Climate Change and Air Quality

Climate change is a global problem with local consequences and solutions. Recognizing the severity of our changing climate, City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019. The City is tackling both parts associated with climate change:

Climate change mitigation

Reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change through the Corporate Energy and Emissions Management Plan: 2024-2029 with a goal to have net carbon neutral operations by 2040, and the Burlington Climate Plan with a goal to be a net carbon neutral community by 2050.

Climate change adaptation

Managing or reducing the risks associated with our changing climate through Climate Resilient Burlington: A Plan for Adapting to Our Warmer, Wetter and Wilder Weather.

The City of Burlington reports on our climate action every year through:

Staff reports to City Council
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Energy and Environment which is supported in Canada by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a global disclosure system for businesses and governments to help manage environmental impacts.

Taking action on climate

Our Plans

Burlington Climate Plan

The Burlington Climate Plan is our community mitigation plan. It contains 17 actions to help reduce the use of carbon-heavy fuels like natural gas and gasoline in buildings and transportation because they create most of our local emissions. The actions in this plan represent the City’s ability through programs, legislative authority and capital investments to work towards the target to be a net carbon neutral community by 2050.

View the Climate Action Plan page

Climate Resilient Burlington Plan

Climate Resilient Burlington Plan is our community adaptation plan. It contains 32 actions to help Burlington manage and reduce the local risks of warmer, wetter and wilder weather associated with our changing climate.

View the Climate Resilient Burlington Plan page

Corporate Energy and Emissions Management Plan

The Corporate Energy and Emissions Management Plan is our corporate mitigation plan. It addresses corporate energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, parks, corporate vehicle, fleets, transit fleets, and street and traffic lights. This plan guides the work to achieve the goal of being net carbon neutral in the City’s operation by 2040.

View our Energy and City Operations page

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

City climate change mitigation and adaptation actions

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 the Climate Action 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, and the Carbon Disclosure Project

Take Action Burlington blog

Subscribe to the Take Action Burlington blog and get notifications straight to your email whenever a new post is launched! The blog showcases the City's environmental accomplishments and initiatives, profiles community events and programs, and also highlights what individuals can do at home and work in creating a healthy, environmentally friendly community. We all have a role to play in shaping a sustainable future.

To subscribe, simply enter your email address and select the "Follow" button on the blog's website. You can also join the conversation on social media with the hashtags #TakeActionBurlington and #LiveGreenBurl.

Climate change and air quality frequently asked questions (FAQs)

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.

What is smog?

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.