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Home My WebLink AboutPUB-019-24Staff Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Report To: General Government Committee Date of Meeting: December 2, 2024 Report Number: PUB-019-24 Authored by: Natalie Ratnasingam, Climate Change Response Coordinator Submitted By: Lee-Ann Reck, Deputy CAO, Public Services Reviewed By: Mary-Anne Dempster, CAO By-law Number: Resolution Number: File Number: Report Subject: Corporate Climate Action Plan, 2024 Recommendation: 1.That Report PUB-019-24, and any related delegations or communication items, be received for information. Municipality of Clarington Page 2 Report PUB-019-24 Report Overview This report provides the fourth annual update on the Corporate Climate Action Plan (CCAP). The CCAP is a five-year plan with an update scheduled for 2026. The report includes a summary of accomplishments from 2024, as well as priorities for 2025. As the updated Conservation and Demand Management Plan (CDM) 2025-29 was approved this year, a status report on implementation of the new plan will be provided with the 2025 Annual Update. 1. Background Previous Decisions 1.1 On March 2, 2020, the Municipality of Clarington declared a climate emergency, highlighting its commitment to protecting the community and ecosystems from climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Resolution: GG-083-20). 1.2 In March 2021, Council endorsed the Clarington Corporate Climate Action Plan (CCAP) (Resolution: C-085-21). The CCAP contains 116 actions to respond to the impacts of climate change and establishes corporate GHG emissions reductions targets. The CCAP sets a target of 35% reduction from baseline 2018 GHG emissions by 2030, and to achieve net-zero by 2050. 1.3 In December 2023, Council approved the Green Fleet and Equipment Policy (Resolution: C-159-23), replacing the Electric Vehicle Action Plan (EVAP) with a more flexible approach to fleet electrification. 2. CCAP Update 2024 Accomplishments 2.1 Since the last update in 2023, Staff have been working on the identified action items. A table summarizing the completed and in-progress actions are below: Action CCAP Action Number Status Contract awarded to update the Green Development Framework 1.25, 1.26, 1.27 Underway Municipality of Clarington Page 3 Report PUB-019-24 Action CCAP Action Number Status Investigating the feasibility of a District Energy System (DES) in the Courtice Major Transit Station Area (MTSA) 1.22, 1.24 Underway GHG Reduction Pathway Feasibility Study 1.11, 1.13, 1.2, 1.22, 1.3, 1.31, 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11 Underway Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Installations 1.30 Underway Creation of a Sustainable Procurement Policy 1.16, 1.7 Underway Public Education Social Media Campaign 1.23 Underway e-Waste Initiative in Collaboration with CLMA 1.15 Underway Climate Action Plan Reserve Fund and Climate Change Resilience Reserve Fund created 1.17, 1.18, Complete Sustainable and Resilient Design Standard 1.2, 1.22, 1.28, 3.2, 4.3, 4.4 Complete Green Fleet and Equipment Policy 1.30 Complete Update to Clarington Emergency Plan to include climate-related emergencies 2.6, 2.14 Complete Climate Change considerations added to Council Reports 1.21 Complete Municipality of Clarington Page 4 Report PUB-019-24 Action CCAP Action Number Status New Conservation and Demand Management Plan 2025-29 approved by Senior Leadership Team 1.5 Complete 2.2 The Climate Change Response Coordinator also represented the Municipality at the Durham Climate Roundtable Fall Forum, held by the Brilliant Energy Institute. The event provided an opportunity for the public to engage directly with local municipalities to learn about their sustainability initiatives. This format encouraged open dialogue, allowing community members to better understand local climate goals and actions. 2.3 Staff also attended the Durham Greener Buildings Evening of Recognition to showcase sustainability initiatives in our municipal buildings. The Municipality won an award for Best Energy Performing Large Townhall for the Municipal Administrative Centre and received a Climate Leadership Award in recognition of the GHG Reduction Pathway Feasibility Study. 2025 Priorities 2.4 Staff are working with the hired Consultants to complete the GHG Reduction Pathway Feasibility Study, which will outline key strategies to lower emissions across 25 Municipally owned and operated buildings. Once the Study is finalized, it will be presented to SLT for feedback and refinement. Following the internal review, it will be presented to Council for final approval. 2.5 A grant application is being submitted through the Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation (LLCA) initiative, offered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund. The grant will help support a Community Climate Adaptation Plan. The Plan will include conducting climate risk assessment to identify community- specific hazards and assess vulnerable infrastructure and develop actions to enhance community resilience. 2.6 Staff are planning to update the 2018 Urban Forestry Strategy to examine municipal tree canopy and green spaces, as well as establish targets and a roadmap for urban areas. The updated Strategy will also look to integrate urban heat island projections into plans for tree planting activities. 2.7 In 2025, Staff will begin the process of updating the CCAP. This will involve an updated GHG inventory, revised strategies to meet our targets, and a timeline for implementation of action items. The new Plan will provide the Municipality with a clear, actionable Municipality of Clarington Page 5 Report PUB-019-24 framework to continue addressing the impacts of climate change and ensure we remain on track to reach our climate targets. 3. Financial Considerations 3.1 Projects related to the implementation of the CCAP will be funded in part by the Climate Change Professional Fees account, and the Climate Action/Climate Change Resilience Reserve Funds, as appropriate. 3.2 As grants become available, Staff will continue to prepare applications to offset costs where possible. In 2024, Staff have successfully applied for and received close to $300,000 to offset the cost of the Municipality’s sustainability initiatives. 4. Strategic Plan G.4.2. Be a leader in anticipating and addressing the impacts of climate change. 5. Climate Change The work summarized in this report supports the Municipality’s work to reduce corporate GHG emissions and to improve both overall community resilience in the face of a changing climate. 6. Concurrence Not Applicable. 7. Conclusion It is respectfully recommended that Council receive this report for information. Staff Contact: Natalie Ratnasingam, Climate Change Response Coordinator, 905-623-3379 x. 2429 or nratnasingam@clarington.net. Attachments: Not Applicable Interested Parties: There are no interested parties to be notified of Council's decision.