Climate Change

Global climate change is expected to increase the average global temperature of air and oceans, melt glaciers, increase sea levels, and increase the number and intensity of extreme weather events that result in heat waves, droughts, flooding and soil erosion.  These changes have already begun.  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded that the warming of the northern hemisphere during the 20th century is likely to have been the greatest in any century in the past 1000 years. For more information, please refer to the Climate Change Fact Sheet.

Human activities affect climate change primarily by causing an increase in emissions of "greenhouse gases" (GHGs). Municipal governments are recognized as having a key role to play in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through direct actions and indirect influence on the community. The City of Hamilton is a member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Partners for Climate Protection program, and has been participating with other municipalities in building the capacity of municipalities to address the challenge of meeting Canada's commitments to the Kyoto Protocol. In 2009, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities released a report outlining the efforts of Canadian municipalities in tackling climate change.

The city is taking action to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. In 2004, the City completed a Climate Change Vulnerability Background Study for the GRIDS growth strategy. This study begins to identify, in broad terms, Hamilton's particular vulnerability to climate change, and the actions that must be considered to further identify and mitigate the impacts of climate change on the community. The City has also developed a Corporate Air Quality and Climate Change Action Plan that provides a framework to help the City achieve the 20% target in its municipal operations by 2020.  In 2008, the City released Phase 2 of the Corporate Air Quality and Climate Change Strategic Plan and in 2009 undertook an emissions inventory of Hamilton (corporate and community). This is an important step towards the implementation of a City-wide Air Quality & Climate Change Plan. In 2009 Corporate emissions decreased by 5.4% (Information Update). In 2011, the City released an Information Update. Corporate emissions decreased by 9% in 2010 and the City is on track to meeting it 2012 goal of a 10% reduction of 2005 emissions.

Hamilton was recognized as one of the Top 10 Canadian Cities tackling Climate Change by the World Wildlife Fund in 2011.

In 2011, the City endorsed the community Hamilton Climate Change Action Charter to signal to the community that the City is committed to local action by everyone on climate change. The Charter is meant to increase citizen's awareness on climate change, seek leadership and commitment to act from key organizations in the City, and provide a starting point for community action and measurements of progress on combating climate change in Hamilton.

Climate change will affect everyone...that's why we want to hear from you!
Community emissions were estimated at 17,382,000 tonnes of CO2 e in 2006. Updated Information shows that community emissions were an estimated decreased of 12,891,371 tonnes of CO2 in 2009, a 26% decrease from 2006 emissions levels. These changes may have occurred due to a downturn in the economy, reduced energy demand ,improved energy efficiency and conservation actions in the community, and the shifting of energy from coal as part of the Province's actions towards phasing out of coal in Ontario's energy sources by 2014.

The City is  seeking community feedback on the Emissions Inventory and partnering with the community on actions that must be undertaken to address climate change emissions in our community. The Taking Stock: Hamilton's GHG Emissions discussion paper was released to inform Hamiltonians about our greenhouse gas emissions and to gather your ideas, actions, and suggestions of where and how we must take action together in our community. Feedback can be provided online.

A Climate Change Town Hall took place in March 2011 that had an interactive discussion with various stakeholders in Hamilton on climate change, linkages to issues, and taking action. A video of the Town Hall presentation is available. The topics discussed were Moving People, Moving Goods, Local economy and Business, Housing and Buildings, Food, Water, Education and Skills, and Consumption. Below you will find Fact sheets and the Discussion Notes from the Café discussions to help the continue the conversation. These discussions help create a Community Climate Change Action Plan. Moving People Water Buildings Consumption Education & Skills Food Local Economy & Business Moving Goods Fact Sheets Discussion Notes Climate Change discussions are taking place in the Hamilton Community! If your interested in hosting a presentation and discussion on greenhouse gas emissions in the community, please contact climatechange@hamilton.ca

• To ensure the City has the best air quality of any major urban centre in Ontario
• To have effective plans that identify, reduce and manage risks
• To reduce greenhouse gas emissions

  See the full list of Hamilton's VISION 2020 Goals