Rami Said
Regional Council · Region of Waterloo
Back to candidatesClimate & 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
- Climate change needs action and local governments can contribute in a few areas, but this is an issue better addressed at provincial and federal levels
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)
C. Infrastructure and capital planning
- Require climate risk and lifecycle cost analysis in major capital decisions
- Require climate change mitigation and adaptation impact assessments for large growth decisions (greenfield expansions, settlement boundary changes), Align municipal operations (fleet, facilities, procurement) with regional climate commitments
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
Working with developers to help reduce cost and add density in exchange for low-carbon or net zero buildings. This would both help reduce the development cost supportive of affordable units and make the benefit to do these environmental upgrades more beneficial to both developers and the community.