'Need for action': Newmarket declares a climate emergency

Town deepens commitment to protecting environment from climate change: mayor

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 30, 2020

Newmarket council officially declared a climate emergency for the town at its meeting on Jan. 20.

It follows a deputation from Drawdown Newmarket-Aurora, a local environmental conservation group committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

“Declaring a climate emergency for the town of Newmarket lends our voice to countless other towns and cities recognizing the need for action related to climate change," said Mayor John Taylor.

"This is also an important step in raising awareness for the environmental challenges that we currently face. With this motion, the town will be able to deepen our commitment to protecting our environment, economy and community from the impacts of climate change.

"We will leverage existing environmental initiatives such as Newmarket’s community energy plan to increase dialogue through community engagement, in order to find more opportunities to decrease energy consumption and GHGs (greenhouse gases).”

In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut by 45 per cent before 2030 to ensure global temperatures to do not rise more than 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels and to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

The Town of Newmarket is committed to helping to achieve the goals of the IPCC through various programs. These include, but are not limited, to:

• Newmarket’s Community Energy Plan --the town’s blueprint to reduce GHGs.

• Installation of solar panels at the Magna Centre, Ray Twinney Recreation Complex, Robert N. Shelton Operations Centre and the Gorman Outdoor Pool.

• Introduction of the stormwater charge and stormwater management solutions such as low impact development.

• Introduction of the Newmarket Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program.

• Partnership with York Region on introducing a fleet of electric buses on Davis Drive.

• LED lighting retrofits around town and at all Newmarket facilities and buildings

• Commitment to reducing, reusing and recycling waste. In 2019, the town helped divert 94 per cent of waste from landfills.

• The largest battery storage facility in the GTA, located in Newmarket.

• Working with local environmentally friendly organizations such as LEAF in its tree-planting program, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and the Windfall Ecology Centre.

• Invest in environmentally friendly initiatives and projects through the Low Carbon Economy Fund (LCEF) such as:

• Purchasing four electric Zambonis for the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex and the Magna Centre

• Installing LED lighting retrofits at Newmarket Buildings and,

• Replacing windows and doors at pool and rink areas at the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex with Energy-Star windows and doors.

• Implementation of the town’s Urban Forestry Management Plan that aims to increase canopy coverage by 13 per cent by 2031 and 35 per cent by 2051.

To view the full motion, visit please view the minutes of the Jan. 20 council meeting. For more information on other environmental initiatives the town is currently undertaking visit, newmarket.ca/LivingHere/Pages/Environment%20and%20Sustainability.aspx.