Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held Feb. 11, 2026.
2026 Climate Action Workplan Approved: Lanark County Council has approved the 2026 Climate Action Workplan, which outlines activities related to this year’s climate action budget.
Climate and Environmental Program Coordinator Elizabeth Boldt explained highlights for 2026, including:
1. Offering home retrofit financing through the Better Homes Lanark program, which continues to offer low-interest loans and community workshops for home energy efficiency improvements.
2. Enhancing nature-based solutions, such as the 1 Million Trees Program (spring and fall seedling giveaways), living snow fences (trialing the use of trees) and the Tiny Forest Pilot Project (to increase urban tree canopy).
3. Supporting municipal climate action through the Municipal Climate Grant, which offers $7,500 per municipality for climate-related projects.
4. Offering a Climate Grant for up to $5,000 for non-profit organizations for climate-related projects that align with the Climate Action Plan.
5. Developing a Climate Adaptation Plan – this will be initiated through a consultant using an international framework for adaptive and resilient communities. The plan will include a vulnerability and risk assessment and identify actions to improve Lanark County’s climate resilience.
6. Developing a Natural Heritage System – this aims to better understand the county’s natural heritage. The workplan is guided by a working group made up of various community stakeholders, and a consultant will be hired to co-lead the program with staff.
7. Improving building energy performance through the Building to Net-Zero Cohort, which includes organizing training for municipalities and local professionals on high-performance construction practices, as well as drafting voluntary green development standards to encourage sustainable design in new construction.
Boldt noted the 2026 workplan is guided by eight priority climate initiatives identified for this term of Council (2022-2026) in the Climate Action Plan. Staff are making progress on additional goals in
the plan as opportunities arise. For more information, contact Elizabeth Boldt, Climate and Environmental Program Coordinator, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 3105.
