Climate Change

• Clarington has set a target to reduce corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 35 per cent by 2030 (from 2018 levels) and achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050.
• How? Staff are working to convert all lighting in municipal buildings to energy efficient LEDs, electrify vehicle fleets, and assess and retrofit buildings to reduce energy consumption. These are just a few examples from the 115 actions outlined in Clarington’s Climate Action Plan.

• Clarington is taking action to maintain public and workplace health and safety, as extreme weather caused by climate change puts staff and residents at greater risk.
• How? Staff are working to incorporate shade structures and trees in the design of outdoor recreation, incorporate textured, slip-proof floor surfaces into the design of public spaces, and identify and promote the location of evacuation centres to the public. These are just a few examples from the 115 actions outlined in Clarington’s Climate Action Plan.

• Clarington is taking action to prevent damage to new and existing buildings and property from extreme weather caused by climate change.
• How? Staff are working to prioritize building upgrades for municipal buildings at risk, and upgrade road areas at high risk of flooding.  These are just a few examples from the 115 actions outlined in Clarington’s Climate Action Plan.

• Clarington is taking action to improve existing and future infrastructure to limit the negative impacts of extreme weather caused by climate change.
• How? Staff are working to increase backup power supply including generators and solar battery storage options at maintenance facilities, establish a strategy to control invasive plant species, and design new splash pads to clean and recirculate water for less consumption.  These are just a few examples from the 115 actions outlined in Clarington’s Climate Action Plan.

• Clarington is taking action to protect ecosystem biodiversity and ecosystem services, as climate change threatens to disrupt natural ecosystems and the services they provide, including animal habitat, air and water filtration, crop pollination, erosion protection, groundwater recharge, and human health benefits.
• How? Staff are working to expand municipal tree planting programs, investigate environmentally friendly road surface treatments to control dust, and require winter maintenance staff to become Smart About Salt certified. These are just a few examples from the 115 actions outlined in Clarington’s Climate Action Plan.

• Clarington is taking action to prepare for extreme weather to avoid disruptions to municipal services and ensure the community’s needs continue to be met.
• How? Staff are working to create an extreme weather policy that identifies weather conditions that will close municipal facilities, and plan municipal events and programs with backup dates in the event of cancellations due to extreme weather.   These are just a few examples from the 115 actions outlined in Clarington’s Climate Action Plan.

• Clarington is taking action to build community resilience to climate change as more extreme and less predictable weather continues to place residents and their property at greater risk.
• How? Staff are working to create guidelines for non-essential use of water during heatwaves for greater conservation, stockpile sandbags and sand to prepare for emergency flooding, create a dedicated reserve fund for climate-related emergencies, and establish partnerships with organizations and facilities that could be used as cooling centres during summer heatwaves.   These are just a few examples from the 115 actions outlined in Clarington’s Climate Action Plan.

• Check out the Durham Greener Homes program and these DIY tips for information on how to upgrade your home with energy efficient retrofits.
• Check out the Enbridge Gas Home Efficiency Rebate for upgrades to homes that are connected to Enbridge natural gas.
• Clarington is part of the LEAF program, which aids in tree planting and other services through subsidized costs, expert consultation, delivery, and ongoing advice.

• Reduce your waste consumption by checking out Durham Region’s resources on food and general waste, as well as waste management services.
• Note: effective July 1, 2024, Durham Region is no longer responsible for blue box collection from households. It has switched to Circular Materials, a not-for-profit.

• If you’re considering the purchase of an electric vehicle, Clarington has many public EV charging stations across the municipality that work with the ChargeHub mapping service.
• Diversify your commute by checking out the many different options for public transportation and cycling services.
• Consider buddying-up and using one of nine carpool lots available in Clarington.

• Some businesses promote their products or services as more enviro-friendly than they are – this practice is known as “greenwashing.” Know what to look for when shopping and consider purchasing items from one of Clarington’s many thrift stores instead.
• Support local farmers by purchasing fresh food and produce from Clarington’s farmers' markets, which can be found using the Farmers' Markets Ontario website.

Pollinators are creatures that move pollen from one plant to another, like bees and butterflies, that help in the pollination process. Many pollinators are now under threat due to loss of habitat, non-native plants and pesticides. You can help by planting a pollinator garden using a wide variety of flowering native plants.