In a press release issued on April 15, 2024, Climate Action Muskoka (CAM) commends the District Municipality of Muskoka for its recently released Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan (CEERP) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but says it needs to go further.
“This is an important, ambitious, evidence-based plan, developed with broad community input,” said Linda Mathers and Tamsen Tillson, who represented CAM on the Climate Change Mitigation Task Force.
“As a framework, this is a good start. But we need to go further, faster. We need to see this implemented right away. We are counting on our District and municipal leaders to set specific targets and timelines and to allocate staff and source the funding necessary to achieve the climate goals we have committed to here.”
Based on a 2021 audit of the source of emissions, this plan outlines a vision for reductions and key actions required across the three areas that create the most emissions: transportation, buildings, and community systems. The District of Muskoka has committed to achieving a 50% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030—less than six years away—and net zero by 2050.
CAM is concerned that projected emissions reductions in CEERP are too reliant on the adoption of EVs by private citizens and the initiative and leadership of community groups, many of which are volunteer-run. The group calls on the District and municipal governments to set an example by implementing climate actions in all three areas of the plan: transportation, buildings, and community systems.
As the plan enters its implementation phase, CAM says it is calling on the District and municipal governments to provide leadership as follows:
1. A dedicated climate action department and sufficient staff to carry out the implementation requirements in the plan.
2. Policy and regulations to meet the plan’s targets that are specific, measurable, costed and funded, with timelines and deadlines.
3. Adequate funding and investment in climate-resilient infrastructure and community incentives. According to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, every dollar invested today saves six dollars in the future.
4. Address the need to phase out ‘natural’ gas in Muskoka, plan for this transition with rebate incentives for residential heat pump uptake, and lead the way by retrofitting all municipal buildings with air-source heat pumps.
“We cannot afford for this plan to gather dust. With less than six years to cut emissions by 50% CAM calls on the District and municipal governments to move forward with the utmost urgency and looks forward to working with elected representatives and staff on next steps,” states their press release.
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Bob Braan says
Want to save money and emissions?
Ontario has a new optional Ultra Low Plan for electricity.
Only 2.8 cents per kWh overnight every night.
We save around $200/year by having timers on our electric hot water tank and hot tub so they only heat in the middle of the night.
Lower monthly bills than 5 years ago.
A hot water heater timer, EH40, is $95 at HD.
Timers like that should be free to greatly reduce peak demand.
You have to avoid the 28 cents per kWh for 5 hrs 4-9pm weekdays most of the time.
A toaster oven only uses 1/4 the energy of a full size oven. Or else the BBQ.
The new plan is cheaper in the morning and noon peak TOU times as well.
2.8 cents per kWh is less cost than nat gas for hot water and no carbon tax.
Electric tanks are much cheaper to buy and install and operate at the Ultra Low plan.
Gas water heaters should be obsolete.
Phased out.
An EV only costs $100/yr to run 20K km at the 2.8 cents per kWh rate.
Instead of $100 every week or two for gas.
Actually FREE “fuel” courtesy of the gas burners.
EV owners don’t pay the carbon tax for gas but still get the big rebate which more than covers the entire yearly cost of “fuel.”
Energy conservation and shifting demand to off peak times has the same effect as new generation and distribution for pennies on the dollar.
Pennies.
Ontario used to have many Save On Energy rebates, including timers, to conserve and shift power demand.
Until Dud Ford cancelled them all.
Bill Bell says
I’m a bit confused as to why the district is so worried about climate change etc. You voted in an MP that belongs to the PC party that doesn’t believe in climate change !!!