City advances climate action with new Carbon Budget and Accounting Framework

HAMILTON, ON – The City of Hamilton is taking another step in its climate action work with the introduction of a Carbon Budget and Accounting Framework to enable more transparent and accountable municipal decision-making. The framework will help the City better understand the climate impacts of its decisions and support long-term planning for a healthier, more resilient Hamilton.   

Achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050
The new framework builds on the City’s Climate Action Strategy and its goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. The framework will help the City apply a climate lens to municipal decision-making, including roads, equipment purchases, new buildings and other construction projects.

“The impacts of climate change are already being felt in Hamilton, from more frequent extreme weather events to increased pressure on the infrastructure and services residents rely on every day,” said Mayor Andrea Horwath. “This framework will help ensure we are making informed decisions that support a healthier, more resilient and sustainable city for current and future generations. By considering climate impacts alongside other priorities, we can continue building the infrastructure and delivering the services our community needs while working toward our goal of net zero emissions by 2050.”

Estimating Hamilton’s carbon budget
The carbon budget is calculated based on the total allowable emissions identified through a global fair-share approach that aligns with the Paris Agreement and the goal of keeping global warming within the 1.5˚ C threshold to help avoid the most severe impacts of climate change.

Hamilton’s total allowable emissions that align with the 1.5˚ C fair-share approach while ultimately working to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 are:

• Total corporate emissions estimated at 422,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
• Total community-wide emissions estimated at 53 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. 

The City will implement the new framework with a pilot phase through the 2027 budget process, focusing on select divisions and capital projects over $250,000. Learnings from the pilot will inform broader city-wide adoption and ongoing refinements through to 2030. 

“A carbon budget gives the City another important tool to understand the climate impact of our decisions in the same way we consider financial impacts,” said Marnie Cluckie, City Manager. “By building this into our planning and budgeting processes, we can make more responsible, forward-looking choices that manage risk, identify opportunities and support a more sustainable and resilient Hamilton.” 

Looking ahead, the City plans to develop a voluntary community carbon budget self-reporting process that helps residents, businesses and organizations track and reduce emissions, further strengthening Hamilton’s collective climate action.

Quick Facts

• Hamilton declared a climate emergency in 2019 in response to increasing local impacts from climate hazards such as heat waves, severe flooding and shoreline and escarpment erosion, leading to the creation of Hamilton’s Climate Action Strategy (HCAS).
• The Carbon Budget and Accounting Framework was identified as an enabling action within the Community Energy & Emissions Plan, the City’s mitigation plan within HCAS.
• By implementing the Carbon Budget and Accounting Framework, the City joins a growing list of leading municipalities taking accelerated action on climate change considering international and intergenerational equity.
• Although the City’s corporate emissions represent, on average, less than one percent of total community-wide emissions, the City can demonstrate leadership through its own operations and by making decisions to help provide residents and businesses with lower-carbon options. 
• Starting in 2027, the City’s annual budget book will capture GHG emissions for identified City projects. Additionally, the Office of Climate Change Initiatives’ annual progress report on HCAS will include both the corporate and community GHG emissions inventory, along with key performance indicators established within the framework. 

Additional Resource

Web page: Carbon Budget and Accounting Framework