Provincial Government Asks for Input on New Climate Change Strategy

June 16, 2016

Online and in-person consultations will be held with Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, as the Office of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency works to develop a new provincial climate change strategy.

“Newfoundland and Labrador has committed to a greenhouse gas reduction target of 10 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020. Progress must be made in many aspects of our economy and society in order to close this gap. These online and in-person sessions will give residents an opportunity to be part of the conversation as we plan how our province will continue to tackle climate change and grow our green economy.”
– The Honourable Perry Trimper, Minister Responsible for the Office of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency

Public sessions will be held in St. John’s, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Three online, real-time discussion groups will also be held. People can also contribute to the strategy by submitting ideas via email, online, or in writing. Representatives from municipal and Aboriginal governments and organizations, business and industry, academics and not-for-profit organizations will also be directly consulted and invited to make formal submissions.

“The impacts of climate change are already affecting public and private infrastructure and it is important that we adapt. We are pleased that government is moving forward with the development of a new climate change strategy that will help us take advantage of opportunities and strengthen our communities.”
– Karen Oldford, President of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador

The new climate change strategy will build on the 75 commitments in the 2011 Climate Change Action Plan, which is almost complete.

More information about the consultations and how to participate is available at www.gov.nl.ca/TalkClimateChange.

QUICK FACTS:

• Public consultations are being held to help develop a new provincial climate change strategy.
• In-person sessions are scheduled for St. John’s, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
• Online real-time sessions are also scheduled.
• More information is available at www.gov.nl.ca/TalkClimateChange.

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Media contacts:

Emily Timmins
Director of Communications
Office of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
709-729-2575, 693-1292
emilytimmins@gov.nl.ca

Gail Woodfine
Communications and Public Relations
Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador
709-753-6820, 725-1440
gwoodfine@municipalnl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Schedule for Public Consultations on Climate Change Strategy

To register, visit www.gov.nl.ca/TalkClimateChange or call 709-729-1210.

Location	Date/Time
Grand Falls-Windsor College of the North Atlantic Campus 5 Cromer Avenue	Wednesday, July 6 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Corner Brook College of the North Atlantic Campus 141 O’Connell Drive	Thursday, July 7 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Happy Valley-Goose Bay Labrador Friendship Centre 49 Grenfell Street	Tuesday, July 12 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Online www.gov.nl.ca/talkclimatechange	Tuesday, July 19 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
St. John’s Roncalli Elementary School 130 Airport Heights Drive	Wednesday, July 20 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Online www.gov.nl.ca/talkclimatechange	Wednesday, August 10 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Online www.gov.nl.ca/talkclimatechange	Thursday, September 8 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

NT5