in this report show the care and commitment of everyone involved. We’re deeply thankful not just to our funders and partners, but especially to the people who joined our programs. You chose to learn, act, and lead by example. - Mary Jane Patterson, Founder New Generation Takes Root Reep has shown me the power of connection and how young people, nonprofits, and communities can come together to build something stronger. We may be the next generation, but we’re here now, ready to shape the future.-Sydney Daniels, Communications Assistant New Generation Takes Root5 Jame's Journey to a More Resilient, Comfortable Home 6 HEALTHY YARDS AND NEIGHBOURHOODS 7 Growing Equity, One Tree at a Time Community Canopy is a project that works to address inequities that are present in tree canopy distribution. In lower canopy areas, people miss out on important benefits that trees provide like shade, cleaner air and water, homes for wildlife, and a stronger sense of community. The City of Kitchener and Reep Green Solutions worked together in a coordinated effort to plant more trees in public and private places in a neighbourhood where they are needed the most. These efforts resulted in 54 large stature trees planted across 21 private properties along with 100 large stature trees added to public spaces in this neighbourhood. 8 With support from Canada’s 2 Billion Trees Program and help from volunteers, Reep’s Native Tree Nursery project has built a greenhouse at Springbank Farm on land provided by rare Charitable Research Reserve. •2024: 42 volunteers donated 286 hours to grow and distribute 3,000+ native trees to homeowners and community projects. •Spring 2025: We distributed 1,500 more trees to Reforest London, the City of Kitchener, and Reforest Woolwich. •New in 2025: Partnering with the Region of Waterloo, Wellesley, and Wilmot to launch a Roadside Tree Planting Program – aiming to plant 9,000 native trees by 2027. Expanding Native Tree Planting Across the Region 9 The Tree of the Year award celebrates an extraordinary tree that holds deep significance in its community. This year’s Tree of the Year campaign was sponsored by the Echo Foundation. Every dollar helps us care for beloved legacy trees,plant the next generation, and educate our community about the power of urban forests. Together,we’re building healthier, greener neighborhoods,one tree at a time Tree Trust & Tree of the Year 10 CLIMATE ACTIONWR 11 Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report The partners of ClimateActionWR shared a new report on greenhouse gas emissions in our community for 2022. The report shows emissions from transportation, buildings, waste, and farming. It was presented to all 8 municipal councils in Waterloo Region to show how we’re doing on our goal to cut emissions by 80% by 2050, and by 50% by 2030. The report says we are not on track and need to invest more to reduce emissions in a big way. 12 Financial Summary 13 Thank You to our Partners & Core Funders! We couldn't do it without you! 14 Staff Report Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. REPORT TO: Climate Change and Environment Committee DATE OF MEETING: September 18, 2025 SUBMITTED BY: Natalie Goss, Manager Policy and Research, 519-783-8933 PREPARED BY: Anna Marie Cipriani, Corporate Sustainability Officer, 519-783-8970 WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: August 19, 2025 REPORT NO.: DSD-2025-368 SUBJECT: Update on Cold Water Ice Pilot Project RECOMMENDATION: For discussion REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:  This pilot demonstrates the business case for cold-water ice making.  Staff seek feedback from the committee on the drafted business case components.  This report supports Cultivating a Green City Together: Focuses a sustainable path to a greener, healthier city; enhancing & protecting parks & natural environment while transitioning to a low-carbon future; supporting businesses & residents to make climate- positive choices. BACKGROUND: As part of implementation of Kitchener’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan and Corporate Climate Action Plan 2.0, the Sustainability Office is pursuing a business case to pilot an (anticipated) energy efficient alternative to traditional ice making. Arenas are an energy intense facility type. Ice making is an energy intense product and service delivered to the community. Ice is traditionally made with hot water. The premise of the pilot is that by mechanically de- aerating the water used to make ice, the energy demand for the product and service delivery can be reduced. Staff wish to inform the committee of this pilot project and receive feedback from them on the drafted components of the business case. REPORT: An overview of the cold-Water Ice Pilot business case will be provided to the Climate Change and Environment Committee to receive feedback to inform ongoing work. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: This report supports Cultivating a Green City Together: Focuses a sustainable path to a greener, healthier city; enhancing & protecting parks & natural environment while transitioning to a low-carbon future; supporting businesses & residents to make climate- positive choices. 15 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: There are no financial implications at this time. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INFORM – This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in advance of the committee meeting. PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES: There are no previous reports/authorities related to this matter 16