NEIA selected to provide training and support for Newfoundland and Labrador municipalities to explore and pursue greenhouse gas emissions reductions

For Immediate Release
July 24, 2019

(ST. JOHN’S, NL) – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) has been granted funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to work with six municipalities across the province to help them explore and pursue greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) reductions opportunities.

“Most of Newfoundland and Labrador’s communities get their electricity from an energy grid that will soon be 98% renewable,” say Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. “The low-hanging fruit when it comes to GHG reductions in other jurisdictions – things like renewable energy and energy efficiency – do not have the same impact in this province.” Hanley said that the project will help establish strategies for municipalities to achieve GHG reductions within an existing clean energy context.

The grant, part of ‘Transition 2050’ – an initiative offered through FCM’s Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (MCIP) – will allow six municipalities to participate in the program: Baie Verte, Bauline, Paradise, Port aux Basques, Stephenville, and Torbay. NEIA is one of thirteen organizations across Canada that has been selected to build a network of communities and support them as they develop long-term plans and projects contributing to a low carbon transition by 2050 in alignment with the target date as set out by the Paris Agreement.

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Participating municipalities will undertake commitments to emissions reductions through peer learning, strategic planning and operational implementation, while leveraging lessons learned from communities facing similar challenges. “We expect the approaches that emerge from this project to be transferable to other communities across the province,” said Hanley. “NEIA is looking forward to working with these six municipalities in the pursuit of sustainable, clean growth for Newfoundland and Labrador.”

NEIA is a not-for-profit association of businesses that promotes the development of clean technology and the growth of the green economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. NEIA has over 200 members. More information can be found at https://neia.org.

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Media Contact:
Kieran Hanley
kieran@neia.org