Home, Property and Environment

Climate Change and Air Quality

Learn about how the City of Burlington is taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and prepare for the effects of climate change in our community.

Taking Action on Climate

Climate Action Plan

Our Climate Action Plan identifies a low-carbon energy pathway for the community. Incorporating community member and stakeholder engagement, it builds on our Climate Emergency Declaration to set a strong direction for the City and our community to reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions. It includes a vision for the future and outlines seven areas to guide efforts:

View our Climate Action Plan project page, which includes key project dates, document libraries, how to get involved and more.

Staff Reports and Presentations

Climate Resilient Burlington

Climate Resilient Burlington: A Plan for Adapting to Our Warmer, Wetter and Wilder Weather identifies 32 actions to help us prepare for and adapt to our changing climate.

Visit the Climate Resilient Burlington project page to learn more about the initiative, including the recorded launch event, document libraries and more.

Climate Change Impacts Story Map

View our interactive Climate Change Impacts Story Map with information on Burlington-specific climate change impacts resulting from the following climate hazards:

Extreme heat and extreme cold
High winds
Rainfall and freezing rain
Lake effects
Vector-borne diseases

A list of resources is also available to help you prepare for and adapt to warmer, wetter and wilder weather.

Staff reports and presentations

Existing programs and information

Existing local programs or information that can help you prepare and adapt to warmer, wetter and wilder weather.

Subsidies and grants

Home Flood Protection Program - A residential flood risk reduction education program that helps Burlington residents take action to reduce their flood risk and reduce damage in the event of a flood. Up to 50% of the assessment fee for up to 20 households is available every year.
Plumbing Permit Fee Grant Program - A financial assistance program that covers the cost of a building permit for flood prevention work, such as the installation of a backwater valve and/or sump pump and the repair/replacement of a sanitary line with the installation of a backwater valve. Assistance is offered to Burlington residents on a first come, first served basis.
Enhanced Basement Flooding Subsidy Program - Halton Region's Enhanced Basement Flooding Prevention Subsidy Program makes it easier and more affordable for residents in Halton to make improvements that can help reduce the risk of flooding. These include downspout disconnection, weeping tile disconnection and sump pump installation, backwater valve installation, and sewer lateral (pipe) lining and repair.
Basement Flooding Mitigation Program - Halton Region's Basement Flooding Mitigation Program allows the Region to make improvements to wastewater mains, laterals and maintenance holes in the City of Burlington and other municipalities within Halton Region.

Extreme weather and public notification system

Extreme weather alerts - Warming and cooling centres are open in Burlington when extreme hot and cold temperatures are present.
Cold warnings - Halton Region provides information about the risks associated with extreme cold temperatures and steps you can take to protect yourself from cold-related injuries
Heat warnings - Halton Region provides information about heat illnesses and how to take precautions and prevent health issues in extreme heat
Preparation for a power outage or severe storm - Learn how you can prepare for and deal with power outages and severe storms in Burlington. Halton Region also provides information on community hazards and risks, such as windstorms, winter storms, thunderstorms, lightning, tornadoes and flooding.
Alert Burlington - Burlington's public notification system for community emergencies. Residents and anyone who works within Burlington are encouraged to subscribe for the free community alert service.

Disease

Lyme disease - Halton Region provides information about Lyme disease and how to protect yourself and your family against the spread of the bacterial infection.
West Nile virus - Halton Region provides information about West Nile virus and how to reduce impacts on residents
Tree pests and diseases - Learn more about the different pests and diseases that can affect the health of our local trees and what you can do to lower risk.

Corporate Energy and Emissions Management Plan

The City of Burlington has been implementing an energy management program aimed at saving energy and reducing costs for City facilities for several years. Visit the Energy and City Operations page for more information on how Burlington is leading by example to reduce our carbon footprint.

Take Action Burlington - An Update on Our Local Environment

The Take Action Burlington - An Update on Our Local Environment report provides an overview of the state of Burlington's environment, highlighting local sustainability efforts, climate change connections and actions that can be taken under the categories of land, air, water and waste.

You can also view our Take Action Burlington online story map for an interactive journey through the report.

City actions to address climate change - mitigation and adaptation

Our Strategic Plan identifies the following commitments:

We recognize that climate change is a significant issue and are working with the community and all levels of government toward the goal of our community becoming net carbon-neutral
We aim to have City operations become net carbon-neutral by 2040
We aim to become a leader in storm water management and low impact development
We will complete and implement a climate change adaptation plan
The streetscape plans and private development will increase the City's tree canopy

From Vision to Focus

These commitments are further supported in our 2022-2026 Burlington's Plan: From Vision to Focus, under Focus Area 3 - Protecting and improving the natural environment and taking action on climate change.

City actions

Our City actions include:

Improving the energy efficiency of facilities through the Corporate Energy Management Program and Emissions Management Plan
Using renewable energy at City facilities, such as solar and geothermal energy
Implementing the following:
Engaging the community in our urban canopy including our Urban Forest Master Plan, Woodland Management Strategy tree planting events and giveaways, and in developing the Private Tree Bylaw
Developing and adopting an idling control bylaw under the Parking and Idling Bylaw
Supporting a sustainable transportation network for transit users, cyclists and pedestrians as part of our Integrated Mobility Plan
Focusing future population growth to key areas, such as Aldershot GO, Burlington GO and Appleby GO Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs)
Participating in networks, such as the Clean Air Council under the Clean Air Partnership, the Bay Area Climate Change Office collaboration with the City of Hamilton and the Centre for Climate Change Management at Mohawk College, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Partners for Climate Protection program, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the Carbon Disclosure Project, and CNAM's Applied Climate Action Cohort.

What is climate change?

Climate change is a long-term shift, measured by changes in temperature, precipitation, winds and other indicators. Climate change can involve both changes in average conditions and changes in variability, including changes in extreme conditions.

The decisions we make every day, such as how we live and move around have an impact on emissions that contribute to poor air quality and climate change. The effects of climate change, such as more intense storms and flooding will also impact our everyday lives. Initiatives to reduce air emissions can also help reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) that contribute to climate change, and vice versa.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated that human influence on the climate system is clear. The atmospheric concentration of key GHGs (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) is unprecedented in the last 800,000 years, with our fossil fuel-driven economies and an increase in population to blame.

Check out the following videos produced by the Government of Canada to learn more about climate change.

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather is the day-to-day changes in conditions, such as temperature and rainfall. Will we need a sunhat, an umbrella, or a jacket today? We live with weather.

Climate is longer term and describes the expected weather in a region that is averaged over 30 years. In our region, our local climate typically includes hot, humid summers and cold winters. We plan for the climate.

Smog and air quality

Smog is used to describe a mixture of pollutants, primarily made up of:

Ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter
Sulphur dioxide
Volatile organic compounds
Carbon monoxide
Ammonia

These contaminants are released into the environment when we burn fossil fuels to run vehicles, buildings and industries through the evaporation of fuels and oil-based plants, and as a result of natural processes. Smog can negatively impact human health and ecological health.

In 2023, we experienced unprecedented air quality issues due to the wildfires in northern Ontario and Quebec. Read the blog post “Living with Warmer, Wetter and Wilder Weather” for more information.

Learn more about air quality in Halton Region and air quality in Ontario.