Smiths Falls is taking action on climate change to keep our community healthy, safe, and resilient. Our climate protection work focuses on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, and planning for local impacts such as extreme heat, flooding, and drought. This includes work within Town operations and across the wider community. By working together, we can protect the places we value and build a more sustainable future for everyone.

Climate Action Plan - READ DRAFT NOW

The Climate Action Plan is our roadmap for turning climate priorities into real, measurable results. It will outline the actions the Town can take, within Town services and across the community, to cut greenhouse gas emissions and better prepare for local impacts like flooding, extreme heat, and drought. The plan will identify clear targets and practical steps (for example, improving energy efficiency in buildings, supporting low carbon transportation, and strengthening emergency and infrastructure planning), along with who will lead the work and how progress will be tracked and shared.

Climate Action Plan Open House - Take Survey Now!

Climate change affects daily life in Smiths Falls, from extreme heat and flooding to energy costs and emergency planning. The Climate Action Plan outlines how the Town and community can work together to reduce risks and build a more resilient future.

This is an important opportunity to review the draft plan and help shape its final direction before it is considered by Council.

Have your say at the Climate Action Plan Open House. Learn about the draft Climate Action Plan, ask questions, and share your ideas.

When: Tuesday, May 26, 4:30–6:30 pm

Where: Smiths Falls Community Centre, Upstairs, 2nd floor

The draft Climate Action Plan is available for public review. Your feedback, shared at the open house and through our community survey, will help refine the draft before it is finalized. Unable to attend the open house?  Share your thoughts by completing our community survey on the draft Climate Action Plan.

Climate Protection Working Group

The Climate Protection Working Group helps the Town move local climate action forward. The group provides advice to Council as Smiths Falls develops a Climate Action Plan, with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and getting ready for local impacts such as extreme heat, flooding, and drought. This work supports the Town’s participation in the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program, which offers a step-by-step framework for planning, taking action, and reporting on progress.

The CPWG meets at 2 pm on the 2nd Tuesday of every month. Meetings are held at Council Chambers (77 Beckwith Street North) and are open to the public.

Agenda packages for these meetings are posted to the Town's Council Calendar on the Friday before the scheduled meeting.

Climate Protection Working Group Members

The following are appointed members of the Climate Protection Working Group:

• Chair, Councillor Peter McKenna
• Mayor Shawn Panko
• Peter Au
• Sue Brandum
• Steve Gauthier
• Nate Morris

Want to provide feedback? Have comments and/ or concerns, please contact Staff below:

Staff Contacts

• Richard Grant, Planner I rgrant@smithsfalls.ca or 613-282-4124 x 1123
• Marie Elmsley, Planning Clerk melmsley@smithsfalls.ca or 613-283-4124 x 1136

Partners for Climate Protection Milestones

The Town, as a member of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP), has committed to the five-step Milestone Framework, which is a guide to help the Town of Smiths Falls act on climate change by reducing municipal emissions.

• Milestone 1: Create a greenhouse gas emissions inventory. (Completed)
• Milestone 2: Set an emissions reduction target. (Completed)
• Milestone 3: Develop a local action plan. (We are here)
• Milestone 4: Implement the local action plan or set of activities.