The Town of Edson is working to adjust to climate change.
At Edson town council’s March 15 meeting, council decided to apply for the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre’s Climate Resilience Capacity Building Program Grant.
The Town is applying for $160,000, and will use it to conduct its climate risk assessment and water conservation initiative projects.
As administration described it, the climate risk assessment will provide the big picture as to how climate change is affecting Edson.
Administration also pointed out that, as 2021’s unseasonably warm summer indicated, water conservation initiatives are becoming a greater priority.
Edson mayor Kevin Zahara was in favour of the plan, noting that more and more grant applications are asking for a climate risk assessment. So having one on file would be an asset.
“Climate change is becoming a bigger and bigger issue, whether you agree with it or not,” said Zahara. “There will be funding available. We see it with our infrastructure every day, and it is becoming a bigger and bigger challenge.”
Zahara also noted that other municipalities are starting to admire the Town’s proactive nature.
“I know other communities are starting to look at us and ask, ‘How are you able to do that?’ It is because we apply for grants,” shared Zahara. “We have plans in place so when those funding streams open, we are able to be first off the mark to get those funds.”
