Climate Change and Air Quality

Staff Reports and Presentation

• Climate Action Plan (CAP) September 2022 Progress Report
  • Appendix A: Stakeholder Updates and Partnerships
  • Appendix B: McMaster Renewable Energy Research
• Electric Mobility Strategy Staff Report
  • Appendix A – Electric Mobility Strategy
  • Appendix B – Electric Mobility Engagement Report
  • Appendix C – Electric Mobility Engagement Summary
• CAP June 2021 Progress Report
  • Appendix A: Stakeholder Finding Report – Home Energy Retrofit Program 
  • Appendix B: Stakeholder Updates for the Burlington CAP
• Home Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program March 2022 Staff Report
  • Appendix A: Better Homes Burlington Recommendations Report January 2022
  • Appendix B: Better Homes Burlington Website Design
• Residential Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot Program Staff Report September 2020
  • Appendix A: Home Energy Efficiency Retrofit Pilot Program Budget
  • Appendix B: Municipal Summary

Climate Change Impacts Story Map

View our interactive Climate Change Impacts Story Map with more information on Burlington-specific climate change impacts with:

• Extreme heat and extreme cold
• High winds
• Rainfall and freezing rain
• Lake effects
• Vector-borne diseases
• Resources to help you prepare for and adapt to warmer, wetter and wilder weather

Staff reports and presentations

• Climate Resilient Burlington (CRB): A Plan for Adapting to Our Warmer, Wetter and Wilder Weather. July 7, 2022 Staff Report
  • Appendix A: Final CRB Plan
  • Appendix B: Stakeholder Comments to the Draft CRB Plan
• CRB Plan. May 2022 Staff Report
  • Appendix A: Draft CRB Plan
  • Appendix B: Survey Results on Vision, Principles, Climate Impacts and Actions, Oct. 27 to Nov. 14. 2022
  • Appendix C: CRB Climate Change Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Technical Report, December 2021
  • Appendix D: CRB Engagement Plan, October 2021
  • Appendix E: CRB Engagement Report, March 2022
• CRB Presentation Slides and Video
• CRB virtual launch recording, October 27, 2021
• Climate Adaptation Plan March 2021 Staff Report
  • Appendix A: Climate Projections for Burlington Region
  • Appendix B: Infographics for Burlington Region
• Burlington’s Climate Adaptation Plan, March 2021 presentation slides and video

Existing programs and information

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

• Home Flood Protection Program - A residential flood risk reduction education program that helps residents take action to reduce their flood risk and reduce damage in the event of a flood.
• Flood Prevention Subsidy Program - A City 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 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 to make improvements that can help reduce the risk of flooding.
• 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.
• Warming and cooling centre news and notices - We provide news and updates on access to warming and cooling centres when temperatures get extreme in the area
• 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
• 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
• 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.

From Vision to Focus

These commitments are further supported in our 2018-2022 Burlington's Plan: From Vision to Focus, including:

• Promoting and working toward a lower carbon community in support of the United Nations' (UN) global warming target
• Developing our Climate Action Plan, addressing our Climate Emergency Declaration and focusing on reducing the community's GHG emissions
• Reducing the GHG emissions from City operations overall by 21 per cent by 2024 and 100 per cent by 2040

• Developing Burlington's Climate Change Adaptation Plan

• Increasing the City's tree canopy to 35% by 2041
• Updating the City's Green Fleet Strategy and develop an action plan to reduce the City's carbon footprint through alternative fuel sources

We aim to ensure implementation plans are in progress and/or completed for our:

• Corporate Energy and Emissions Management Plan
• Climate Action Plan
• Climate Resilient Burlington: A Plan for Adapting to Our Warmer, Wetter and Wilder Weather
• Urban Forestry Management Plan update
• Stormwater Management Design Guidelines
  
• Sustainable Building and Development Guidelines
• Green Fleet Strategy, update coming in 2023

City actions

Our City actions include:

• Improving the energy efficiency of facilities through the Corporate Energy Management Program and Emissions Management Plan
• Working with community stakeholders to implement the Climate Action Plan
• Using renewable energy at City facilities, such as solar energy
• Engaging the community in updating our Urban Forestry Management Plan and in developing the Private Tree Bylaw
• Developing and adopting the Parking and Idling Bylaw
• Supporting a sustainable transportation network for transit users, cyclists and pedestrians as part of our Integrated Transportation Master Plan
• Participating in networks, such as the Clean Air Council under the Clean Air Partnership, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Partners for Climate Protection program, the Bay Area Climate Change Office collaboration with the City of Hamilton and the Centre for Climate Change Management at Mohawk College, the Halton Climate Collective, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and ICLEI's Advancing Adaptation training for Ontario municipalities
• Implementing a Zero Waste Strategy
• Implementing a Green Fleet Strategy

What is the difference between weather and climate change?

Weather is the day-to-day changes in conditions, such as temperature and rainfall. 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.

A balanced amount of GHGs keeps our planet habitable. However, since industrialization, GHGs have steadily increased and are impacting our 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.

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