How do we protect the County of Brant from the impacts of climate change?
How do we build and retrofit our communities so that they conserve water and energy? How do we improve air quality and protect drinking water? How do we protect our biodiversity and greenspaces?
Help us create Official Plan policies that not only protect our natural areas, but promote and encourage resilience to the impacts of climate change, renewable energy initiatives, and give us more access to green spaces in our communities. Explore the information below, including opportunities and challenges that the County of Brant may face as we continue to develop green energy opportunities, address litter, reduce waster, and support our residents and businesses to reduce the impacts of climate change.
Have your say and stay in the loop as we plan for our future!
Engage With Us
| Where can I learn more about this topic? |
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| Take our survey about How We Green |
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The surveys for Phase 2 of this project have now closed. Click here to review to the results of these surveys. For more ways to get involved, visit www.engagebrant.ca/the-new-official-plan. |
| We have a discussion guide for chatting about How We Green - Check it out here! |
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Click the image for more information on this ongoing By-Law review project
Challenges and Opportunities
Listed below are a number of the key topics and questions that will help as we form policies to ensure we are building a sustainable and resilient Brant. You can use these questions to help determine what goals and objectives you would like to see in our Planning documents to encourage things like energy conservation, flood mitigation, public safety from extreme weather events, reducing litter and waste and more.
| Climate Change and Resilience |
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In November 2019, the County of Brant confirmed its commitment to combat climate change by joining many municipalities in Ontario to declare a climate emergency. The County recognizes that impacts of a changing climate result in more intense storms and volatility of weather patterns, in which there is a greater risk to property and life due to increased natural hazards such as flooding. Homes, businesses and farms located near rivers and valleys like the Grand River are particularly vulnerable to hazards. In some cases, homes and businesses were historically built in flood prone areas near rivers. We must be proactive in our approach to these historic situations, as well as protecting new development from these risks. Paved surfaces, sewer systems and stormwater systems are not able to absorb rain created from intense storms. When water is not properly drained, properties and transportation systems may become flooded and damaged. Climate change is not a future threat: its impacts can already be seen throughout the County of Brant and beyond. What initiatives or ideas do you have to make the County more resilient to climate change? What about your neighbourhood? |
| Renewable Energy |
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The County of Brant is committed to building a sustainable, carbon neutral municipality by 2050 and has taken measurable steps towards accomplishing this goal. Renewable energy generation and conservation initiatives have been incorporated into municipal undertakings and best practices including solar installations, LED lighting retrofits, sustainable building designs and long-term energy planning. Did you know that the County has developed strategic partnerships in renewable energy projects? We've partnered with the Six Nations of the Grand River, local businesses and the Sustainability Brant Community Energy Co-operative; a local renewable energy cooperative which provides ownership and investment opportunities for residents of Brant and surrounding communities.
Should that County of Brant offer incentives for new developments to promote carbon-neutrality and other green initiatives? |
| Public Green Spaces |
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Green spaces, including parkland, open space and trails, make up an important system in any community. A public green space system can be used to encourage sustainable measures such as urban agriculture, rooftop gardens, communal courtyards, public parks and connections for modes of active transportation such as walking and biking. It can encourage equitable and safe access to natural features, such as rivers and wetlands, by preserving the features and using spaces to educate the public on natural resilience to climate change. The opportunities abound to create vibrant public green spaces, as well as encourage the greening of private properties in the County of Brant.
If you could plan the perfect public green space, what would it offer? |
Questions, comments, or concerns? Get in touch with us!
Our contact information is listed below and we look forward to hearing from you.
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