City of Spruce Grove plays a role in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
As the world anxiously awaits the results of talks in Copenhagen to reach a new global agreement on greenhouse gas emissions, local governments continue moving forward.
The City of Spruce Grove is one of approximately 3,000 communities from around the world included in the City Climate Catalogue.
This catalogue includes information on achievements and targets for participating communities. It was created to draw attention to the important role local communities are playing in the struggle to lower global emissions and to strengthen their voice at the Copenhagen talks.
The City of Spruce Grove first became active in climate change issues when it joined the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Partners for Climate Protection program in June 2003.
Through the development of its Energy Management Plan and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Strategy, the City achieved the fourth out of five program milestones. As part of this, the City committed to reducing corporate emissions by 20 per cent and community emissions by six per cent below 1996 levels by 2013.
Initiatives taken by the City to reduce emissions include offering a commuter transit service, retrofitting City Hall to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, increasing the energy efficiency of traffic lights, and regularly monitoring emissions and energy use. Also, the City’s draft Municipal Development Plan, Your Bright Future, provides a vision and policy framework for more efficient use of land and resources.
“Local governments are the closest to citizens,” says City of Spruce Grove Mayor Stuart Houston. “A real opportunity exists at this level to take action on greenhouse gas emissions and create a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren.”
[Source: City of Spruce Grove]
