A climate action plan is expected to be discussed during the city’s budget process.
“The climate action plan and moving forward with that is within our Capital Budget, which will be coming forward soon for discussion,” says Councillor Lana Mitchell, chair of infrastructure and operations.
She was responding to a presentation by Nipissing Environmental Watch.
The group says a previous council voted not to declare a climate emergency and is asking this council to revisit the idea.
“There are many municipalities who have taken action on climate, put plans in place and have become very active and involved in making changes,” says John Patterson with Nipissing Environmental Watch. “It certainly is within the realm of the city to do things and to take action and kind of lead the way.”
Some of the group’s suggestions include a city-wide no idling bylaw, communicating where residents should go during emergencies like wildfires or floods, engaging the public on active transportation, developing neighbourhoods with green space, and more.
Some councillors highlighted some of the work the city is doing with the net carbon zero community and recreation centre project and bringing in hybrid buses.
