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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPUB-017-24 Staff Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Report To: General Government Committee Date of Meeting: November 4, 2024 Report Number: PUB-017-24 Authored by: Natalie Ratnasingam, Climate Change Response Coordinator Submitted By: Lee-Ann Reck, Deputy CAO, Public Services Reviewed By: Mary-Anne Dempster, CAO By-law Number: Resolution Number: File Number: Report Subject: Support for Climate-Ready Plans and Processes Grant Program Recommendations: 1. That Report PUB-017-24, and any related delegations or communication items, be received; 2. That Council direct and support staff to apply for the funding opportunity from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Local Leadership for Climate Action initiative to support the development of a Community Climate Adaptation Plan; 3. That all interested parties listed in Report PUB-017-24, and any delegations be advised of Council’s decision. Municipality of Clarington Page 2 Report PUB-017-24 Report Overview The Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund (GMF) has announced a new funding opportunity under their Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation (LLCA) initiative. Staff are preparing an application to support the creation of a Community Climate Adaptation Plan that will identify climate risks and vulnerabilities in the community, set adaptation goals and objectives, develop actions, and create a strategy to monitor and review progress. By developing a Community Climate Adaptation Plan, our community will have a clear roadmap to address climate change and ensure that all residents—especially those who are equity-deserving, benefit from a more resilient and sustainable future. 1. Background 1.1 The Municipality of Clarington plays an important role in responding to climate change by instituting policies, programs, and services to enable broader community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions, as well as improve resilience to extreme weather caused by a changing climate. 1.2 The Green Municipal Fund (GMF), a program of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), is a globally unique organization providing funding and education to municipalities to help them reach net-zero and build resilient communities, while also delivering economic and social benefits. GMF manages approximately $2.4 billion in programs funded by the Government of Canada. 1.3 GMF has announced a new funding opportunity under the Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation (LLCA) initiative, “Climate-Ready Plans and Processes” to support communities adapt to the impacts of climate change by developing climate risk assessments and adaptation plans, which are critical for safeguarding infrastructure, protecting essential services, and ensuring the well-being of residents. 2. Project Proposal and Next Steps Proposed Project 2.1 An application is being prepared to support the development of a Community Climate Adaptation Plan. The Plan will help support our community in adapting to the impacts of climate change in a comprehensive and equitable manner. Municipality of Clarington Page 3 Report PUB-017-24 2.2 A climate risk assessment will identify community-specific hazards (e.g., flooding, wildfires, extreme heat, etc.) and assess vulnerable infrastructure and services to provide a data-based foundation for informed and proactive decision-making. 2.3 The results of the climate risk assessment will be used to develop the Climate Adaptation Plan that will help prioritize adaptation measures, integrate resiliency into existing plans, and enhance overall community resilience. This would supplement the current Corporate Climate Action plan which focuses on internal, corporate initiatives, while this Plan will develop community-based actions. 2.4 Through an inclusive engagement strategy, equity-deserving groups will be identified to address potential barriers to engagement and reach diverse groups in the community. This will help build broad support by ensuring all residents have been represented. Next Steps 2.5 The application is due November 29, 2024. A Council Resolution in support of the Project and application is required. Once the application is complete with supporting documents, it is submitted through the FCM funding portal. 2.6 A GMF Project Officer will review the application for completeness and will evaluate the submission against specific criteria. GMF will assess applications on the merits of the project budget and workplan, including whether the project has an inclusive engagement strategy, collaborative aspects, and the overall project scope. 2.7 If successful, the Project will be supported through a grant. The base grant cost share for this program is 60% and can be increased based on certain strategic priorities such as meaningfully addressing Reconciliation and/or anti-racism, equity and inclusion, or involving other levels of government. 3. Financial Considerations 3.1 The Municipality’s portion of the Project will be funded from the Climate Change Professional Fees Account. 4. Strategic Plan G.4.2 – Be a leader in anticipating and addressing the impacts of climate change. 5. Climate Change 5.1 The Project will support the Corporate Climate Action Plan by building on the action items identified and further investigating opportunities to improve Clarington’s resilience Municipality of Clarington Page 4 Report PUB-017-24 to extreme weather and climate change impacts through increased local adaptive capacity and collaboration among community stakeholders. 6. Concurrence Not Applicable. 7. Conclusion It is respectfully recommended that Council direct and support staff to apply for the funding opportunity from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Local Leadership for Climate Action initiative for a Community Climate Adaptation Plan. Staff Contact: Natalie Ratnasingam, Climate Change Response Coordinator, 905-623-3379 x. 2429 or nratnasingam@clarington.net. Attachments: Not Applicable Interested Parties: There are no interested parties to be notified of Council's decision.