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 measureable results, the Town has adapted a Low Carbon Resilience Framework. In 2020, Mayor Rick Bonnette and Councillors Jane Fogal and Clark Somerville 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.
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Timeline |
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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. Low Carbon Transition StrategyThe Low Carbon Transition Strategy will establish the action pathways necessary to achieving the target set out in the Climate Change Emergency Declaration of May 6, 2019 to achieve net-zero carbon by 2030. The plan will address In order to achieve the rapid transition to a low-carbon community, the Town will need a Low Carbon Transition Strategy that lays out a clear implementation plan and is developed collaboratively with representation from across the Halton Hills community. How the Low Carbon Transition Strategy will be developed
We need your inputWe need your input to help shape Halton Hills’ Low Carbon Transition Strategy. Over the next year (2020-2021), the Town will be initiating a collaborative planning effort to help develop a community-led Low Carbon Transition Strategy. Community stakeholders are needed to share their experiences and contribute their thoughts to help shape Halton Hills’ energy future. The Town is currently seeking applicants to join the Low Carbon Transition Strategy Multi-Stakeholder Governance Body (LCT-MSGB). The purpose of the LCTS-MSGB will be to support and advise on the development of the Town’s Low Carbon Transition Strategy (LCTS). The Town is seeking involvement from residents, young adults, small and large businesses and agricultural stakeholders to participate in the MSGB to provide continuous feedback on the overall direction of the LCTS. Click the button below to submit your application to help shape future action on combating climate change! Links to background documents
Corporate energy plan2020-2025 Corporate Energy Plan includes two sections: the 2019 Corporate Energy Consumption and Activities Report which describes the current state of energy management in Halton Hills and the outcome of the 2014 Corporate Energy Plan, and the 2020-2025 Corporate Energy Plan which provides a roadmap for reducing energy consumption, utility costs, and greenhouse gas emissions over the next five years. The 2020-2025 Corporate Energy Plan (the Plan) constitutes the Town's second Energy Conservation & Demand Management Plan. It updates the 2014 Corporate Energy Plan and reaffirms the Town's commitment to energy management and efficiency with an emphasis on deep greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions. The focus of the Corporate Energy Plan is on getting the best out of the Town's existing assets, capital planning and organizational strengths while investing in facility upgrades with the best emissions reduction potential and highest returns on investment. The aim is to systematically introduce no/low-carbon decision-making while demonstrating substantial emissions reductions which position the Town on the right trajectory towards its goals. For more information please contact Michael Dean. Important links |
Adaptation - managing the effects |
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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 PlanThe 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:
How Climate Change will impact Halton Hills
Goals of the Climate Change Adaptation Plan
Milestone frameworkThe Town followed ICLEI Canada’s BARC Milestone Framework to develop the CCAP:
Important links
For more information please contact Rija Rasul |
Green development standards |
| Initially established in 2010 as the Green Development Checklist, the Town of Halton Hills Green Development Standards were updated in 2014 to include industrial, commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential buildings, and to provide developers with additional compliance flexibility through a LEED-like points based system. The Town is initiating the development of a third iteration of the Green Development Standard in 2019 through a Green Development Standard Update Study. The overall objective of the Green Development Standard Update Study is to elevate the sustainability performance of new development in Halton Hills, align the Green Development Standards with current best practices in sustainable building/development, to develop updated compliance standards and pathways, and the Town's current GHG mitigation and climate adaptation objectives. For more information please contact Michael Dean. Current Town green development standardsBuilding on its award-winning Green Development Evaluation Checklist, in April 2014, Town Council approved a new set of Green Development Standards. These Standards put in place a highly flexible set of criteria that are anticipated to materialize in more sustainable, high-performance and efficient development – benefiting the development/building industry as well as building owners/occupants. The Standards are designed to maximize development's positive attributes, while minimizing potentially negative impacts. The Standards advance many key Town objectives, including those of its Strategic Plan and Community Sustainability Strategy – contributing to economic prosperity, environmental health, cultural vibrancy and social well-being. The Standards apply Town-wide to Low-Rise Residential, Low-Rise Non-Residential and Mid to High Rise development. |
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 projectNatural 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:
Council report and presentation
Privately-owned tree management strategyThe development of a Privately-Owned Tree Management Strategy is currently underway. The Town's strategy will determine how best to protect and enhance privately-owned trees in Halton Hills. Trees are important in the fight against climate change since they absorb and store carbon dioxide -- a greenhouse gas that heats the earth. In Halton Hills, approximately 83% of all tree canopy cover is located on privately-owned lands. This project is expected to be completed in 2020. Important links
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What you can do |
Public engagementPublic engagement is an essential component to all climate change efforts. In 2019 the Town asked for residents' feedback in guiding the Climate Change Adaptation Plan. The information and survey can be found on our engagement platform, Let's Talk Halton Hills. How to helpThere's so much you can do to help! Here are some ideas - check back often for more!
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Council reports and updates |
