Waterloo Regions
How much land do we pave over?

"We have only until the May 27th deadline to provide feedback to Regional Staff on these Land Needs Assessment Growth options that will determine if we destroy thousands of acres of prime farmland and breach the Countryside Line (Option #1), destroy hundreds of acres of prime farmland and create considerable discord between municipalities (Option #2), or stay within our urban boundaries but have a DGA density metric that is going to be very difficult to achieve (Option #3), or stay within our urban boundaries and grow sustainably using smart growth best practices (Proposed Option #4)." Kevin Thomason

So, let's get going.  We need an option 4.

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The Waterloo Region's Land Needs Assessments Scenario Options #1,2 and 3 lack ambition and urgency.  

We need to be single-minded, staying focussed on our goal in every aspect of decision making, using every tool in our science/economic/governance toolbox. We must dig in and get going on the adaptation and mitigation strategies. We must work together with an expectation of success because this is the legacy we want to leave for our children.

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We did it, 2021!

The Region of Waterloo and its 7 area municipalities have all endorsed the TransformWR Climate Action Strategy & set an interim GHG reduction target of 50% by 2030. This is huge!

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Thank you to everyone who supported the work that helped our region set this ambitious target. Let’s take a moment to celebrate what has been accomplished by aiming high, grounding our work in climate science and equity, and by working together. 

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50x30WR is a grassroots, community-led campaign advocating for Waterloo Region to commit to a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, in line with the imperatives of climate science and centering social justice and well-being. This campaign builds on the public commitment made by regional municipalities in 2019 by declaring a climate emergency, recognizing the existential risks posed by climate change globally and here in Waterloo Region. This emergency, like the pandemic, is already impacting on public health and well-being and demands our shared urgency and attention. 50x30WR aims to build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic through a just, green recovery that centres human well-being and innovation, building towards a socially just, sustainable and climate-smart Waterloo Region together.

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A brief article profiling our campaign in more detail can be found here. Now is the time for ambition to protect our shared futures, and build a more sustainable Waterloo Region! Reach out to get involved and to become a 50x30 Champion today.