FCM President Bill Karsten made the following statement regarding the announcement of $22 million to be invested by the Government of Canada through FCM to establish an urban climate centre in Ottawa with the Ottawa Community Foundation and Low Carbon Cities Canada.

“As the order of government closest to Canadians’ daily lives, local communities are on the front lines driving Canada’s climate innovation. From testing new carbon-reducing approaches to scaling up proven solutions like energy retrofits to district heating to green fleets. And, with influence of roughly half of Canada’s GHG emissions, municipalities know that local solutions are critical to meeting Canada’s climate goals. 

“Across the country, local leaders are using new tools to unlock their full potential. That’s why we’re pleased to work with Low Carbon Cities Canada as well as with the Ottawa Community Foundation to make these communities more livable for the people who call them home.

“Today’s announcement recognizes that local leadership is essential to cutting emissions.  Funded through 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.

“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. 

“This $22-million investment will help the City of Ottawa reach its emissions-cutting potential. 

“FCM is pleased to be a part of this important initiative that is empowering communities 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

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