Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan
The Sault Ste. Marie GHG Reduction Plan (the plan) builds on and provides direction for existing City policies and plans that consider environmental sustainability. It also recognizes the shared responsibility for making emissions reductions by both corporate and community operations. The plan reinforces the need for an integrated sustainability agenda that addresses long-term economic, social, and environmental priorities, as part of building a healthier and more climate change resilient community.
The GHG Reduction Plan development used a three-stage approach, including:
• Stage 1: GHG Emissions Inventory (Completed February 2020);
• Stage 2: Stakeholder Engagement (Completed May 2020); and,
• Stage 3: Plan Development (Completed December 2020)
The Community GHG Reduction Plan and Council Presentation are available online and were unanimously approved by City Council on December 14, 2020.
Plan Vision
The City of Sault Ste. Marie will reduce GHG emissions from the energy and building, transportation, and waste sectors, and pursue green space, municipal leadership, and economic development opportunities. The City will work in partnership with residents, businesses, industry, non-profit organizations, and other community groups to achieve emissions reduction in Sault Ste. Marie.
Plan Overview
The plan recommends 60 actions and is broken down into seven key sectors, predominantly based on emission sources and reduction action opportunities. Actions are based on both community and corporate efforts. The sectors are as follows:
- Building & Energy – Community
- Building & Energy – Corporate
- Transportation
- Waste
- Green Space
- Economic Development
- Municipal Leadership
GHG Emissions Target
The City’s goal for GHG reduction is net zero by 2050. The City will take a staged approach to achieve this goal, and will focus on a GHG reduction target of 10% corporate and 5% community between 2020–2030, with an increasing scale of reduction target between 2030 and 2050.
Next Steps
The City is now working on plan implementation and monitoring project results. The plan is a living document and it is recommended that it, as well as the targets be revised regularly to acknowledge changing technology, funding and provincial and federal legislative initiatives.
Climate Action Progress
1. 2023 – 2024 Sustainability Report (includes 2023 City of Sault Ste. Marie GHG Emissions Inventory and 2022 Community Emissions Inventory updates)
2. 2021 – 2022 Sustainability Report
3. 2022 City of Sault Ste. Marie Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory