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.
- Council Presentation, Climate Change Emergency Report (Please advance to the 1:17 mark in the video for the full Climate Change presentation.)
Timeline |
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Council reports and updates |
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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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 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:
Watch a short video to learn more about the CCAP:How Climate Change will impact Halton Hills
Important links
For more information please contact Rija Rasul |
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 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 de-carbonizing every aspect of town-wide GHG emissions, from homes to transportation to industry to agriculture and waste. 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. The Low Carbon Transition Strategy is currently underway through the guidance of a Multi-Stakeholder Governance Committee which is made up of Town staff and community members. This strategy will:
Watch this short video on the Low-Carbon Transition Strategy.
How the Low Carbon Transition Strategy will be developedThe community-wide Low-Carbon Transition Strategy (LCTS) is currently being developed with public consultation through the following stages:
ResourcesCorporate energy planThe 2020-2025 Corporate Energy Plan (CEP) constitutes the Town's second Energy Conservation & Demand Management Plan which was originally completed in 2014. 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 learn more, view the Green Development Standards v3. For more information please contact Michael Dean. Resources |
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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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 2021 deadline for submission is August 3, 2021 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 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. |
