FCM President Bill Karsten made the following statement regarding the announcement of $22 million by the Government of Canada through FCM to establish an urban climate centre in Edmonton with Alberta EcoTrust Foundation and Low Carbon Cities Canada.
“Across the country, local communities are on the front lines driving Canada’s climate innovation. As the order of government closest to Canadians’ daily lives, and with influence of roughly half of Canada’s GHG emissions, municipalities know that local climate solutions are critical to meeting Canada’s climate goals. From testing new carbon-reducing approaches to scaling up proven solutions like energy retrofits to district heating to green fleets, local leaders are using new tools to unlock their full potential.
“We’re pleased to work with Low Carbon Cities Canada as well as with Alberta EcoTrust Foundation to make these communities more livable for the people who call them home.
“This $22-million investment will help the City of Edmonton reach its full emissions-cutting power. We already see our cities leading the way on low-carbon innovation, and this investment will help us go further — to build cost-saving energy solutions that build better lives for Canadians.
“Today’s announcement also recognizes that local leadership is essential to cutting emissions. Funded through the Federal Budget 2019’s nearly $1-billion investment in working directly with municipalities, this commitment doubles down on working directly with local governments and FCM’s Green Municipal Fund — a leader in driving green innovation across the country.
“FCM is pleased to be a part of this important initiative that is empowering local government and investing in local climate solutions.”
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is the national voice of local government, with nearly 2,000 member municipalities representing more than 90 per cent of the Canadian population.
For more information, please contact:
FCM Media Relations, (613) 907-6395, media@fcm.ca