The effects of climate change -- a long-term shift in weather conditions, including temperature, precipitation, winds, and other indicators caused by human activities that release greenhouse gases -- are already being experienced around the world and in our watershed communities.
Climate Change is a fact in our daily living – raising the cost of our food, causing extreme weather that damages property and infrastructure, threatening outdoor activities we love….
It affects every aspect of our lives, so it is our collective responsibility to fight climate change together to ensure our children benefit from a cleaner planet.
Honourable Glen Murray
Former Ontario Minister, Environment and Climate Change
Scientific evidence shows that as the climate changes, there will be increasing risks of extreme weather leading to flooding and drought, habitat change and biodiversity loss, and changes to water quality and supply.
NVCA's Climate Change Strategy
In 2016, NVCA began working on a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan that will support global, federal and provincial goals by focusing on our watershed to support climate change adaption and mitigation.
The strategy is being developed using the five milestone framework set out by ICLEI: Local
Governments for Sustainability.
Information on each milestone will be posted as it becomes available.
Milestone 1: Initiate
In Milestone 1, we set the stage for developing the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. Key elements included initial research, establishing the internal climate change team, and planning for stakeholder involvement.
Milestone 1 was the NVCA's board
of directors endorsed a watershed climate change charter.
NVCA's Watershed Climate Change Charter
"Scientific evidence shows climate change is happening now. This consensus that greenhouse gas emissions are seriously affecting Earth's climate and that climate change is having increasing negative global impacts, effects the NVCA watershed's environment and economy.
The NVCA agrees that we need to take responsibility at the local, watershed level and act to address both climate change adaptation and mitigation. We need to prepare for climate change impacts in ways that promote environmental integrity, economic prosperity, and health benefits for all.
It is important for individuals and organizations to share ideas and best practices and coordinate efforts to accomplish these goals as effectively as possible. NVCA agrees that we need to be part of this coordination and conversation."
Councillor Doug Lougheed
June 24, 2016
Milestone 2: Research
The local impacts of global climate change are becoming more prevalent.
Climate data observations within the Nottawasaga Valley watershed confirm that temperatures have been climbing steadily, particularly in winter months, and annual precipitation has been increasing.
Recent extreme weather events such as flash flooding, heat waves, drought, and tornadoes illustrate the extent to which weather can impact daily life. They also emphasize the need to be prepared for changing weather regimes where such events are expected to become more commonplace.
In the Milestone 2 report, we provide a basic overview of climatic changes projected to occur in the Nottawasaga Valley from present until the turn of the century. While temperature and precipitation changes are the focus of the report, increasing stream temperatures, and extreme rainfall intensity, duration and frequency are also studied.
NVCA Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan Milestone 2 (December 2016)
Milestone 3: Plan
In Milestone 3, we engaged a wide range of stakeholders to gather insights on priorities and actions to be considered in the development of the authority's climate change action plan.
Stakeholder Engagement Process
NVCA undertook a stakeholder engagement process in conjunction with environmental technology students from Georgian College, as part of their third-year stakeholder engagement and management course.
Climate Change Stakeholder Meeting 2, Mar 22, 2017, Outcomes
Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan
In the Milestone 3 report, we outline the strategies and actions that the authority plans to take to address climate change.
The NVCA board of directors approved the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan in principle at their May 19, 2017 meeting. Staff will review the items outlined in the plan for consideration in future budgets and work plans.
NVCA Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan Milestone 3 (May 2017)
Related Climate Change Research