Community Associations for Environmental Sustainability

There are many community environmental action areas -- from trees to be protected, to shore-line clean ups, rising awareness of up-river nuclear waste disposal plans, to climate actions. CAFES seeks to share knowledge, lend support to each other when it’s needed, and jointly advocate to the City. Our successes in the past have included protecting more trees by strengthening the Tree Protection By-law to recognize significant trees at 30cm diameter and getting the City to report on our climate emissions annually -- you can only manage what you measure!

Our Action and Advocacy Areas

Climate Action

Here are our Top Ten Local Climate Actions that will make you into an effective local climate leader and part of the CAFES network. Be the change! Live the change!

CAFES monitors the climate actions of the City of Ottawa closely. There are many policies, programs and decisions that have climate dimensions.

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Trees & Greenspace

CAFES advocates for City of Ottawa policies and practices that support a biodiverse and healthy urban tree canopy. We work closely with local citizens' associations to organize and support neighbourhood greening projects, and to share information across our network about tree issues and solutions.

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CAFES Recommendations: Term of Council Priorities

Looking forward to the setting of 2022-26 Term of Council Priorities, CAFES has presented a set of recommendations for setting term of council priorities. The document is the result of several months of work by a team more than a dozen strong, and was consulted in the CAFES network in fall 2022. It includes nine […]

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Water

Water is life and Ottawa is the city at where three rivers meet. From stormwater protection to flooding which we expect more often with a variable climate, to microplastics in our water, to the protection of wetlands, to protecting the Ottawa River...

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Circular Economy

The CAFES point-person for waste reduction and circular economy is Kate Reekie and you can reach her at circularity@cafesottawa.ca. CAFES engages in initiatives that aim to reduce waste and support Ottawa's transitioning to a more circular local economy.

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Urban Development and Planning for Sustainability

CAFES has been contributing to the new Official Plan process as a part of POP, an alliance of well-established civil society organizations in Ottawa. CAFES, along with POP, will continue to actively participate in the consultation processes for the following Master Plans and Zoning Bylaw. The CAFES point person for sustainable and urban development is Joan Freeman. You can reach her at urbandevelopment@cafesottawa.ca.

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Municipal Budget Watch

If you want to know what is going on or what are the real priorities, follow the money! Except in election years, the budget cycle is an annual event. Also in our advocacy portfolio is to encourage the City of Ottawa to divest our Endowment Fund from fossil fuels.

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Sustainable Procurement

The CAFES point person on sustainable procurement is John Humphries and you can reach him at procurement@cafesottawa. The City of Ottawa’s Supply Services administers purchasing activities averaging more than $1 billion annually.

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Resource Documents

Waste Management, Plastic Reduction & Circular Economy

Climate Change

Climate change - Access Folder includes key documents

Adaptation Ottawa - Access Folder

Folder includes these key documents plus much more…

Climate Finance - Access Folder

Divestment - Access Folder

Emissions Reports Ottawa - Access Folder

Folder includes the most recent emissions reporting.

Mitigation Ottawa - Access Folder

Folder includes these key documents plus much more...

Other Cities - Access Folder

Trees and Our Urban Forest

New Official Plan

How to get into the CAFES forum

See instructions here.
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