Climate Change
Climate change is here, and its impacts are already being felt in Caledon. From increasing intense storm events that result in flooding to more extreme heat days in the summer, we know that Caledon’s climate will become more unpredictable in the coming years. These changes are expected to pose many risks to the built and natural environment. By working together, we are acting to mitigate and adapt to the effects of a changing climate and to ensure that Caledon can continue to be a great place to live, work, play, invest and grow.
Mitigation actions address the causes of climate change - by reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions we put into the atmosphere, or by removing greenhouse gasses that are already in the atmosphere. Mitigation actions can include reducing how much we drive, cutting down on our home energy use, or planting trees and many other personal, local and global actions.
Adaptation actions help us prepare for and respond to climate impacts like extreme weather. We can successfully adapt by building infrastructure that is resilient to changing climate conditions. Adaptation actions include greening our streets and buildings to keep our communities cool, building more efficient stormwater management systems, and even planning our emergency shelters to be able to accommodate extreme heatwaves or flooding events.
The climate change focus area will update sustainability and climate change policies in the Official Plan, as well as, support mitigation and adaptation action planning from the Community Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Action Plan update. These proposed policy changes will also meet provincial policy requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, incorporate climate change policies in key areas throughout the Town’s Official Plan and support the development of healthy, resilient, carbon-neutral and sustainable communities.
