The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is taking the next steps after declaring a climate emergency earlier in the year.
On Tuesday, members of the public are invited to join Chatham-Kent officials during a meeting regarding the development of a municipal Climate Change Action Plan.
In July, council unanimously voted in favour of declaring a climate emergency in Chatham-Kent. Councillor Trevor Thompson was behind the motion and he previously told Blackburn News that the purpose of declaring the emergency was so the municipality could be better prepared for adverse impacts of severe weather. The motion also requested that administrative staff "work swiftly" to identify changes that can be made to municipal polices in order to address climate change.
Since then, staff have developed draft terms of references, which is what will be presented during Tuesday's meeting to the Community Development Advisory Committee, an appointed committee that reports to council and supports to the community development department. The group is made up of three council members and several members of the public.
According to John Norton, general manager of community development, later this year the terms of reference will then go in front of council for approval, which will enable staff to develop the Climate Change Action Plan through 2020.
"This will include how we can best adapt to climate change and also how we can best mitigate the effects of climate change, to do our part as well to try and reduce climate change as well, largely by reducing greenhouse gas emissions," Norton explained.
He said Tuesday's meeting is just the beginning of a lengthy process when it comes to planning against climate change in Chatham-Kent.
"We're going to bring it to our Community Advisory Committee on Tuesday and the public is welcome to attend," said Norton. "We'll discuss it there, then at a future council meeting, in the not too distant future, council will consider it and if approved then our staff will carry out the plan, which is basically to develop a larger plan for our community."
According to Norton, the terms of reference were deloped by experts the municipality has on staff, including a newly hired environmental planner, who Norton said has taken the lead on developing the plan.
"With his expertise, he's come up with proposals for how we will try to adapt to climate change," said Norton.
The meeting will start out with a presentation from the environmental planner, where he will explain some of his suggestions and findings. After that, there will be an open discussion and a chance for residents to voice their opinions, which Norton encourages.
"This isn't a meeting just about Erie Shore Drive or erosion along Lake Erie. It's about flooding that's been happening over the past years along our rivers, it's also about Mitchell's Bay, it's also about the air we breathe and the environment we live in," Norton explained. "It's about that bigger issue and I think that's the message."
The meeting takes place at 5 p.m. on September 10 at the Civic Centre in Chatham. Norton said if people are unable to attend on Tuesday, there will be future meetings and future chances for resident feedback.