City climate plans being unveiled on December 4

On Wednesday morning starting at 9:30 am, Hamilton’s general issues committee will consider how the city will implement the climate emergency it declared nine months ago by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for the expected local impacts of global heating.  A multi-departmental task force will present its recommended “Goals and Areas of Focus for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation”.

Hamilton 350 Committee urges everyone concerned about global heating to attend and observe this public meeting. It will be held in council chambers on the second floor of City Hall and is open for all to attend and observe.

The committee is also expected to hear from numerous citizen delegates who will each have five minutes to respond to the climate emergency plans. Delegates are expected from several locally active climate groups including Environment Hamilton, the Hamilton 350 Committee, Extinction Rebellion and the student-led Fridays for Future movement.

Delegates are normally allowed to address the committee for five minutes and may use power point, video or other digital aids. Those wishing to be delegates need to apply by noon on Tuesday December 3 by completing an on-line form found at https://www.hamilton.ca/council-committee/council-committee-meetings/request-speak-committee-council-form.

The multi-departmental recommendations are described in several on-line documents posted on the city’s website. They include:

1. An overview report and recommendations from the city’s general manager prepared by its air quality and climate change coordinator found at https://pub-hamilton.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=210147
2. A 28-page report from the multi-departmental task force setting out nine major goals. Each is accompanied by “high impact actions”, background data and “key indicators”. Topics include buildings, transportation, active and sustainable travel, planning and procurement. This report can be viewed at https://pub-hamilton.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=210148
3. A 20-page listing of existing city activities and programs related to climate change in tabular form with a column noting “strength/weakness/opportunity/threat” found at https://pub-hamilton.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=210149
4. A copy of the slide presentation that will be delivered to the committee by Trevor Imhoff, the city’s Air Quality and Climate Change Coordinator. It is posted at https://pub-hamilton.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=210150

The delegations from residents will be heard before the staff presentation and councillor discussion.

For more information: [email protected]
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