Chatham-Kent Community Development and the Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) are hosting a meeting next Tuesday, September 10, 2019 to discuss the initial stages of a Climate Change Action Plan.
The meeting will include a presentation from municipal representatives and a discussion regarding the current version of the draft Climate Change Action Plan Terms of Reference.
Event: Community Development Advisory Committee Meeting
Location: Room 212, Civic Centre
Time: 5:00 pm
Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Who: CDAC committee meeting open to the public, staff, and members of Council
The Terms of Reference will broadly outline the approach to public engagement and this is the first of many steps towards making sure everyone’s voice is heard.
“After Council voted unanimously to declare a climate change emergency in our community earlier this year, it was essential for our team to come up with a plan of attack on how to best move forward,” stated Wallaceburg Councillor Aaron Hall, the chair of the Community Development Advisory Committee, in a press release.
“The draft Terms of Reference prepared by staff is an excellent starting point. It is equally important for our team to hear from the public and gather feedback, which is why we are launching an area on the Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent website. Every corner of Chatham-Kent has been impacted to some degree by weather events in the recent past.”
Hall added: “Multiple flood warnings along the Sydenham and Thames Rivers, high waters in Mitchell’s Bay and of course the challenging situation our residents along Lake Erie are facing on a daily basis. Receiving the raw feedback, stories, and personal reflections will be valuable to staff, the CDAC, and Council as we tackle this issue head on.”
Reviewing, and ultimately formalizing, the draft Terms of Reference will establish the goal and purpose of the Climate Change Action Plan, how the plan will be developed, and important details such as what is in scope.
It is confirmed that the plan will include consultation with elected officials, climate change experts, municipal staff, property owners, businesses, public partners, and residents across all of Chatham-Kent, Municipal officials stated.
“Chatham-Kent needs to understand what measures we need to take in order to adapt to climate change,” stated John Norton, General Manager of Chatham-Kent Community Development, in a media release.
“The Municipality of Chatham-Kent must also look to do its part in the global effort to try and mitigate the effects of climate change.”
For details about the meeting and for updates regarding this project, please visit the website www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca.
