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Staff Report
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Report To: Planning and Development Committee
Date of Meeting: February 22, 2021 Report Number: PDS-018-21
Submitted By: Ryan Windle, Director of Planning and Development Services Andrew
Reviewed By: C. Allison, CAO Resolution#: PD-062-21, C-081-21
File Number: PLN 17.25.9 By-law Number:
Report Subject: Clarington Corporate Climate Action Plan
Recommendations:
1. That Report PDS-018-21 be received;
2. That Council endorse the Clarington Corporate Climate Action Plan (Attachment 1);
3. That Council direct staff to prepare an action -specific implementation guide, to guide the
implementation of the actions outlined in the Clarington Corporate Climate Action Plan;
4. That staff report back to Council with information upon completion of the action -specific
implementation guide;
5. That Council authorize staff to apply for funding opportunities to support the
implementation of actions contained in the Clarington Corporate Climate Action Plan
(CCCAP), where identified; and
6. That all interested parties listed in Report PDS-018-21 and any delegations be advised
of Council's decision.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-018-21
Report Overview
Page 2
The purpose of this report is to seek Council support for the Clarington Corporate Climate
Action Plan (CCCAP), to provide staff with direction to take actions to prepare the
Municipality for climate change and to establish targets to reduce corporate greenhouse gas
emissions.
The overall purpose of the CCCAP is to identify actions that enable the Municipality to avoid
the unmanageable and manage the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
Over 70 staff from all departments worked to identify the risks that climate change presents
to the Municipality and compile a list of achievable actions that the Municipality can take to
respond to climate change. In total, staff identified 199 climate risks to the Municipality. 116
actions to respond to climate risks are included in the CCCAP. All actions contained within
the CCCAP work to achieve seven goals.
1) Reduce Corporate GHG Emissions Contributing to Climate Change
2) Maintain Public and Workplace Health and Safety
3) Minimize Risks to Buildings and Properties
4) Strengthen the Resilience of Municipal Infrastructure
5) Protect Ecosystems and Biodiversity
6) Minimize Disruption to Corporate Operations and Services
7) Build Community Resilience
The CCCAP sets a target to reduce corporate greenhouse gas emissions to 35% below
2018 baseline levels by 2030 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
The CCCAP is a living document that will be reviewed annually and updated every 5 years
to incorporate the best available science and best practices to ensure the Municipality is as
effective as possible in its efforts to respond to climate change.
1. Introduction
1.1 The purpose of this report is to seek endorsement for the draft Clarington Corporate
Climate Action Plan (CCCAP) and to request direction from Council to proceed with
implementation planning. The draft CCCAP is attached (Attachment 1).
1.2 By endorsing the CCCAP, the Municipality will take its most significant step to date to
prepare the Municipality for climate change and reduce GHG emissions that are
causing climate change.
Municipality of Clarington Page 3
Report PDS-018-21
1.3 The actions contained in the CCCAP are intended to have co -benefits to the
Municipality including increased energy security, increased community and staff
wellbeing, reduced operational expenses and decreased service disruptions. Actions
contained in the CCCAP are intended to align with the priorities and other initiatives
being undertaken by the Municipality.
2. Background
2.1 In the last five years the Municipality has increasingly shown leadership to prepare the
Municipality for climate change. A list of the Municipality's key climate initiatives to date
are listed on pages 11-12 of the CCCAP (Attachment 1).
2.2 More specifically, in July 2018, Council approved Resolution #GG-366-18 respecting
the establishment of the Inter -Departmental Climate Change Working Group (ICCWG)
and directing staff to prepare an application for the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities' (FCM) Municipal Climate Innovation Program (MCIP) — Climate Change
Staff Grants Initiative.
2.3 In September 2018, a Terms of Reference for the ICCWG was approved by Department
Heads. In accordance with the established mandate, the ICCWG brings together
representatives from across the Corporation to work collaboratively on a climate change
vision for the Municipality and to identify, prioritize and implement climate change
actions that are within Municipal control.
2.4 In December 2018, staff received notice from FCM that the Municipality's MCIP
application was successful. The FCM MCIP Staff Grants Initiative provided funds to pay
up to 80 per cent of the salary (to a maximum of $125,000 over a 24-month period) to
hire a staff person to work on initiatives to advance adaptation to local climate change
impacts and to reduce GHG emissions.
2.5 In May 2019, a Climate Change Response Coordinator was hired on a 24-month
contract. Working in collaboration with the ICCWG, a multi -phase process was initiated
to assess the Municipality's baseline GHG emissions, identify the risks that climate
change presents to the Municipality, develop the CCCAP and coordinate the
implementation of corporate actions to respond to climate change.
3. The Role of Municipalities in Responding to Climate Change
3.1 The Municipality provides services that are essential to the functioning of our
community. Municipal services function to keep residents healthy and safe, create
cultural and social opportunities, enable the economy to function and keep our
environment clean.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-018-21
Page 4
3.2 Based on the most up-to-date climate projections from the Ontario Climate Consortium,
the services the Municipality provides will likely be impacted by the extreme weather
that will result from climate change. As the Municipality is responsible for the health and
wellbeing of residents, it will be called upon during weather -related emergencies
including floods, extreme precipitation, ice storms and fires related to drought.
3.3 By taking actions to prepare the Municipality for the known risks associated with climate
change and by doing its part to reduce GHG emissions that are causing climate change,
the Municipality will be in the best possible position reduce the likelihood of disruptions
to essential services, protect community health and wellbeing, and avoid the most
catastrophic impacts of climate change.
3.4 The CCCAP identifies specific actions the Municipality will take to prepare for climate
change, avoid service disruptions and protect residents and staff health and wellbeing.
4. Clarington Corporate Climate Action Plan
4.1 The CCCAP is the culmination of a collaborative effort by over 70 staff members to
identify and provide practical solutions to the risks and challenges that climate change
poses to the Municipality. The CCCAP contains 116 creative and practical actions to
lessen the impacts of climate change on municipal operations and services and reduce
GHGs emitted by the Municipality.
4.2 The overall purpose of the CCCAP is to identify actions to enable the Municipality to
avoid the unmanageable and manage the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
4.3 The vision of the CCCAP is to ensure Clarington is a safe, stable and prosperous
community.
4.4 The mission of the CCCAP is to provide leadership and tangible solutions to combat
climate change and environmental damage while providing efficient and high -quality
services to the community.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-018-21
Page 5
4.5 All actions contained in the CCCAP aim to achieve the purpose, vision and mission of
the plan. The actions are organised into seven goal categories. The goals reflect the
Municipality's response to the most likely impacts of climate change on the Corporation.
Goals include:
• Reduce Corporate GHG Emissions
• Maintain Public and Workplace Health and Safety
• Minimize Risks to Buildings and Properties
• Strengthen the Resilience of Municipal Infrastructure
• Protect Ecosystems and Biodiversity
• Minimize Disruptions to Corporate Operations and Service Delivery
• Build Community Resilience
4.6 The CCCAP takes a dual approach in responding to the causes and impacts of climate
change by addressing both climate adaptation and climate mitigation.
Climate Adaptation
4.7 Adaptation components of the plan focus on preparing the Municipality for the impacts
of climate change. By preparing for future climate conditions, the Municipality will lessen
the negative impacts that climate change will have on municipal operations, the
provision of services, residents and the local economy.
4.8 The adaptation elements of the CCCAP were guided by the International Council for
Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI Canada), Building Adaptive & Resilient
Communities (BARC) five -milestone framework. ICLEI Canada's Five Milestones for
Climate Adaptation methodology is a structured approach to help the Municipality
prepare for the impacts of climate change through a series of progressive steps.
Milestones include: 1) initiate; 2) research; 3) plan; 4) implement, and; 5) monitor and
review (Figure 1).
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-018-21
Page 6
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Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-018-21
Glossary of Terms
Climate Mitigation
4.9 Mitigation components of the CCCAP focus on decreasing the severity of future climate
change impacts by reducing GHG emissions that are causing the climate to change. By
doing its part to reduce GHG emissions, the Municipality can help to slow climate
change and limit its negative impacts.
4.10 The mitigation elements of the CCCAP have been guided by the FCM PCP program.
The PCP program consists of a five -milestone framework to guide the Municipality to
act on climate change by reducing GHG emissions. Milestones include: 1) creating a
baseline emissions inventory and forecast to assess the amount of GHGs the
municipality is emitting and track progress on reducing GHG emissions; 2) set GHG
emissions reduction targets to encourage the municipality to reduce GHG emissions; 3)
develop a local action to guide staff to take actions to reduce GHG emissions; 4)
implement the local action plan to achieve GHG emissions reduction targets, and; 5)
monitor progress and report results (Figure 2).
�1 Establish a baseline GHG inventory
1 and forecast
Set GHG reduction targets
3 Develop a local action plan
4 Implement the plan
Monitor progress and report results
Figure 2 - FCM PCP Program 5-milestone framework
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-018-21
Climate Risks to the Municipality
Page 8
4.11 Staff worked with the Ontario Climate Consortium to bring together representatives from
all departments to complete a climate change risk and vulnerability assessment. Using
the most up-to-date climate projections, staff participated in a workshop to identify
potential climate change risks to the Municipality. A total of 199 risks were identified.
4.12 The top climate conditions placing the Municipality at risk include:
• more rainfall;
• more heatwaves;
• more ice storms;
• more freeze -thaw cycles; and
• more extreme weather events.
GHG Emissions and Energy Consumption Inventory
4.13 Using the International Local Government GHG Emissions Analysis Protocol, staff
completed a GHG inventory to establish a baseline for GHGs emitted by the
Municipality. The GHG emissions inventory was calculated using information from four
areas of municipal operations including: buildings, vehicles, streetlights and solid waste.
4.14 Data collected for the corporate energy consumption and GHG emissions baseline
inventory revealed that the Municipality consumed 110,077 Gigajoules (GJ) of energy in
the 2018 baseline year. Municipal buildings are responsible for most of the energy
consumed, followed by streetlights and fleet vehicles (Figure 3).
4.15 Data collected for the corporate energy consumption and GHG emissions baseline
inventory also revealed that the Municipality produced 4,039.4 tons of GHG emissions
(CO2e) in the 2018 baseline year. Of the GHG emissions released by the Municipality,
the majority originated from municipal buildings, followed by fleet vehicles, waste and
streetlights (Figure 4).
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-018-21
Natural Gas
49 %
Fuel Oil 0.3% Propane 1%
Fuel Oil
Gasoline
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Electricity
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iasoline 5.1%
Electricity
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Diesel
Natural Gas
Figure 3 — Gigajoules of Energy Consumed by Source (2018)
Streetlights Waste
1% 12%
Buildings
73%
Vehicles
14%
Streetlights Waste Vehicles Buildings
Figure 4 - tCO2e GHG emissions by source (2018)
Page 9
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-018-21
GHG Emissions Reduction Targets
Page 10
4.16 According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) human activities
are estimated to have already caused approximately 1.0°C of global warming above
pre -industrial levels. Global warming is estimated to be increasing at 0.2°C per decade
due to ongoing emissions. If current trends continue, global warming will likely reach
1.5°C between 2030 and 2052.
4.17 The IPCC has advised that to avoid climate change at a scale that has catastrophic
impacts, GHG emissions must be reduced by 45 per cent by 2030, compared with 2010
levels, and that net emissions be reduced to zero by 2050.
4.18 Staff identified GHG emissions reduction targets using three criteria: 1) targets must be
achievable by the Municipality; 2) targets must be significant in helping to limit climate
change and; 3) targets must demonstrate the Municipality's commitment to avoiding the
negative impacts of climate change.
4.19 Emissions reduction targets align with best practices established by the FCM, IPCC,
and the Region of Durham and several other Ontario municipalities.
4.20 The CCCAP sets a target to reduce corporate GHG emissions 35 per cent from 2018
baseline emissions by 2030 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Figure 5
below demonstrates three corporate GHG emissions scenarios: 1) Municipal corporate
baselines GHG emissions; 2) forecasted GHG emissions based on business as usual;
and 3) 35% emissions reductions by 2030.
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Corporate GHG Emissions Scenarios 2018-2030
Year 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Baseline Business as Usual 35% Reduction
Figure 5 - Corporate GHG Emission Scenarios 2018-2030
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-018-21
Action Identification and Prioritization
Page 11
4.21 Using the list of climate impacts compiled from the risk and vulnerability assessment,
staff from all departments participated in workshops to identify a list of potential actions
to help the Municipality adapt to each climate impact.
4.22 Two approaches were taken to develop a list of adaptation actions: 1) list each impact,
then identify options and relevant service areas, and 2) review actions taken by other
similar municipalities and select actions that relate to the Municipality.
4.23 Staff evaluated each action based on a set of qualitative criteria, including sustainability,
effectiveness, risk and uncertainty, opportunities, and ease of implementation. This
resulted in an action evaluation score for each action. Refer to Appendix H of the
CCCAP for more detail about the adaptation action evaluation criteria.
4.24 Next, a risk score was calculated for each proposed adaptation action based on the
climate impact consequence and likelihood data generated from the risk and
vulnerability assessment outlined above. Climate impact consequences and likelihoods
were multiplied together to generate a risk score. Actions were then ranked from low to
high risk, depending on their risk score.
4.25 To prioritize identified adaptation actions each action's combined score created a
Adaptation Action Prioritization Matrix. Actions with high risk and action evaluation
scores were categorized as `Must Do.' Actions with moderate combined risk and action
evaluation scores were categorized as `Monitor'. The lowest scores were categorized as
`Investigate Further'.
4.26 Staff from all departments also participated in workshops to identify and prioritize a list
of actions to reduce corporate GHG emissions. All proposed actions had to be within
municipal control, attainable, and contribute significantly to GHG emissions reductions.
4.27 All identified mitigation actions were evaluated using criteria adapted from the Canadian
Communities' Guidebook for Adaptation to Climate Change to assess the presence of
factors essential to the successful implementation of actions to reduce corporate GHG
emissions (2008).
4.28 Each action was evaluated using a set of qualitative criteria, including sustainability,
effectiveness, opportunities, and ease of implementation. Once complete, the criteria
resulted in a corresponding action evaluation score. Refer to Appendix H of the CCCAP
for detail about the mitigation evaluation criteria.
4.29 Mitigation actions were rated based on their potential to reduce corporate GHG
emissions relative to current corporate practices. Actions were placed into five
categories: Low, Medium - Low, Medium, Medium - High and High.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-018-21
Page 12
4.30 To prioritize mitigation actions, each action's evaluation score and GHG emissions
rating was combined into a Mitigation Action Prioritization Matrix. Actions with high
emissions reduction potential and high action evaluation scores were categorized as
`Must Do.' Actions with moderate scores were categorized as `Monitor.' Actions with the
lowest scores were categorized as `Investigate Further.'
4.31 `Must Do' actions were included in the CCCAP for short-term development and
implementation. `Monitor' actions are intended to be acted upon should opportunities
present themselves in the mid-term. Actions categorized as `Investigate Further' will be
revisited in future. Refer to Appendix D of the CCCAP to review the list of actions for
future consideration.
Implementation
4.32 The Implementation section of the CCCAP establishes principles to guide the
successful implementation of the climate actions and achieve the overall vision of the
plan. Principles include:
• Collaborative - Implementation of this plan will be a collaborative effort by all
departments and will seek out partnerships with all levels of government, utility
companies, conservation authorities, academic institutions, non -governmental
organizations and community groups, where possible.
• Impactful - Actions that prepare the Municipality for the widest range of climate
risks will be prioritized for implementation.
• Integrated - Where possible, the implementation of actions will contribute to
other municipal priorities and initiatives.
• Iterative - The implementation of climate actions will be adjusted and enhanced
as new information and funding opportunities become available.
• Sustainable - Where possible, the implementation of climate actions will
advance the sustainability efforts of the Municipality generally.
4.33 The climate action implementation schedule for the plan was developed to guide the
overall process of implementing the actions contained in this plan. The implementation
schedule lists the climate actions and outlines the lead and supporting department for
each action; relevant municipal plans, policies and strategies; potential implementation
partners; expected financial needs; level of effort and duration of time it is anticipated to
take to implement each action; whether one-time or ongoing. See Appendix C of the
CCCAP (Attachment 1) to view the climate action implementation schedule in greater
detail.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-018-21
Page 13
4.34 Flexibility while implementing this plan will allow the Municipality to integrate new
policies, financial resources and partnership opportunities into the implementation
process as they become available.
4.35 A comprehensive climate action implementation plan, with action -specific project plans,
will need to be developed as a companion the CCCAP. Action -specific plans will
highlight key responsibilities, supporting tasks, co -benefits, timelines, financial
projections, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for each action.
4.36 The implementation of the CCCAP is a long-term undertaking that will require
engagement across all departments to become a new standard of operation. Ongoing
support from Council and Senior Management will be essential to ensure that
implementation of this plan maintains momentum.
4.37 Some actions contained in the CCCAP will require operational funding and capital
investment to be successful. Staff will request funds for specific climate actions as part
of the annual municipal budget cycle and will work to capitalize on funding opportunities
as they become available from outside sources.
Monitoring and Evaluation
4.38 Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of climate actions on an ongoing basis
will enable staff to adjust and optimize climate action implementation and ensure the
highest level of success.
4.39 Progress on the implementation of actions will be monitored using KPIs that are tailored
to each climate action.
4.40 Tools to track identified KPIs for each action will be essential to successfully monitor
and evaluate the successful implementation of climate action. Among the most essential
KPIs to monitor will include utility consumption, cost savings and GHG emissions.
4.41 Staff will provide an annual climate action report to Council. The annual report will
summarize KPIs and GHG emissions, highlight successes and lessons learned and
provide an overview of the work to be undertaken in the following year.
4.42 The CCCAP is a living document that will be adapted throughout the implementation
process. The plan is to be updated every five years. Updates to the plan will incorporate
lessons learned and be updated with the current context, Council priorities and new
opportunities.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-018-21
5. Next Steps
Page 14
5.1 Upon direction from Council, staff will create an action -specific implementation guide
that will guide the implementation of climate actions over a 5-year term. The
implementation plan will be divided in to 1-year terms, aligning with the Municipality's
annual budget cycle.
5.2 Each department will be responsible for leading and committing staff to the
implementation of climate actions that pertain most directly to their department and
integrating pertinent climate actions into their departmental work plans and budgets.
6. Concurrence
6.1 This report and the draft CCCAP have been reviewed by the Directors of all
departments, who concur with the recommendations contained herein.
7. Conclusion
7.1 Climate change is one of the greatest challenges that the world is facing. Climate
change is already contributing in increased flooding, forest fires, extreme weather,
heatwaves and drought. In Clarington, climate change is expected to have significant
impacts on the wellbeing of residents, municipal operations and the local economy.
7.2 The CCCAP was created as a collaborative effort involving over 70 staff to understand
the likely impacts of climate change on the Municipality and identify actions that the
Municipality should take to adapt and reduce GHG emissions.
7.3 The CCCAP contains 116 specific actions identified for the Municipality to take to
reduce corporate GHG emissions and adapt corporate assets, operations, and services,
to limit the negative impacts of climate change. All actions contained in this plan are
achievable and within the control of the Municipality
7.4 Council has already taken significant steps to act on climate change by establishing the
ICCWG, supporting the hiring of a dedicated resource to lead the development of the
CCCAP, joining the FCM PCP program and declaring a climate emergency.
7.5 By endorsing the CCCAP and directing staff to take actions to respond to climate
change the Municipality is fulfilling its responsibility to work in the best interests of staff
and the community. By implementing this plan, the Municipality will take climate change
into consideration as part of ongoing municipal operations and work to ensure
Clarington remains a safe, healthy and economically prosperous place to live.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-018-21
Page 15
7.6 By taking actions to prepare the Municipality for the known risks associated with climate
change, the Municipality will be in the best possible position to avoid disruptions to
essential services, protect community health and wellbeing, and avoid the most
catastrophic impacts of climate change.
7.7 It is respectfully recommended that Council endorse the CCCAP to respond to climate
change as an essential feature of Municipal operations.
Staff Contact: Doran Hoge, Climate Change Response Coordinator, 905-623-3379 ext. 2429
or dhoge(Dclarington.net.
Attachments:
Glossary of Terms
Attachment 1 — Clarington Corporate Climate Action Plan
Interested Parties:
Association of Municipalities of Ontario
Durham area municipalities
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Region of Durham
Adeline Cohen — Community Member
Alyssa Scanga — Community Member
David Crome — Community Member
James Carr — Community Member
Libby Racansky — Community Member
Peggy Clark — Community Member
Suzanne Elston — Community Member
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-018-21
Glossary of Terms
BARC - Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities
CCCAP - Clarington Corporate Climate Action Plan
ECDM - Energy Conservation and Demand Management
FCM - Federation of Canadian Municipalities
GHG - Greenhouse Gases
ICCWG - Interdepartmental Climate Change Working Group
ICLEI - International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives
IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
KPI - Key Performance Indicators
MCIP - Federation of Canadian Municipalities Municipal Climate Innovation Program
OCC — Ontario Climate Consortium
PCP - Partners for Climate Protection
TCO2E — Tonnes of GHGs Equalized to Carbon Dioxide
Municipality of Clarington 2021
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Table of Contents
ExecutiveSummary........................................................................................................ 5
Message from the Mayor.................................................................................................
8
Messagefrom the CAO................................................................................................... 9
Indigenous Land Acknowledgement.............................................................................
10
Acknowledgements.......................................................................................................
10
Introduction...................................................................................................................
11
Clarington's Commitment to Climate Change............................................................
11
ClimateAdaptation....................................................................................................
12
ClimateMitigation......................................................................................................
13
The Role of Local Government in Responding to Climate Change ............................
13
Land Use and Development Planning....................................................................
14
Licensing and Regulation.......................................................................................
14
Leadership and Awareness....................................................................................
14
ServiceDelivery.....................................................................................................
14
Operations and Workforce.....................................................................................
14
The Science of Climate Change....................................................................................
15
Whatis Climate Change?.......................................................................................... 15
Climate Projections for Canada................................................................................. 16
Climate Change Projections for Clarington................................................................ 16
Increasing Average Annual Temperatures............................................................. 17
Increasing Average Annual Maximum Temperatures ............................................ 17
Fewer Extreme Cold Days..................................................................................... 18
Increased Precipitation........................................................................................... 18
Fewer Predictable Freeze and Thaw cycles.......................................................... 18
Longer Growing Season........................................................................................ 18
Local Climate Change Impacts.................................................................................. 19
PhysicalImpacts.................................................................................................... 19
EcologicalImpacts................................................................................................. 19
SocialImpacts........................................................................................................ 20
EconomicImpacts.................................................................................................. 20
2
OurApproach................................................................................................................
21
ICLEI— BARC............................................................................................................
22
FCM— PCP Program.................................................................................................
23
StaffEngagement......................................................................................................24
Objective, Vision and Mission....................................................................................
24
GoalIdentification......................................................................................................
24
Risk and Vulnerability Assessment............................................................................
25
Department -Specific Risks and Possible Impacts - Workshop 1............................
25
Ranking the Severity and Likelihoods - Workshop 2..............................................
27
Summary of Climate Risks for the Municipality of Clarington.................................
27
Clarington's Energy Consumption and GHG Emissions Inventory ............................
29
Municipal Energy Consumption and GHG Emissions ............................................
30
GHG Emission Reductions Targets...........................................................................
33
Action Identification and Prioritization........................................................................
34
MitigationActions...................................................................................................
34
AdaptationActions.................................................................................................
35
Objective, Vision, Mission, Goals and Actions..............................................................
38
Objective....................................................................................................................
38
Vision.........................................................................................................................
38
Mission......................................................................................................................
38
Goalsand Actions......................................................................................................
38
1) Reduce Corporate GHG Emissions..............................................................
38
2) Maintain Public and Workplace Health and Safety .......................................
41
3) Minimize Risks to Buildings and Properties ..................................................
42
4) Strengthen the Resilience of Municipal Infrastructure...................................43
5) Protect Ecosystems and Biodiversity............................................................44
6) Minimize Disruptions to Corporate Operations and Services ........................
45
7) Build Community Resilience.........................................................................
46
Implementation..............................................................................................................
47
GuidingPrinciples......................................................................................................48
Climate Action Implementation Schedule..................................................................
48
3
ImplementationTools................................................................................................48
Monitoring and Evaluation.........................................................................................
49
NextSteps.................................................................................................................
50
Conclusion....................................................................................................................
50
Appendices...................................................................................................................
51
Appendix A
- CCCAP Participants.............................................................................
51
Appendix B
- Glossary and Acronyms.......................................................................
55
Appendix C
- Climate Action Implementation Schedule .............................................
59
Appendix D
- Actions for Future Consideration........................................................
108
Appendix E
- Climate Change Projections...............................................................
116
Appendix F
- Risks and Vulnerability Assessment Outcomes .................................
120
Appendix G
- Climate Modeling Criteria...................................................................
122
Appendix H
- Adaptation and Mitigation Evaluation Criteria ....................................
123
Appendix I -
GHG Emissions Calculations...............................................................
128
WorksCited.................................................................................................................
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Executive Summary
The climate is changing. According to Canada's Changing Climate Report (2019),
Canada is warming at almost double the global average rate. In Clarington, climate
changes will include weather that is warmer and wetter, with larger and more frequent
storms. Climate change will increasingly impact Clarington residents, infrastructure,
municipal operations and the economy. The scale to which Clarington is impacted will
depend on the actions that the Municipality takes now. Strengthening local action on
climate change is an important step by the Municipality of Clarington to enhance the
Municipality's longstanding commitment to sustainable development.
The Clarington Corporate Climate Action Plan takes a dual approach in responding to
the causes and impacts of climate change:
1) Adaptation components of this plan focus on preparing the Municipality for the
impacts of climate change. By preparing for future climate conditions, the
Municipality will lessen the negative impacts that climate change will have on
municipal operations, the provision of services, residents and the local economy.
2) Mitigation components of this plan focus on decreasing the severity of future
climate change impacts by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are
contributing to climate change. By doing its part to reduce GHG emissions, the
Municipality can help to slow climate change and limit its negative impacts.
This plan contains 116 specific actions that the Municipality will take to reduce GHG
emissions, and adapt corporate assets, operations, and services, to limit the negative
impacts of climate change. All actions contained in this plan are achievable and within
the control of the Municipality.
The adaptation elements of this plan have been guided by the International Council for
Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI Canada) Building Adaptive & Resilient
Communities (BARC) five -milestone framework. BARC milestones include: 1) Initiating;
2) research; 3) planning; 4) implementation and 5) monitoring and review.
The mitigation elements of this plan were guided by the ICLEI Canada Partners for
Climate Protection (PCP) program. The PCP program consists of a five -milestone
framework to guide the Municipality to reduce GHG emissions. Milestones include: 1)
Creating a baseline emissions inventory and forecast; 2) setting emissions reduction
targets; 3) developing and action plan; 4) implementing the action plan and 5)
monitoring progress and reporting on the results of action implementation.
Over 70 staff from all Municipal departments contributed to the development of this
plan. An Interdepartmental Climate Change Working Group (ICCWG) met monthly to
guide the development of the plan. Staff from all departments participated in workshops
to assess climate change risks to the Municipality, identify and prioritize actions to
reduce climate risks and corporate GHG emissions, and prioritize and finalize all
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elements of this plan. Senior management reviewed and provided input to ensure
climate actions align with corporate strategies and resources.
Using the most up-to-date climate projections, staff participated in a workshop to identify
potential climate change risks to the Municipality. A total of 199 risks were identified.
From the identified risks, staff participated in a second workshop to rank climate risks
based on the likelihood and severity of consequences to the Municipality. Using
prioritized risks, staff from all departments participated in a series of workshops to
identify and prioritize actions that the Municipality will take to limit climate risks. Included
in this plan are 80 climate adaptation actions.
Staff from all departments also participated in workshops to identify and prioritize a list
of actions to reduce corporate GHG emissions. All proposed actions had to be within
municipal control, attainable, and contribute significantly to GHG emissions reductions.
36 mitigation actions are included in this plan.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has determined that global
GHG emissions must be reduced significantly to avoid catastrophic climate change
(2018). By establishing corporate GHG reduction targets and adopting practices that
reduce GHG emissions, the Municipality is doing its part to slow climate change while
saving operating and energy costs.
To achieve Milestone 2 of the PCP program, this plan sets a target to reduce
corporate GHG emissions by 35 per cent by 2030 from 2018 levels, and to achieve
net zero GHG emissions by 2050. These targets align with targets established by the
IPCC, The Federal Government of Canada, the Provincial Government of Ontario and
the Region of Durham. Emissions reduction targets will be achieved through the
implementation of the actions outlined in this plan and in the 2019 Clarington Energy
Conservation and Demand Management Plan.
In total, this plan includes 116 actions that the Municipality will take to respond to
climate change. All actions are categorized into goals that have been prioritized through
the climate action planning process. Goals include:
1) Reduce Corporate GHG Emissions
2) Maintain Public and Workplace Health and Safety
3) Minimize Risks to Buildings and Properties
4) Strengthen the Resilience of Municipal Infrastructure
5) Protect Ecosystems and Biodiversity
6) Minimize disruption to corporate operations and services
7) Build Community Resilience
An implementation schedule was developed for this plan to inform the overall
implementation of the climate actions in this plan (Appendix C). The schedule broadly
outlines lead and supporting departments, associated municipal policies and plans,
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duration of each action, level of effort, and estimated resources needed for
implementation. A comprehensive climate action implementation guide, with action -
specific project plans, will be developed as a companion to this plan. Action -specific
plans will highlight key responsibilities, supporting tasks, co -benefits, timelines, financial
projections, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for each action.
The CCCAP is a long-term initiative that will require engagement across all departments
over several years to succeed. Ongoing support from Council will be essential to ensure
that implementation of this plan maintains momentum. Some actions contained in this
plan will also require capital investments to be successful. Funding requirements for
specific climate actions will be integrated into the annual municipal budget cycle. Staff
will work to capitalize on funding opportunities as they become available from sources
outside of the Municipality.
By implementing this corporate climate action plan, the Municipality of Clarington is
fulfilling its responsibility to work in the community's best interests. The knowledge
contained in this plan will enable the Municipality to make informed decisions to
prioritize actions to limit GHG emissions that are contributing to climate change and
minimize the impacts that climate change will have on the Municipality. By implementing
this plan, the Municipality will take climate change into consideration as part of ongoing
municipal operations and work to ensure Clarington remains a safe, healthy and
economically prosperous place to live.
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Message from the Mayor
The Municipality of Clarington has created this corporate climate action plan to guide
our efforts to limit the negative impacts of climate change, protect the wellbeing of staff,
residents and businesses, and continue to provide high quality services to the
community.
We know that the best defense against climate change is a good offence, which is why
we are acting now. The vision, goals, and actions contained in this plan will guide the
Municipality's efforts to respond to climate change. By implementing the actions
contained in this plan, Clarington will reduce corporate GHG emissions contributing to
climate change, reduce energy consumption and expenses, and ensure the Municipality
is ready for future climate conditions.
As our community continues to grow, the Municipality remains dedicated to protecting
the health and wellbeing of residents. By acting on climate change, we will continue to
ensure Clarington is a safe, healthy and economically prosperous place to call home.
Adrian Foster
Mayor of the Municipality of Clarington
Message from the CAO
Our municipality provides services that ensure our community is safe, healthy, clean
and prosperous. When extreme weather happens, the Municipality is called upon to
protect the wellbeing of residents, while ensuring the safety of staff.
Evidence shows that climate change in Clarington will result in more extreme weather,
which has the potential to disrupt Municipal operations and services and place
residents, staff and property at risk.
Our municipality must adapt to the changing climate to ensure we are serving the
community in the best way possible. This climate action plan is a corporate -wide
initiative that will guide our municipality to reduce GHG emissions causing climate
change and become resilient to extreme weather. As all departments implement the
proactive actions contained in this plan, we will do our part to continue to serve the
community and ensure Clarington remains safe, healthy, clean and prosperous.
Andrew Allison
Chief Administrative Officer of the Municipality of Clarington
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Indigenous Land Acknowledgement
The Municipality of Clarington is situated within the traditional and treaty territory of the
Mississaugas and Chippewas of the Anishinabeg, known today as the Williams Treaties
First Nations. Our work on these lands acknowledges their resilience and their
longstanding contributions to the area now known as the Municipality of Clarington.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to everyone who participated in the development of this Corporate climate
action plan. Strong leadership from Municipal Council and staff is advancing the
Municipality's response to climate change. The valuable knowledge and experience of
the Ontario Climate Consortium (OCC) and municipal staff was essential to creating this
plan. This work was made possible by a grant from the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities (FCM) as part of the Municipal Climate Innovation Program (MCIP).
The Interdepartmental Climate Change Working Group (ICCWG), consisting of 18
representatives from all departments, provided expert guidance on all aspects of the
development of this plan. Over 70 staff members from all departments participated in
multiple workshops to identify and prioritize actions for addressing and responding to
climate change. Input from workshop participants ensured that all actions contained in
this plan are practical, implementable and specific to Clarington. Please see Appendix A
for a list of staff participants.
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Introduction
The Municipality of Clarington, like other municipalities in Ontario, will be impacted by
climate change. This Clarington Corporate Climate Action Plan is the product of a
collaborative effort to identify and provide practical solutions to the risks and challenges
that climate change poses to the Municipality of Clarington. Contained in this plan are
116 specific actions for the Municipality to take to reduce GHG emissions, and adapt
corporate assets, operations and services to limit the negative impact of climate
change. By implementing the actions contained in this plan, the Municipality is taking a
proactive approach to combat climate change and minimize its impacts on our
municipality. By acting on climate change, the Municipality is working to ensure that
Clarington is a safe, harmonious and prosperous place to live for the foreseeable future.
Clarington's Commitment to Climate Change
The World Health Organization has described climate change as the greatest challenge
of the 21 st century (2015). Climate change has the potential to negatively impact global
and local economies, expose people to new health and security threats, and alter the
natural systems that we depend on for food and clean air and water (IPCC, 2018).
Municipal governments, given their role in planning and organizing communities, are in
a uniquely positioned to act on climate change. By endorsing and implementing this
plan, the Municipality of Clarington is demonstrating its commitment to minimize the
negative impacts of climate change. In addition to the development of this plan the
Municipality has taken steps to respond to climate change:
Since 2012, the Municipality has distributed over 7,000 saplings to rural residents
through the Trees for Rural Roads Program, restoring Clarington's tree canopy cover
and wildlife habitat, recreating the historical landscape of tree -lined roadways and
offsetting carbon emissions.
Since 2016 Clarington has partnered with the Region of Durham, Durham area
municipalities and other stakeholders to develop the Durham Community Climate
Adaptation Plan (DCCAP) and the Durham Community Energy Plan (DCEP). The
DCCAP and DCEP contain actions to help the community prepare for climate change,
reduce community GHG emissions and increase energy independence while promoting
local economic development. Implementation of these plans is being led by the Region
of Durham with support provided by the area municipalities, utilities, conservation
authorities, and other community partners.
In early 2018 the Municipality established the Priority Green Clarington initiative, which
included a framework for sustainable residential developments and a household water
and energy efficient demonstration project.
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In late 2019, the Municipality released the Clarington Energy Conservation and Demand
Management Plan 2019-2024 (ECDM plan). The ECDM plan identifies actions that the
Municipality will take to conserve energy, reduce GHG emissions and save money in
Municipal buildings. Also, the Municipality tracks energy consumption and costs on an
ongoing basis to identify ways to save.
In February 2020, Council passed a motion to prioritize the use of low emissions
vehicles in the municipal fleet, reducing corporate GHG emissions that contribute to
climate change.
In February 2020, the Municipality joined the ICLEI Canada PCP program. By
participating in the PCP program, Clarington is part of a network of over 350 municipal
governments committed to reducing GHG emissions that are fueling climate change.
In March 2020, the Municipality joined over 400 Canadian municipalities and 1,300 local
governments by declaring a climate emergency. By declaring a climate emergency, the
Municipality acknowledges its leadership role in responding to climate change by
reducing GHG emissions.
Since 2012, the Municipality The Municipality
has distributed over7,000 established the Priority
Council passed a motion to
prioritize using low emissions
vehicles, joined the Partners for
Climate Protection program and
partnered with stakeholders to the Clarington Energy
develop the Durham Community Conservation and
Climate Adaptation Plan and the Demand Management
Durham Community Energy Plan. Plan 2019-2024.
Figure 1 - Timeline of significant climate action actions in Clarington
Climate Adaptation
Climate adaptation involves adjusting our behaviours to reduce the risks posed by
climate change while taking advantage of any opportunities. According to the IPCC,
based on the amount of GHGs that have already been released into the atmosphere by
humans, some degree of climate change is expected to occur regardless of our future
actions (2018). Based on climate projections from the Ontario Climate Consortium
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(OCC), Clarington will experience weather that is significantly hotter and wetter, with
storms that are more frequent and extreme (2020). These changes will impact our
infrastructure, economy and the natural environment, placing our wellbeing at greater
risk; therefore, adapting to climate change will become increasingly important.
Climate Mitigation
Climate mitigation involves taking actions to limit the quantity of GHG emissions that are
being released into the atmosphere and capturing and storing GHGs that have already
been released into the atmosphere. The overall goal of climate mitigation is to stabilize
the level of GHGs in the atmosphere soon enough to limit the negative impacts of
climate change on people and natural ecosystems. If mitigation actions are effective,
the climate will change at a rate slow enough for ecosystems and societies to adapt,
minimizing impacts on the economy and the wellbeing of people. According to the
IPCC, in order to prevent catastrophic climate change, governments must take drastic
action to reduce GHG emissions to keep global warming below 1.5 °C (2018). Although
climate mitigation and adaptation are both necessary, the more we choose to mitigate
climate change now, the less we will need to adapt later.
Figure 2 - Definition of climate adaptation and mitigation
The Role of Local Government in Responding to Climate Change
Municipalities are in an ideal position to respond to climate change. According to the
FCM, municipalities have control of over 44 per cent of Canada's GHG emissions
(2020). Municipalities are also responsible for providing affordable and reliable services
to residents, which will be impacted by climate change. Below are several areas where
municipalities like Clarington take actions to respond to climate change.
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Land Use and Development Planning
Municipalities play a key role in maintaining local infrastructure and planning for future
development. Clarington is responsible for creating and enforcing long-term land -use
and infrastructure plans, which guide the management of resources, land development
and growth, and for maintaining existing infrastructure. Land use and development
planning can incorporate measures to help the Municipality adapt to climate change and
reduce GHG emissions.
Licensing and Regulation
Local governments create policies, set regulatory frameworks and enforce by-laws that
could be used to implement and enforce climate change adaptation and mitigation
regulations. Policy measures to reduce GHGs in our municipal services and facilities
can be used to mitigate climate change. An example of this is Clarington's excessive
idling bylaw, which places a limit on the amount of time a person can allow their car to
idle, cutting down on air pollution and GHG emissions.
Leadership and Awareness
Local governments play an important role in engaging businesses, residents and other
stakeholders to act on climate change. Clarington can educate and empower staff and
residents to take actions that reduce GHG emissions and make our community more
resilient to climate change. By creating this plan, our municipality is already taking a
leadership role by identifying measures to adapt to and mitigate climate change in
municipal operations and facilities.
Service Delivery
Municipalities work to protect the wellbeing of residents. This is done by providing a
variety of community services, including libraries, road maintenance, emergency
services, urban forest management. As the climate continues to change, our
Municipality will need to adapt, to continue to provide services that promote community
wellbeing, and reduce GHG emissions contributing to climate change.
Operations and Workforce
Local governments are responsible for the continued functioning of the Municipality,
including maintaining municipal roads, bridges, sidewalks, parks, facilities and snow
removal. Incorporating climate change considerations into municipal operations and
decision -making and training staff to take climate change into consideration, are
valuable ways for our Municipality to reduce GHG emissions while continuing to provide
high -quality services in the face of certain climate change.
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The Science of Climate Change
What is Climate Change?
Climate change refers to a statistically significant variation in the normal state of the
climate for an extended period of time. GHGs, including carbon dioxide, methane,
ozone, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons, trap heat energy from the sun in Earth's
atmosphere, warming the planet and fueling changes to global weather patterns.
Although the Earth's climate has naturally fluctuated for millions of years, population
growth and modern human activities such as industrial agriculture, industrialization and
deforestation have altered the composition of the atmosphere with GHGs, accelerating
climate change (Climate Atlas, 2019).
By disrupting the atmospheric balance that keeps the climate stable, we are now seeing
a rise in the planet's average surface temperature, warming oceans, shrinking ice
sheets and glaciers, decreased snow cover, rising sea level, ocean acidification and
extreme weather events (Government of Canada, 2019).
42D
3B0
LZ 0
E 300
260
220
c)
180
800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0
Thousands of years before today {0 = 1$501
Figure 3 - Global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations (CO2) in parts per million (ppm) for the past 800, 000
years. Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2020. Climate Change: Atmospheric Carbon
Dioxide (Lindsey, 2020).
According to the IPCC, human activities are estimated to have already caused
approximately 1.0°C of global warming above pre -industrial levels. Global warming is
estimated to be increasing at 0.2°C per decade due to ongoing emissions. If current
trends continue, global warming will likely reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 (2018).
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The IPCC has advised that to avoid climate change at a scale that has catastrophic
impacts on people and the natural environment, GHG emissions must be reduced by 45
per cent by 2030, compared with 2010 levels, and that net emissions be reduced to
zero by 2050 (2018).
Climate Projections for Canada
Since 1948, Canada's mean annual temperature has increased by 1.7°C overall and by
2.3°C in northern regions. This rate is almost double the global average. Under a
medium emissions scenario, Canada is expected to warm 2°C by 2050 and 4°C by
2080. Seasonally, Canada is expected to experience summertime warming of at least
2.5°C by 2050. If current trends continue, Canadians can expect to experience more
frequent and intense heat in the summer and milder winters. This change will increase
the severity of heatwaves and contribute to an increased risk of drought and wildfires in
the summer (Government of Canada, 2019).
Along with an increase in average temperatures, Canada will continue to experience
increased overall precipitation. Since 1950, annual precipitation has increased by 12 per
cent, with significant increases in extreme precipitation events. When averaged
annually, the largest percentage increase in precipitation has occurred in the high Arctic
(25 to 45 per cent), while parts of Southern Canada have seen little change
(Government of Canada, 2019).
In the winter, most of Southern Ontario will see a significant decline in annual
precipitation. By contrast, Southern British Columbia and Southeastern Canada will
likely experience more precipitation in the spring and fall. Overall, less predictable and
more extreme fluctuations in precipitation and temperature will contribute to more
frequent and severe floods and droughts, which will negatively impact infrastructure,
water availability, ecosystems and agriculture (Government of Canada, 2019).
In northern regions, shorter, milder winters are already resulting in less annual snow
and ice cover. Since 1981 the number of days per year with snow cover has decreased
by 10 per cent per decade due to later seasonal snowfalls, and earlier spring melts as a
result of warming. Since 1968, annual sea ice in the Canadian Arctic has decreased by
8 per cent per decade. It is expected that most of the Canadian Arctic marine regions
will be completely ice -free in the summers by the 2050s. Reduced snow cover reduces
the reflectivity of the Earth's surface, allowing more energy to be absorbed by the land,
compounding global warming and climate change (Government of Canada, 2019).
Climate Change Projections for Clarington
The Municipality of Clarington is already experiencing the impacts of climate change
and extreme weather, resulting in damage to infrastructure and placing health and
safety at risk. In 2013, the Municipality experienced an ice storm that damaged trees
and caused power outages; in 2016, the Municipality experienced a significant
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heatwave and drought that strained natural ecosystems; in 2017 and 2019 the
Municipality experienced lakeshore and overland flooding.
According to climate projections from the OCC, Clarington will continue to experience
weather that is warmer and wetter, with larger and more frequent storms. If left
unaddressed, climate change will increase the financial and operational challenges
faced by the Municipality and place residents and the local economy at risk (2020).
The climate projection data used in this plan originated from the OCC's Guide to
Conducting a Climate Change Analysis at the Local Scale: Lessons Learned from
Durham Region (2020). On behalf of the Region of Durham and Durham area
municipalities, the OCC completed climate modelling of Durham Region using the North
American Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (NA-CORDEX)
ensemble model. In line with their approach, climate projections for this work were
broken down into short-term (2011 to 2040), medium -term (2041to 2070) and long-term
(2071 to 2100). Projections made in this plan illustrate the most likely climate
projections based on current trends.
Increasing Average Annual Temperatures
In the short-term, the average annual temperature in Clarington is expected to increase
by 1.6°C to 13.1 °C. Similar trends are expected in the medium and long-term. In the
medium -term, the average annual temperature is expected to increase by 2.9°C to
14.5°C and 4.8°C to 16.4°C in the long-term.
Minimum average annual temperatures are also expected to rise. The short-term
average annual minimum is expected to increase by 1.7°C to 4.1 °C. The medium -term
average annual minimum is expected to increase by 3.8°C to 5.8°C, while the long-term
average annual minimum is expected to increase by 5.7°C to 8.1 °C.
The minimum winter temperature in Clarington is expected to decrease by 0.3°C from -
8.3°C in the short-term. In the medium -term, the minimum winter temperature is
expected to increase by 2.7°C to -6.3°C and increase 5.6°C to -3.4°C in the long-term.
The shoulder seasons will experience the most notable temperature changes. In the
short-term, the minimum spring temperature will likely increase by 30C from -1 °C to 2°C.
In the medium -term, the minimum spring temperature is projected to increase by 4.6°C
to 3.6°C, and 6.6°C to 5.6°C in the long-term. The minimum fall temperature is expected
to increase 0.9°C from 5.7°C to 6.6°C in the short-term, increasing by 2.5°C in the
medium term to 8.2°C and 4.7°C in the long-term to 10.4°C.
Increasing Average Annual Maximum Temperatures.
Average annual maximum temperatures are also expected to increase in the
Municipality. Most notably, summer maximum temperatures are projected to increase
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by 4.9°C from 21.4°C to 26.3°C in the short-term, and to 27.9°C and 29.9°C in the medium
and long-term respectively.
Extreme heat (over 30°C) will become even more significant as climate change takes
greater effect. In the short-term, the number of extreme heat days will increase from 7.2
days per year to 10.9 days per year. In the medium and long-term, extreme heat days
will increase to 20.8 and 40.3 days per year, respectively.
Fewer Extreme Cold Days
Extreme cold days are expected to decline significantly in Clarington. In the short-term,
the number of days below -200C are expected to decline from 8.6 days to 6.6 days. In
the medium -term, the number of extreme cold days will decline to 3.3 days and only 1.1
days in the long-term. In addition, there is expected to be 19.1 fewer days below
freezing in the short-term, 37.5 and 59.2 fewer days below freezing in the medium and
long-term. In the short-term, the Municipality will experience nearly one -month fewer
days where the temperature will be below freezing (0°C). In the medium -term, this will
be reduced to just over three -and -a -half months, while in the long-term, days below
freezing will be reduced to less than three months.
Increased Precipitation
Precipitation in the Municipality is expected to parallel the increase to the annual
temperatures. In the short-term, the annual average precipitation is expected to
increase by 10.3 per cent from 949.7mm per year to 1059.2 mm per year. In the
medium -term precipitation is expected to increase 16 per cent to 1132.3 mm per year,
and in the long-term precipitation is expected to increase 23.5 per cent to 1241.9 mm
per year. Extreme precipitation (Maximum precipitation in 3 days) will increase notably
from 54.9mm to 73.1 mm in the short-term, 78.4mm in the medium -term, and 86mm in
the long-term.
Fewer Predictable Freeze and Thaw cycles
Freeze -thaw cycles in the Municipality, which take a significant toll on the Municipality's
infrastructure and operations, are only expected to decrease slightly with climate
change. Currently, the Municipality experiences 79.6 freeze -thaw cycles annually.
Freeze -thaw cycles are expected to only decrease to 78.6 cycles annually in the short-
term and to 70.1 and 59.6 cycles in the medium and long-term.
Longer Growing Season
Finally, the growing season in Clarington is expected to be extended, notably from 163
days per year to 178 days per year in the short-term. The growing season is expected
to extend further in the medium -term to 194 days per year and 215 days per year in the
long-term. Currently, the growing season starts on approximately May 15, which in the
in
short term is expected to begin on May 8, May 1 in the medium -term, and April 18 in the
long-term. Currently, the growing season ends around October 24. It is expected to end
on October 31 in the short-term, November 9 in the medium -term and November 18 in
the long-term.
Local Climate Change Impacts
Physical Impacts
The impacts of climate change will continue to cause significant damage to the built
environment, including stormwater infrastructure, buildings, parks, transportation
infrastructure and energy systems. Most municipal roads and other built structures were
not designed to withstand projected future climate conditions, which will result in
increased maintenance requirements and replacement costs.
The variation in temperature between the winter and shoulder seasons indicate a
shortened winter season and increased weather variability in the shoulder seasons.
With a shortened winter and milder spring and fall, the amount of precipitation in the
Municipality is likely to shift from snowfall to rain, placing greater demand on the
Municipality's stormwater management systems. Much of the Municipality's stormwater
infrastructure was not designed for projected increases in precipitation related to climate
change, increasing the potential for overland flooding. Also, irregular freeze and thaw
cycles, coupled with increased precipitation, will increase the risk to municipal
infrastructure and the public. When thaws occur in conjunction with extreme rain, the
likelihood of flooding will increase significantly. Similarly, a freeze after an extreme rain
event can cause damage to infrastructure and roads, poses a risk to public safety and
increases the need for road salt, which damages natural ecosystems.
Ecological Impacts
Climate change is disrupting ecosystems, which places people at risk. Natural
ecosystems provide a wide range of goods and services to people, including drinkable
water, pollution control, flood regulation, clean air and food. A warming climate can
disrupt the ability of ecosystems to provide services that are valuable to the wellbeing of
people. Similarly, climate change can overwhelm an ecosystem's ability to serve as a
natural buffer from extreme weather, increasing the vulnerability of people (Government
of Canada, 2019). For example, increased annual and extreme precipitation in
Clarington will likely result in increased riverine and overland flooding, causing
additional erosion, and disrupting natural riverine ecosystems. In addition, a warming
climate is allowing for invasive species populations to grow, displacing natural species
and creating challenges for local agriculture.
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Social Impacts
Climate change will have direct and indirect impacts on social systems that make up our
community. Unpredictable weather events, extreme heat, and extreme precipitation
have been shown to affect people disproportionately (US Global Research Program,
2014). Prolonged extreme heat has a greater negative impact on people with
preexisting health conditions, the elderly, and the very young. People living in poorer
neighbourhoods with fewer trees are also more vulnerable to extreme heat. People
living in neighbourhoods near creeks, rivers and shorelines are more vulnerable to
flooding caused by increased precipitation. In addition, reduced cold days will impact
winter recreational activities in the Municipality, as the amount of prolonged snow and
ice will be limited by increased freeze and thaw cycles. Similarly, professions that rely
on stable, predictable weather conditions will be negatively impacted. The Municipality
will need to adapt its community programming, operations and staff policies to take
more extreme heat and precipitation into consideration. Actions should also be taken to
avoid disruptions to the electrical grid due to extreme weather.
Economic Impacts
Climate change will impact local and global economies and increase expenses for
residents and the Municipality. During extreme heat, more power is used to keep
buildings cool. According to the Bank of Canada, 20 to 25 per cent more power is
needed to cool buildings on a 320C day than on a 260C day. Increased demand for
electricity increases its cost (2019).
While the agricultural sector will likely benefit from an extended growing season, an
extended growing season and warmer winters will increase the risk of pests that will
cause damage to food crops. Farmers will also need to cool vulnerable livestock or
irrigate more crops during extreme heat, increasing expenses. Spring and fall freeze
and thaw cycles are likely to become less predictable, increasing the possibility of
unexpected crop damage due to frost. Increased agricultural vulnerability and costs for
farmers will increase the cost of food for residents (Government of Canada, 2019).
According to the Intact Centre for Climate Change, increased storms and flooding will
increase property damage. As a result, insurance premiums will continue to increase
due to the added risks to property damage associated with climate change (Intact
Centre on Climate Adaptation, 2019),
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Our Approach
The creation of this plan was guided by the ICLEI Canada, Building Adaptive & Resilient
Communities (BARC) five -milestone framework and by the FCM PCP program five -
milestone framework. Our approach is based on the following key principles:
Collaboration - From the outset, this plan was intended to be a collaborative effort. Over
70 municipal staff members participated in the creation of this plan to identify how the
Municipality will be impacted by projected climate change, propose actions that the
Municipality can take to adapt to climate change and reduce GHG emissions and
prioritize actions to be implemented.
Comprehensive — This plan contains a range of actions to respond to climate change,
which will allow staff from across the corporation to leverage opportunities to create
partnerships and access funding that will be essential for successful action
implementation.
Achievable — All the actions contained in this plan are within the control of the
Municipality and identified by staff as achievable. Most actions contained in this plan are
recommendations for ways to provide high -quality municipal services while reducing
GHG emissions and making the Municipality more resilient to climate change.
Balanced — The impacts of climate change in the future will depend on the actions that
we take in the present. This plan seeks to balance the immediate and long-term needs
of the Municipality while attempting to limit climate change by reducing GHG emissions.
Adaptable — This plan is intended to be adapted and updated. It is expected that staff
will be creative in identifying opportunities to successfully implement the actions
contained in this plan. Appendix D contains actions that were proposed by staff but
were not intended for immediate implementation. These actions will be reviewed to
assess their appropriateness for inclusion in future updates to this plan. It is
recommended that this plan will be updated every five years.
21
ICLEI - BARC
The adaptation elements of this plan have been guided by ICLEI Canada's BARC five -
milestone framework. ICLEI Canada's BARC five -milestone framework is a structured
approach to help municipalities prepare for the impacts of climate change through a
series of progressive steps. Milestones include: 1) initiate; 2) research; 3) plan; 4)
implement and; 5) monitor and review.
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22
FCM — PCP Program
The mitigation elements of this plan have been guided by FCM's PCP program. The
PCP program consists of a five -milestone framework to guide the Municipality to act on
climate change by reducing GHG emissions. Milestones include: 1) create a baseline
emissions inventory and forecast; 2) set GHG emissions reduction targets; 3) develop a
local action plan; 4) implement the local action plan and; 5) monitor progress and report
results.
Establish a baseline GHG inventory
and forecast
Set GHG reduction targets
3
Develop a local action plan
4
Implement the plan
5
Monitor progress and report results
Figure 5 - PCP Five Milestone Framework
23
Staff Engagement
The creation of this plan has been a collaborative process. All aspects of this plan were
directed by the ICCWG, which is made up of representatives from all departments in the
Municipality. Throughout the development of this plan, the ICCWG met monthly to
provide feedback and participate in workshops to gather information to be included in
this plan. ICCWG members consulted with staff from all departments to receive input on
key features of the plan and helped coordinate workshops to assess the risk of climate
change to the Municipality, identify actions to respond to climate risks, identify actions to
reduce corporate GHG emissions, and prioritize and finalize climate actions for inclusion
in this plan.
Objective, Vision and Mission
Early in the climate action planning process, members of the ICCWG participated in
workshops to establish the objective, vision and mission statements to clearly articulate
the purpose and intended outcomes of this climate action plan. First, staff were provided
with a summary of how climate change is expected to impact the Municipality. With
climate impacts in mind, staff were then asked to brainstorm the best -case outcomes
that could result from this plan. Based on best -case scenarios, staff composed the
vision statement for this plan. After agreeing upon objective and vision statements, staff
were then asked to brainstorm how this plan could contribute to achieving the objective
and vision statements, given the changes in climate that are expected. Responses were
distilled into the mission statement contained in this plan.
Goal Identification
Following the creation of a vision statement and mission statement, staff participated in
an exercise that identified the main goals of this plan. All goals are intended to
contribute to achieving the project's vision and mission. Goals were revised throughout
the climate action planning process as staff gained greater knowledge about climate
risks, and responses were identified. All climate actions within this plan are categorized
based on seven goals. The goals of the plan include:
1) Reduce Corporate GHG Emissions
2) Maintain Public and Workplace Health and Safety
3) Minimize Risks to Buildings and Properties
4) Strengthen the Resilience of Municipal Infrastructure
5) Protect Ecosystems and Biodiversity
6) Minimize disruption to corporate operations and services
7) Build Community Resilience
24
Risk and Vulnerability Assessment
Staff worked with the Ontario Climate Consortium (OCC) to bring together
representatives from all departments to complete a climate change risk and vulnerability
assessment. The risk and vulnerability assessment identifies the likelihood and
consequences of impacts that climate change will have on municipal operations and
service delivery. The risk and vulnerability assessment was undertaken in four stages:
1) analyzing the most up-to-date climate projections to identify the climate conditions
that can be expected by the Municipality; 2) working with staff from all departments to
identify the risks and most likely impacts that climate change will have municipal
operations and services; 3) working with staff to assess the likelihood and
consequences of climate impacts on municipal operations and service delivery and; 4)
producing risk statements that reflect the impact that climate change will have on
municipal operations and services. Figure 6 below illustrates the overall risk
assessment process.
Figure 6 - Risk Assessment Planning Process
Department -Specific Risks and Possible Impacts - Workshop 1
In September 2019, representatives from all departments participated in a workshop to
review climate projections and identify local climate risks and their most likely impacts
on the Municipality. Staff were provided with a list of 9 climate conditions that are
expected to impact the Municipality based on the most up-to-date climate projections
from the Ontario Climate Consortium. Climate conditions include:
• More heat waves,
• Higher average temperatures,
• Extended spring and fall seasons,
• More dry spells
25
• More freeze -thaw cycles
• More ice storm,
• More rain and snow in the winter
• Wetter spring and fall
• Higher wind speeds
Using the climate conditions listed above, participants were guided through two
workshop activities. In the first activity, participants generated climate change risk
statements based on likely impacts to municipal operations the service provision. Next,
participants identified the departments that would be most impacted by climate change
and how they would be impacted. Participants were asked to brainstorm and document
the risks that climate change presents to the Municipality using the "If -Then -So"
methodology. The "If -Then -So" methodology is consistent with traditional risk -based
approaches, where "if" is associated with a particular event (in this case, a climate
condition or extreme event occurring); "then" is associated with a particular service or
function, and "so" is the final result or consequence of the climate change impact. For
example, if more extreme rain events occur, then this may lead to more frequent
drainage issues, so this may require increased maintenance of stormwater
management infrastructure and increase costs to the Municipality. All of the information
gathered from staff was analyzed using an integrated risk management approach,
26
summarized, and used to frame the proceeding conversations in workshop two (Ontario
Climate Consortium, 2020).
Ranking the Severity and Likelihoods - Workshop 2
In October 2019, representatives from each department reconvened to participate in a
second workshop to rank the risks that climate change presents to the Municipality. The
risks of climate change to the Municipality were assessed for the present time period,
projected to mid-century (2050s). All risks were identified assuming a "business as
usual" approach to reducing GHG emissions, which is based on current GHG emissions
trends (this climate change scenario is referred to as the Representative Concentration
Pathway 8.5 climate scenario). Based on climate projections for the Municipality, the
ranking of each climate risk was determined by relating the severity of consequences of
a climate risk to the likelihood of the risk occurring. The below equations were used to
rank the identified climate change risks to the Municipality following Workshop 2:
Current Climate Risk = Current Likelihood x X Consequences (across all categories)
Future Climate Risk=Future Likelihood x I Consequences (across all categories)
Summary of Climate Risks for the Municipality of Clarington
Through the climate risk scan process, a total of 199 unique risks were identified. Each
risk statement included a climate condition, an associated risk, and consequences
associated with municipal services and operations. All risk statements were grouped by
department, based on the likelihood a department's operations and services would be
impacted. The Public Works department had the greatest number of identified risks,
with a total of 75. All other departments each had less than 30 identified risks.
Workshop participants identified extreme heat and intense rainfall as the climate
conditions currently the greatest risk to the Municipality. When considering future
climate trends projected to mid-century (2050s), extreme heat, intense rainfall and
extended spring and fall seasons were identified to be the climate conditions that pose
the greatest risks to the Municipality.
Ice storms, more intense rainfall and extreme heat were among the top climate
conditions identified to have the most significant consequences to the Municipality.
Table 1 below highlights the top five climate conditions that will have the greatest likely
consequences for the Municipality.
27
If
Then
So (examples)
Flagged
Future
More
Clarington resources
More staffing, more
Emergency
High Risk
Ice
many be too limited
planning for these
and Fire
Storms
to respond to
events, more resources
Services
extreme weather
events.
More
Development limits
Floodplain and hazard
Planning and
High Risk
Intense
outdated
mapping may not be as
Development
Rainfall
accurate
Services
More
Potential for
Trails and other
Planning and
High Risk
Intense
expanded flood
infrastructure will need
Development
Rainfall
zones
to be re-routed
Services
More
Increased salt usage
Increased costs,
Public Works
Moderate
Ice
and more salt being
groundwater impacts
Risk
Storms
washed away with
and more contracting
stormwater through
and significant impacts
runoff
to water quality in local
water bodies and to
habitats in these water
bodies
More
More invasive
Increased costs for
Public Works
Moderate
Heat
species
reducing the number of
Risk
Waves
invasive species, staff
time and pesticides
Table 1 - Top 5 risks identified as having the highest consequence to the Municipality of Clarington
Notably, many departments share the same climate risks to their services and
operations. For example, more heatwaves were identified as a concern for the
Emergency and Fire Services and Public Works departments, as prolonged extreme
heat would have negative impacts on staff health.
Similar risks between departments provides opportunities for collaboration and resource
sharing when taking actions to respond to the risk.
Number of Risks Identified Across the Municipality of
Clarington's Departments
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
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■ Self -Identified Risks ■ Risks Identified by Other Departments
Clarington's Energy Consumption and GHG Emissions Inventory
Using the International Local Government GHG Emissions Analysis Protocol (IEAP),
staff completed a GHG inventory to establish a baseline for GHGs emitted by the
Municipality. The GHG emissions inventory was calculated using information from four
areas of municipal operations, including buildings, vehicles, streetlights and solid waste.
Please view Appendix I for an outline of the methods used to calculate baseline
municipal GHG emissions.
Buildings
Data for building consumption was assessed using monthly fuel and electricity invoices
for each building. GHG emissions were calculated based on the fuel mix consumed by
each building and the average CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions that are released per
kWh of electricity consumed in Ontario. The building inventory includes 27 of the 42
buildings owned by the Municipality, as these are the buildings that are operated and
maintained by the Municipality. The other 15 buildings are operated and maintained by
independent boards.
Fleet
When collecting data, fleet was separated into three areas: 1) Corporate fleet vehicles,
2) Emergency and Fire Services vehicles and 3) staff vehicles used for municipal
29
purposes. Fuel consumption data for corporate fleet vehicles came from fuel purchase
invoices for bulk fuel purchased for corporate vehicles. Fuel consumption data for Fire
and Emergency Services vehicles came from fuel purchase invoices for individual fire
vehicles. Staff vehicle consumption data was calculated based on staff mileage claims
for corporate use. Fuel consumption was based on an average per kilometre fuel
consumption of 9.48 litres/100km (average mileage for a light -duty vehicle).
Streetlights
Streetlight consumption data came from monthly invoices. Signal light data is not
included in this data, as they are a Region of Durham responsibility. GHG emissions
were calculated based on the average CO2e emissions that are released per kWh of
electricity consumed in Ontario.
Solid waste
Data for corporate solid waste production came from invoices from contacted waste
services for each facility. Clarington's waste is incinerated at the Durham -York Energy
Centre, energy from waste facility. The weight of the waste was calculated at an
average of 250lbs per yard. Calculations were based on an average composition of
municipal solid waste as presented by the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National
Greenhouse Gas Inventories (2006).
Municipal Energy Consumption and GHG Emissions
Data collected for the municipal energy consumption and GHG emissions baseline
inventory revealed that the Municipality consumed 110,077 GJ of energy in the 2018
baseline year. Municipal buildings are responsible for most of the energy consumed,
followed by streetlights and fleet vehicles.
30
Figure 8 - Energy (GJ) Consumption by Source
31
Data collected for the municipal energy consumption and GHG emissions baseline
inventory revealed that the Municipality produced 4,039.4 tons of CO2e emissions in the
baseline year. Of the CO2e emissions released by the Municipality, the majority
originated from municipal buildings, followed by fleet vehicles, waste and streetlights.
V1biste
12_5%
Streertiights
1A %
�khide
1.3-7 +ro
Figure 9 - Greenhouse Gas Emissions (tCO2e) by Source
32
GHG Emission Reductions Targets
The IPCC has concluded that global GHG emissions must be reduced significantly to
limit global warming to below 1.5°C to avoid catastrophic impacts of climate change
(2018). By establishing GHG reduction targets and adopting practices that reduce GHG
emissions, the Municipality is doing its part to limit climate change that will negatively
impact staff and residents while saving money in operating and energy costs.
After completing the Corporate Energy Consumption and GHG Emissions Inventory,
ICCWG staff participated in two workshops to discuss Municipal sources of GHG
emissions and identify recommended Municipal GHG emissions reduction targets. GHG
emissions reduction targets were informed by best practices established by the FCM,
IPCC, and several municipalities in Ontario. Staff identified emissions reduction targets
using three criteria: 1) targets must be achievable by the Municipality; 2) targets must
be significant in helping to limit climate change and; 3) targets must demonstrate the
Municipality's commitment to avoiding the negative impacts of climate change.
This plan sets a target to reduce corporate GHG emissions by 35 per cent from
2018 baseline emissions by 2030 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
These targets align with targets established by the IPCC, and by the Durham
Community Climate Adaptation Plan and the Durham Community Energy Plan, which
were both approved in principle by the Clarington Council. These targets will be
achieved through the implementation of the actions outlined in this Plan and in the 2019
Clarinaton Enerav Conservation and Demand Manaaement Plan.
33
Action Identification and Prioritization
Mitigation Actions
Action identification
Staff from all departments participated in workshops to identify a long list of actions to
reduce corporate GHG emissions. Conversations to identify actions to reduce emissions
were framed by three questions: 1) How can the Municipality reduce GHG emissions in
its current operations while continuing to provide high -quality services? 2) What new
services can the Municipality provide to reduce GHG emissions? and; 3) What can each
department do to reduce GHG emissions as part of their ongoing operations? In
addition, all mitigation actions were based on three criteria. All actions must: 1) be within
municipal control; 2) be attainable, and 3) contribute to achieving corporate GHG
emissions reduction targets. Other actions to reduce corporate GHG emissions were
identified by reviewing best practices being implemented by other municipalities.
Action Evaluation and Prioritization
Staff participated in two workshops to evaluate actions to reduce corporate GHG
emissions. All identified mitigation actions were evaluated using criteria adapted from
the Canadian Communities' Guidebook for Adaptation to Climate Change to assess the
presence of factors essential to the successful implementation of actions to reduce
corporate GHG emissions (2008). Participants were asked to evaluate each action
based on a set of qualitative criteria, including sustainability, effectiveness,
opportunities, and ease of implementation. Once complete, the criteria of each action
were added, resulting in a corresponding action evaluation score. Please see Appendix
H for details about the mitigation evaluation criteria.
Next, all mitigation actions were rated based on their potential to reduce corporate GHG
emissions relative to current corporate practices. Actions were placed into five
categories: Low, Medium - Low, Medium, Medium - High and High. To prioritize
mitigation actions, each action's evaluation score and GHG emissions rating was
combined into a Mitigation Action Prioritization Matrix. Actions with high emissions
reduction potential and high action evaluation scores were categorized as `Must Do.'
Actions with moderate emissions reduction potential and action evaluation scores were
categorized as `Monitor.' Actions with the lowest emissions reduction potential and
action evaluation scores were categorized as `Investigate Further.' `Must Do' actions
were included in this plan for short-term development and implementation. `Monitor'
actions are intended to be monitored for development implementation should
opportunities present themselves in the mid-term. Actions categorized as `Investigate
Further' are intended to be revisited later for consideration in future climate action plans.
Please see Appendix D to review the list of actions for future consideration.
34
Low Medium- Medium Medium- High
Low High
Low Investigate Investigate Investigate Monitor Monitor
Further Further Further
Medium Investigate Monitor Monitor Monitor Must Do
Further
High I Monitor Monitor Must Do Must Do Must Do
Table 2 - Mitigation Action Prioritization Matrix
Adaptation Actions
Action Identification
Using the list of climate impacts compiled from the risk and vulnerability assessment,
staff from all departments participated in workshops to identify a list of potential actions
to help the Municipality adapt to each climate impact. Two approaches were taken to
develop a list of adaptation actions: 1) List each impact, then identify options and
relevant service areas and 2) Review actions taken by other similar municipalities and
select actions that relate to the Municipality. All potential actions were identified by staff
using three criteria. Adaptation actions must: 1) be within municipal control; 2) focus on
corporate operations, infrastructure and/or services, and 3) be achievable by the
Municipality.
Action Evaluation and Prioritization
The list of potential adaptation actions was evaluated using criteria adapted from the
Canadian Communities' Guidebook for Adaptation to Climate Change to assess the
presence of factors essential to their successful implementation within a municipal
context (2008). Participants were asked to evaluate each action based on a set of
qualitative criteria, including sustainability, effectiveness, risk and uncertainty,
opportunities, and ease of implementation. Once complete, the criteria of each action
were added, resulting in a corresponding action evaluation score. Please see Appendix
H for detail about the adaptation action evaluation criteria.
35
Next, a risk score was calculated for each proposed adaptation action based on the
climate impact consequence and likelihood data generated from the risk and
vulnerability assessment. Climate impact consequences and likelihoods were multiplied
together to generate a risk score. Actions were then ranked from low to high risk,
depending on their risk score.
Risk Score Matrix
Consequences
Table 3 - Adaptation Action Risk Score Matrix
Risk Score Rankings
Low
1-5
Medium low
6 - 10
Medium
11 - 15
Medium High
16 - 20
High
21 - 25
Table 4 - Adaptation Action Risk Score Rankings
To prioritize identified adaptation actions, each action's evaluation score and risk score
were combined into an adaptation action prioritization matrix. Actions with high risk and
high action evaluation scores were categorized as `Must Do.' Actions with moderate
combined risk and action evaluation scores were categorized as `Monitor'. The lowest
scores were categorized as `Investigate Further'. `Must Do' actions were included in this
plan for short-term development and implementation. `Monitor' actions are intended to
be monitored for implementation should opportunities present themselves in the mid-
term. Actions categorized as `Investigate Further' are intended to be revisited for
36
consideration in future updates to Clarington's climate action plans. Please see
Appendix D to review the list of actions for future consideration.
Low Risk Medium Low Medium
Low Investigate Investigate Investigate
Further Further Further
Medium Investigate Monitor
Further
High Monitor Monitor
Table 5 - Adaptation Action Prioritization Matrix
37
Monitor
Medium - High
Hiah
Monitor Monitor
Monitor Must Do
Must Do Must Do Must Do
Objective, Vision, Mission, Goals and Actions
Objective
Identify actions that enable the Municipality to avoid the unmanageable and manage the
unavoidable impacts of climate change
Vision
To ensure Clarington is a safe, stable and prosperous community.
Mission
To provide leadership and tangible solutions to combat climate change and
environmental damage while providing efficient and high -quality services to the
community.
Goals and Actions
This plan includes 116 actions that the Municipality will take to respond to climate
change. Seven goals were developed to organize and guide the development of actions
the Municipality can take to respond to climate change. The goals reflect the
Municipality's response to the most likely impacts of climate change on the Municipality.
1) Reduce Corporate GHG Emissions
Climate change will continue to present significant challenges to the Municipality, its
residents, operations and services. By taking actions to reduce GHG emissions,
Clarington is doing its part to slow climate change and reduce its impacts. This plan sets
a target to reduce corporate GHG emissions 35 per cent by 2030 from 2018 levels,
and to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050.
1.1
Encourage waste and recycling service providers document GHG emissions on
invoices submitted to the Municipality to help the Municipality track it's GHG
emissions more easily.
1.2
Consider building envelope upgrades, building automation and lighting
upgrades as part of all building renewal projects.
1.3
Install/upgrade Building Automation Systems (BAS) and Smart Thermostats in
municipal buildings.
1.4
Continue to convert all lighting in municipal buildings to energy efficient LEDs.
1.5
Expedite actions outlined in the 2019 Clarington Energy Conservation Demand
Management Plan.
1.6
Offset the use of petroleum -based natural gas with renewable natural gas in
buildings through renewable natural gas purchasing agreements.
1.7
Establish a policy to replace all appliances with Energy STAR rated appliances.
1.8
Install Smart Water Metering to major equipment at facilities and parks (i.e. ice
rinks, pools and splash pads) to better understand water consumption trends
and ensure that equipment is operating at optimal efficiency.
1.9
Conduct utility consumption audits in municipal facilities, beginning with
building with the highest potential for savings.
1.10
Conduct building re -commissioning to optimize building operations where
applicable.
1.11
Replace mechanical equipment (boilers, chillers, air conditioning units) in
remaining facilities with high efficiency according to building assessments.
1.12
Implement and energy management system (EMS) to track utility bills to
monitor energy consumption and GHG emissions, and inform building
maintenance and recommissioning
1.13
Assess and retrofit buildings with insulation where possible to reduced energy
consumption.
1.14
Incentivize municipal staff to choose low carbon transportation options
including: carpooling, cycling and adopting EVs.
1.15
Expand corporate waste reduction and diversion initiatives to further reduce
waste and promote recycling and composting.
1.16
Develop a Green Procurement Policy that aligns procurement and vendor
selection with the climate resilience and mitigation goals outlined in the CCAP.
1.17
Include a line item in the annual budget to provide funding for studies and/or
components of capital projects that support the implementation of the CCAP.
1.18
Establish a Green Revolving Fund (GRF) that is dedicated to funding energy
efficiency, renewable energy, and/or sustainability projects that generate cost
savings.
1.19
Review and update municipal anti -idling by-law and consider expanding idle -
free zones.
1.20
Create a Corporate Energy Commodity Policy that prioritizes energy savings,
locally produced energy and low carbon energy options.
1.21
Create corporate protocols to incorporate climate change considerations into
Council reports.
39
1.22
Undertake a feasibility study to identify opportunities for the Municipality of to
generate and sell renewable energy.
1.23
Develop a communications plan to share corporate progress on climate action
with staff and the public on an ongoing basis.
1.24
Investigate the feasibility for District Energy Systems in new and existing
secondary plan areas.
1.25
Update the Municipal Green Fleet Strategy.
1.26
Update the Priority Green Clarington Green Development Framework criteria
checklists to include considerations for climate change mitigation and
adaptation.
1.27
Update Clarington's Planning and Development Design Standards and
Guidelines to align with the Clarington Priority Green Development Framework
to support moving toward net zero communities.
1.28
Complete the implementation of Clarington's Green Development Standards,
including the development of a program guidebook, application instructions,
and terms of reference for sustainability reporting.
1.29
Establish beyond -code energy efficiency design standards for new municipal
buildings
1.30
Conduct a review of existing Community Improvement Plans to evaluate the
potential for program expansions to support corporate energy efficient retrofits.
1.31
Update the Municipal Green Fleet Strategy and establish a five-year plan to
electrify municipal fleet vehicles where practicable.
1.32
Complete the conversation of outdoor lighting in parks and streetlights to
energy efficient LEDs
1.33
Implement a Municipal Automatic Vehicle Location Monitoring System (AVL) in
fleet vehicles to track fuel consumption, evaluate idling and optimize routes for
regular travel
1.34
Purchase electric tools and equipment where possible.
1.35
Right -size fleet vehicles based on their use to reduce fuel consumption.
1.36
Integrate green infrastructure and Climate Change into Clarington's Asset
Management Plan.
2) Maintain Public and Workplace Health and Safety
Extreme weather caused by climate change will place the health and safety of residents
and staff at greater risk. The Municipality will take actions to protect residents and staff
from extreme weather caused by climate change.
2.1
Extend pool hours during extreme heat, taking into consideration staffing,
infrastructure and maintenance needs
2.2
Ensure water and sunscreen are available to staff during all municipal summer
outdoor events.
2.3
Allow outdoor activities to be held at indoor recreation facilities during extreme
heat events where possible.
2.4
Design summer outdoor community programming to take into consideration
extreme heat to ensure staff adequately prepared.
2.5
Ensure staff have access to air-conditioned rest areas for relief during extreme
heat.
2.6
Update safety training for staff to incorporate extreme weather risks associated
with climate change including extreme heat.
2.7
Establish protocols for staff during extreme wind events. Identify "Shelter in
Place" safe zones for staff.
2.8
Create/update workplace policies to mandate weather -appropriate clothing to
protect staff against extreme weather conditions including heat, cold, windy and
wet conditions.
2.9
Update municipal emergency contact lists annually.
2.10
Incorporate weather monitoring into staff management processes to forecast
staff needs and ensure there are enough staff available to respond to extreme
weather such as snowstorms and ice storms.
2.11
Expand online safety training program to ensure safety training accessible to
staff in the field.
2.12
Expand mutual aid agreements with other municipalities to avoid labour and
equipment shortfalls during weather -related emergences.
2.13
Ensure adequate resources are in place to ensure adequate response to the
increased frequency of climate -related emergencies.
2.14
Update the Clarington Emergency Plan to incorporate a strategy for extreme
weather based on climate projections.
2.15
Work with stakeholders to identify and promote the location of evacuation
centres to the public.
41
2.16
Develop an extreme heat policy that establishes maximum outdoor working
temperatures for staff and enables staff to complete outdoor work during the
cooler times of the day.
2.17
Extend library hours to keep libraries open to the public during extreme heat
and cold weather.
2.18
Create a communications strategy that clearly categorises levels of weather -
related risk and communicates actions that should be taken to by the public
and stay safe.
2.19
Incorporate shade structures and trees in the designs of outdoor recreation
areas for relief from extreme heat.
2.20
Increase signage near municipally owned and maintained bodies of water
including beaches and stormwater management ponds, warning about the
dangers of thin ice.
2.21
Identify roadways that are the least likely to be impacted by flooding and
incorporate them into community emergency evacuation plans.
2.22
Incorporate textured, slip proof floor surfaces into the design of public spaces.
3) Minimize Risks to Buildings and Properties
Extreme weather caused by climate change will increase the risk of damage to buildings
and properties, resulting in increased maintenance, repair and insurance needs. The
Municipality will take actions to prevent damage to new and existing buildings and
properties caused by extreme weather and climate change.
3.1
Utilize climate projections to assess which municipal buildings are at risk due to
extreme weather. Prioritize building upgrades based on identified risk.
3.2
Update design standards for municipal buildings using climate projections to
ensure municipal buildings are resilient to extreme weather.
3.3
Work with the Conservation Authorities to update flood mapping based on the
most up-to-date climate projections.
3.4
Update zoning bylaws to prohibit development in flood hazard areas.
3.5
Include natural hazards and climate projections as criteria in Clarington's Land
Acquisition Strategy.
3.6
Assess the municipal trail system to determine areas that are most vulnerable
to flooding based on climate projections.
3.7
Update trail design standards to take into account accurate climate projections.
42
3.8 Utilize climate projections to identify areas of roads that are vulnerable to
flooding. Create a plan to upgrade road areas that are at high risk.
4) Strengthen the Resilience of Municipal Infrastructure
Existing municipal infrastructure was not designed for the extreme weather conditions
that will result from climate change. Infrastructure damage and failure will cost the
Municipality money and place the safety of staff and residents at risk. The Municipality
will take actions to improve existing and future infrastructure to limit the negative
impacts of climate change.
4.1
Utilize water catchment for irrigation in park designs where possible.
Work with the Provincial Government and other stakeholders to control invasive
4.2
plant species that have negative impacts on stormwater management ponds,
sightlines, drainage ditches and water quality.
4.3
Expand the municipal road maintenance plan by increasing the road
maintenance cycle to accommodate less predictable freeze/thaw cycles.
4.4
Assess and upgrade stormwater infrastructure using accurate climate
projections.
4.5
Assess the depth of wells that service corporate buildings to ensure water will
be available during a drought.
4.6
Design new splash pads to clean and recirculate water to consume less water.
In new building designs and building retrofits, locate cooling condensers on the
4.7
shady side of the building. Ensure proper ventilation and maintenance for
efficient operation.
4.8
Incorporate lighting into new field designs so they can be used in the evening
when outdoor temperatures are cooler.
4.9
Increase backup power supply, including generators and solar battery storage
options at maintenance facilities.
4.10
Ensure all evacuation centres are equipped with an emergency backup power
supply.
4.11
Review zoning regulations to promote groundwater permeability.
4.12
Update building design standards to incorporate green and reflective roofs into
municipal building designs.
4.13
Expand the rural ditching maintenance program to reduce flooding and avoid
infrastructure and property damage.
43
4.14
Assess bridges and embankments to determine areas that are most vulnerable
to flooding based on climate projections.
4.15
Upgrade stormwater management infrastructure with on -site ponds, cisterns
and landscaping decisions to minimize stormwater run-off.
Revise asset management policy and equipment repair and replacement
4.16
schedules to reflect increased wear from increased use due to extreme
weather.
4.17
Add surge protectors to all electronic equipment and backup batteries to all
computers.
4.18
Store electronic equipment in a location that is secure and not vulnerable to
flooding or fire.
4.19
Expand preventative maintenance and repair program for roads, sidewalks and
bridges to mitigate damage due to increased freeze and thaw cycles.
4.20
Increase construction standards for higher -order roads that are used for hauling
to mitigate damage due to increased freeze and thaw cycles.
4.21
Review road weight restrictions to prohibit hauling on local roads. Prioritize
hauling on higher -order regional roads.
4.22
Design new parks and sports fields to accommodate flooding and function as
stormwater management areas where reasonable to do so.
4.23
Upgrade existing parks and sports fields with permeable asphalt and other
permeable materials to reduce overland flooding.
5) Protect Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Climate change threatens to disrupt natural ecosystems and the services they provide,
including animal habitat, air and water filtration, crop pollination, erosion protection,
groundwater recharge, and human health benefits. The Municipality will take actions to
protect ecosystem biodiversity and ecosystem services.
5.1
Review the implementation of an urban tree preservation bylaw to prevent urban
trees from being cut down without a permit.
Integrate urban heat island projections into the Clarington Urban Forest
5.2
Strategy. Plant more trees in areas with the greatest potential for becoming
urban heat islands.
Require winter maintenance staff become Smart About Salt certified. This
5.3
program will provide training on the application of road salt to improve winter
salting practices and decrease salt -related damage to ecosystems and
infrastructure.
5.4
Consider alternatives to conventional road salt (NaCI) to reduce the negative
impacts on the environment.
5.5
Expand municipal tree planting programs and partnerships to include urban and
rural tree planting on public and private properties.
5.6
Integrate the Clarington Urban Forestry Strategy and Clarington's development
guidelines.
5.7
Establish municipal tree canopy, biodiversity and green space targets for urban
areas.
5.8
Update parks maintenance programs to include vegetation and tree species that
are resilient to extreme heat, extreme weather, and invasive species.
5.9
Investigate environmentally friendly road surface treatments to control dust.
6) Minimize Disruptions to Corporate Operations and Services
Increased frequency of extreme weather will increase the risk of disruptions to municipal
operations and services. The Municipality will take actions to prepare for extreme
weather to avoid disruptions to municipal services and ensure the needs of the
community continue to be met.
6.1
Plan municipal events and programs with backup dates in the event of
cancellations due to extreme weather.
Revise refund policy for municipal recreation programs to exclude refunds for
6.2
cancellations due to extreme weather. Instead, provide credits on customer
accounts for weather -related cancelations.
6.3
Back up corporate data and store a location that is not vulnerable to flooding or
fire.
Develop a work -from -home policy that utilizes telecommuting technologies and
6.4
provides staff with the tools to work from home to avoid weather -related service
disruptions and reduce fuel consumption.
6.5
During elections, promote advanced voting, allow a longer time frame for voting
during extreme weather and promote online voting options.
6.6
Update the Council Procedural Bylaw to allow Council meetings to be conducted
remotely during extreme weather.
6.7
Create an extreme weather policy that identifies the weather condition that will
close municipal facilities
45
7) Build Community Resilience
Climate change will continue to place residents and their property at greater risk due to
more extreme and less predictable weather. The Municipality will take actions within its
ongoing operations to build community resilience to climate change.
7.1
Establish partnerships with organizations with facilities that could be used as
cooling centres during summer heatwaves.
7.2
Create guidelines for non -essential use of water during heatwaves to conserve
water.
7.3
Stockpile sandbags and sand to prepare for emergency flooding and store in a
location that is protected from UV light.
7.4
Create a dedicated reserve fund for climate -related emergencies and
adaptation and mitigation efforts.
Evaluate the implementation of a stormwater fee (and credit) program to
7.5
encourage residents and businesses to maintain permeable surfaces on their
property and generate funds to upgrade and maintain stormwater management
infrastructure.
7.6
Consider the inclusion of incentives for sustainable development in the DC
review, ensuring alignment with the Green Development Framework.
7.7
Review the Municipal Insurance Program to ensure adequate coverage for staff
and the public during extreme weather events.
Create a strategy to communicate the risks associated with climate change.
7.8
Educate the public about the actions that they can take to prepare for extreme
weather events.
7.9
Educate elected officials on how the municipality will be impacted by climate
change by creating climate risks briefing packages.
7.10
Encourage the federal and provincial governments to dedicate funding to help
municipalities adapt to and mitigate climate change.
7.11
Undertake regular departmental risk audits that include climate -related risks to
the Municipality.
Implementation
This plan identifies the main risks that climate change presents to the Municipality and
actions that can be taken to limit identified climate risks. The amount that the
Municipality is impacted by climate change will depend on how successfully this plan is
implemented. Successful implementation of this plan will depend largely on four factors:
Council Support — By dedicating resources and commissioning the
development of this Climate Action Plan, Council has taken the first steps to
prepare the Municipality for climate change. Ongoing support from Council will be
essential for the successful implementation of this plan. Staff will continue to
align the design and implementation of climate actions with direction from
Council.
Funding — Actions contained in this plan will require financial investment to be
successful. Staff will work to develop a business case for each action requiring
funding and will to capitalize on funding opportunities as they become available
from the Federal and Provincial Governments. Staff will also seek cost -sharing
partnerships where possible. Funds for specific climate actions will be requested
as part of the annual municipal budget cycle, taking care to achieve the
maximum possible benefits from any funds invested.
Partnerships — Where possible, the Municipality will work to establish
partnerships with businesses, community organizations and government
agencies in its efforts to successfully implement this plan. Partnerships will be
established for mutual benefit to share knowledge and resources for the purpose
of solving the problems presented by climate change. Partners may include utility
companies, conservation authorities, academic institutions, non -governmental
organizations and community groups. Internally, interdepartmental cooperation
will be essential to the success of this plan. Climate change will impact the
operation and services provided by all departments. By coordinating efforts
across the corporation, the Municipality will be in the best position to succeed in
its efforts to respond to climate change.
Staff Capacity — Staff who are responsible for coordinating the implementation
of climate adaption and mitigation actions will continue to be essential for the
Municipality to achieve its climate change and environmental sustainability goals.
Dedicated climate change and sustainability staff have greater capacity to
engage with community partners, identify funding opportunities and raise
awareness about the projected impacts of climate change. Dedicated staff are
essential to coordinate climate action efforts across municipal departments and
integrate climate change considerations into municipal policies, plans, programs
and decision making. Staff are also needed to monitor and report on the
47
Municipality's progress in responding to climate change. The ICCWG will
continue to be invaluable in this role.
Guiding Principles
Several principles were identified to guide the successful implementation of climate
actions and achieve the vision contained in this plan:
Collaborative — Implementation of this plan will be a collaborative effort by all
departments and will seek out partnerships with all levels of government utility
companies, conservation authorities, academic institutions, non -governmental
organizations and community groups where possible.
Impactful - Actions that prepare the Municipality for the widest range of climate
risks will be prioritized for implementation.
Integrated — Where possible, the implementation of actions will contribute to
other municipal priorities and initiatives.
Iterative — The implementation of climate actions will be adjusted and enhanced
as new information and funding opportunities become available.
Sustainable — Where possible, the implementation of climate actions will
advance the sustainability efforts of the Municipality generally.
Climate Action Implementation Schedule
The climate action implementation schedule for this plan was developed to guide the
overall process of implementing the actions contained in this plan. The implementation
schedule outlines climate actions; the lead department for each action; supporting
departments; relevant municipal plans, policies and strategies; potential implementation
partners; costs; level of effort and duration of time it will take to implement each action;
and whether each action will be one-time or ongoing. See Appendix C to view the
climate action implementation schedule in greater detail. Flexibility while implementing
this plan will allow the Municipality to integrate new policies, financial resources and
partnership opportunities into the implementation process as they become available.
Implementation Tools
A variety of tools are available to enable the Municipality to implement the actions
contained in this plan. As part of milestone 4 of the ICLEI BARC tool and the PCP Five
Milestone Framework, the Municipality will explore the tools most appropriate to the
implementation of each climate action. Implementation tools include:
Communications — Staff will regularly update Council on the risks of climate
change to the Municipality, progress on implementing climate actions, pathways
for action implementation, and the co -benefits of implemented climate actions.
Education and Training — Staff will work to educate staff and Council about the
overall impacts of climate change and ways to incorporate climate change
considerations into municipal decision -making. Increased knowledge about the
impacts of climate change will allow the Municipality to effectively implement
climate actions.
Pilots — Where possible, the Municipality will fully integrate climate actions into
Municipal operations and decision -making. In situations where the outcomes of
climate actions are less predictable, the Municipality can initially assess climate
actions through pilot initiatives.
Policy — Corporate policies inform the way the Municipality operates. Where
appropriate, the Municipality will integrate climate considerations into corporate
policies to ensure long-term integration of climate actions into the municipal,
corporate structure.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of climate actions on an ongoing basis
will enable staff to adjust and optimize climate action implementation and ensure the
highest level of success. Progress on the implementation of climate adaptation actions
will be monitored using key performance indicators (KPIs) that are tailored to each
climate action. Mitigation actions will be monitored by tracking customized KPIs and
corporate GHG emissions. Specific KPIs for each climate action are included in the
Climate Action Implementation Schedule (Appendix C) and will be refined during the
development of the Climate Action Implementation Plan.
Municipal staff will complete an annual climate action report that will be submitted to
Council and posted on the Municipal website. The annual report will summarize KPIs
and GHG emissions, highlight successes and lessons learned throughout the action
implementation process, and provide an overview of the work that will be undertaken in
the following year. This corporate climate action plan is a living document that will be
adapted throughout the implementation process. The plan will be updated every five
years. Updates to the Plan will incorporate lessons learned from implementing the Plan
and will be updated based on the current context, Council priorities and new
opportunities.
Next Steps
The first step in implementing this plan will be to identify climate actions that can be
implemented immediately without the need for significant planning or financial inputs.
The ICCWG will also create an implementation plan that will guide the implementation
of climate actions outlined in this plan over a 5-year term. The implementation plan will
be divided in to 1-year terms, aligning with the Municipality's annual budget cycle. The
implementation plan will identify the year within which each action will be undertaken
and highlight key responsibilities, supporting tasks, implementation co -benefits,
timelines, financial projections, and KPIs for each action.
Once the implementation plan is complete, ad -hoc action -specific working groups will be
formed to implement each action based on the timeline outlined in the implementation
plan. Where needed, action -specific working groups will create work plans that detail
specific budget needs, timelines, key responsibilities, implementation activities and KPIs
to measure completion.
Conclusion
By implementing this corporate climate action plan, the Municipality of Clarington is
fulfilling its responsibility to work in the best interests of the community. The knowledge
contained in this plan will enable the Municipality to make informed decisions to limit
GHG emissions that are contributing to climate change and minimize the impacts that
climate change will have on the Municipality. By implementing this plan, the Municipality
will take climate change into consideration as part of ongoing municipal operations and
work to ensure Clarington remains a safe, healthy and economically prosperous place
to live.
50
Appendices
Appendix A - CCCAP Participants
Interdepartmental Climate Change Working Group (ICCW)
Al Meraw, Lead Hand, Facilities, Community Services
Alexandra Baker, Financial Analyst, Financial Services
Amy Burke, Senior Planner, Planning and Development
Services
Andrew Allison, Chief Administrative Officer, Office of the CAO
Ben Pegles, Capital Works Coordinator, Public Works
Brent Rice, Chief Building Official, Planning and Development
Services
Catherine Carr, Internal Audit Manager, Financial Services
Doran Hoge, Climate Change Response Coordinator, Planning
and Development
Erica Mittag, Community Development Coordinator, Community
Services
Erika Watson, Asset Management and Development Financing
Manager, Financial Services
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Jenna Salvatore, Environmental Summer Student, Planning and
Development Services
Karen Richardson, Manager, Development Engineering, Public
Works
Leanne Walker, Communication / Social Media Specialist, Office
of the CAO
Lockie Longhurst, Fleet Supervisor, Public Works
Michael Ste. Croix, Accountant, Financial Services
Randy Cowan, Deputy Chief, Emergency and Fire Services
Sandra McKee, Assistant Purchasing Manager, Financial
Services
Tim Calhoun, Deputy Chief, Emergency and Fire Services
Workshop Participants
Adam Dunn, Senior Plans Examiner, Planning and
Development Services
Adrienne Nazarko, Employee Relations Representative,
Corporate Services
Al Meraw, Lead Hand, Community services
Alexandra Baker, Financial Analyst, Financial Services
Amy Burke, Senior Planner, Planning and Development
Services
Andrew Payne, Planner I, Planning and Development Services
Anne Taylor Scott, Senior Planner, Planning and Development
Services
Ashley Moss, Older Adult Programmer, Community Services
Basia Radomski, Corporate Communications Officer, Office of
the CAO
Becky Rogers, Senior Buyer, Corporate Services
Brent Rice, Chief Building Official, Planning and Development
Services
Brett Novak, Roads Supervisor, Public Works
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Brianna Bate, Acting Recreation Programmer, Community
Services
Catherine Carr, Internal Audit Manager, Financial Services
Clint Peters, Supervisor, Public Works
Cody Brown, GIS Technician, Planning and Development
Services
Dan Welsh, Facilities Supervisor, Community Services
David Ferguson, Purchasing Manager, Financial Services
Doran Hoge, Climate Change Response Coordinator, Planning
and Development
Erica Mittag, Community Development Coordinator, Community
Services
Erika Watson, Asset Management and Development Financing
Manager, Financial Services
Frances Delany, Project Coordinator, Ontario Climate
Consortium
George Acorn, Director, Community Services
Glen Milner, Senior Project Manager, Ontario Climate
Consortium
Gord Weir, Fire Chief/Clarington Emergency Management
Coordinator, Emergency and Fire Services
Greg Bunker, Planner II, Planning and Development Services
Heather Lynch, Administrative Assistant, Financial Services
Jason Muir, Lead Hand, Community Services
Jenna Salvatore, Environmental Summer Student, Planning and
Development Services
Jenna Stevenson, Temporary Fitness Programmer, Community
Services
Jennifer Stycuk, Community Development Coordinator,
Community Services
Jessica Ward, Communications Coordinator, CAO
Jim Campbell, Facility Lead Hand, Community Services
Joanne Barchard, Law Clerk, Legislative Services
Kara Ross, Aquatic Programmer, Community Services
Karen Richardson, Manager, Development Engineering, Public
Works
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Katelyn Brown, Customer Services Coordinator, Community
Services
Ken Ferguson, Facilities Supervisor, Community Services
Ken Mercer, Operations Supervisor, Public Works
Kersti Pascoe, Older Adult Coordinator, Community Services
Khaoula Bengezi, Researcher, York University
Kristina Dokoska, Project Coordinator, Ontario Climate
Consortium
Larry Postill, Operations Supervisor, Roads, Public Works
Lauren Alexander, Acting Recreation & Fitness Coordinator,
Community Services
Leanne Walker, Communications / Social Media Specialist,
Office of the CAO
Lee -Ann Reck, Client Services Manager, Community Services
Lindsey Patenaude, Licensing Clerk, Legislative Services
Lockie Longhurst, Fleet Supervisor, Public Works
Mark Jull, Planner I, Planning and Development Services
Mark Sutherland, Facilities Supervisor, Community Services
Megan Elliot, Business Manager, Clarington Public Library
Michael Ste. Croix, Accountant, Financial Services
Natalie King, Clerk II, Legislative Services
Paul Creamer, Deputy Treasurer, Financial Services
Peter Windolf, Manager of Park Development, Public Works
Randy Cowan, Deputy Chief, Emergency and Fire Services
Rob Groen, Supervisor of Buildings and Property, Community
Services
Ruth Porras, Senior Planner, Planning and Development
Services
Sandra McKee, Assistant Purchasing Manager, Financial
Services
Sarah Vaisler, Deputy Director, Clarington Public Library
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Sean Bagshaw, Capital Works Engineer, Public Works
Shahzad Mir, Planner, Community Planning and Design,
Planning and Development Services
Stephen Brake, Manager of Operations, Public Works
Stephen Myers, Recreation Services Manager, Community
Services
Steve Burns, Facility Lead Hand, Community Services
Theresa Gamble, Administrative Assistant, Planning and
Development Services
Tim Calhoun, Deputy Chief, Emergency and Fire Services
Tracey Leonard, Aquatic Coordinator, Community Services
Wendy Gorniak, Administrative Assistant, Community Services
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Appendix B - Glossary and Acronyms
Glossary
The definitions below are adapted from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). FCM is made up of a collective of over 2,000 Canadian municipalities working to solve
key issues that impact municipalities, including climate change. The IPCC is an intergovernmental organization of the
United Nations that is dedicated to providing objective, scientific information about the risks related to climate change.
Adaptive Capacity - The ability of social, natural, economic, political, and institutional systems to adjust to change,
moderate potential damage, take advantage of opportunities, and cope with the consequences.
Baseline - The state against which change is measured. A baseline can be a reference point or period for projected
climate changes that is used to compare climate fluctuations between one period and another.
Carbon Footprint - The total amount of carbon generated by an individual, event, organization, service or product over a
period of time.
Carbon Neutral - Achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions by balancing carbon dioxide emissions with removal (often
through carbon offsetting) or by eliminating carbon dioxide emissions altogether.
Carbon Sequestration - The process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide naturally through trees and plants or through
the capture and storage of CO2 produced by industry.
Climate - The overall weather conditions of a place over an extended period of time. Unlike short-term weather events,
climate is relatively stable and predictable over time.
Climate Adaptation - An action or initiative taken to help adjust to actual or expected climate impacts, which reduce the
effects of climate change on people, society, infrastructure, and/or the environment.
Climate Change - Climate change refers to changes in global or regional climate patterns caused by natural phenomena
and human activity that alter the chemical composition of the atmosphere through the build-up of greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun in the Earth's atmosphere and reflect it back to the Earth's surface.
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Climate Change Scenario - A simplified representation of the future climate based on a set of climatological relationships
that have been constructed using evidence -based modelling to investigate the potential consequences of climate
change.
Climate Impact - The effects of extreme weather and climate change on natural and human systems. Impacts generally
refer to effects on health, ecosystems, economies, societies, cultures, services, and infrastructure.
Extreme Weather Events - Rare meteorological events that occur at a place and time of year beyond the normal range of
activity. Extreme weather events include droughts, extreme heat, extreme precipitation, hurricanes, tornados and
wildfires.
Fossil Fuels — Fuels containing carbon that were formed as a result of geologic processes acting on the remains of
organic matter produced by photosynthesis. Fossil fuel sources include coal, oil and natural gas.
Global Climate Models (GCMs) - Global climate models are based on well -documented physical processes and use
mathematical equations to characterize how energy and matter interact in different parts of the ocean, atmosphere and
on land. These models are used to estimate changes in climate due to increased GHGs.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions - Natural and industrial gases that stop heat energy from escaping the Earth's
atmosphere, resulting in global warming. Water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane
(CH4), and ozone (03) are the primary GHGs in the Earth's atmosphere.
Heatwave - A prolonged period of extremely high temperatures for a region. A heatwave can be the result of climate
change and can affect agriculture, human health and ecosystems. Environment Canada issues heatwave warnings for
central and southern Ontario when two consecutive days of daytime maximum temperatures are expected to reach 310C
or when two consecutive days of humidex values reach 40°C or more.
Maladaptation - The failure to adjust adequately or appropriately to an environment or situation. Maladaptation can result
in increased vulnerability to climate change. One example of maladaptation is any adaptation action that increases
greenhouse gas emissions, as it will increase the likelihood of climate change, which will require the need for further
adaptation.
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Mitigation - Actions that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, including policy,
regulatory and project -based measures. Examples of mitigation actions include renewable energy and energy efficiency
programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Renewable Energy - Any form of energy from solar, geophysical or biological sources that is replenished by natural
processes at a rate that equals or exceeds its rate of use. The five renewable sources that are used most often are wind,
solar, biomass, hydropower and geothermal.
Resilience - The ability to anticipate, prepare for and respond to hazardous events, trends, or disturbances related to
climate change. Improving climate resilience involves assessing how climate change will create new or alter current
climate -related risks and taking preemptive steps to minimize these risks.
Risk - Risk can be considered as the combination of an event, its likelihood and its consequences — risk equals the
probability of climate hazard multiplied by the consequence of that event.
Sensitivity - The degree to which a given system is directly or indirectly affected (either adversely or beneficially) by
climatic conditions (i.e. temperature increases) or a specific climate change impact (i.e. increased flooding).
Vulnerability - The degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate change,
including climate variability and extremes. Vulnerability is a function of both the sensitivity and the adaptive capacity of a
given sector.
Weather - The short-term atmospheric conditions of a specific location, including temperature, cloudiness, rainfall, wind
and other meteorological conditions.
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Acronyms
BARC - Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities
CCCAP - Clarington Corporate Climate Action Plan
ECDM - Energy Conservation and Demand Management
FCM - Federation of Canadian Municipalities
GHG - Greenhouse Gases
ICCWG - Interdepartmental Climate Change Working Group
ICLEI - International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives
IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
KPI - Key Performance Indicators
MCIP - Federation of Canadian Municipalities Municipal Climate Innovation Program
OCC — Ontario Climate Consortium
PCP - Partners for Climate Protection
Clarbgton
Appendix C - Climate Action Implementation Schedule
jKey& _Av!�ription
A - A I
Action
The action that will be developed and implemented by the Municipality
Lead Department
The department(s) that will take the lead developing and implementing the climate action
Supporting Departments
Departments that will support the lead department in implementing the climate action
Indicators
Proposed measurements to evaluate the success of implementing climate actions. All mitigation actions
Associated Municipal Plan/ Policy/
Strategy
Plans, policies and strategies that will inform the development and implementation of the climate action.
Potential Partners
Potential partners and stakeholders who could support the design and implementation of climate actions.
$ = Low Cost $0-$100,000
Cost
$$= Medium Cost $100,000-$500,000
$$$= High Cost $500,000+
Low - Action requires a low level of effort to implement
Level of Effort
Medium - Action requires a moderate level of effort to implement
High - Action requires a high level of effort to implement
Short-term - Action will be undertaken over a 1-2 year period
Duration
Medium -term - Actions will be undertaken over a 3-5 year period
Long-term - Action will be undertaken over 5 or more years
One time - Single action will be taken
Frequency
Recurrent - Several actions will be taken
Ongoing - Action implemented as an organizational process or integrated into policy
W
Clarington
Reduce Corporate GHG Emissions
Action
Action
Leaci
supporting E�E
ASSociatecl inunicipal
?otential
Estimatecl
of
Duration
Frequency
Number
Department(s)
Departments
Plan/ Policy/ Strategy
Partners
Cost
Effort
Encourage
waste and
recycling service
providers
document GHG
emissions on
Municipality of Clarington
1.1
invoices
Community
Finance
Official Plan: Chapter 5.5
Region of
$
LOW
Short-
Ongoing
submitted to the
Services
Sustainable Design and
Durham
term
Municipality to
Climate Change
help the
Municipality
track it's GHG
emissions more
easily.
Consider
building
envelope
upgrades,
Clarington Energy
1.2
building
automation and
Community
Conservation and
Clean Air
$$
High
Long-
Ongoing
lighting
Services
Demand Management
Partnership
term
upgrades as part
Plan
of all building
renewal
projects.
WE
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Action..
Supporting
Associated ..
..
..
Level
Number....
....
.. ..
.
Effort
Install/upgrade
Building
Automation
Clarington Energy
1.3
Systems (BAS)
Community
Conservation and
$$$
High
Medium-
One time
and Smart
Services
Demand Management
term
Thermostats in
Plan
municipal
buildings.
Continue to
convert all
Clarington Energy
1.4
lighting in
municipal
Community
Conservation and
$$
Medium
Long-
Ongoing
buildings to
Services
Demand Management
term
energy efficient
Plan
LEDs.
Expedite actions
outlined in the
2019 Clarington
Clarington Energy
1.5
Energy
Community
Finance
Conservation and
Energy
$_$$$
High
Long-
Ongoing
Conservation
Services
Demand Management
Utilities
term
Demand
Plan
Management
Plan.
61
Clarington
PAGLEM
Of
Duration
Frequency
..
....
....01A
.. ..
.
rt
Offset the use of
petroleum -based
natural gas with
renewable
Clarington Energy
1.6
natural gas in
buildings
Community
Conservation and
$$
High
Medium-
Ongoing
through
Services
Demand Management
term
renewable
Plan
natural gas
purchasing
agreements.
Establish a
policy to replace
Clarington Energy
1'�
all appliances
Community
Conservation and
$
Medium
Medium-
One time
with Energy
Services
Demand Management
term
STAR rated
Plan
appliances.
62
Clarington
of
Duration
Frequency
NumberPAGLEM11dt*.L
....
....01A
.. ..
.
ir
Install Smart
Water Metering
to major
equipment at
facilities and
parks (i.e. ice
rinks, pools and
splash pads) to
Clarington Energy
1.8
better
Community
Conservation and
Energy
$$$
High
Medium-
One time
understand
Services
Demand Management
Utilities
term
water
Plan
consumption
trends and
ensure that
equipment is
operating at
optimal
efficiency.
Conduct utility
consumption
audits in
Clarington Energy
1.9
municipal
facilities,
Community
Conservation and
Energy
$
how
short-
Recurrent
beginning with
Services
Demand Management
Utilities
term
building with the
Plan
highest potential
for savings.
63
Clarftwn
SupportingAction..
..
Number....
......
..
.
Effort
Conduct building
re-
commissioning
Clarington Energy
1.10
to optimize
Community
Conservation and
$$
High
Medium-
Recurrent
building
Services
Demand Management
term
operations
Plan
where
applicable.
Replace
mechanical
equipment
(boilers, chillers,
air conditioning
Clarington Energy
1.11
units) in
Community
Conservation and
$$$
High
Medium-
One time
remaining
Services
Demand Management
term
facilities with
Plan
high efficiency
according to
building
assessments.
M,
Clarbgton
PAGLEM
Action..
.Frequency
....
....
Poliy
cy/
Partners
Effo
Implement and
energy
management
system (EMS) to
track utility bills
to monitor
Clarington Energy
1.12
energy
Community
Conservation and
Energy
$
Low
Short-
One time
consumption
Services
Demand Management
Utilities
term
and GHG
Plan
emissions, and
inform building
maintenance
and
recommissioning
Assess and
retrofit buildings
with insulation
Community
- Increased infrastructure
Medium-
1.13
where possible
Services
resiliency to climate
$$
High
term
One time
to reduced
change
energy
consumption.
Incentivize
municipal staff to
choose low
carbon
1.14
transportation
Corporate
Clean Air
$
Medium
Medium -
Ongoing
options
Services
Partnership
term
including:
carpooling,
cycling and
adopting EVs.
MW
Clarftwn
Action..
Action
Supporting
Associated Municipal
Potential
Estimated
Level
of
Duration
Frequency
Number
Department(s)
Departments
Plan/ Policy/ Strategy
Partners
Cost
Effort
Expand
corporate waste
reduction and
diversion
Municipality of Clarington
1.15
initiatives to
Facilities
Official Plan: Chapter 5.5
Region of
$
LOW
Long-
Ongoing
further reduce
Sustainable Design and
Durham
term
waste and
Climate Change
promote
recycling and
composting.
Develop a
Green
Procurement
Policy that aligns
procurement
1.16
and vendor
Finance
$
Low
Medium-
One time
selection with
term
the climate
resilience and
mitigation goals
outlined in the
CCAP.
Include a line
item in the
annual budget to
provide funding
for studies
Office of the
Short-
1.17
and/or
Finance
CAO
$$
Medium
term
Recurrent
components of
capital projects
that support the
implementation
of the CCAP.
Clarington
Action
..of
t,
iated Municipal
Potential
Estimated
Level
I
Duration
Frequency
Number
...
DepartmentsSupPolicy/
Establish a
Green Revolving
Fund (GRF) that
is dedicated to
Clean Air
funding energy
Clarington Energy
Partnership
1.18
efficiency,
Finance
Conservation and
The Green
$
Low
Short-
Ongoing
renewable
Demand Management
Infrastructure
term
energy, and/or
Plan
Ontario
sustainability
Coalition
projects that
generate cost
savings.
Region of
Review and
Durham,
update
Durham Area
municipal anti-
Legislative
Clarington Anti -idling
Municipalities,
Medium-
1.19
idling by-law and
Services
bylaw
Clean Air
$
Medium
term
One time
consider
Partnership,
expanding idle-
Natural
free zones.
Resources
Canada
Create a
Corporate
Energy
Commodity
Planning &
Clarington Energy
1.20
Policy that
prioritizes
Office of the
Development
Conservation and
Energy
$
Low
Short-
One time
CAO
Services, Public
Demand Management
Utilities
term
energy savings,
Works
Plan
locally produced
energy and low
carbon energy
options.
67
ClciCftO11
Action..
Supporting
Associated ..
..
..
Level
Number....
....
.. ..
.
Effort
Create corporate
protocols to
Municipality of Clarington
1.21
incorporate
climate change
Office of the
Finance
Official Plan: Chapter 5.5
$
Low
Short-
One time
considerations
CAO
Sustainable Design and
term
into Council
Climate Change
reports.
Undertake a
feasibility study
Clarington Energy
to identify
Conservation and
1.22
opportunities for
the Municipality
Office of the
Demand Management
Energy
$$
Medium
Medium-
One time
of to generate
CAO
Plan, The Atmospheric
Utilities
term
and sell
Fund, The Ontario
renewable
Energy Board Act
energy.
Develop a
communications
plan to share
1.23
corporate
progress on
Office of the
Corporate
$
Medium
Long-
Recurrent
climate action
CAO
Services
term
with staff and
the public on an
ongoing basis.
Investigate the
Energy
feasibility for
Municipality of Clarington
Utilities,
District Energy
Planning &
Official Plan: Chapter 5.5
Natural
Medium-
1.24
Systems in new
Development
Sustainable Design and
Resources
$$
Medium
term
Ongoing
and existing
Services
Climate Change
Canada, The
secondary plan
Atmospheric
areas.
Fund
.:
Clarington
Action
Action
iated Municipal
Potential
Estimated
Lev;;I
Number
...
DepartmentsSupPolicy/
Effort
Energy Conservation and
Region of
Demand Management
Durham,
Update the
Planning &
Plan
Durham Area
Short-
1.25
Municipal Green
Development
Public Works
Durham Community
Municipalities,
$
Low
term
One time
Fleet Strategy.
Services
Energy Plan
Clean Air
Durham Community
Partnership
Climate Adaptation Plan
Update the
Priority Green
Clarington
Green
Development
Federation of
Framework
Planning &
Priority Green Clarington:
Canadian
1.26
criteria
Development
Public Works
Green Development
Municipalities,
$
Medium
Short-
One time
checklists to
Services
Framework and
Clean Air
term
include
Implementation Plan
Partnership
considerations
for climate
change
mitigation and
adaptation.
WE
Clarington
Action
Action
Number
...
Departments5upPolicy/
Effort
Update
Clarington's
Planning and
Development
Design
Standards and
Planning &
Priority Green Clarington:
Federation of
1.27
Guidelines to
the
Development
Green Development
Canadian
Municipalities,
$
Medium
Short-
One time
align with
Services
Framework and
term
Clarington
Public Works
Implementation Plan
Clean Air
Priority Green
Partnership
Development
Framework to
support moving
toward net zero
communities.
Complete the
implementation
of Clarington's
Green
Development
Standards,
including the
Planning &
Priority Green Clarington:
1.28
development of
Development
Public Works
Green Development
$$
High
Long-
Ongoing
a program
Services
Framework and
term
guidebook,
Implementation Plan
application
instructions, and
terms of
reference for
sustainability
reporting.
WE
Clarftwn
Action..
Number....
1.29
Establish
beyond -code
energy efficiency
design
standards for
new municipal
buildings
Planning &
Development
Services
Supporting
....
Community
Services
Associated ..
.. ..
Municipality of Clarington
Official Plan: Chapter 5.5
Sustainable Design and
Climate ChangePriority
Green, Green
Development Framework
and Implementation Plan
..
Natural
Resources
Canada
..
.
$$
Level
Effort
Medium
Long-
term
Ongoing
Conduct a
review of
existing
Community
Improvement
Plans to
Planning &
Bowmanville, Newcastle
1.30
evaluate the
Development
Community
and Orono Community
Region of
$
Medium
Medium -
One time
potential for
Services
Services
Improvement Plans
Durham
term
program
(CIPs)
expansions to
support
corporate
energy efficient
retrofits.
Update the
Municipal Green
Energy Conservation and
Region of
Fleet Strategy
Demand Management
Durham,
and establish a
Finance,
Plan
Durham Area
Short-
1.31
five-year plan to
Pubic Work
Community
Durham Community
Municipalities,
$
Low
term
One time
electrify
Services
Energy Plan
Clean Air
municipal fleet
Durham Community
Partnership
vehicles where
Climate Adaptation Plan
practicable.
71
Clarftwn
SupportingAction..
..
.Frequency
..
....
......
..
.
Effort
Complete the
conversation of
Clarington Energy
outdoor lighting
Public Works
Conservation and
Long-
1.32
in parks and
Community
Demand Management
$$
Medium
term
Recurrent
streetlights to
Services
Plan
energy efficient
LEDs
Implement a
Municipal
Automatic
Vehicle Location
Monitoring
System (AVL) in
Clean Air
Short-
1.33
fleet vehicles to
Public Works
Partnership
$$
Medium
term
One time
track fuel
consumption,
evaluate idling
and optimize
routes for
regular travel
Purchase
Clarington Energy
1.34
electric tools and
Public Works
All Departments
Conservation and
Clean Air
$$
Medium
Short-
One time
equipment
Demand Management
Partnership
term
where possible.
Plan
Right -size fleet
vehicles based
Clean Air
Medium-
1.35
on their use to
Public Works
All Departments
Partnership
$$$
Medium
term
One time
reduce fuel
consumption.
72
Clarbgton
Maintain
Public and Workplace
Health
and Safety
I
Lead
SupportingAction
Potential
Action
Department(s)
Departments
MunicipalNumber
Policy/
Extend pool
hours during
extreme heat,
taking into
# of cases of illness
2'�
consideration
Community
related to extreme
$$
High
Short-
Recurrent
staffing,
Services
term
infrastructure
heat
and
maintenance
needs
Ensure water
and sunscreen
are available to
Community
# of cases of illness
Short-
2.2
staff during all
related to extreme
$
Medium
Ongoing
municipal
Services
heat
term
summer
outdoor events.
73
Clarftwn
Supporting
..
..
Level
Action..
Number....
....
..
Policy/
.
Allow outdoor
activities to be
held at indoor
# of cases of illness
2.3
recreation
Community
related to extreme
$$
Medium
Short-
Ongoing
facilities during
Services
heat
term
extreme heat
events where
possible.
Design summer
outdoor
community
programming to
# of cases of illness
2.4
take into
Community
related to extreme
$$
Medium
Medium-
Ongoing
consideration
Services
heat
term
extreme heat to
ensure staff
adequately
prepared.
Ensure staff
have access to
Decreased # of casesHealth
Workplace
2.5
air-conditioned
Community
of illness related to
and
$
Low
Long
Ongoing
rest areas for
Services
extreme heat
Safety
term
relief during
Policies
extreme heat.
74
Clarbgton
AssociatedLevel
..
..
Action..
Num..
..
....
Supporting
....
Policy/I
.
of
rE
Duration
Frequency
Update safety
Municipality
training for staff
of
to incorporate
- # of cases of
Clarington
extreme
Corporate
injury/accidents
Emergency
Short-
2.6
weather risks
Services
All Departments
related to heat
Plan,
$
Low
term
Ongoing
associated with
extreme weather
Workplace
climate change
events
Health and
including
Safety
extreme heat.
Policies
Establish
protocols for
staff during
# of cases of
Workplace
2 7
extreme wind
Corporate
injury/accidents
Health and
$
LOW
Short-
One time
events. Identify
Services
related to extreme
Safety
term
"Shelter in
weather events
Policies
Place" safe
zones for staff.
Create/update
workplace
policies to
mandate
weather -
appropriate
# of cases of illness
Workplace
2.8
clothing to
Corporate
related to extreme
Health and
$
LOW
Short-
One time
protect staff
Services
weather
Safety
term
against extreme
Policies
weather
conditions
including heat,
cold, windy and
wet conditions.
75
Clarftwn
Action..
Number
2.9
Action
Update
municipal
emergency
contact lists
annually.
Department(s)
Corporate
Services
Supporting
Departments
Associated
Municipal
. .
# of cases of
injury/accidents
related to extreme
weather events,
Emergency contact
list is up -to date
(yes/no)
Potential
Municipality
of
Clarington
Emergency
Plan
Estimated
$
Level
Low
Short-
term
Recurrent
Incorporate
weather
monitoring into
staff
management
processes to
# of cases of
forecast staff
injury/accidents
2.10
needs and
Corporate
Public Works
related to extreme
$$
Medium
Long-
Ongoing
ensure there
Services
weather events,
term
are enough staff
# of service
available to
disruptions
respond to
extreme
weather such
as snowstorms
and ice storms.
Expand online
safety training
# of cases of
Workplace
2.11
program to
ensure safety
Corporate
injury/illness related
Health and
$$
Medium
Short-
Ongoing
training
Services
to extreme weather
Safety
term
accessible to
events
Policies
staff in the field.
76
ClciCftO11
Action..
Supporting
..
..
Level
Number....
....
..
Policy/
.
Expand mutual
aid agreements
with other
- # of cases of
Municipality
2.12
municipalities to
labour
Emergency and
injury/accidents
of
Clarington
$
Low
Medium-
One-time
avoid
Fire
related to extreme
term
and equipment
weather events
Emergency
shortfalls during
Plan
weather -related
emergences.
Ensure
adequate
resources are in
Municipality
place to ensure
-response time to
of
2.13
adequate
Emergency and
extreme weather-
Clarington
$$$
High
Long-
Ongoing
response to the
Fire
related emergencies
Emergency
term
increased
Plan
frequency of
climate -related
emergencies.
Update the
Clarington
# of cases of
Emergency
injury/accidents
Municipality
Plan to
related to extreme
of
2.14
incorporate a
Emergency and
weather events,
Clarington
$
Medium
Medium
One time
strategy for
Fire
Emergency Response
Emergency
term
extreme
Strategy developed
Plan
weather based
(yes/no)
on climate
projections.
77
Clarftwn
Supporting
..
..
Level
Action..
Number....
....
..
Policy/
.
Work with
Evacuation centres
stakeholders to
identified in the
Municipality
identify and
Emergency and
municipality (yes/no)
of
2.15
promote the
Fire,
# of cases of
Clarington
$
Medium
Medium-
Ongoing
location of
Office of the
injury/accidents
Emergency
term
evacuation
CAO
related to extreme
Plan
centres the
weather events
public.
Develop an
extreme heat
policy that
establishes
maximum
outdoor working
Emergency and
# of cases of illness
Workplace
Ontario
2.16
temperatures
Fire, Corporate
Community
related to extreme
Health and
Ministry of
$
Low
Short-term
for staff and
Services
Services
heat
Safety
Labour
enables staff to
Policies
complete
outdoor work
during the
cooler times of
the day.
Extend library
hours to keep
Clarington
libraries open to
Office of the
Legislative
# of cases of illness
Public
2.17
the public
CAO
Services, Library
related to extreme
Library
$$
Medium
Short-term
during extreme
heat and cold events
Strategic
heat and cold
Plan
weather.
Clarbgton
Action..
Number....
Supporting
....
ss .evel
Policy/
..
..
.
L of
Duration
Frequency
Create a
communications
Region of
strategy that
Durham
clearly
Emergency
categorises
Municipality
Management
levels of
Office the
# of injuries/accidents
of
Office and
Medium -
2.18
weather -related
CAO
Communications
related to hazardous
Clarington
Social
$
Medium
term
risk and
weather conditions
Emergency
Services
communicates
Plan
Department,
actions that
Emergency
should be taken
Management
to by the public
Ontario
and stay safe.
Incorporate
shade
structures and
trees in the
Community
# of cases of illness
2.19
designs of
Public Works
Services
related to extreme
$$
Medium
Long-term
outdoor
heat
recreation areas
for relief from
extreme heat.
W
Clarbgton
Action..
Number....
Supporting
....
ss .evel
Policy/
..
..
.
L of
Duration
Frequency
Region of
Durham
Increase
Emergency
Management
signage near
Office and
municipally
Social
owned and
Services
maintained
bodies of water
# of injuries/accidents
Municipality
Department,
including
related to at
of
Emergency
Medium-
2.20
beaches and
Public Works
municipally owned
Clarington
Management
$
Medium
term
stormwater
and maintained
Emergency
Ontario,
management
bodies of water.
Plan
Central Lake
ponds, warning
Ontario
about the
Conservation
dangers of thin
Authority,
Ganaraska
ice.
Region
Conservation
Authority
W
Clarbgton
Action..
ActionNumber
Supporting
Municipal
..
..
Level
Departments
Policy/Department(s)
Region of
Durham
Emergency
Identify
Management
roadways that
Office and
are the least
Social
likely to be
Services
impacted by
Municipality
Department,
flooding and
Fire and
Emergency Response
of
Emergency
2.21
incorporate
Public Works
Emergency
Routes identified?
Clarington
Management
$$
Medium
Short-term
them into
Services
(yes/no)
Emergency
Ontario,
community
Plan
Central Lake
Ontario
emergency
Conservation
evacuation
Authority,
plans.
Ganaraska
Region
Conservation
Authority
Incorporate
Community
textured, slip
Public Works
Services,
# of cases of
2.22
proof floor
Planning and
injury/accidents
$$
Medium
Medium -
surfaces into
Development
related to extreme
term
the design of
Services
weather events
public spaces.
Clarbgton
Minimize
Risks to Buildings
and Property
MP
T7'PV'
T
Associated
Action
Action
..
...
Indicator(s)
..
Plan/
Potential
Duration
Frequency
Department(s)
Departments
Policy/Number
Partners
Cost
Effort
WJW.AOL
Strategy
Utilize climate
projections to
assess which
# of
municipal
reported
buildings are
damage to
at risk due to
Community
buildings
3.1
extreme
Services
from
$
Medium
Long-term
Recurrent
weather.
Prioritize
extreme
building
weather
upgrades
events
based on
identified risk.
Update design
standards for
municipal
# of
buildings
reported
using climate
damage to
3.2
projections to
Community
buildings
$$-$$$
Medium
Short-
recurrent
ensure
Services
from
term
municipal
extreme
buildings are
weather
resilient to
events
extreme
weather.
Clarftwn
..
Action..
Number....
Supporting
....
Policy/
..
..
.Effort
.
Work with the
Strategy
Central Lake
Conservation
Ontario
Authorities to
# of
Clarington
Conservation
update flood
Planning &
reported
Flood
Authority,
Medium-
3.3
mapping
Development
properties
Response
Ganaraska
$$
High
term
One time
based on the
Services
experiencin
Plan
Region
most up -to-
g flooding
Conservation
date climate
Authority
projections.
Central Lake
Update zoning
# of
Ontario
bylaws to
Planning &
reported
Conservation
3.4
prohibit
Development
properties
Zone
Authority,
�
LOW
Short-
One time
development
Services
experiencin
Clarington
Ganaraska
term
in flood hazard
g flooding
Region
areas.
Conservation
Authority
Include natural
Extreme
hazards and
weather -
climate
related
projections as
Planning &
property
Clarington's
3.5
criteria in
Development
damage,
Land
Environment
$
Medium
Medium-
Ongoing
Clarington's
Services
Updated
Acquisition
Canada
term
Land
Land
Strategy
Acquisition
Acquisition
Strategy.
Strategy
(yes/no)
:,
Clarbgton
ss .
Action..
ActionNumber
Supporting
Potential
Estimated
Level .
Policy/
Strategy
Assess the
Central Lake
municipal trail
Ontario
system to
Conservation
determine
reported
Authority,
3.6
areas that are
Public Works
properties
Ganaraska
$
Medium
Short-
One time
most
Region
term
vulnerable to
experiencin
Conservation
flooding based
g flooding
Authority,
on climate
Environment
projections.
Canada
Central Lake
Update trail
Ontario
design
# of
Conservation
standards to
reported
Authority,
3.7
take into
Public Works
properties
Ganaraska
$
Medium
Short-
One time
account
Region
term
accurate
experiencin
Conservation
climate
g flooding
Authority,
projections.
Environment
Canada
Utilize climate
projections to
identify areas
Decreased
of roads that
# of
are vulnerable
reported
Medium-
3.8
to flooding.
Public Works
$$
High
One time
Create a plan
properties
term
to upgrade
experiencin
road areas
g flooding
that are at
high risk.
:I
Strengthen the Resilience of Municipal Infrastructure
FIR
Clarbgton
Clarbgton
Action...
Actiojnj
Indicator(s)
..
Plan/
Potential
of
Duration
Frequency
Number
Department(s)
Departments
Policy/
Partners
Cost
In new
Strategy
building
designs and
building
retrofits,
locate cooling
condensers
energy
on the shady
consumption,
4.2
side of the
Community
utility
$$
Medium
Medium -term
Recurrent
building.
Services
expenditures,
Ensure
equipment
service life
proper
ventilation
and
maintenance
for efficient
operation.
Increase
backup power
supply
# service
including
disruptions,
generators
Community
Backup
4.3
and solar
Services
power
$$$
Medium
Short-term
One time
battery
installed
storage
(yes/no)
options at
maintenance
facilities.
Clarftwn
Action..
..
....
Supporting
....
.Frequency
..
Policy/
..
..
.
Update
Utility
Strategy
building
consumption,
design
Updated
standards to
design
4.4
incorporate
green and
Community
standards
$$$
High
Medium -term
One time
reflective
Services
(yes/no),
roofs into
Green and
municipal
reflective
building
roofs
designs.
installed
Revise asset
management
Updated
policy and
Asset
equipment
Management
repair and
Corporate
replacement
Policy
4.5
schedules to
Corporate
(yes/no),
$
Low
Medium -term
Recurrent
reflect
Services
Service
increased
disruptions
wear from
due to
increased use
equipment
due to
failure
extreme
weather.
Clarbgton
Associated
ActionAction
Lead
Supporting
Municipal
Potential
Estimated
Level
Number
Policy/MI
Strategy
Add surge
Service
protectors to
disruptions
all electronic
due to
4.6
equipment
Corporate
Services
equipment
failure,
$$
Medium
Short-term
One time
and backup
Equipment
batteries to all
replacement
computers.
costs
Store
Service
electronic
disruptions
equipment in
due to
4.7
a location that
Corporate
equipment
$
Low
Long-term
Ongoing
is secure and
Services
failure,
not vulnerable
Equipment
to flooding or
replacement
fire.
costs
Ensure all
evacuation
# service
centres are
disruptions,
4.8
equipped with
Emergency
backup
$
Medium
Short-term
Recurrent
and
and Fire
power
emergency
installed
backup power
(yes/no)
supply.
Review
zoning
Planning &
# of reported
4.9
regulations to
Development
properties
$
Medium
Short-term
One time
promote
Services
experiencing
ground water
flooding
permeability.
Clarbgton
..
Action...
Acti]onj
Indicator(s)
Plan/
Potential
of
Duration
Frequency
Number
Department(s)
Departments
Policy/
Partners
Cost
Utilize water
water
Strategy
catchment for
consumption
4.10
irrigation in
Public Works
for irrigating
$$
Medium
Long-term
Ongoing
park designs
municipal
where
properties
possible.
Establish a
Central Lake
strategy to
Ontario
control
Conservation
invasive plant
Authority,
species that
Damage to
Ganaraska
have negative
infrastructure
Region
4.11
impacts on
Public Works
from invasive
Conservation
$$
High
Long-term
Ongoing
stormwater
species,
Authority,
management
Water quality
Ontario
ponds,
Invasive Plant
sightlines,
Council
drainage
Provincial
ditches and
Government
water quality.
Clarbgton
Action
Action
Supporting
Associated
Municipal
Potential
Estimated
Level
Number
....
Departments
Policy/
Strategy
Update the
municipal
road
maintenance
plan by
# of reported
Ministry of
increasing the
damage to
Transportation
4.12
road
Public Works
infrastructure
Ontario,
$
Medium
Medium -term
One time
maintenance
from freeze
Ontario Good
cycle to
and thaw
Roads
accommodate
cycles
Association
less
predictable
freeze/thaw
cycles.
Assess and
upgrade
stormwater
# of reported
4.13
infrastructure
Public Works
properties
$$$
Medium
Medium -term
Ongoing
using
experiencing
accurate
flooding
climate
projections.
Design new
splash pads
municipal
to clean and
water
4.14
recirculate
Public Works
consumption,
$$
Medium
Medium -term
One time
water to
utility
consume less
expenditures
water.
E
Clarbgton
..
Action...
Actiojnj
Indicator(s)
Plan/
Potential
of
Duration
Frequency
Number
Department(s)
Departments
Policy/
Partners
Cost
Incorporate
Strategy
lighting into
new field
accessibility
designs so
to outdoor
4.15
they can be
Public Works
Community
areas
$$
Medium
Short-term
Ongoing
used in the
Services
#service
evening when
disruptions
outdoor
temperatures
are cooler.
Expand the
rural ditching
# of reported
maintenance
properties
program to
reduce
experiencing
4.16
flooding and
Public Works
flooding, #
$$
Medium
Medium -term
One time
avoid
reported
infrastructure
damage to
and property
properties
damage.
Assess
bridges and
Vulnerable
embankments
bridges and
to determine
embankment
areas that are
identified
4.17
most
Public Works
(yes/no),
$
Medium
Short-term
One time
vulnerable to
# of reported
flooding
properties
based on
experiencing
climate
flooding
projections.
91
Clarbgton
Action...
Ajction
I
Indicator(s)
..
Plan/
Potential
of
Duration
Frequency
Number
Department(s)
Departments
Policy/
Partners
Cost
Upgrade
Strategy
storm water
Stormwater
management
management
infrastructure
infrastructure
with on -site
upgraded
4.18
ponds,
cisterns and
Public Works
(yes/no),
$$-$$$
High
Medium -term
Ongoing
landscaping
# of reported
decisions to
properties
minimize
experiencing
flooding
storm water
run-off.
Expand
preventative
maintenance
and repair
program for
# of reported
roads,
damage to
4.19
sidewalks and
Public Works
infrastructure
$$
Medium
Medium -term
Ongoing
bridges to
from weather
mitigate
conditions
damage due
to increased
freeze and
thaw cycles.
'A
Clarbgton
Action...
ActionNumber I
..
Potential
Policy/
Effort
Increase
Strategy
construction
standards for
higher order
# of reported
roads that are
damage to
4.20
r
used for
Public Works
infrastructure
$$
Medium
Short-term
One time
hauling
from weather
mitigate
conditions
damage due
to increased
freeze and
thaw cycles.
Review road
weight
restrictions to
prohibit
# of reported
hauling on
damage to
Ontario Good
4.21
local roads.
Public Works
infrastructure
Roads
$
Medium
Medium -term
Ongoing
Prioritize
from weather
Association
hauling on
conditions
higher order
Regional
roads.
93
Clarington
Action...
Actiojnj
Indicator(s)
..
Plan/
Potential
of
Duration
Frequency
Number
Department(s)
Departments
Policy/
Partners
Cost
Design new
Strategy
parks and
sports fields
to
accommodate
# of reported
4.22
flooding and
Public Works
properties
Clarington
��
High
Medium -term
Recurrent
function as
experiencing
Official Plan
stormwater
flooding
management
areas where
reasonable to
do so.
Upgrade
existing parks
and sports
fields with
permeable
# of reported
4.23
asphalt and
Public Works
properties
Clarington
High
Medium -term
One time
other
experiencing
Official Plan
permeable
flooding
materials to
reduce
overland
flooding.
Clarbgton
Protect Ecosystems
and Biodiversity
Associated
Action
Action
..
Supporting
Indicator(s)
Municipal
Plan/
Potential
Duration
FrequencyNumber
Department(s)
Departments
Policy/
Partners
d Cost
Effort
Strategy
Review the
implementati
on of an
Central Lake
urban tree
Ontario
preservation
Planning &
% of tree
Conservation
5.1
bylaw to
prevent
Development
canopy
Authority,
Ganaraska
$
Low
Short-term
One time
urban trees
Services
cover
Region
from being
Conservation
cut down
Authority
without a
permit.
Integrate
urban heat
island
projections
into the
Central Lake
Clarington
Ontario
Urban Forest
Planning &
% of tree
Conservation
5.2
Strategy.
Development
canopy
Authority,
$
Medium
Medium-
Ongoing
Plant more
Services
cover
Ganaraska
term
trees in
Region
areas with
Conservation
the greatest
Authority
potential for
becoming
urban heat
islands.
95
Clarftwn
Action Lead Supporting .
Number Action Department(s) Departments Indicator(s) Plan/ Partners d Cost Effort Duration Frequency
Strategy
Require
winter
maintenance
staff become
Smart About
Salt certified.
This program
will provide Salt damage
training on to
the infrastructure
application of or natural Smart About
5.3 road salt to Public Works areas, Salt Council
improve Low Short-term Recurrent
Quantity of
winter salting salt used,
Cost of salt
practices and
decrease used
salt -related
damage to
ecosystems
and
infrastructure
W
Clarftwn
Action..
Number....
Supporting
....
..
Policy/
Strategy
..
..Effort
.
Consider
alternatives
Salt damage
to
to
conventional
infrastructure
road salt
or natural
Smart About
Medium-
5.4
(NaCl) to
Public Works
areas,
Salt Council
$
Low
term
One time
reduce the
Quantity of
negative
salt used,
impacts on
Cost of salt
the
used
environment.
Expand
Central Lake
municipal
Ontario
tree planting
Conservation
programs
Authority,
and
Ganaraska
partnerships
% of tree
Region
5.5
to include
Public Works
canopy
Conservation
$
Low
short-term
Ongoing
urban and
cover
Authority,
rural tree
Maple
planting on
Leaves
public and
Forever
private
The Region
properties.
of Durham
97
Clarington
ss .
Action..
ActionNumber
Supporting
Potential
Estimate
Level .
Policy/
Strategy
Integrate the
Central Lake
Clarington
Ontario
Urban
% of tree
Conservation
5.6
Forestry
Strategy and
Public Works
canopy
Authority,
Ganaraska
$
Medium
short-term
Ongoing
Clarington's
cover
Region
development
Conservation
guidelines.
Authority
Establish
established
- Central
municipal
tree canopy,
Lake Ontario
tree canopy,
biodiversity
Clarington
Conservation
5.7
biodiversity
Public Works
and green
Urban
Authority
$
Low
Short term
Recurrent
and green
Forest
-Ganaraska
space
space
targets
Strategy
Region
targets for
(yes/no)
Conservation
urban areas.
Authority
Update parks
maintenance
programs to
include
Central Lake
vegetation
loss of
Ontario
and tree
vegetation/tr
Conservation
5.8
species that
Public Works
Emergency &
ees due to
Authority,
$
Low
Short-term
One time
are resilient
Fire
drought and
Ganaraska
to extreme
temperature
Region
heat,
changes
Conservation
extreme
Authority
weather, and
invasive
species.
.-P
Clarbgton
Minimize Disruptions to Corporate Operations and Service Delivery
Clarbgton
..
Action..
ActionNumber
Supporting
Potential
Estimated
Level
Policy/
Strati •
Revise refund
policy for
municipal
recreation
programs to
exclude
refunds for
Refund
cancellations
policy for
6.2
due to
Community Service
Finance
extreme
Medium
Short-term
One time
extreme
weather
weather.
exists
Instead,
(yes/no)
provide credits
on customer
accounts for
weather -
related
cancelations.
# of
Back up
weather -
corporate data
related
and store a
6.3
location that is
Corporate Services
service
$
Low
Short-term
Ongoing
disruptions,
not vulnerable
equipment
to flooding or
fire.
replacement
costs
100
Clarbgton
..
Action..
ActionNumber
Supporting
Potential
Estimated
Level
Policy/
Strati •
Develop a
work -from -
home policy
that utilizes
telecommuting
technologies
and provides
- work from
staff with the
home policy
Clean Air
6.4
tools to work
Corporate Services
exists
Partnership
Medium
Long-term
Ongoing
from home to
(yes/no)
avoid
weather -
related service
disruptions
and reduce
fuel
consumption.
During
elections,
promote
advanced
voting, allow a
# of
longer time
weather-
Elections
6.5
frame for
Legislative Service
related
Ontario
$
Low
Short-term
One time
voting during
service
extreme
disruptions
weather and
promote
online voting
options.
101
Clarbgton
..
Action..
ActionNumber
Supporting
Potential
Estimated
Level
Policy/
Strati.
Update the
Council
Procedural
Bylaw to allow
# of
Council
weather-
6.6
meetings to
Legislative Services
related
$
Low
Short-term
One time
be conducted
service
remotely
disruptions
during
extreme
weather.
Create an
extreme
weather policy
Extreme
that identifies
weather
Environment
6.7
the weather
Office of the CAO
policy
$
Medium
Short-term
Recurrent
condition that
created
Canada
will close
(yes/no)
municipal
facilities
102
Clarbgton
Build Community Resilience
Associated
ALD(epartment(s)
Lead
SupportingAction
Department
..
d
Level
.Frequency
Number
S
Policy/
.
Strategy
Establish
partnerships
with
organizations
Identified
7.1
with facilities
Community
Emergency
cooling
$$
Medium
Short-
Ongoing
that could be
Services
& Fire
centres
term
used as
(yes/no)
cooling centres
during summer
heatwaves.
Create
guidelines
guidelines for
exist
-
non -essential
(yes/no),
Conservati
7.2
use of water
Community
Corporate
Municipal
on Ontario
$
SOW
Short-
One time
during
Services
Services
water
- Source
term
heatwaves to
consumption,
Protection
conserve
Expenditure
Regions
water.
on water
Stockpile
sandbags and
sandto
Sandbags
prepare for
Emergency
stockpiled
7.3
emergency
and Fire
Public Works
(yes/no),
$
LOW
Short-
One time
flooding and
Services
Property
term
store in a
damage due
location that is
to flooding
protected from
UV light.
103
Clarbgton
ss .
ActionNumber
SupportingActionMunicipal
Department
Policy/
Strategy
Create a
Annual
dedicated
municipal
reserve fund
expenditures
for climate-
directly
Short-
7.4
related
Finance
related to
$$
Medium
term
One time
emergencies
climate
and adaptation
change
and mitigation
adaptation
efforts.
Evaluate the
implementation
of a
stormwater fee
(and credit)
program to
% of
encourage
permeable
residents and
surfaces/total
businesses to
ground
7.5
maintain
Finance
Public Works
coverage,
Clarington
$
Medium
Medium -
One time
permeable
property
Official Plan
term
surfaces on
damage
their property
caused by
and generate
overland
funds to
flooding
upgrade and
maintain
stormwater
management
infrastructure.
104
Clarbgton
ActionNumber
SupportingAction
Department
Municipal
Policy/
Strategy
Consider the
inclusion of
Development
incentives for
charge
sustainable
incentives
development in
Planning and
(yes/no),
Medium-
7.6
the DC review,
Finance
Development
# of
$$
Medium
Recurrent
ensuring
Services
sustainably
term
alignment with
development
the Green
s in the
Development
Municipality
Framework.
Review the
Municipal
Insurance
Adequate
Program to
ensure
insurance
7.7
adequate
Finance
coverage
considering
$$
Medium
Medium-
Recurrent
coverage for
climate
term
staff and the
impacts
public during
(yes/no).
extreme
weather
events.
105
Clarbgton
..
ActionNumber
SupportingActionMunicipal
Department
Policy/
Strategy
Create a
strategy to
communicate
the risks
associated
# of climate
with climate
change -
change.
Office of the
related
Local
Short-
7.8
Educate the
CAO
public/corpor
media
$
Low
term
One time
public about
ate events
the actions that
and available
they can take
information
to prepare for
extreme
weather
events.
Educate
Climate
elected
change
officials on
briefing
how the
packages
municipality
exist
7.9
will be
Office of the
(yes/no),
#
$
Low
Medium-
Recurrent
impacted by
CAO
climate
term
climate change
change
by creating
related
climate risks
conversation
briefing
s and
packages.
decisions by
Council
106
Clarbgton
.,
Action.....
SupportingAction..
.
.
Duration
..
Policy/Number
Strategy
Partners
Cost
Encourage the
# of plans,
federal and
policies, and
provincial
programs
governments
that include
to dedicate
Office of the
climate
Short-
7.10
funding to help
adaptation
$
Low
One time
municipalities
CAO
consideration
term
adapt to and
s,
mitigate
available
climate
funding
change.
sources
Undertake
# of climate
regular
related risk
departmental
audits
Recurrent
7.11
risk audits that
Office of the
conducted
$
High
Medium-
(every two
include
CAO
Risks
term
years)
climate -related
identified
risks to the
(yes/no)
Municipality.
107
Clarbgton
Appendix D - Actions for Future Consideration
Action The action that will be developed and implemented by the Municipality
Lead Department The department(s) that will take the lead developing and implementing the climate action
All actions in the long list have been categorized as monitor or investigate further. 'Monitor' actions
Implementation will be monitored regularly. 'Investigate further' actions require further research to assess their
achievability. Actions will be considered in future updated to the CCCAP
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Action
Lead Department
-
Install geothermal heating and cooling systems for new buildings and during major renovations of
Community Services
Monitor
older buildings where practical.
Address "phantom load" management in all facilities by the use of power bars or unplugging
Community Services
Monitor
equipment when not in use where practical.
Upgrade fans and blowing equipment in remaining facilities according to building assessments.
Community Services
Monitor
Expand battery collection initiatives zones across municipal facilities.
Community Services
Monitor
Incorporate solar hot water heating into new and existing buildings.
Community Services
Investigate Further
1:
Clarftwn
Action
Lead...
Perform External Benchmarking against facilities in other municipalities to identify conservation
Community Services
Investigate Further
opportunities.
Install hand dryers and remove paper towel dispensers in bathrooms OR add organic bins in
Community Services
Investigate Further
municipal washrooms to encourage compost disposal of paper towels.
Implement an employee training program on energy efficiency and sustainability.
Corporate Services
Monitor
Require all municipal drivers/operators to complete a training program on energy efficient driving.
Corporate Services
Monitor
Explore funding/grant opportunities for innovative pilot projects and opportunities to enhance
resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., heat pump
Finance
Monitor
retrofits).
Establish a program that would re -invest funds saved from energy efficiency into other climate
Finance
Investigate Further
change initiatives.
Expand the municipality's ban of single -use plastics in municipal facilities to include local
Legislative Services
Monitor
businesses and service providers.
Expand library lending to include tools and other household items that could be used by residents
and staff to cut down on unnecessary consumption of household goods that are infrequently
Library
Investigate Further
used.
Work with the Region of Durham to increase awareness about blue bins and waste programs in
Office of the CAO
Investigate Further
Clarington.
109
Clarftwn
Action
Lead...
Consider partnering with the Green Burial Society of Canada to adopt an environmentally
Office of the CAO
Investigate Further
sustainable alternative to contemporary burial practices.
Designate areas of the municipality for mixed use, locating commercial, residential, institutional
Planning and
Development
Monitor
and office uses in close proximity to encourage other methods of transportation than vehicles.
Services
Designate land for public green space that can be used to grow community gardens with
Planning and
composting facilities to accommodate residential organic waste and minimize waste send to
Development Services
Monitor
landfill.
Develop and implement methodology to quantify the value of natural systems in Clarington (i.e.,
Planning and
parks, riparian areas, natural areas, urban forest, etc.) as a greenhouse gas sink, and incorporate
Development Services
Monitor
into GHG inventory reporting.
Implement sustainable construction practices for municipal buildings to reduce waste through
reusing/recycling existing materials, maximizing efficient use of aggregates, using materials that
Public Works
Monitor
sequester carbon (wood over concrete).
Reduce corporate water consumption through computer -automated irrigation systems and water-
Public Works
Monitor
efficient landscaping.
Extend areas of natural grassland, wood edges and increase area of existing woodlands.
Public Works
Monitor
110
Clarftwn
Maintain Public Health and Safety
Action
Extend spring and fall pool opening as needed.
..Department
Community Services
Monitor
Ensure all fleet vehicles are equipped with air conditioning where practical.
Corporate Services
Monitor
Train staff on how to drive in a variety of weather conditions.
Corporate Services
Monitor
Train staff on how to prevent vector borne illness.
Corporate Services
Monitor
Provide staff uniforms that reduce vulnerability to ticks and mosquitos.
Corporate Services
Monitor
Designate space for domestic animals at emergency evacuation centres.
Office of the CAO
Monitor
Change minimum care requirements for animals to include extreme heat and other weather -
related events and provide generators to animal shelters to maintain heat during winter power
outages.
Office of the CAO
Monitor
Provide snowplough drivers with the ability to report unsafe driving during snow and ice
conditions (similar to school bus drivers).
Public Works
Monitor
Research alternate misting and low water consumption alternatives for public cooling.
Public Works
Monitor
111
Clarftwn
Minimize Risks to Buildings and Property
Action ,.-•, •
Create a building maintenance and replacement reserve fund to prepare and repair buildings Finance Monitor
vulnerable to extreme weather.
Identify areas at risk for erosion, establish priority areas and take appropriate stabilization Public Works Monitor
actions.
Conduct a climate vulnerability audit of all buildings. Public Works Monitor
Strengthen Infrastructure Resilience
Review operating parameters of rink refrigeration systems and adjust as needed.
112
Community Services I Investigate Further
Clarftwn
Upgrade to weather appropriate resilient materials when renewing fields. Public Works Monitor
Protect Biodiversity and Ecology
Action
..Department
Work with the Conservation Authorities to identify, protect and rehabilitate riparian areas that
Planning Services
Monitor
need rehabilitation.
Research and implement natural alternatives to reduce mosquito populations.
Public Works
Monitor
Create a program to manage invasive species on rural roadways and roadside ditches that
Public Works
Monitor
included strategies of managing dog strangling vines, phragmites, ticks and giant hogweed.
Collaborate with the conservation authorities to expand in-house knowledge of invasive species
Public Works
Monitor
management.
Plant trees away from the edge of roads on municipal properties to protect them from road salt.
Public Works
Monitor
Update municipal invasive species management practices to take climate change into
Public Works
Monitor
consideration.
Increase roadside grass cutting to reduce the likelihood of roadside fires.
Public Works
Monitor
Create a greenspace/open space management plan to reduce fires, which includes cutting tall
Public Works
Monitor
dry grasses and eliminating standing deadwood.
113
Clarftwn
Create standing water bylaws to reduce the amount of standing water on private properties in
Public Works
Monitor
urban areas.
Minimize Disruption to Corporation
Action
Lead Department
Take advantage of variable weather throughout the year by transitioning Operations tasks from
Public Works
Monitor
seasonal to year-round where possible.
Train staff to undertake a greater variety of seasonal tasks to respond to greater seasonal
Public Works
Monitor
variation.
create a contractor services registry that includes prequalified contractors that can be called upon
Public Works
Monitor
for services on short notice.
Build Community Resilience
114
Clarbgton
115
Clarftwn
Appendix E - Climate Change Projections
Climate Change Trends in the Municipality of Clarington under the RCP 8.5 scenario
Annual
7.0
8.6
10.1
12.2
T
Winter
-3.
--4.0
-2.5
-0.1
,
• - Spring
3.6
6.8
8.3
10.1
T
Summer
17.1
21.0
22.7
24.7
T
Fall
10.1
10.4
11.9
14.0
T
Max Annual Temperature
11.6
13.1
14.5
16.4
T
Max Winter Temperature
2.1
-0.1
1.2
3.2
T
Max Spring Temperature
8.3
11.6
12.9
14.6
T
Max Summer Temperature
21.4
26.3
27.9
29.9
T
Max Fall Temperature
14.5
14.4
15.9
18.0
T
Min Annual Temperature
2.4
4.1
5.8
8.1
T
• - Min Winter Temperature
-8.0
-8.3
-6.3
-3.4
1
Min Spring Temperature
-1.0
2.0
3.6
5.6
T
116
Clarftwn
Min Summer Temperature
12.7
15.9
17.5
19.6
T
Min Fall Temperature
5.7
6.6
8.2
10.4
T
Days Above 35°C
0.2
0.6
2.1
7.2
T
Days Above 30°C
7.6
10.9
20.8
40.3
T
' • Days Above 25°C
42.1
51.1
70.5
93.4
T
Days Above 20°C
(Tropical Nights)
100.6
111.3
127.9
145.4
T
Days Below -20°C
8.6
6.6
3.3
1.0
1
Days Below -10°C
49.0
33.8
22.9
12.2
Days Below 0°C
(freezing days)
146.8
127.7
110.3
87.6
Annual (mm/year)
949.7
1059.2
1132.3
1241.9
T
Winter (mm/season)
228.3
228.3
255.7
283.1
T
• • Spring (mm/season)
219.2
273.9
292.2
328.7
T
Summer (mm/season)
228.3
292.2
301.3
319.6
T
Fall (mm/season)
273.9
273.9
283.1
301.3
T
Max Precipitation in 1 day (mm)
33.8
51.7
56.1
61.3
T
Max Precipitation in 3 days (mm)
54.9
73.1
78.4
86.0
T
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Simple Daily Intensity Index (SDII) (mm/day)
2.6
2.9
3.1
3.4
T
95th Percentile Precipitation (mm)
36.1
45.4
45.9
61.3
T
99th Percentile Precipitation (mm)
11.2
15.0
15.2
86.0
T
Total Annual
145.3
199.4
199.6
195.7
Total Annual Consecutive Dry Days
18.2
22.3
22.3
22.3
-
Growing Season Start Date (day of year)
44330.0
44324.0
44317.0
44304.0
T
Growing Season End Date (day of year)
44493.0
44500.0
44509.0
44518.0
T
Growing Season Length (days/year)
163.0
178.0
194.0
215.0
T
Corn Heat Units
3193.9
3610.2
4147.6
4779.9
T
Growing Degree Days (Base 0°C)
3197.9
3563.7
4000.4
4552.4
T
Canola Growing Degree Days (Base 4°C)
Forage Crops Growing Degree Days (Base
5°C)
2236.3
2515.4
2892.9
3372.9
T
2024.5
2285.2
2647.7
3109.0
T
Corn and Bean Growing Degree Days
(Base 10°C)
1119.2
1304.2
1595.9
1969.0
T
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Growing Degree Days - Risk of Presence of
7462.5
587.6
803.0
1090.EPests
(Base 15°C)T
Freeze -Thaw Cycles (cycles per year)
79.6
78.6
70.1
59.6
,
Ice Potential (days per year)
28.8
15.0
12.0
8.0
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Appendix F - Risks and Vulnerability Assessment Outcomes
Number of Risks Identified Across the Municipality of Clarington's
Departments
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
■
Operations Planning Emergency Engineering
Corporate
Community Legal CAO Finance Clerk's Library
and Fire and Building
Services
Services Department
Services Services
■ Self -Identified Risks Risks Identified by Other Departments
Number of unique climate risks identified across the Municipality of Clarington's
Departments. Blue represents self -identified risks, and yellow represents the
risks identified by other departments.
120
More Heat Waves
More Intense Rainfall
Extended Spring and Fall
More Ice Storms
More Drought
Higher Wind Speeds
More Rain/Snow in Winter
More Freeze -Thaw Cycles
Extreme Weather
Clarftwn
Total Number of Identified Risks
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Number of Risks
Total number of identified risks within the Municipality of Clarington for each climate
parameter examined in this study
121
Appendix G - Climate Modeling Criteria
Clarbgton
Factors
2020 Durham Climate Modeling
Climate Models
8 different GCMs
5 different RCMs
Emissions Scenarios
RCP 8.5 and RCP 4.5 (latest)
Time Period
2020s, 2050s and 2080s
Baseline
1971 - 2000
Regional Averages
Uses all climate stations in Durham Region to
develop averages
Climate Parameters
Mean temperature, maximum temperature,
minimum temperature, extreme heat, extreme cold,
total precipitation, extreme precipitation, dry days.,
growing season, agriculture variables, freeze -thaw
cycle and ice potential
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Clarington
Appendix H - Adaptation and Mitigation Evaluation Criteria
Adaptation Action Evaluation Criteria
Rating
Evaluation
Criteria
Mitigation Co-
Could result in
increased GHG
Not likely to affect GHG
Could reduce GHG emissions
benefits
emissions
emissions
Sustainability
Equity
Benefits only some people
Benefits many people
Significant benefits to many
people
Implementation
Cost is high relative to the
Cost is moderate relative to
Cost is low relative to the cost
costs
cost of inaction
the cost of inaction
of inaction
Effectiveness
Robustness
Effective for a narrow range
Effective across many
Effective across a wide range
of plausible future scenarios
plausible future scenarios
of plausible future scenarios
Risk and
Urgency
Impacts are likely to occur
Impacts are likely to appear
Impacts are already occurring
Uncertainty
in the longer term
in the near term
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Rating
Evaluation
Criteria
Will contribute little to other
Will contribute somewhat to
Will contribute significantly to
Ancillary Benefits
goals and programs in the
other goals and programs in
other goals and programs in
organization
the organization
the organization
Opportunity
Will have little or no benefit
Will have some benefit
Will result in significant
No Regret
if climate change impacts
regardless of actual climate
benefits regardless of actual
do not occur
change impacts
climate change impacts
Window of
There is no window of
A window of opportunity
A window of opportunity exists
Opportunity
opportunity
could be created
to implement
Political (or public)
Could face some public or
Not likely to receive much
Likely receive public / political
Acceptability
political opposition
public or political attention
support
Funding Sources
Additional funding sources
are required but have not
Additional funding sources
Funding is available or not
Implementation
been identified
may be required
required
Capacity
(information,
Current Capacity is
Gap exit in one or more
Current capacity is sufficient
technical, staff,
insufficient, and gaps
areas but can likely be
to implement the action
cannot be easily addressed
addressed
resources
124
Mitigation Action Evaluation Criteria
125
Cladwgma
Clarbgton
Evaluation Criteria
Rating
Opportunity Ancillary Benefits
Will contribute little to other
Will contribute somewhat
Will contribute significantly
goals and programs in the
to other goals and
to other goals and programs
organization
programs in the
in the organization
organization
No Regret
Will have little or no benefit
Will have some benefit
Will result in significant
if climate change impacts
regardless of actual
benefits regardless of actual
do not occur
climate change impacts
climate change impacts
Window of
There is no window of
A window of opportunity
A window of opportunity
Opportunity
opportunity
could be created
exists to implement
Implementation
Political (or public)
Could face some public or
Not likely to receive much
Likely receive public /
Acceptability
political opposition
public or political attention
political support
Funding Sources
Additional funding sources
Additional funding sources
Funding is available or not
are required but have not
may be required
required
been identified
126
C]aFbOO,U
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Appendix I - GHG Emissions Calculations
Municipal Solid Waste Composition Data by Per Cent
Description
44
CO2 Emmissions
= Total CO2 emissions from incinerated solid waste in tonnes
m
= Mass of waste incinerated
WF1
= Fraction of waste consisting of type i matter
dm1
= Dry matter content in the type i matter
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Clarbgton
CFL
,.
= Fraction of carbon in the dry matter of type i matter
FCFL
= Fraction of fossil carbon in the total carbon component of type i matter
OFj
= Oxidization fraction or factor
i
= Matter type of the solid waste incinerated such as paper/cardboard, textile, food waste, etc.
Note: XjFWj = 1
Source: 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
CO2 emissions from waste were calculated based on non-biogenic CO2 emissions from the incineration of
waste as presented by the IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (2006)
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Description
CH4 Emmissions
= CH4 emissions in the inventory year, tonnes
IWl
= Amount of solid waste of type i incinerated, tonnes
EFj
= Aggregate CH4 emission factor, g CH4 / tonne of waste type i
10-6
= Converting factor from g CH4 to t CH4
i
= Category or type of waste incinerated/open-burned, specified as follows: MSW municipal
solid waste, ISW industrial solid waste, HW: hazardous waste, CW clinical waste, SS sewage
sludge, others.
Source: 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
CH4 emissions from waste were calculated based on emissions from the incineration of waste using
continuous stoker incineration with an incineration factor of 0.02 (IPCC 2006).
130
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,6
Description
N20 Emmissions
= N20 Emissions in inventory year, in tonnes
IWl
= Amount of solid waste of type i incinerated or open burned, in tonnes
EFj
= Aggregate N20 emission factor g CH4 / ton of waste type i
i
= Category or type of waste incinerated/open burned specified as
follows: MSW: municipal solid waste, ISW: industrial solid waste, HW:
hazardous waste, CW: clinical waste, SS: sewage sludge, others (that
must be specified)
Source: 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas
Inventories
NO2 emissions from waste were calculated based on emissions from the
incineration of waste using continuous incineration and a rate of 50g of NO2/t of
waste (IPCC 2006).
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