The Community Sustainability & Climate Change Resiliency (CSCCR) Framework was developed to recognize the unique priorities for Dufferin County and align policy direction for the County to support long-term approach to energy use management, watershed planning, and conservation of resources to increase awareness, reduce consumption and emissions, and encourage the use of innovative technology and energy systems.

This work supported the County’s Climate Action Planning and informed the Official Plan update process through a Municipal Comprehensive Review.

Dufferin County is the home to the headwaters of four major Ontario rivers, being the Nottawasaga, Humber, Credit and Grand River. The County’s three Urban Settlement Areas are nested within the boundaries of three separate Conservation Authority jurisdictions, which include  Orangeville – Credit Valley Conservation Authority; Shelburne – Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority; and  Grand Valley – Grand River Conservation Authority.

As Dufferin County grows, so will the overall demand for water, energy, air, and land, and the impact on the natural features it contains. The ongoing availability of these natural resources is essential for the sustainability of all communities. The Growth Plan recognizes and supports the role of municipal policy in providing leadership and innovation to integrate infrastructure, supporting a culture of conservation, and addressing climate change. Furthermore, policies in the Growth Plan, Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, and Greenbelt Plan require that upper and single tier municipalities, in partnership with Conservation Authorities, as appropriate, shall ensure that watershed planning is undertaken to support a comprehensive, integrated, and long-term approach to the protection, enhancement or restoration of the quality and quantity of water within a watershed.