2023 Schedule
Local Level Climate Action and Asset Management Planning![]() Presenter: Rachel Mitchell
Senior Manager of Programs, Clean Foundation
Description:
The Town of New Glasgow is actively working to advance ambitious climate and sustainability objectives to reduce local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve climate resilience. The Town of New Glasgow received a climate staff grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in August 2019 to initiate local-level mitigation work, in line with the Partners for Climate Protection Milestone 5 framework. Asset management and climate action are closely aligned, and municipalities across the country are working to incorporate climate projections into decision-making to prepare for current and future impacts. Asset management can enable evidence-based decision-making to safeguard sustainable service delivery. For small rural communities across Canada, we face increasing challenges to sustainable service delivery. The impacts of the climate crisis are happening at home, and municipalities are on the front line of climate action and community resilience. When we consider the investment needed to improve infrastructure, and the heightened risk from climate impacts, we face a perfect storm. This presentation will explore the Town of New Glasgow’s journey from committing to climate action, to initiating an asset management program (AMP), and the completion of a natural asset management road map. The completion of the AMP by the climate change and sustainability manager was the catalyst to these efforts. Through funded opportunities from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Municipal Asset Management Program, the Town of New Glasgow has leveraged opportunities from external partners to incorporate climate and sustainability considerations into town operations. This presentation will discuss the town’s asset management journey, council commitment, strategic process, and organizational capacity building. About the Presenter:
Rachel Mitchell is the climate change and sustainability manager with the Town of New Glasgow. In this capacity, Rachel oversees the town’s sustainability initiatives, climate mitigation work, community resilience planning, and asset management. Rachel received her BA in Economics from St. Francis Xavier University and completed her M.Sc. in Environmental Studies in the Environment, Resources and Sustainability program from the University of Waterloo. In 2022, Rachel completed the Asset Management Professional program through Northern Lakes College and PEMAC, funded by FCM. Rachel has been leading New Glasgow’s climate change work since 2019, and in that time, the town has approved and begun implementing Corporate and Community Climate Change Action Plans, and initiated an asset management program inclusive of natural assets and climate considerations. The Town of New Glasgow’s climate work has been recognized by the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities as one of their 2022 Climate Change Leaders Award winners. In 2023, New Glasgow received the Environmental Impact Award from the local Chamber of Commerce for their climate and sustainability work in the region. |