net zero

Solar panels being installed on a rooftop

QUEST Canada wants to help communities reduce their energy use and emissions

September 9, 2024 by Erica Butler

QUEST Canada will be helping 15 different municipalities in the Atlantic Provinces create plans and undertake initiatives to help them get to net-zero emissions, with $2 million in funding from Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and complementary funding from individual provinces.

“I don’t think any community has figured out how to get to net zero,” says Eddie Oldfield, senior lead of projects for QUEST Canada, who are now recruiting for their expanded Net Zero Communities Accelerator Program. “Let alone our provincial or federal governments” he continued. “But it does take all of us working together to get there.”

The Net Zero Communities Accelerator Program was originally piloted in New Brunswick, and towns like Oromocto, St. Andrews and Riverview have all participated.

A large 3 foot high and roughly 10 feet letters that read "Kitchener".

Kitchener City Council approves $250 Million Plan for Net Zero Emissions by 2050

May 2, 2024 by M.P. Holmes

At its April 29 Council meeting, Kitchener City Council approved a $250 million capital grant over 25 years ($10 million per year) to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

This decision, part of the city’s second corporate climate action plan named Pivot Net Zero, aims to significantly reduce emissions primarily from city facilities and the city vehicular fleet. In an earlier show this week, CKMS spoke to city staff about these changes.

These goals come amidst various challenges including technological uncertainties and financial constraints. Despite these hurdles, the plan has garnered unanimous support from the council, emphasizing the need to set a positive example for the community and act urgently in the face of the climate emergency declared by the city in June 2019.

The plan aligns with the city’s broader strategic goals of cultivating a green city.

Cropped image of a woman posing with a Ryobi battery-powered chainsaw in Bois de Roly, Belgium

“Pivot Net Zero” to continue energy transition and electrification of Kitchener’s fleet

April 29, 2024 by Dan Kellar

Kitchener’s Corporate Climate Action Plan, has been guiding the city’s to transition away from carbon intensive energy sources, with version 2.0 prominently featuring “Pivot Net Zero”. The electrification of cars, light utility vehicles, and hand tools is already well underway, and staff continue to explore new avenues of reducing carbon emissions with larger trucks and equipment.

The city has reported has already seen a benefit in staff experience due to electrification, citing a reduction in exposure to fumes, noise, and the weight of equipment. Economic savings have also been noticed through maintenance costs and energy efficiency.

This show features interviews with Kitchener’s director of Fleet, Matthew Lynch, and the city’s corporate sustainability officer, Anna Marie Cipriani, who speak about the city’s ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for both their fleet and buildings. Kitchener city council will vote on April 29th endorse the updated Corporate Climate Action Plan.

QUEST Canada wants to help communities reduce their energy use and emissions

Kitchener City Council approves $250 Million Plan for Net Zero Emissions by 2050

“Pivot Net Zero” to continue energy transition and electrification of Kitchener’s fleet

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