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Community Climate Action Plan

We want to hear from you

It is important to know the community priorities in order to make a meaningful impact for a Community Climate Action Plan. By sharing your opinions and insights, you contribute directly to the development of the Plan. Each unique perspective will help create strategies that resonate with the needs of our community. Together, we can pave the way for a more resilient future. We will also be holding community engagement sessions. Please watch this page for more information.

To provide your feedback please complete our short survey:

Take Survey

We also held an in-person stakeholder engagement session on May 30. Thank you to all who attended and shared their vision for a sustainable and resilient Port Hope.

Background

Our municipal staff - in collaboration with our Environmental Advisory Committee - are creating a Community Climate Action Plan (CCEAP). In 2022, we, along with many other Canadian municipalities declared a climate emergency to officially recognize the growing impacts of climate change and to meet goals set out by the Government of Canada to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

To complete this work, staff and the Environmental Advisory Committee are working with ICLEI Canada, a national non-profit organization whose mission is to build and serve a worldwide movement of local and regional governments that are committed to achieving tangible improvements in local sustainability and resilience. ICLEI Canada will provide technical consulting, project management, and stakeholder engagement to build capacity, share knowledge, and support the implementation of climate change mitigation in the local community.

The Plan

In recognition of the implications of climate change and having already felt climate impacts directly, the CCEAP will identify a path forward for a ‘resilient community’ and establish a decarbonization roadmap to attain net-zero community GHG emissions by 2050. We'll focus on mitigating the causes of climate change and preventing further contributions to global warming by: identifying and scoping strategies to reduce GHGs, improving energy efficiency, and reducing waste. As Port Hope’s population continues to grow, it will be important to understand how we can best manage future growth in a sustainable manner and mitigate potential impacts to our environment, economy, society, and infrastructure.

This action plan will look at Port Hope’s energy use and emissions today and focus on strategies to reduce them in seven key areas: Buildings, Transportation, Waste, Agriculture, Land-Use, Renewable Energy, and Nature-based solutions.

Development of the CCEAP will include determining our current emissions, establishing a clear vision and goals, and then deciding on strategies needed to reach net-zero by 2050. We will also consider the cost and effective implementation plan.

The plan will also integrate the wise guidance and contributions from our Environmental Advisory Committee members, who offer invaluable expertise and perspective.

Our Emissions

ICLEI completed a 2018 community baseline GHG emissions inventory for Port Hope to establish a basis for future emission reduction scenario modelling to achieve net-zero emissions. The below chart gives a snapshot of each sector’s contribution to Port Hope’s GHG emissions:

Benefits

Depending on the decisions made by the Port Hope Community, a CCEAP could benefit the community, businesses, and the local economy by:

  • Reducing energy costs with the implementation of more energy efficient technologies and practices. This will help protect against rising energy prices in Ontario as well as help alleviate energy poverty.
  • Reducing air pollution and improving health with active transportation, public transit, and carpooling;
  • Better energy resiliency and energy security. With more renewable energy generation, citizens will be less affected by power outages and interruptions, and less impacted by the rising price of energy in Ontario
  • More economic growth in the agricultural industry as a result of more efficient agricultural practices (e.g. use of technology to support efficiency);
  • Improved health of workers, as a result of less pollution and unsafe working conditions (e.g. heat waves);
  • Businesses who invest in energy efficiency and sustainability can be recognized as leaders by their peers in Ontario and elsewhere;
  • New jobs and economic growth in the building and construction industries and clean energy sector;
  • Growing tourism industry from the expansion of electric vehicle use, conservation of our natural heritage, and investment in sustainable practices;
  • Social and health benefits as a result of ecological conservation, better waste practices, and sustainable land-use planning.

We want to hear from you

It is important to know the community priorities in order to make a meaningful impact for a Community Climate Action Plan. By sharing your opinions and insights, you contribute directly to the development of the Plan. Each unique perspective will help create strategies that resonate with the needs of our community. Together, we can pave the way for a more resilient future. We will also be holding community engagement sessions. Please watch this page for more information.

To provide your feedback please complete our short survey:

Take Survey

We also held an in-person stakeholder engagement session on May 30. Thank you to all who attended and shared their vision for a sustainable and resilient Port Hope.

Background

Our municipal staff - in collaboration with our Environmental Advisory Committee - are creating a Community Climate Action Plan (CCEAP). In 2022, we, along with many other Canadian municipalities declared a climate emergency to officially recognize the growing impacts of climate change and to meet goals set out by the Government of Canada to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

To complete this work, staff and the Environmental Advisory Committee are working with ICLEI Canada, a national non-profit organization whose mission is to build and serve a worldwide movement of local and regional governments that are committed to achieving tangible improvements in local sustainability and resilience. ICLEI Canada will provide technical consulting, project management, and stakeholder engagement to build capacity, share knowledge, and support the implementation of climate change mitigation in the local community.

The Plan

In recognition of the implications of climate change and having already felt climate impacts directly, the CCEAP will identify a path forward for a ‘resilient community’ and establish a decarbonization roadmap to attain net-zero community GHG emissions by 2050. We'll focus on mitigating the causes of climate change and preventing further contributions to global warming by: identifying and scoping strategies to reduce GHGs, improving energy efficiency, and reducing waste. As Port Hope’s population continues to grow, it will be important to understand how we can best manage future growth in a sustainable manner and mitigate potential impacts to our environment, economy, society, and infrastructure.

This action plan will look at Port Hope’s energy use and emissions today and focus on strategies to reduce them in seven key areas: Buildings, Transportation, Waste, Agriculture, Land-Use, Renewable Energy, and Nature-based solutions.

Development of the CCEAP will include determining our current emissions, establishing a clear vision and goals, and then deciding on strategies needed to reach net-zero by 2050. We will also consider the cost and effective implementation plan.

The plan will also integrate the wise guidance and contributions from our Environmental Advisory Committee members, who offer invaluable expertise and perspective.

Our Emissions

ICLEI completed a 2018 community baseline GHG emissions inventory for Port Hope to establish a basis for future emission reduction scenario modelling to achieve net-zero emissions. The below chart gives a snapshot of each sector’s contribution to Port Hope’s GHG emissions:

Benefits

Depending on the decisions made by the Port Hope Community, a CCEAP could benefit the community, businesses, and the local economy by:

  • Reducing energy costs with the implementation of more energy efficient technologies and practices. This will help protect against rising energy prices in Ontario as well as help alleviate energy poverty.
  • Reducing air pollution and improving health with active transportation, public transit, and carpooling;
  • Better energy resiliency and energy security. With more renewable energy generation, citizens will be less affected by power outages and interruptions, and less impacted by the rising price of energy in Ontario
  • More economic growth in the agricultural industry as a result of more efficient agricultural practices (e.g. use of technology to support efficiency);
  • Improved health of workers, as a result of less pollution and unsafe working conditions (e.g. heat waves);
  • Businesses who invest in energy efficiency and sustainability can be recognized as leaders by their peers in Ontario and elsewhere;
  • New jobs and economic growth in the building and construction industries and clean energy sector;
  • Growing tourism industry from the expansion of electric vehicle use, conservation of our natural heritage, and investment in sustainable practices;
  • Social and health benefits as a result of ecological conservation, better waste practices, and sustainable land-use planning.
Page last updated: 19 Jul 2024, 12:16 PM