City of Waterloo hosts Community Conversation on Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action
On June 20, Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe hosted experts and collaborators from across the community for a ‘Community Conversation’ on Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action.
The event brought together representatives from 17 partner organizations with expertise in sustainability, energy efficiency and climate change to share, learn and discuss opportunities to work together on climate change mitigation and adaptation in our community.
“Collectively, we face significant challenges - climate change and affordability being two,” said Mayor McCabe. “We can find solutions when we use the experience, determination and expertise available within our own community. Community Conversations are helping to harness our local capacity to make real change and progress.”
The Mayor was joined by Councillor Royce Bodaly, Councillor Julie Wright and staff from the City’s Strategic Initiatives team to host the half-day of panels, presentations, and engagement opportunities. Topics included green development standards, climate adaptation at the home and community level, transformational change at City facilities, and a timely discussion on the impacts of climate change and costs of extreme weather.
Staff from the City of Waterloo and the Region of Waterloo were joined by representatives from the City’s school partners (University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, Conestoga College, WRDSB, WCDSB), energy partners (Enova Power, Grand River Energy, Enbridge Gas, WR Community Energy) and local advocacy and non-profit groups (Sustainable Waterloo Region, ClimateActionWR, REEP Green Solutions, GreenWR, Grand River Environmental Network, Faith Climate Justice Waterloo Region).
The City took extra steps to ensure the event was hosted sustainably, including:
- reusable lanyards;
- a paperless agenda;
- no material giveaways or tokens;
- local vegetarian cuisine;
- take-home leftovers in compostable containers;
- reusable or compostable dishes and utensils; and;
- encouraging sustainable public transit options.
Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action is one of the City of Waterloo’s strategic priorities: to become a leader in environmental sustainability practices and climate action by making transformational changes related to City operations and services while working with the community towards climate change mitigation and adaptation goals.
About Community Conversations
Waterloo’s Community Conversations are designed to connect the implementation of the City’s Strategic Plan with the work that individuals, groups and organizations are doing across the community. Each Community Conversation will be focused on each of the City’s five strategic priorities:
- Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion (READI);
- Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action;
- Complete Community;
- Infrastructure and Transportation Systems; and
- Innovation and Future-Ready.
All feedback collected during Community Conversations will be summarized in the City’s annual progress reports and form the basis for the 2027 to 2030 Strategic Plan.
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Media contact:
Stacey Abbott
Communications Manager, City of Waterloo