Climate Action Plan cover page
Grey County has been working towards greater climate change resilience.
County staff will present a report Thursday highlighting some of the progress made in the past year or two through its Going Green In Grey climate change action plan.
One big highlight is they say they’ve secured $12.9 million in external funding including $9.5 million over five years to develop a transit network.
There’s also funding to make County buildings more energy efficient, install electric vehicle chargers, and create the Future Ready Development Program.
That program lays out a set of metrics for more efficient and resilient ways to develop buildings and neighbourhoods. It considers things like building materials, storm water features, drought resistant plants and walkable neighbourhoods.
There’s also funding for a home retrofit study.
Meanwhile, the County says it collaborated with Grey Agricultural Services to provide funding and support to local farms through the Experimental Acres program. It involves trying new practices on a small parcel of land to see if it is worth scaling up. Projects have included exploring new grazing sources, using poultry to improve soil fertility and a list of other projects farmers have been trying out.
They say, through Experimental Acres in 2024, seven projects were supported, directly impacting 114 acres, and in 2025, six projects were supported, directly impacting 265 acres.
They also now have a climate change adaptation process called Resilient Grey. It looks at how to respond to projected warmer temperatures, more rain and snow, heavier storms, longer growing seasons and more drought.
There is a list of other climate related work County staff have highlighted in their report, like supporting the Youth Climate Action Conference and 20 youth-led projects through the Town of the Blue Mountains Youth Climate Action Fund.
Meanwhile, member municipalities have been working on their own projects and initiatives, like Owen Sound which just started a green bin collection program, West Grey has been distributing composters and rain barrels, Georgian Bluffs and Hanover have been making FoodCycler composters available to those who want them. Hanover also completed the construction of its new, net zero capable fire hall.
Grey Highlands has directed staff to consider their Sidewalk Connectivity Plan in all future capital projects, and Georgian Bluffs has approved two new permeable pavement parking lots to better handle heavy rainfall.
County staff also say in their report, through the Youth Climate Action Fund, the Town of The Blue Mountains has funded 20 youth-led projects across Saugeen Ojibway Nation territory.
Staff say next steps include completing the County’s climate adaptation plan and advancing the Future Ready Development Program.