The Climate Change Project

There will be many opportunities to provide input throughout the development of the plan. Check back here later for information on how to get involved.

We've heard from many residents that the City needs to take action on climate change. Since we launched the project we've also heard from many more how happy they are that we are undertaking this work. This project was approved as a part of the 2017 budget process that all residents have a chance to input on.

That being said, there will be many opportunities for everyone in City to provide input throughout the development of the plan. Check back here later for information on how to get involved.

Throughout this project we will be looking at a wide range of options to adapt to all of the projected changes we will see in the climate. there will be many opportunities for everyone in City to provide input throughout the development of the plan. Check back here later for information on how provide input.

Emissions that effect air quality and greenhouse gas emissions often have the same sources. Many of the potential actions in the Plan would likely reduce both emission sources, benefiting our environment in multiple ways!

Adapting to our changing climate is a key part of this project.

Our Office of Emergency Management is already developing risk-based response plans for various events including extreme climate events. We also update existing plans once a year.

Community Energy actions and GHG sinks and offsets will be included for consideration throughout the project.

We're currently in the process of procuring a consulting team to support the development of the Plan. we will engage other experts through the development of the Panel and other times as needed through the project.

The City does not have any direct authority over controlling trucks and their emissions. However, through the development of the plan we will be looking at what can be done to reduce emissions from all transportation sources.

The City does not have a stormwater charge credit program for residential properties (detached homes, semi-detached and freehold townhouses). As a result, you would not be eligible for a rebate or credit for installing permeable pavers. The City did examine a residential credit program but found that, at this time, there is a relatively low uptake and high administration cost of such credit programs in other jurisdictions. That said, there are still immediate benefits to you and your property for installing permeable surfaces for driveways and pathways, such as reduced ponding on your property during storm events and reduced ice build-up and hazardous surfaces during cold weather. Increased permeable surface on your property also does help to reduce stormwater runoff, which can reduce the risk of flooding and help preserve the waterways, aquatic ecosystems and park areas that residents use and enjoy.

Thanks for your comment! We don’t have direct control over food or food systems so it won’t be addressed directly in our plan, but we have and will continue to raise awareness of the climate change implications in our food systems.

There is a current pilot project (The Pan Ontario Electric Bus Demonstration and Integration Trial ) that is being run with funding from the  federal and provincial governments in a number of Ontario municipalities to test electric buses, charging infrastructure and SMART grid impacts in the Ontario climate and context. The City has joined the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) that is overseeing this trial and although the City of Mississauga is not a direct participant it is monitoring this project and will be reviewing the results to determine the timing for the introduction of electric buses into our transit fleet in the future.

Go to mississauga.ca/environment for information on the City's greenhouse gas inventory. Greenhouse gas targets will be developed as a part of the project. Buildings and transportation are the City's top to emission sources so these areas will be a main focus through this project.

We will be looking at renewable energy through the development of the plan. Follow along here as we develop the plan for details on how you can engage and participate.

We don’t have direct control over food or food systems so it won’t be addressed directly in our plan. However, we have and will continue to raise awareness of the climate change implications in our food systems.

Climate change is the process of greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere changing our planet's climate patterns such as temperature, precipitation, winds and other factors. This is due largely to the emissions of greenhouse gases by human activities.

Greenhouse gases include:

• carbon dioxide;
• methane; and
• nitrous oxide.

Examples of climate change actions taken by the City, residents and businesses across Mississauga include:

• The City has a 5 Year Energy Conservation Plan to reduce energy and GHG’s by an additional one percent for the next five years with a total annual savings of approximately $575,000 per year.

• The City’s Greening Our Fleet program reduced greenhouse gas emissions equal to taking approximately 39 cars off the road per year. The program avoided over $500,000 in fuel costs between 2006 and 2012.

• Between 2014 and 2015, converting City streetlights to LEDs reduced greenhouse gas emissions equal to taking approximately 150 cars off the road per year.

• In 2016, a new stormwater charge was introduced to better maintain and expand stormwater infrastructure in Mississauga.

• Through the City’s One Million Trees program, more than 245,000 trees have been planted by the City, its partners and the community.

• Through City-run initiatives like Earth Markets, residents learn more about environmental actions and green activities.

Mississauga's climate is changing and has already experienced a half-degree average temperature increase over the last 100 years. 

There have been three major climate events in Mississauga in the past nine years: the Cooksville flood of 2009, the rain and windstorms of July 2013 and the ice storm of December 2013. 

The three hottest years on record globally were 2014, 2015, and 2016. 

Yes. The panel will include organizations that have a major stake in climate change action in the Mississauga. The panel will provide guidance throughout the development of the Plan, and participate in the creation of actions for the community.