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Orillia’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy
The City of Orillia has officially adopted its Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, in principle. The strategy will ensure that the City is adapting our natural, built, and social systems to meet the changing conditions brought on by climate change.
A collective vision was established to serve as the foundation for this important work at a local level. “The City of Orillia will be a healthy, resilient, and livable community that prioritizes sustainability and equitable access to services, shelter, food, and security in the face of our changing climate.”
Climate trends in Canada depict a steady rise in seasonal and annual temperatures, with significantly more intense precipitation events. Recent climatic events in the City of Orillia include poor air quality from forest fires in 2023, flooding in 2014, 2016, and 2019, and other extreme weather occurrences over the past several decades. All such events have highlighted the need to be prepared for ongoing challenges. To address these impacts and adapt to changing climate conditions, Orillia completed ICLEI Canada’s Advancing Adaptation Program to support the development of Orillia's first Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.
Orillia worked with ICLEI Canada through their Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities (BARC) framework, which provides a structured approach to adaptation planning. The City is currently in the process of finalizing the strategy.
Climate Projections
Future local climate patterns for Orillia were modelled from today until the year 2100 using science-based climate tools. The climate projections below show temperature changes across all seasons, increased precipitation levels and changes to the growing season.
Climate Science Report
ICLEI Canada created a detailed climate science report on how the climate is projected to change within Orillia until the year 2100. For this report, a “business-as-usual” climate scenario was analyzed, meaning the future climate was predicted based on the same rate of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as today. For Orillia, the changes in climate mean more frequent ice storms, extreme rainfall, wind storms, heat waves, and more. This report is the basis for the infographics shown above.
Read the full Climate Science Report here
Climate vs. Weather
Weather consists of the short-term (minutes to months) changes in the atmosphere, whereas climate consists of the long-term pattern of weather in a particular area, usually over a 30-year period.
What is Adaptation?
Adaptation is defined as any initiative or action in response to actual or predicted climate change impacts that reduces the effects of climate change on built, natural and social systems.
What is the difference between Adaptation and Mitigation?
Climate change mitigation focuses on ways to reduce the GHG emissions that are released through everyday activities by people and businesses. Climate change adaptation focuses on planning and preparing for the effects that are being experienced now and will be experienced in the future as a result of a changing climate. The graphic below illustrates the differences and common aspects of climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Image credit: ICLEI Canada
Learn more about the City's climate change mitigation efforts on the Climate Change Action Plan webpage.
View the Climate Change Action Plan page
Next Steps
The City is now working on finalizing its Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. As the City progresses through the BARC framework with ICLEI Canada, updates and more information will be shared here. To stay up to date, click on the Receive Email Updates button above.
Related Projects
| Climate Change Action Plan |
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The City of Orillia has officially adopted its Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), entitled Orillia's Climate Future, in principle. The plan targets Net Zero Emissions for corporate operations by 2040 and Net Zero Emissions for the community by 2050. Orillia's Climate Future charts the course for the municipality to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and play its part in fighting climate change. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Waste Minimization |
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The City of Orillia and its Waste Management Advisory Committee published the City’s 2021 Waste Minimization Plan (WMP) in June 2021. The plan includes feedback from residents on ways the City can reduce waste and increase waste diversion from its landfill site over the next five years. Read the City's 2021 Waste Minimization Plan Learn about Orillia's recycling and waste diversion programs |
