Update on Municipal Leaders’ Summit: 
‘Best practices’ to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Local governments around the world are taking action to mitigate climate change impacts through greenhouse gas emission reductions, while at the same time ensuring the quality of life in their communities.

Stéphane Dion, Minister of the Environment and President of the UN Climate Change Conference, reinforced this message to delegates on Tuesday:  “When you return to your community, take a leadership role and promote the need to take action on climate change.  We are going to succeed and help humanity reconcile with the only planet that we have.”

The Summit began Monday and is expected to end Wednesday with a Declaration to be delivered to the UN Climate Change Conference.  Presenters from around the world shared their best practices, details of their climate action plans and the challenges they face in the future. 

For Alan de Souza, Councilor for the City of Montreal:  It’s time to ‘Act, Reduce and Adapt’.  Montréal, like other large cities in the world, views environmental protection as a major challenge.  Montréal launched its first strategic plan for sustainable development in April 2005 and created a program called “Eco-quartier” as part of that plan.  The city has also put in place some “Eco-centres”, a service that complements the existing services such as waste and recycling.

Montréal wants to involve the entire community.  As Mr. Souza said, “It is important to move from conscience to action.  We can have the best plan but we need to implement it.” 

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