One step at a time, creating a climate-ready community
We are feeling the impacts of climate change here in Waterloo Region with warmer, wetter, wilder and weirder weather. How do we prepare? How do we create a livable, resilient and affordable community for now and future generations?
There is much to do for us to reach our community’s climate goals. But, right now, many groups across Waterloo Region are working to make it happen.
Waterloo Region has a goal to reduce 80% of all our community’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by 2050. The Region of Waterloo and other municipalities endorsed this plan in 2021.
We can all take action. It’s up to government, businesses, institutions and everyone who lives here to help build this equitable, prosperous, low carbon community.
At the Region of Waterloo, sustainability is central in the work we do. “Climate Aligned Growth” is one the four priorities in our Growing with Care Strategic Plan. We can’t do it alone. But we can do our part to reduce the GHGs we produce from buses and other vehicles, water treatment, and the landfill.
Reaching goals through the Impact Network
Another group leading Waterloo Region towards a more sustainable future is Sustainable Waterloo Region, a non-profit focused on developing a local green economy. One way they support local businesses is called the Impact Network. Since 2009, they’ve challenged organizations to join the network and set ambitious but realistic sustainability targets. Sustainable Waterloo Region helps them identify, measure and reach those goals.
The Region of Waterloo’s been a member since the beginning – it’s one way we’re measuring our progress and reporting it to the public.
The Impact Network has over 70 members. Participants are:
- working to keep food waste out of the landfill
- adopting energy-efficient lights and heating
- using water more efficiently
Region of Waterloo moving forward
As your municipal government, here are some ways the Region of Waterloo has been working towards a more climate-resilient community:
- building new Waterloo Region Housing residential buildings to net-zero carbon standards
- installing 19 rooftop solar projects to generate 2,000 MW of electricity
- installing low carbon thermal systems at Library Headquarters and Sunnyside Supportive Housing
- installing state-of-the-art co-generation technology in water treatment plants to capture and reuse GHG emissions, saving approximately 1,900 tonnes per year
- diverting biosolids from landfills to agricultural lands and old mining sites to support rehabilitation and reduce landfill fugitive methane
- expanding GRT’s low carbon hybrid bus fleet
- integrating 11 new fully electric buses into the GRT network
- installing EV charging infrastructure at Regional buildings and facilities
This work takes a whole community. The Region is collaborating with partners, like Sustainable Waterloo Region, WR Community Energy, Reep Green Solutions and ClimateActionWR to deliver programs that reduce GHG emissions and prepare our community for a low-carbon future.
Learn more about what we’re doing.