Climate Change

From ice storms to heat waves and unseasonable temperatures, Halton Hills has experienced some strange weather over the past few years. These unusual climate events have affected all our lives and have everyone talking. As a community, we can take steps to adapt and mitigate the effects of this phenomenon. Town Council is committed to taking direct action to reduce greenhouse gases and develop effective climate change initiatives.

Background

In May 2019, Town Council declared a climate change emergency in Halton Hills. Through adoption of the declaration the Town is committed to taking concrete actions and achieve a net-zero target by 2030.

The Town is focusing on corporate and community-wide actions to reduce or remove greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through mitigation and adaptation measures. These measures are mutually beneficial. Effective mitigation can reduce climate change impacts, therefore reducing the level of adaptation required by a community. Similarly, mitigation actions help us to adapt to climate change and to protect and preserve the Town's natural assets and ecosystem. To achieve measurable results, the Town has adapted a Low Carbon Resilience Framework.

In 2020, Mayor Rick Bonnette and Councillors Jane Fogal and Clark Somerville began leading will lead a Climate Change Action Task Force . The goal is to take direct action in the community to reduce greenhouse gases and establish a significant number of climate change initiatives.

Council Presentation, Climate Change Emergency Report (Please advance to the 1:17 mark in the video for the full Climate Change presentation.)

Glossary of Terms

Timeline
2021 Green Development Standards v3 Retrofit Halton Hills Pilot Program Low-Carbon Transition Strategy 2020 Climate Chance Adaptation Plan 2019 Corporate Energy Plan Update Climate Emergency Declared 2018 Energy Report Card $175k for Adaptation Historical Climate Analysis and Future Climate Modelling 2017 Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy 2016 ICLEI - Great Lakes Climate Adaptation Project 2015 Mayor's Community Energy Plan 2014 Green Development Standards Corporate Energy Plan 2013 Community Sustainability Strategy 2008 Office of Sustainability 2007 Green Plan
Council reports and updates
Listed below are climate change initiatives Council approved reports. For additional information please visit the pages listed below. Climate Change Resolution Climate Emergency Resolution Course of Action Report Climate Change Adaptation Plan Climate Change Investment Fund 2021 Green Development Standards v3 Low Carbon Transition Strategy Retrofit Halon Hills Pilot Program
What you can do
Public engagement Public engagement is an essential component to all climate change efforts. Please subscribe to this page for future opportunities to connect with the Town on climate change initiatives. How to help There's so much you can do to help! Here are some ideas - check back often for more! Visit Halton Hills Hydro for ideas to reduce energy in your home or business Choose sustainable transportation such as carpooling, walking cycling or transit Eat more local food to lessen the distance your food travels from farm to fork Share this video with your children to teach them about climate change

Timeline

2021
- Green Development Standards v3
- Retrofit Halton Hills Pilot Program
- Low-Carbon Transition Strategy
2020
- Climate Chance Adaptation Plan
2019
- Corporate Energy Plan Update
- Climate Emergency Declared
2018
- Energy Report Card
- $175k for Adaptation
- Historical Climate Analysis and Future Climate Modelling
2017
- Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy
2016
- ICLEI - Great Lakes Climate Adaptation Project
2015
- Mayor's Community Energy Plan
2014
- Green Development Standards
- Corporate Energy Plan
2013
- Community Sustainability Strategy
2008
- Office of Sustainability
2007
- Green Plan

Council reports and updates

Listed below are climate change initiatives Council approved reports. For additional information please visit the pages listed below.

What you can do

Public engagement

Public engagement is an essential component to all climate change efforts. Please subscribe to this page for future opportunities to connect with the Town on climate change initiatives.

How to help

There's so much you can do to help! Here are some ideas - check back often for more!

Visit Halton Hills Hydro for ideas to reduce energy in your home or business
Choose sustainable transportation such as carpooling, walking cycling or transit
Eat more local food to lessen the distance your food travels from farm to fork
Share this video with your children to teach them about climate change

Climate change initiatives

Adaptation - managing the effects

Adaptation is about preparing for and managing the impacts of climate change, i.e. how to absorb the changes that result from climate impacts. Adaptation measures help strengthen the Town's resilience to climate change. Examples of adaptation measures include building more resilient infrastructure, protecting and preserving the Town's natural assets and ecosystems, flood mitigation efforts like planting trees or building green roofs, and installing permeable paving stones to allow for better stormwater management.

Climate Change Adaptation Plan

The Climate Change Adaptation Plan (CCAP) has been developed to address the physical, economic, social, and ecological impacts of climate change, expected for the Town of Halton Hills in the next 30 years.

The CCAP was informed by three key background studies:

Key Climate Indicators Report
- To examine climate models to understand future local impacts of climate change expected in the next 30 years

Facilities Vulnerability Assessment
- To undertake a risk assessment on Town facilities to evaluate their ability to withstand the impacts of climate change

Geospatial Natural Capital Assessment
- To understand vulnerability of the Town’s natural assets to climate change

Flooding Protection:

Our weather is changing, and large rain events are becoming more intense and frequent. This may lead to flooding, particularly in the spring when large amounts of rain and snowmelt can overwhelm streams, lakes, rivers, and man-made infrastructure. The main risk to property owners is lot-level flooding. For tips to avoid flooding please visit our Flooding webpage.

Watch a short video to learn more about the CCAP:

Important links

For more information please contact Ena Ristic.

Mitigation - reducing our impact

Mitigation is about dealing with the causes of climate change, i.e. how to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Through mitigation policies, plans and strategies the Town is focusing on corporate and community-wide actions to reduce or remove GHG emissions that contribute to climate change. There are many actions that can be taken such as building and developing to more energy efficient standards, reducing energy consumption in homes and buildings, choosing sustainable transportation modes, and reducing household waste.

Where will Halton Hills' emissions go by 2030 if no new actions are taken?

Low Carbon Transition Strategy

The Low Carbon Transition Strategy establishes the necessary actions to achieving the target set out in the Climate Change Emergency Declaration of May 6, 2019 to achieve net-zero carbon by 2030.

The LCTS is a clear pathway for transitioning Halton Hills in to a low-carbon community by de-carbonizing every aspect of town-wide greenhouse gas emissions, from homes to transportation to industry to agriculture and waste.

Browse the final strategy and related documents below.

Reports and Strategy

Final Strategy
- REPORT NO. ADMIN-2021-0046
- Appendix A - Table Reference vs. LC Assumptions
- Appendix B - LC Results
- Appendix C - Reference Scenario Report
- Appendix D - Financial Analysis
- Appendix E - Implementation Plan
- Appendix F - Data, Methods, and Assumptions Manual

Resources

Corporate energy plan

The 2020-2025 Corporate Energy Plan (CEP) constitutes the Town's second Energy Conservation & Demand Management Plan which was originally completed in 2014.
The 2020-2025 CEP reaffirms the Town's commitment to energy management and efficiency with an emphasis on deep greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions. Over the next five years, the CEP will provide a roadmap for reducing energy consumption, utility costs, and greenhouse gas emissions.
The CEP focuses on the best performances of the Town's existing assets, capital planning, and organizational strengths while investing in facility upgrades to achieve GHG reductions and highest returns on investment.
To achieve the Town’s goal to be a carbon neutral community by 2030, the CEP will guide decisions to maximize GHG emissions reductions in Halton Hills.

For more information please contact Michael Dean.

Important links

Green Development Standards

The Green Development Standards was developed in 2010 and has been periodically updated in 2014 and 2021. The current version of the Green Development Standards 3 (GDS v3) was approved by Town Council in June 2021.

The focus of the GDS v3 builds on the foundation of previous green development standards and puts increased weight on measures that reduce greenhouse gases of new development in the community

The purposes of the GDS v3 are:

To further elevate the sustainability performances of new developments in our community.
To ensure alignment with current best practices in sustainable building and development.
To support community-wide net-zero carbon emissions goals identified in the Town’s Emergency Declaration approved in 2019.

To learn more, view the Green Development Standards v3.

For more information please contact Michael Dean.

Resources

Electric Vehicles in Halton Hills

The Town of Halton Hills is working to be a leader in the development of EV charging infrastructure to support residents in the adoption of EVs. The Town is committed to building out affordable, accessible EV charging stations at Town facilities and parking lots across the community.

Visit our Electric Vehicles webpage.

Natural assets

The Town has recognized the value of natural assets such as a healthy tree canopy and natural vegetation to reduce the impacts on climate change through approved Town policies, strategies and plans. Natural assets include: rivers, wetlands, forests, meadows and open spaces which provide a range of ecosystems that captures carbon emissions which benefit our environment and well-being.

For more information please contact Jennifer Spence.

Natural assets inventory and valuation project

Natural assets play a vital role in the Town's environmental health and provide natural services in adapting and mitigating threats by climate change. A well-managed natural asset will continue to produce a sustainable flow of services, such as stormwater management, air quality improvement, and reduction of carbon in the long term or even in perpetuity. The Town is currently carrying out a project on natural assets in partnership with Credit Valley Conservation and Greenbelt Foundation. The project consists of two phases:

Inventory natural assets in Halton Hills and evaluate the stormwater management services they provide (Completed)
Case study site to implement natural asset management strategy.

Council report and presentation

Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Presentation – Natural Asset Inventory and Valuation Project

Privately-owned tree management strategy

The Privately-Owned Tree Management Strategy identified practical and reasonable actions that the Town and community residents can take to preserve, protect, and enhance the tree canopy of Halton Hills.
Through development of this strategy, we have learned that 83% of the tree canopy in Halton Hills are on private lands. This reinforces that a continued collaborative approach is required to supporting and strengthening Halton Hills tree canopy.

Browse the final strategy and council report below

Report and Strategy

Retrofit Halton Hills

Residential buildings are the second largest source of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in Halton Hills and the Retrofit Halton Hills pilot program uses local improvement charges as a financing tool to help homeowners retrofit their homes.

Learn more and visit the Retrofit Halton Hills webpage.

Climate Change Investment Fund

The Climate Change Investment Fund has been established to encourage and assist local community groups and organizations to take action and contribute to the Town’s climate change goals. The 2022 deadline for submission is May 3, 2022 by 4:30 p.m. Apply today!

Application Guide Application Form

For more information, contact Jennifer Spence, Climate Change Outreach Coordinator.

Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan

The Town of Halton Hills and Credit Valley Conservation have developed a Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan for the Hungry Hollow - Delrex Neighbourhood. This plan advances the Town's Climate Change Adaptation Plan and identifies actions to help the community become more environmentally sustainable and resilient to the impacts of climate change. Browse the Plan.

Quick Links

Jennifer Spence
Climate Change Outreach Coordinator
1 Halton Hills Drive,
Halton Hills, ON,
L7G 5G2
Tel. 905-873-2600, ext. 2290
Email Jennifer Spence
Map to Town Hall

Michael Dean
Senior Sustainability Planner and Energy
1 Halton Hills Drive,
Halton Hills, ON,
L7G 5G2
Tel. 905-873-2600, ext. 2365
Email Michael Dean
Map to Town Hall

Ena Ristic
Senior Climate Change Specialist
1 Halton Hills Drive,
Halton Hills, ON,
L7G 5G2
Email Ena Ristic
Map to Town Hall