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Smiths Falls now has its eyes set on reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% from their 2021 figures by 2031, on their way to net-zero by 2050.
Councillor Peter McKenna chairs the Climate Protection Group and says they have their work cut out for them, after the inventory was taken.
McKenna knows there’s a challenging task ahead.
Community emissions make up almost all local GHG output—about 87,600 tCOe in 2021—while municipal operations account for roughly 2%.
Without action, emissions are projected to rise modestly by 2031, 2036, and 2050.
13 major community initiatives—mainly in transportation and buildings—offer the most significant reduction potential, but even with these measures, community reductions alone will not fully meet long-term targets, according to a staff report.
The town says provincial and federal support will be required to close the remaining gap.