Hamilton's Climate Action Strategy

The City of Hamilton is on the path to becoming a resilient, equitable, healthy city. We are committed to transparency in our reporting. 

Learn about the targets, goals and objectives found in Hamilton’s Climate Action Strategy's two Plans:

Community Energy and Emissions Plan

The actions proposed in this plan have been organized to focus on 5 key low-carbon transformations that will be pivotal in achieving Hamilton’s low-carbon future.

Hamilton’s Climate Change Impact Adaptation Plan

The actions proposed in this plan have been organized to focus on 4 resilient theme areas, each with corresponding objectives, actions and supporting actions to achieve those objectives and more resilient future.

General Issues Committee - October 16, 2024

• Staff Report: Hamilton's Climate Action Strategy 2024 Annual Update (PED24166)
  • Appendix A - Hamilton’s Climate Action Strategy Annual Climate Change Update 2024
  • Appendix B - Status Update Regarding Climate Actions in Hamilton’s Climate Action Strategy

General Issues Committee - October 18, 2023

• Staff Report: Hamilton's Climate Action Strategy 2023 Annual Update (PED23222)
  • Appendix A - Hamilton’s Climate Action Strategy Annual Climate Change Update 2023
  • Appendix B - Hamilton's Climate Action Strategy Implementation Update 2023

General Issues Committee - May 3, 2023

• Staff Report: Better Homes Hamilton - Home Energy Retrofit Program (PED23106)
  • Appendix A - Better Homes Hamilton Program Overview
  • Appendix B - Better Homes Hamilton Detailed Study Design
  • Staff Presentation - Better Homes Hamilton Program Design 

General Issues Committee - April 5, 2023

• Staff Report: 2023 Priority Focus Areas for the Office of Climate Change Initiatives (PED23064)
  • Staff Presentation – Office of Climate Change Initiatives 2023 Priority Focus Areas

General Issues Committee - January 18, 2023

• Staff Report: Draft Terms of Reference for a Climate Change Advisory Committee (PED23028)
  • Appendix A - Climate Change Advisory Committee Terms of Reference

General Issues Committee - August 8, 2022

• Staff Report - Hamilton's Climate Action Strategy Implementation Resources and Governance (CM22016/PED22058(a)/HSC22030(a))
  • Appendix A - Final Consultation Report: Hamilton’s Climate Action Strategy
  • Appendix B - How Much Is Climate Change Costing Canadian Communities? City of Hamilton Report
  • Appendix C - ReCharge Hamilton - Our Community Energy and Emissions Plan
  • Appendix D - Hamilton’s Climate Change Impact Adaptation Plan
  • Appendix E - Hamilton’s Climate Action Strategy Departmental Resource Considerations
  • Staff Presentation

General Issues Committee - June 1, 2022

• Staff Report - Hamilton's Climate Change Action Strategy (PED22058/HSC22030)
  • Appendix A - ReCharge Hamilton - Our Community Energy and Emissions Plan (DRAFT)
  • Appendix B - Hamilton’s Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
  • Appendix C - Consultation Results to Date for Community Energy and Emission Plan and Climate Change Impact Adaptation Plan
  • Staff Presentation - Hamilton's Climate Change Impact Adaptation Plan Update
  • Staff Presentation - Hamilton's Climate Change Action Strategy

Plans and Strategies that relate to actions in Hamilton’s Climate Action Strategy:

• Hamilton’s Urban Forest Strategy
• Biodiversity Action Plan
• Green Building Standards
• Hamilton’s Transportation Master Plan
• Hamilton’s Corporate Energy Policy and GHG Emissions Inventory
• Sustainable Hamilton Burlington Building Energy And Emissions Profile
• Hamilton’s Flood Preparedness
• Hamilton’s Low Impact Development - Stormwater
• Hamilton’s Stormwater Management Ponds
• 2016-2025 Strategic Plan
• 2022-2026 Council Priorities, Outcomes and Measures of Success 
• Clean and Green Hamilton Strategy
• Urban Indigenous Strategy
• Office of Energy Initiatives
• Bay Area Climate Change Office

The City of Hamilton’s Climate Change Reserve was established in 2018 with the central purpose of funding initiatives that advance the City’s approved climate change goals. The Reserve is administered by the Office of Climate Change Initiatives and is guided by Policy No. FPAP-RE-015. A preliminary allocation of $1.5 M was placed into the Reserve when it was first established. As part of the 2023 Budget process, Council approved a sustainable source of funding for the Reserve through the general tax levy, which will allocate an additional $2.5 M to the Reserve annually. The chart below summarizes the 2024 funding allocations made to 13 city-led initiatives.

Successful 2024 Climate Change Reserve Applications City-Led Initiatives

Project Title Macassa Lodge B Wing Expansion – Climate Resilience Measures
Applicant Office of Energy Initiatives, Public Works Department
Summary Description This 65,000 square foot expansion to the existing Macassa Lodge Long Term Care will accommodate 20 existing residents and 44 new residents. 
Reserve funding, combined with an existing pot of funding will support:

• Air Source Heat Pump Technology for space heating and hot water generation.
• Enthalpy wheel heat recovery to reduce ventilation energy consumption.
• High performance windows and increased wall and roof insulation.
• Variable speed hydronic pumping systems, to reduce energy consumption.
• Variable speed fan systems, that reduce speed and energy consumption in response to reduced air volume demand.

Climate Benefits Full project implementation will result in a 74% reduction in natural gas consumption resulting in an annual greenhouse gas emission reduction of 157.2 tCO2e.

Relevant Climate Action Strategy Actions Climate Mitigation Plan:
Supports actions found under the ‘Transforming Our Buildings’ transformation
category.

The Plan’s Low Carbon Scenario calls for:

• Reducing energy intensity in all municipal buildings by 60% by 2050.
• By 2050 all new municipal buildings achieve net zero emissions.
• By 2050, 50% of municipal buildings will add rooftop solar PV, covering 30% of the building’s electrical load.

Funding $200,000

Project Title Recreation Centre Pool Heat Reclamation
Applicant Office of Energy Initiatives, Public Works
Summary Description This project is a piloting of technology new to the municipality and will see installation of a heat reclamation system in Riverdale & Huntington Park indoor pools. Waste heat will be captured from the required draining of heated water to run through a heat exchanger and transfer the heat to the incoming make-up water. This process will decrease the amount of natural gas needed to heat the make-up water, thereby reducing natural gas consumption at these facilities and the associated greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate Benefits Implementation of a heat reclamation system for the Riverdale and Huntington Park municipal indoor pools will result in an estimated 22 tCO2e annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions through reduced natural gas consumption.

Relevant Climate Action Strategy Actions Climate Mitigation Plan Supports actions found under the ‘Transforming Our Buildings’ transformation category.

The Plan’s Low Carbon Scenario calls for:

• reducing energy intensity in all municipal buildings by 60% by 2050.

Funding $225,000

Project Title EcoDiesel Fuel Replacement Program
Applicant Fleet Services, Public Works
Summary Description This request is for funds to purchase Petro‑Canada EcoDiesel™ to replace the current biodiesel used to operate City vehicles and equipment. Petro‑Canada EcoDiesel™ is a newly developed product made with hydrotreated renewable diesel. Hydrotreated renewable diesel is an alternative fuel produced from renewable materials like virgin seed oils, tallow, and used cooking oil. The final product is a high-quality, low-carbon intensity, renewable diesel. It can reduce GHG emissions by up to 60% compared to conventional biodiesel. This is a new, innovative product that expands on the City’s use of biodiesel to dramatically reduce GHG emissions in the short term.

Climate Benefits Funding is for the purchase of 3 million litres of EcoDiesel fuel, enabling a greenhouse gas emission reduction of approximately 6,593 tCO2e when used to replace conventional biodiesel. Fuel switching is a quick way to realize greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Relevant Climate Action Strategy Actions Climate Mitigation Plan Action 10 - Establish then implement a city-wide EV Strategy (residential, commercial, and municipal). (City’s Green Fleet Strategy includes transitional steps via low carbon fuels to get the fleet to EV status over time)

Funding $185,000

Project Title Solar Powered Ambulance Fleet
Applicant Hamilton Paramedic Services
Summary Description This project will enable the piloting of an innovative solar panel system designed for ambulances. Since ambulances draw continual power to ensure the pharmaceuticals and medical diagnostic equipment within the vehicle are in a temperature-controlled environment, and that patients are comfortable, the vehicle must be plugged in or running to maintain battery capacity. When inside a designated station, shore power plugs are provided for this purpose. When outside shore power is not available. Installing solar panels on vehicles will enable the auxiliary batteries to continue to run on solar power rather than on fuel thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated from constantly idling vehicles. By retrofitting the fleet of 59 ambulances with solar panels, this directly advances renewable energy use within the City's corporate fleet and reduces fuel consumption from vehicle idling. The initiative also brings the co-benefit of reducing air emissions at hospital emergency areas.

Climate Benefits It is anticipated that a reduction of more than 160 tCO2e will be realized annually with the implementation of these specialized solar panels on all 57 ambulances in the fleet.

Relevant Climate Action Strategy Actions Climate Mitigation Plan Action 10 – Establish then implement a city-wide EV Strategy (residential, commercial, and municipal)

Funding $240,000

Project Title Electric Street Sweeper
Applicant Transportation Division, Public Works
Summary Description The all-electric Bucher CityCat VR50e street sweeper has a custom-designed Bucher Battery Pack tailored to the sweeper. This proven technology will reduce the City’s environmental footprint while achieving low noise emissions and meeting Council approved initiatives, climate goals and downtown cleanliness.

Funding $120,000

Project Title Electric Maintenance Vehicles
Applicant Transportation Division, Public Works
Summary Description Climate Mitigation Initiative - Funding will enable the purchase of one electric bike lane sweeping vehicle and one electric bike lane inspection vehicle and the associated charging infrastructure for these vehicles. The City currently does not have cycling lane sweepers or inspection vehicles and so does not have comparative greenhouse gas emissions data; however, our sidewalk sweepers generate approximately 486 tonnes/year (via consumption of180,000L of diesel). These emissions could be entirely avoided by the purchase and use of electric alternatives.

Climate Benefits There are no greenhouse gas emissions with this vehicle versus a conventional sweeper which contributes ~89 tCO2e/year. Climate Reserve funding will cover the cost difference between a regular sweeper and the all-electric model.

Relevant Climate Action Strategy Actions Climate Mitigation Plan Action 10 - Establish then implement a city-wide Electric Vehicle Strategy (residential, commercial, and municipal)

Funding $403,000

Project Title Making NFP Housing Climate Resilient
Applicant Housing Secretariat, Healthy & Safe Communities
Summary Description This project will support up to six social housing pilot projects with additional funding secured through the Climate Change Reserve to implement additional measures to enhance climate mitigation and adaptation features. These are projects that are emerging as part of the Housing Accelerator Fund work that is being administered by the City's Housing Secretariat.

Climate Benefits - Relevant Climate Action Strategy Actions Climate Mitigation
Action 6c: Finance and deliver mass deep energy retrofit program for the residential sector, scaling up to city-wide program considering development of a commercial retrofit program

Relevant Climate Action Strategy Actions Climate Mitigation Plan
Action 3.4 - Align ongoing efforts within the City to continue expanding affordable housing to protect vulnerable populations to reduce climate-related impacts from extreme weather and temperatures

Funding $403,000

Project Title Development Incentive Program for Bayfront Industrial Area
Applicant Economic Development Division, Planning & Economic Development

Summary Description The Bayfront Industrial Area Retrofit Grant is intended to assist building owners that cannot financially justify the investment needed for deep retrofits and/or that have not considered the long-term benefits of such a retrofit. The Bayfront Industrial Area needs a catalyst to initiate this change to support future private investment. Through the Economic Development Division’s current Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Community Improvement Plan comprehensive review, staff are seeking to develop and implement a new program to support sustainable retrofits of these buildings within the Bayfront Industrial Area. Staff have identified this gap in current program offerings as retrofits of existing buildings generally do not result in meaningful tax uplift to the City, which is the existing source of funding under the current Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Community Improvement Plan tax increment program (i.e. no new tax revenue means no grant to support sustainability efforts).

Climate Benefits - Relevant Climate Action Strategy Actions Climate Mitigation Plan
Action 6c - Finance and deliver mass deep energy retrofit program for the residential sector, scaling up to city-wide program considering development of a commercial retrofit program

Climate Change Impact Adaptation Plan
Action 10.1 - Provide guidance to local businesses on how to maintain business continuity (e.g. supply chain) during extreme weather (i.e. through business continuity planning, green business practices, adaptation measures, etc.)

Funding $250,000

Project Title Low Impact Development/ Green Standards Training & Implementation
Applicant Growth Management Division, Planning & Economic Development

Summary Description Funding will assist with implementation of the Low Impact Development Site Servicing Guidelines through the designation of funds for a training program for internal staff and external consultants. Site Servicing Guidelines will be applicable to all future site plan control applications once the guidelines are in place. Therefore, there is a need to ensure that both staff and external consultants are fully trained on the implementation of the guidelines. Applying the Site Servicing Guidelines to both the preparation and the review / approval of site plan control applications will be a new process for all involved. Applicants will be required to provide documentation of how the Site Servicing Guidelines are applied within the application, including the design criteria for the subject site (targets), the description of Low Impact Development Best Management Plan measures, operation and maintenance requirements and a Site Works Certificate Form. City staff will be required to review this information and determine if the appropriate design criteria are being utilized.

Climate Benefits - Relevant Climate Action Strategy Actions Climate Mitigation Plan
Action 1.1 - Develop requirements for the incorporation of Low Impact Development (LID) features and green infrastructure into new development and redevelopment projects and consider watershed and landscape scales in the development of plans and objectives.

Funding $50,000

Project Title If Trees Could Talk Public Education Initiative
Applicant Forestry & Horticulture, Public Works

Summary Description This technology enables the development of ‘personalities’ for selected trees as a creative way to engage and communicate with residents regarding the benefits and challenges that trees can face depending on the planting environment.  

Tree data will be gathered and hosted on a publicly accessible dashboard and dedicated social media platforms and will include: 

• Dendrometer data to monitor how trees respond to fluctuations in environmental conditions such as rainfall and drought.
• Soil life sensors data to assess and forecast the impacts of climate change on the health of our urban forest. 
• Sap flow as an indicator of the tree's response to environmental conditions such as temperature changes.

These metrics all provide insight into the impacts of climate on a tree’s ability to survive and thrive, enabling staff and residents to see how climate change affects our urban forest. This information and public understanding will assist staff in better supporting the urban forest into the future and will enable residents to better understand the impacts of climate change on tree health and well-being, helping residents to better care for their own neighbourhood trees. Data generated through this project can also be made available to academic researchers and anyone else who might be interested through OpenData.

Climate Benefits - Relevant Climate Action Strategy Actions Climate Mitigation Plan
Action 23 - Set a target of 50,000 trees planted per year within City boundaries

Climate Adaptation Plan
Objective 8: Monitor, maintain and improve the diversity and resiliency of urban trees and forests.
Action 8.1: Work with local partners to continue tree planting and preservation, explore community partnerships and naturalization programs to reduce urban heat island and enhance ecosystem function.

Funding $28,500

Project Title Air Conditioning in Hamilton Rental Housing – Feasibility Case Study
Applicant CityHousing Hamilton

Summary Description This project involves a detailed feasibility study and the preparation of a publicly available case study that assesses the feasibility of providing in-suite air conditioning at three of CityHousing Hamilton's main building archetypes:

• Natural Gas-heated Townhouses;
• Natural Gas-heated Apartment buildings; and
• Electrically heated Apartment buildings.

By evaluating the technical and financial implications of providing in-suite air conditioning at each of these common forms of rental housing in Hamilton, the City of Hamilton will be in a better position to understand what is necessary to support and enable future adaptation efforts associated with the climate risk of extreme heat in rental housing.

Climate Benefits - Relevant Climate Action Strategy Actions Climate Mitigation Plan
Action 3.3 - Coordinate local efforts to address excessive indoor temperatures in rental housing
Action 3.4 - Align ongoing efforts within the City to continue expanding affordable housing to protect vulnerable populations to reduce climate-related impacts from extreme weather and temperatures

Funding $28,500

Project Title Fleet Services Electric Vehicle and GRID Feasibility Assessment
Applicant Office of Energy Initiatives, Public Works

Summary Description The feasibility assessment will review City facilities Fleet Services has previously identified as suitable charging locations and provide high level costing, identify any necessary electrical upgrades, and assess current available capacity. These feasibility assessments are needed because, as fleet greening efforts continue across City divisions, informed action must be taken to ensure a reliable network of vehicle charging infrastructure is available.

Climate Benefits - Relevant Climate Action Strategy Actions Climate Mitigation Plan
Action 10 – Establish then implement a city-wide Electric Vehicle Strategy (residential, commercial, and municipal)
The Plan’s Low Carbon Scenario calls for 100% of new municipal small and light-duty vehicles to be electric by 2040.

Funding $150,000

Project Title Organics Management – Phase 2 Feasibility Study
Applicant Waste Management Division, Public Works

Summary Description The detailed feasibility study for preferred Source Separated Organics (SSO) and Leaf & Yard (L&Y) waste management options will provide valuable data including the estimated project dollar cost/ tonne CO2e reduction achieved for each option. These insights can guide future decisions and strategies for the management of the City’s Organic and Leaf /Yard waste streams.

Climate Benefits
The detailed feasibility study for preferred Source Separated Organics (SSO) and Leaf & Yard (L&Y) waste management options will provide valuable data including the estimated project dollar cost/ tonne CO2e reduction achieved for each option. These insights can guide future decisions and strategies for the management of the City’s Organic and Leaf /Yard waste streams.

Relevant Climate Action Strategy Actions Climate Mitigation Plan
Action 17 – Technical feasibility study of expanded anaerobic digestion facilities
Action 20 - Technical + financial analysis for expanded organics collection and diversion

Funding $250,000