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The City of Orillia is currently developing its Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), titled Orillia's Climate Future. The plan will chart the course for the municipality to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the community’s resilience to future changes in climate.
Orillia's Climate Future will provide insight into the energy use and greenhouse gas emissions sources in the City. It will identify ways the community of Orillia can tackle the ambitious challenge presented by climate change by making our homes, offices, and green spaces more sustainable.
What is Climate Change?
According to Environment Canada, climate change is a long-term shift over several years in regional or global weather conditions identified by changes in temperature, precipitation, winds, and other indicators. Climate change involves changes in average conditions and increased extreme weather events.
Factors that cause climate change can be divided into two categories - those related to natural processes and those related to human activity. Human contributions to climate change are due to the release of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, into the Earth’s atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels for transportation, heating and industrial activities.
Below you can find answers to some common questions about climate change and climate change action planning.
| What are Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) and why are they sometimes called "Carbon Emissions"? |
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Greenhouse gases (GHGs) trap heat close to Earth's surface through the greenhouse effect. Small changes in the atmospheric levels of these gases lead to significant changes in Earth’s temperature and climate. The major greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), which are released through human activity such as burning fossil fuels for heating or transportation. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most common greenhouse gas emitted by human activity. It makes up the largest quantity of GHGs and has the single largest impact on global warming. The terms “CO2” or “carbon emissions” are commonly used as shorthand expressions for all GHGs. However, the more accurate term is carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). |
| What is Climate Change Mitigation? |
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Climate change mitigation is the reduction of greenhouse gases released to the atmosphere. Renewable energy and energy efficiency programs, electrification of transportation, and substitution of fossil fuels are examples of climate change mitigation actions. Decreasing our emissions will lead to many benefits within the community and for individuals, such as improving air quality, lowering energy bills, providing economic development opportunities linked to new jobs in the green/environmental sector, and restoring and revitalizing existing natural ecosystems. |
| What do Adaptation and Resilience mean in relation to Climate Change? |
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Adaptation refers to initiatives or actions in response to actual or predicted climate change impacts. These actions will reduce the effects of climate change on built, natural and social systems. Adaptation will be through built and natural infrastructure, preparing plans and supporting vulnerable regions and populations to lower the risks to communities from climate-related hazards and disasters. Resilience is the ability to respond to or recover readily from a crisis or challenge. The City is preparing its strategy to be resilient in facing the crucial challenge of our climate future. |
| What is a Business as Usual (BAU) Scenario? |
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A reference scenario of the future emissions and climate impacts of activities (City or community) based on assumptions of current energy usage and municipal, provincial, and federal policies extending to a future year. This scenario provides a baseline of outcomes should no climate actions be taken. |
| What does Net Zero mean? |
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Net Zero emissions refers to releasing either no greenhouse gas emissions or absorbing (offsetting) emissions such that the resulting effect is no further GHGs are released into the atmosphere. Emissions may be offset through actions such as tree planting or using technologies that capture carbon before it can be released into the air. Net Zero emissions is a key concept in preventing extreme impacts and damages from climate change. |
| Who is the IPCC? |
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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations' body for assessing the science related to human-induced climate change. The panel is comprised of thousands of scientists who review and compile scientific findings into “Assessment Reports” for policymakers and the general public. |
| What is a Carbon Budget? |
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A carbon budget is the maximum amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted world-wide without increasing the global average temperature more than 1.5° Celsius. In the context of the City’s reduction targets, the City would utilize a carbon budget model to assign the maximum GHG emissions that can be emitted each year (or other cycle) in order to reach the set reduction target. |
Climate Actions
Learn about some of the climate actions that the City of Orillia has already taken in the community:
Timeline
Project Background
| Virtual Open House |
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A Virtual Open House was held on September 16, from 6:00-7:30pm as an opportunity for the public to share their feedback and ask questions to City staff and consultants about the Climate Change Action Plan. The Open House featured Bob McDonald, the host of CBC's Quirks and Quarks, as the guest speaker. A Frequently Asked Questions section has been added below to address questions about Orillia's Climate Future that were posed during the Virtual Open House. The presentation from the virtual event can be viewed here. A summary of the event by Orillia Matters can be found here. |
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Community Survey |
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A community survey was conducted in September 2021 - it gained feedback on the community's visions and priorities for Orillia's Climate Future. The vision statements were developed by the Community-Based Steering Committee for Orillia's Climate Future, which has members from Sustainable Orillia, the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce, the Simcoe County District School Board, Raising the Roof, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, and local businesses and organizations. A common thread through the vision statements was a focus on equity to ensure that all the citizens of Orillia are reflected in the plan. |
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Sustainability in our Strategic Plan |
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In the City’s Municipal Strategic Plan, Realizing Our Potential, adopted by council in December 2019, six strategic areas of focus were established. The Climate Change Action Plan will contribute to two of these themes: Healthy Environment and Sustainable Growth. Healthy Environment outlines the City’s commitment to sustainability by becoming a leading municipality in environmental initiatives that will reduce Orillia’s environmental footprint. Sustainable Growth focuses on managing the City’s growth to maintain Orillia’s sense of community as it grows while ensuring that the financial, infrastructure and natural resources are managed responsibly.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Orillia's Climate Change Action Plan
Image credit: ICLEI Canada
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Is the City looking at both mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change? |
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The focus of Orillia’s Climate Future is on opportunities to reduce GHG emissions (often referred to as “mitigation”). Separately, the City is working towards climate adaptation planning to prepare for the effects that are and will be experienced as a result of a changing climate. The graphic above illustrates the differences and common aspects of climate change adaptation and mitigation. You can learn more about the City's Climate Change Adaptation Strategy here. |
| How will the City determine the GHG emissions of the community and how will it select a target for reducing them? |
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Developing a climate change action plan requires specialized knowledge of climate science, energy needs, policy and community planning; for this reason the City of Orillia has retained a consulting team, Sustainability Solutions Group (SSG) and whatIf Technologies. Together they specialize in helping municipalities in Canada quantify their GHG emissions and develop impactful and realistic action plans to reduce emissions based on the latest science, technology, and policy options available. SSG is analyzing Orillia’s current emissions, modeling future scenarios, and developing a plan in partnership with city staff and community members to reduce GHG emissions. |
| What are the best policy mechanisms that can help curb GHG emissions and promote a sustainable energy transition? |
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Based on Orillia’s GHG inventory* and trends, impactful policy mechanisms to help curb GHG emissions should aim to reduce energy consumption (i.e. building retrofits, ensuring safe and convenient areas for walking and cycling), increase energy efficiency (i.e. efficient heating and ventilation systems in all buildings), and fuel switching (i.e. gas to electric for vehicles, and choosing electricity for heating instead of natural gas). *A GHG inventory is a list of emission sources that can be quantified and tracked over time. |
| How does increasing active transportation (non-automobile) routes help an aging population with mobility issues and larger families that need to move around the city? |
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Making neighborhoods accessible for people of all ages to safely and conveniently meet their daily needs is an important component of a thriving community. Bringing services closer to homes can increase accessibility to these services through non-automobile transportation like walking, cycling, or scootering. Increasing accessible transportation routes for all regardless of age and ability will also increase safety. However, due to car-focused development of cities and communities in North America, it is likely that there will always be a need for automobiles. Having alternatives and options like shared vehicles or very efficient and dependable public transportation can reduce the need for personal vehicles. This also provides options for those unable to drive to explore and get around Orillia! |
| Do electric cars have a smaller carbon footprint than a 2021 small 4 cylinder car? |
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Based on life cycle analysis – which evaluates the environmental impact of a product's life cycle through production, use, and disposal – EVs have smaller carbon footprints than their fossil-fuel powered counterparts. The biggest difference in carbon emissions between EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is during the 'use' stage when they're being driven on the road. Electric vehicles emit less greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) than conventional gas or diesel cars because there are very few emissions from Ontario's electricity grid. |
| Renewable energy generation is key to a low-carbon future. Are there any considerations to encourage and allow for renewable energy infrastructure owned by residents within the city? |
| At this time the City is not investigating community solar infrastructure that’s owned by the public. However, new local renewable energy generation will likely be a key part of meeting GHG emission reduction goals. For homeowners of single family homes and small multi-unit residential buildings, the federal “Canada Greener Homes Grant” program provides funding for rooftop solar panels. The Greener Homes Grant also provides grant funding for energy efficiency home upgrades such as new windows, doors, insulation, space, and water heating equipment. |
| Are there considerations to embrace a circular city or circular economy model? |
| A variety of models are being considered in the development of Orillia’s Climate Future. Themes of circular city/economy models with tangible climate change impacts will be considered as part of Orillia’s Climate Future. Broader sustainability and environmental initiatives without climate change impacts – while important - may fall outside of GHG reduction-focused efforts. |
Media Coverage
Orillia's Climate Future has been covered by several local news outlets, click below to read more.
Related Projects
| Climate Change Adaptation Strategy |
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Recent climatic events in the City of Orillia include flooding in 2014, 2016, and 2019 and strong wind storms; other occurrences of extreme weather over the past several decades have highlighted the need to be prepared for ongoing challenges. To address these impacts and adapt to changing climate conditions, the City is developing Orillia's first Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. |
| City of Orillia Energy Use |
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In accordance with Ontario's Green Energy Act, 2009 (O.Reg 397/11) the City must prepare, publish, implement and make available to the public an energy management plan. The regulation also requires a summary of the annual electric and natural gas consumption and greenhouse gas emissions for City facilities and operations. |
| Multi-Modal Transportation Master Plan |
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The City of Orillia completed the Multi-Modal Transportation Master Plan (MTMP) in 2019. It reflects increased interest and emphasis by the public on transportation beyond a private vehicle, such as walking, cycling, and public transportation. The purpose of this study was to create a city-wide multi-modal transportation plan that not only identifies improvements within the City’s urban areas, but also considers opportunities to integrate the City’s emerging growth areas within and beyond Orillia in a manner that preserves the quality of life and character of the community. |
| Waste Minimization |
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The City of Orillia and its Waste Management Advisory Committee are currently developing the City’s 2021 Waste Minimization Plan (WMP). The plan will include feedback from residents on ways the City can reduce waste and increase waste diversion from its landfill site over the next five years. Learn about the City's Waste Minimization Plan Learn about Orillia's recycling and waste diversion programs |
Click on the Receive Email Updates button above to get updates on the CCAP development and public engagement opportunities.
