Today, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) released the 22nd annual report of the Green Municipal Fund (GMF), showcasing how it is driving innovation in its own operations, and for municipalities through program design, financing, projects and capacity development.
GMF’s annual report illustrates how municipalities large and small are exploring new ways to ensure a more sustainable and prosperous future. The organization seeks to help support sustainable solutions that can be replicated coast-to-coast-to-coast to deliver triple-bottom-line benefits.
“FCM’s Green Municipal Fund, together with municipalities and the federal government, is helping move the country toward Canada’s 2030 and 2050 climate goals. Achieving the goal requires both bold investments in municipalities, and a disciplined approach to scaling up proven solutions – both elements that are at the core of GMF’s success,” said Taneen Rudyk, president of FCM. “Together, we are working to build a future where we live, work and play in harmony with our natural environment.”
The federal government’s recently released Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) outlines the immediate, concrete steps our country will take to close the emissions gap to reduce GHGs by 40-45 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. Achieving this target is necessary to limit global warming to 1.5°C and to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change. Now is the moment for bold climate action as we scale local pathways to net zero.
For more than two decades, GMF and FCM have been delivering climate programming that provides Canadian communities with the tools they need to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future while supporting the most vulnerable people.
Key priorities identified in the ERP:
- Low-emissions buildings and homes through the Community Efficiency Financing, Sustainable Affordable Housing and Community Buildings Retrofit initiatives
- Transportation: GMF helps ensure active and low-carbon transit are accessible, efficient, safe, and convenient. Through our core offer we support options to reduce fossil fuels in fleets, and develop transportation networks and community option
- Waste: GMF helps municipalities build a future in which waste is avoided, recovered, and reused through responsible resource management. GMF funds waste diversion and waste stream management options
- Land use: GMF works with municipalities and their partners to ensure land is protected, restored, used, and managed responsibly. GMF funds brownfield site remediation, renewable energy production on brownfield, sustainable neighborhood action plans, on-site or off-site treatment of contaminated soils, groundwater, or other materials
- The Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3 Network of urban climate hubs) is further enabling local innovation in seven major urban areas, helping almost 50 percent of Canadians live in more sustainable cities and creating examples for others to follow.
“Communities are on the front lines of climate action. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities, with a big assist from the Green Municipal Fund, is a crucial partner in helping meet Canada’s 2030 emissions targets while making our communities more resilient to the growing hazards of climate change. These projects help Canadians save on energy costs, and ensure a healthier environment for all of us to enjoy,” states Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Featured image credit: FCM.
