Grassroots Project - Combatting Climate Change - Pilot Project

Manitoba News Release
............................................................
August 27, 2010

COMMUNITIES TAKE LEADERSHIP ROLE
IN REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASES
- - -
Grassroots Projects
Will Have Huge Impact:  Lemieux, Blaikie

Manitobans are taking a leadership role in combating climate change by raising community awareness and developing grassroots solutions, Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux and Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie, minister responsible for recycling and environmental education, announced today. 

"By taking actions such as reducing waste, composting, implementing sustainable transportation measures and developing green landscaping, municipalities across the province will collectively go a long way toward reducing Manitoba's carbon footprint," Lemieux said.  "Every individual, business, neighbourhood and municipality has an important role to play in helping us create a better environment for future generations."

Fourteen rural and urban centres, including six neighbourhood organizations, are receiving funds under the four-year (2008-12), Community Led Emissions Reduction (CLER) pilot program.  The funds help them develop and implement projects and activities that reduce greenhouse gases and support lasting changes.  
 
The $3.5-million pilot program is being delivered in partnership with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities, Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, local not-for-profit environmental organizations and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
 
The initiative has five stages and the participating communities have all completed the first three:

- establishing an emissions inventory to show how many greenhouse gases are being emitted in the areas of energy, transportation and waste;

- setting emissions reduction goals;

- developing a local climate-change action plan with community input;

- implementing emissions-reduction projects and activities; and

- monitoring progress and reporting results.

 "We all have a responsibility in reducing the greenhouse-gas emissions that cause climate change," Blaikie said. "These communities and neighbourhoods are clearly committed to living more sustainably.  Research tells us that up to half of greenhouse-gas emissions in Canada are under the direct or indirect control of municipalities, so it's important that we support climate change initiatives at the grassroots level."

"Brandonites are proud to have played a strong role in grassroots climate-change initiatives like the One Tonne Challenge.  The Community Led Emissions Reduction program helps us build on ongoing priorities and previous accomplishments," said Brandon Mayor Dave Burgess. 

"When it comes to the environment, we're told to 'think globally and act locally,' and climate change is one area where action in small communities can make a big difference," said St-Pierre-Jolys Mayor Réal Curé.

"Daniel McIntyre/St. Matthews residents already recognize that greening our neighbourhood has the added benefits of enhancing local recreational, housing and safety priorities.  Participating in this pilot program will help us get our green plan off the ground," said Kemlin Nembhard, executive director of the Daniel McIntyre/St. Matthews Community Association.

The Community Led Emissions Reduction program builds on the groundbreaking work of the former Climate Change Community Challenge (C4), Green Manitoba's Municipal Baseline Project and the continued dedication of local non-profit organizations such as Resource Conservation Manitoba, the Manitoba Eco-Network and Climate Change Connection, said the ministers.

While the pilot program is currently limited to designated communities, other communities in the province interested in undertaking climate change measures can access tools and resources developed under CLER by visiting the program's website at www.gov.mb.ca/ia/climate/index.
 
In 2008, the province launched Beyond Kyoto, Manitoba's blueprint to reach and go beyond its legislated Kyoto target to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012.  This pilot initiative is part of the Beyond Kyoto commitment.