Climate Change

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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.

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.

Please let us know if you have any questions about the work the Town is undertaking to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Your questions and responses from Town staff may be published here to help build awareness.

Questions about climate change?

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    Without incentives agriculture faces a significant challenge adapting to fill the local food market. Reliable labour is extremely difficult to access without going to offshore sources. What can Caledon do to address this challenge? Due to extremely tight margins in agriculture providing wages that allow labour to "live where it works" is a major obstacle. How will Caledon plan to provide relief in this area? David Lyons

    David James Lyons asked about 1 year ago

    Thank you for engaging with us through our new platform.  As part of our Official Plan review we will be consulting with provincial agencies (i.e Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, Peel Federation of Agriculture, etc.,) to look at opportunities for incentives that will help support the farm community in this regard.  In addition, we are looking at opportunities to provide a variety of housing types with a focus on affordability and providing residents with the ability to reside and work in the community.


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    Climate change may adversely affect our ability to import food from California and elsewhere. Do we grow enough food locally to feed ourselves year round if need be??

    adrian.visentin asked about 1 year ago

    Thank you for your question.  The Town of Caledon has 20,820 hectares of prime agricultural land that supports a connected and integrated Provincial agricultural land base.  Although, climate change may adversely affect our ability to import food from California and elsewhere, the Town will take steps to promote sustainable agriculture and local food production.