Cumberland residents are invited to provide input on the development of a community Climate Action Plan.

The village is hosting two public engagement events to share current greenhouse gas emissions data and to gather input on how the community can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase resiliency to extreme weather events and the associated impacts on people and natural ecosystems.

鈥淲e want to hear from residents how Cumberland can become a net zero emissions community and how we can plan for and adapt to the impacts of climate change,鈥� says Mayor Vickey Brown. 鈥淐ommunity participation is key to developing a Climate Action Plan that is ambitious, yet achievable.鈥�

The first public engagement event is a Climate Action Caf茅, encouraging conversation and exchange of knowledge between participants and project team members around topic-focused discussion tables. The Climate Action Caf茅 takes place Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 5-8 p.m. at the Masonic Hall (2687 Dunsmuir Ave.). The event is drop-in, includes a kids colouring table, coffee, and other light refreshments to nourish the discussions.

The second event is an online meeting on Thursday, Feb. 15 from 6:30-8 p.m. Email planning@cumberland.ca to register and receive the online meeting link.

Input collected from these events will guide the draft climate actions and policies. Further feedback will be sought from the community on the draft actions in the spring. The Climate Action Plan will also inform the village鈥檚 Official Community Plan (OCP) update, currently in progress. To receive updates on the Climate Action Plan and future engagement opportunities, 鈥渇ollow鈥� the project at .

Cumberland鈥檚 first Climate Action Plan was developed in 2014 and focused on actions the municipality could take to reduce emissions from the services and facilities it operates. This updated plan will build upon that work and consider emissions and resilience for the community as a whole.

The work on the Climate Action Plan includes:

鈥� Analyzing sources of municipal and community emissions and climate change risks.

鈥� Developing emissions reduction targets and climate action goals for 2030, 2040 and 2050.

鈥� Identifying strategies and actions that the village and community can take to increase resilience and reduce emissions.

The final plan will include modelling of potential impacts, specific actions, and an implementation plan with priorities and timelines.

For more information: