All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes

Brooklin Wallis

City/Township Council · Kitchener Ward 6

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All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes

Climate & Sustainability

How should municipalities and the Region incorporate climate and sustainability into policy, including development and infrastructure decisions?select up to 3 per part
A. Perspective on climate change
  • Climate change is an urgent and defining crisis of our time; reducing greenhouse gas emissions should be a primary consideration across municipal decision-making
  • Commitments passed by previous councils, like the 50x30 pledge or declarations of climate emergencies, should guide current council decision making, Our local and regional governments need to renew coordinated action towards implementing the Transform Waterloo Region strategy
B. Building and development standards
  • Where possible, require or incentivize energy efficiency standards in new development, beyond current provincial minimums, Create financial incentives for low-carbon construction (e.g. development charge reductions, expedited approvals, density bonuses)
  • Use development agreements to require climate sustainability measures as a condition of approval
C. Infrastructure and capital planning
  • Require climate risk and lifecycle cost analysis in major capital decisions
  • Prioritize active transportation and transit investment
  • Require an assessment of impacts on aquifer recharge

Describe one concrete policy, incentive, or decision you would prioritize to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Where possible, explain how it balances environmental goals with fiscal responsibility.candidate's own words

Advancing the Green Development Standards that staff has been working on with myself and the rest of the Climate Change and Environmental Advisory Committee, and finding ways that we can encourage green development within the current legal structures.

Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on sustainability?candidate's own words

Our Green Development Standards were about to be ready and required for all development, but the Ford government removed our legal ability to do so last year.