Climate Change Action Plan Task Force

 Town staff representatives from:

• Asset Management
• Transportation
• Stormwater Management
• Planning

Agency partners including:

• Credit Valley Conservation
• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

• Three resident members
• One small business representative
• One agriculture representative
• One youth representative

Topic: GHG emissions modelling results discussion

Members Present

Neil Morris

Nicole Yardy

Jim Jones

Sarah Dolamore

Sabrina Valleau

Victoria Kramkowski, TRCA

Bernie McIntyre, TRCA

Staff Present

Alexandra Service, Climate Change Specialist

Cristina Guido, Acting Manager, Energy and Environment

Vidit Aneja, Corporate Asset Management

Margherita Cosentino, Policy and Sustainability

Margi Sheth, Engineering

Emma Howlett, Transportation

Sandra Dolson, Economic Development

Others

Julia Meyer-McLeod, Sustainability Solutions Group (SSG)

Yuill Hebert, Sustainability Solutions Group

Discussion Highlights

• SSG presented modelling results showing Caledon's current and future GHG emissions, and how implementing different actions may help reduce emissions
• Task Force members completed an exercise to rank various criteria of most importance to Caledon (e.g. clean air, health, jobs, green space, etc.). These criteria were used to evaluate and prioritize different climate actions.
• Feedback from TF members included:
  • Recommend that the Town look at large commercial and industrial buildings in Caledon as a collection to achieve low carbon opportunities such as: rooftop solar, ground source heat pumps under parking lots, district energy, etc. 
  • Important to look at existing activities and partners in the community that the Town can work with, rather than trying to build programs from scratch
  • Ensure the updated climate change plan takes a systems approach and recognizes how different actions interact with, support and reinforce one another

Meeting Topic: Public Engagement Results

Members Present

Neil Morris

Nicole Yardy

Jim Jones

Sarah Dolamore

Sabrina Valleau

Staff Present

Alexandra Service, Climate Change Specialist

Katelyn McFadyen, Manager, Energy and Environment

Vidit Aneja, Corporate Asset Management

Emma Howlett, Transportation

Discussion Highlights

• Town staff provided a summary of public engagement activities that took place through Fall 2019 and early results of public feedback on the climate plan update
• Two stakeholder workshops held with 70 participants; nine community events held with almost 300 attendees; online survey received 140 responses - more than 90% expressed concern about climate change
• Feedback that how we communicate climate change is important to show positive outcomes of climate action, and tangible steps people can take to contribute to solutions
• Recommend working with institutions like schools and workplaces to encourage collective action

Meeting Topic: Engagement Framework Review

Members Present

Neil Morris

Nicole Yardy

Jim Jones

Sarah Dolamore

Christine Zimmer, CVC

Ian McVey, TRCA

Staff Present

Alexandra Service, Climate Change Specialist

Katelyn McFadyen, Manager, Energy and Environment

Vidit Aneja, Corporate Asset Management

Arash Olia, Transportation

Cassie Schembri, Engineering

Margherita Bialy, Policy and Sustainability

Discussion Highlights

• Town staff provided an overview of the proposed approach to engaging key stakeholders and community members in the community Climate Change Action Plan update
• Task Force members were asked to provide feedback on the approach to stakeholder workshops and community engagement, which included:
  • Recommend taking a systems-based approach to adaptation and mitigation workshops to recognize the synergies between the two and avoid being too siloed.
  • Potential to focus less on the development of new actions, and more on implementation of the types of actions we know are necessary
  • For community engagement, recommend finding trusted messengers within the community to champion climate action; engage youth; profile and celebrate what's already going well in Caledon; go to where people are (i.e. Rec centres) and make events fun and family-friendly; and tie climate action into overall community well-being

Meeting Topic: Climate Change Task Force Kick-Off 

Members Present

Neil Morris

Nicole Yardy

Jim Jones

Sarah Dolamore

Christine Zimmer, CVC

Ian McVey, TRCA

Chandra Sharma, TRCA

Staff Present

Alexandra Service, Climate Change Specialist

Katelyn McFadyen, Manager, Energy and Environment

Cristina Guido, Energy and Environment Specialist

Vidit Aneja, Corporate Asset Management

Eric Chan, Transportation

Cassie Schembri, Engineering

Justin Cook, Policy and Sustainability

Others Present

Yuill Hebert, Sustainability Solutions Group

Camilla Melrose, Sustainability Solutions Group

Discussion Highlights

• Town staff provided an overview of the project and workplan for the CCAP update, as well as a review of past targets and progress
• SSG provided an overview of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions modelling approach that the project will use, including to model various emissions reduction scenarios relative to a Business-as-Planned scenario, out to 2050.
• Discussion about different approaches to set a GHG emissions reduction target, and what might work for Caledon
• Feedback from TF members included:
  • As Caledon grows over the coming years, there is an opportunity to build in mitigation and adaptation actions as growth is happening, rather than after emissions are already locked in
  • Focus on communicating the right narrative - listen to people and their values, and meet them where they're at, rather than trying to sell them on a certain vision
  • Ensure work is not siloed as many issues overlap between adaptation and mitigation