City making progress on climate change efforts

HAMILTON, ON – Hamilton City Council approved $2.55 million in new climate change initiatives today that will help the City reduce emissions from City vehicles, improve low-carbon transportation options for residents and improve stormwater management through changes to City infrastructure.

The new investments are funded through 2023 budget investments into the City’s climate reserve and represent the first of a series of annual investments designed to help Hamilton achieve its climate-related goals.

Investments approved by Council include:

• $900,000 to purchase and install battery-powered units on 15 existing heavy fire vehicles, which can reduce idling by up to 45 per cent and overall engine use by up to 15 per cent, leading to greenhouse emissions reductions of 18 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year per vehicle.
• $750,000 to purchase a minimum of 100 e-bikes and equipment to enable a three-year Bike Share E-Bike pilot in Hamilton to encourage more residents and visitors to choose a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation.
• $350,000 to enhance existing secure bike parking facilities and establish similar facilities at transit hubs and major destinations, such as the Convention Centre, York Boulevard Parkade, McMaster University, Mohawk College, Eastgate Square Transit Terminal, City Hall and other locations to be determined through further consultation.
• $350,000 to undertake targeted de-paving initiatives on City-owned lands, including boulevards and streets, to provide and test strategies for enhanced stormwater retention, tree canopy coverage and urban greening. Locations will be identified through priorities as set out by the Urban Forest Strategy.
• $200,000 to provide a green makeover to six City of Hamilton parking lots by adapting the lots with more permeable and sustainable surfaces, such as porous asphalts, native tree and plant installation and incorporating bike parking and street furniture.

The new investments came forward alongside the Office of Climate Change Initiatives 2023 Climate Action Strategy Annual Update.

The update was received at the City’s General Issues Committee on October 18, 2023 and ratified by members of Hamilton City Council today. The Update outlines City-led work underway to adapt to, and mitigate, the impacts of climate change in the city.

Key highlights of the update include:

• Implementation of new internal governance structures, and the formation of a Community Climate Change Advisory Committee is underway
• Launch of the Better Homes Hamilton home energy retrofit pilot this year
• Development of an energy performance/net zero standard for all new municipal buildings is underway
• Over 3,500 native trees given to homeowners and 3,600 trees planted on city land by volunteers in 2023
• Climate Change Reserve funding will support EV charging electrical upgrades at City facilities
• Development of an Extreme Heat Response Plan is underway, with input from the multi-stakeholder Extreme Heat Working Group
• Acceleration of infrastructure installation is underway for the local cycling network

These efforts, in addition to actions like the City’s commitment to biodiversity by being one of a handful of Canadian municipalities to adopt the Montreal Pledge, are designed to help the City meet its goals of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

Montreal pledge: Cites united in action for biodiversity

On June 15, 2023, in accordance with Recommendation d) of Report PED21065(c), the City Clerk provided written notice to the Ville de Montreal to advise that the City wishes to be a signatory to the Montreal Pledge: Cities United in Action for Biodiversity. The actions outlined in the Montreal Pledge align with current Official Plan policy and efforts being made through related City initiatives, as well as the draft Biodiversity Action Plan. A commitment to this pledge will ensure that Hamilton’s actions towards improvements to local biodiversity will align with actions being undertaken by other municipalities from Canada and across the world.

The climate crisis poses an existential threat to local biodiversity. Hamilton City Council has previously invested Climate Change Reserve funding to take action, including updating Hamilton’s Natural Areas Inventory with a $200,000 investment for the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club – who are now working in collaboration with the City of Hamilton and Hamilton Conservation Authority to update the inventory. The update will consider the impacts that climate is having on local biodiversity. Council also approved a $150,000 investment to the City of Hamilton Natural Areas Acquisition Fund – which provides funding to local conservation organizations for natural areas land acquisition for protection purposes.

View information on this pledge and Hamilton’s Biodiversity Action Plan

Quick Facts

• Between 2006 and 2021, the most recent greenhouse gas inventory year, it is estimated Hamilton’s community-wide emissions have been reduced by over 40 per cent (40.7 per cent), cutting emissions to 10,289,987 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year in 2021 compared to 17,349,813 in 2006.
• One of Council’s priorities for the Council term (2022-2026) is Sustainable Economic and Ecological Development, including the facilitation of job creation, business growth and industry excellence, while protecting the City’s unique natural landscape and waterways and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
• On March 27, 2019 City Council approved its Climate Emergency Declaration.
• In November 2022, the City’s Office of Climate Change Initiatives was established.
• Hamilton’s Climate Action Strategy is a strategy made up of two plans:
  • ReCharge Hamilton – Our Community Energy + Emissions Plan (CEEP); and
  • Hamilton’s Climate Change Impact Adaptation Plan (CCIAP).