Ottawa, June 23, 2017 — The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Clark Somerville, Past President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) today announced funding for 48 projects in communities across Canada through the Green Municipal Fund. The $72 million investment supports capital projects, pilot projects, feasibility studies and plans that will directly or indirectly cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and address climate change challenges.
The total cumulative anticipated GHG reduction1 of the capital projects announced is over 310,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent — approximately equal to taking 71,000 cars off the road for one year. Today’s announcement underlines the positive and crucial role municipalities play in addressing climate change challenges.
Initiatives announced today stem from all parts of the country and deliver innovative approaches that provide cleaner air and water, increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and solid waste. For example, the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Manicouagan in Quebec demonstrated that it was possible for a remote northern community to build a multi-material recycling centre in the face of high costs due to distance from major markets for recyclable materials and the region’s dispersed population base.
Other initiatives include electric vehicle charging stations for Canada’s largest net-zero energy neighbourhood in London, ON; a waste-to-energy transformation system in Southern Alberta; and a feasibility study for a micro-sewer energy recovery system in Richmond, BC.
These initiatives demonstrate that cities and communities are committed to playing a key role in achieving national climate change goals. Find out more information about the initiatives that received funding:·Capital projects: Funding details, project descriptions and benefits·Pilot projects, feasibility studies and plans: Funding details Quotes
| “Canadians expect action on climate change, and the Green Municipal Fund is a major step in the right direction. With cities accounting for 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, this $72 million investment will support projects that help lower emissions, create good-paying jobs, and foster clean and healthy towns and cities across the country. This is climate action done right.” — The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change “We are growing Canada’s economy through investments in green infrastructure, clean technologies and lower-carbon transportation options. These innovative and targeted GMF initiatives show these investments in action, solving some of today’s biggest environmental challenges while helping us to meet our domestic climate goals and international commitments.”— The Honourable Jim Carr, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources “FCM is extremely proud to showcase how Canadian municipalities are driving concrete results and contributing in a meaningful way to the national climate change agenda. The projects announced today demonstrate what effective partnership can produce for our country’s environment, and how FCM is a natural partner in the transition to low carbon communities.” — Clark Somerville, FCM Past President The Government of Canada endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities with $550 million to establish the Green Municipal Fund™. An additional $125 million top-up to this endowment was also announced in Budget 2016 and will be added to the Fund in 2017-18. The Fund supports partnerships and leveraging of both public and private-sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection. |
Related informationFCM’s Green Municipal FundGreen Municipal Fund 2015–2016 Annual Report
EPA green gas equivalencies tableContactsFederation of Canadian MunicipalitiesFrancine Pressault
Media Relations Advisor
Green Municipal Fund
T. 613-907-6399Environment and Climate Change Canada
Marie-Pascale Des RosiersPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Environment and Climate ChangeT. 613-462-5473 Media RelationsEnvironment and Climate Change CanadaT. 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll free) Natural Resources CanadaAlexandre Deslongchamps
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Natural Resources
T. 343-998-1533 Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
T. 343-292-6100 1 FCM reports cumulative greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions avoided using a method that aligns with internationally accepted standards. A key assumption of the approach is that GMF funds projects that are better than business as usual (BAU). FCM determines cumulative GHG emissions avoided based on a projection of these better-than-BAU benefits, continuing for seven years. This implies there is a cumulative savings over the first seven years of operation. Of note, the capital projects included in this announcement feature anticipated emission reductions. The actual emission reductions may be different once the projects are completed. FCM has been the national voice of municipal governments since 1901. It fosters the development of sustainable communities to improve quality of life by promoting strong, effective, and accountable municipal government.
