South Frontenac Adopts Climate Action Plan

At their meeting on May 5th, South Frontenac Council formally adopted a climate action plan that has been under development for a number of years.

The document was prepared by Strategy Corp, and much of it is based on actions taking by the township in recent years,

The climate action plan reflects “a practical commitment to environmental stewardship, embedding climate considerations into the Township’s own operations and decisions,” said Chief Administrative Officer Louise Fragnito.

“This work aligns closely with the Township’s Strategic Plan, including our focus on responsible asset management, long-term resilience, and preparing for future adaptation,” said Mayor Ron Vandewal

The plan deals with the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving the resilience of the municipal fleet, facilities and infrastructure, and sustainable operational practices.

Because of the reality of climate change, the plan looks not only at mitigating the impact of township operations by addressing emissions and at the same time taking advantage of cost savings from energy efficiencies where possible.

It also considers necessary adaptations to the impacts of climate change on current and future township operations, including wild fire and other impacts.

The plan focusses on 35 specific actions, in 8 priority areas.

Energy efficiency in public buildings, building resiliency into infrastructure, considering climate in budgeting, seeking funding and partnerships for climate projects, and supporting preservation through sustainable land planning, are among the priority areas.

“A lot of this plan is based on many of the actions we have been taking over the years as a prudent way to conduct business,” said Councillor Ron Sleeth, in response to the plan. “I just think we have not done a great job of letting people know everything we have been doing. I’m glad it has all been captured in this one document.”

The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions within the township’s operations are emissions from the township fleet of vehicles, which account for 73% of the total emissions annually.

About half of those vehicles are “heavy-duty or construction equipment, which are essential for road maintenance and seasonal operations,” the report.

These vehicles are harder to transition from the diesel fuel many of them burn, but the other 50% of vehicles, which are “light duty vehicles such as SUV’s and pickup trucks, are a more short-term target for transition. By looking at lifecycle costs when purchasing, the township will be looking at greenhouse gas savings and cost savings over time.

While the township is currently on track to increase GHG (Greenhouse gas emissions) by over 50% by 2050, there are significant opportunities to lower that impact by taking concerted action as part of its long-term planning processes.

Council adopted the action plan, which will be going live on the South Frontenac website in the coming weeks.