City of Kitchener adopts Corporate Climate Action Plan 2.0

Kitchener city council has endorsed the City of Kitchener’s new Corporate Climate Action Plan, a detailed strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reduce costs through investments in energy efficiency and prepare our community for the increasing effects of climate change.

The plan outlines 47 actions to be implemented through 2027, setting the City of Kitchener up to achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The actions in the plan focus on reducing GHG emissions in the city’s facilities and fleet & equipment divisions as these focus areas offer the greatest opportunity for impact.

“Combatting climate change and preparing our community for its impacts are two of our biggest priorities as stewards of the community for future generations,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “In the report on our progress to date, I’m pleased to see that both our transition to efficient streetlights and our investment in green fleet vehicles have reduced emissions and saved money. But our journey to Net Zero in 2050 is a marathon, not a sprint. We need to keep up our momentum, and our Corporate Climate Action Plan 2.0 is the plan that will get us there.”

The plan outlines the three overarching pathways to net-zero for the City of Kitchener:

• energy efficiency
• fuel switching
• generating local renewable energy

Staff intend to report on the plan’s progress yearly near Earth Day. The financial implications of the organization achieving net-zero are roughly estimated at $250M in additional capital funding over the next 25 years. Community engagement on the plan included involvement of Kitchener’s Climate Change and Environment Advisory Committee.

“Achieving our sustainability goals will require the efforts of our entire community, and I’m pleased to see a detailed strategy for how the City of Kitchener as an organization will do our part in the coming years,” said Planning & Strategic Initiatives Committee Chair and Ward 6 Councillor Paul Singh. “We’re all fortunate to call Kitchener our home – let’s keep our eye on the ball and be proud of how we leave it for future generations.”

CorCap 2.0 is an important part of how the City of Kitchener is achieving its strategic goal of Cultivating a Green City Together.

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For more information, contact:

Shawn Falcao
Manager, Corporate Communications
City of Kitchener
shawn.falcao@kitchener.ca