Municipal Affairs
May 10, 2013
Launch of Municipal Government Carbon Calculator and Contest
To help municipalities understand the impact of their carbon footprint, the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister Responsible for the Office of Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Emissions Trading, launched a Municipal Government Carbon Calculator at the Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador Symposium in Gander today.
“This new and innovative tool will help municipalities calculate their carbon footprint, giving them a starting point to improve upon in the coming years,” said Minister Hedderson. “The calculator provides tips on how to save energy, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and lower operating costs.”
Part of Charting Our Course: Climate Change Action Plan 2011, the calculator helps community leaders play a role in reducing greenhouse gas emission levels in the province. The Municipal Government Carbon Calculator is designed to help raise awareness and assist municipalities integrate climate change into their decision-making.
“To help promote the use of the calculator, we are launching the Carbon Footprint Challenge,” said the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “Municipalities who calculate their carbon footprint and explain how they would use the prize money to lower their carbon footprint, can enter to win one of three $5,000 prizes. I’m also pleased to announce that the calculator will also be incorporated into the Tidy Towns award from 2014 onwards.”
The calculator responds directly to the municipalities need to better understand the carbon footprint of their operations.
“Municipalities can now compare themselves to other municipalities, and see how they can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions,” said Minister Hedderson. “I am delighted to be launching a tool which helps answer these questions and encourages all municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador to take part and use the calculator.”
Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future continued its support for towns and communities by helping them plan and prepare for climate change events, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency through such initiatives as the Municipal Carbon Calculator and the Guide to Building Energy Efficient Homes, unveiled earlier this week.
Additional information regarding the Municipal Government Carbon Footprint Challenge is provided in the backgrounder below. For more information visit www.turnbackthetide.ca.
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Media contacts:
| Deborah Thomas Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-2575, 728-8092 deborahthomas@gov.nl.ca |
Hugh Donnan Director of Communications Department of Municipal Affairs 709-729-1983, 725-6511 hughdonnan@gov.nl.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
Municipal Government Carbon Calculator and Contest
The Municipal Government Carbon Calculator is a web-based tool developed specifically for Newfoundland and Labrador. The calculator estimates the greenhouse gas emissions from municipal operations and provides tips on how to save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower operating costs.
The contest, an initiative developed by the Office of Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Emissions Trading in partnership with the Department of Municipal Affairs, invites municipal governments across Newfoundland and Labrador to use the new tool to calculate their carbon footprint and explain how they would use the $5,000 prize to lower it. Three prizes of $5,000 are available and the application deadline is October 16, 2013. The Carbon Calculator and contest details can be found at www.turnbackthetide.ca/whatsnew.
Applications must be submitted by October 16, 2013, and should be
emailed to climatechange@gov.nl.ca
or mailed to:
Municipal Government Carbon Footprint Challenge
Office of Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Emissions Trading
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
PO Box 8700
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6
For more information on the contest, contact Patricia King, Senior Statistician, patriciaking@gov.nl.ca or call 709-729-1485.
2013 05 10 1:45 p.m.