Many utilities across Canada are looking to start their net zero journey, but are often met with familiar challenges: deciding where to start, gaining buy-in from Council, and securing funding. The good news? You don’t have to figure it out alone.

Canadian Water Network (CWN) recently launched a new Community of Practice to help municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities that are beginning their net zero journey.

At the first meeting on September 18, David Szeptycki and Sharon Chen from York Region shared how the municipality has evolved from basic energy reporting in 2012 to a comprehensive climate action and energy management strategy aligned with Canada’s 2050 net zero goals. They also shared valuable lessons learned from York Region’s journey, including the importance of:

• Progress over perfection.
• Engaging stakeholders early and continuously.
• Focusing on a few high-impact projects to build momentum.
• Sharing knowledge across municipalities to accelerate progress.

Following David’s and Sharon’s presentation, there was an opportunity for participants to share what would be helpful for them as they get started on their net zero journey. Participants revealed a shared need for more peer-to-peer learning, case studies tailored to small and medium-sized municipalities, and forums for knowledge exchange. Our Community of Practice provides a platform to address these needs directly.

Our next meeting on October 23 will focus on developing stronger business cases for achieving net zero water. Join us to access resources and collaborate with peers who understand your challenges.