Ontario colleges praise new funding to cut carbon emissions

TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2018 /CNW/ - Ontario's colleges are praising the provincial government's investment into a comprehensive strategy to reduce carbon emissions throughout the college system.

"Our colleges will be global leaders in the fight to reverse climate change," said Linda Franklin, the president and CEO of Colleges Ontario. "This strategy will transform an entire public-sector system through sweeping reforms that promote greater efficiency and dramatically reduce carbon emissions."

The government announced today it is investing up to $200 million in 2017-18 and making available up to $300 million in interest-free loans to retrofit college and university facilities.

The investments will support a range of measures from capital construction and transportation projects to leading-edge research and the development of new programs to produce more graduates for careers specific to the clean economy.

The multi-year strategy will make a significant contribution to the government's overall target for emissions reductions in Ontario and support the creation of a vibrant clean-technology sector. The strategy includes:

• Undertaking major building renovations and retrofits on Ontario's campuses that move the college system toward "net zero" efficiency, where the energy used is no greater than the energy produced.
• Developing and delivering new programs to produce more graduates with the professional and technical skills for careers in a low-carbon economy.
• Developing leading-edge research in partnership with industries and municipalities that fosters innovation and the commercialization of new low-carbon technologies.

This new strategy includes more workplace-learning experiences for post-secondary students. It also establishes colleges as demonstration centres that will guide industry and public-sector efforts to reduce emissions in communities throughout the province.

"Ontario's colleges are firmly committed to significant reductions in carbon emissions," Franklin said. "The ambitious strategy announced today is achievable and measureable and will produce real results."

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SOURCE Colleges Ontario