Climate Change Action Plan Progress Reporting

What is district energy?

District energy is a system that heats and cools buildings. It sends thermal energy from one central location to buildings connected to it through underground pipes.

Benefits of district energy

• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
• Improves our ability to withstand and recover from disruptions or challenges and maintain a stable supply of energy
• Improves our ability to ensure stable, affordable and reliable supply of energy sources

City’s accomplishments

• A study completed in 2013 identified Downtown Mississauga as a prime candidate for district energy
• In 2023, the City completed a study to determine the finding’s feasibility. Review the final report on the feasibility of district energy in Downtown Mississauga
• In October 2024, the City broke ground on a new district energy system at Lakeview Village

What is urban agriculture?

Urban agriculture is the practice of growing, processing, sharing and distributing food in a city. It aims to enhance food security, promote sustainability and support local economies.

Benefits of urban agriculture

• Reduces the carbon footprint involved in moving food from the farm to the plate
• Adds more green spaces that can promote biodiversity, support pollinators, reduce urban heat island effects and prevent or minimize flooding
• Reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides and improves soil health
• Encourages plant-based diets, which helps to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions caused from farming livestock

City’s accomplishments

• City created the Urban Agriculture Strategy which aims to enable urban agriculture in Mississauga
• Established nine community gardens and one urban farm in partnership with a local not-for-profit organization in the past 15 years
• Donate food grown through the community gardens and urban farm program to local food banks in the City
• Host farmers markets and employs urban gardeners to leverage local food growing
• Implemented the Seed Library program in Mississauga libraries for residents to get free open-pollinated, non-GMO seeds

What is a zero emission vehicle (ZEV)?

A ZEV is a vehicle that does not produce tailpipe emissions. They can include battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles.

City’s accomplishments

• Council endorsed the Peel Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy to support Mississauga’s role in implementing the strategy
• Installed over 90 electric vehicle (EV) charging ports to support the electrification of our corporate fleet
• Installed over 30 ports for public use across four parking lots
• Hosted electric vehicle discovery pop-up events in partnership with Plug’n Drive for Mississauga residents to learn about and test drive EVs

What is a circular economy?

The circular economy model works to reuse, repair, refurbish, repurpose or recycle products and materials. In other words, in a circular economy, nothing is wasted.

Benefits of a circular economy

• Helps reduce the amount of materials going to landfill
• Helps reduce the amount of raw items needed to make the materials sent to landfills

City’s accomplishments

• Participated in the Canadian Cities and Regions Initiative Peer 2 Peer Network as one of 15 municipalities to share best practices and develop an internal roadmap for implementing circular economy strategies and policies.
• Joined Project Green as part of the Circular Economy Consortium, which allows the City to collaborate with a diverse group of organizations to advance the circular economy and keep additional materials from going to landfills.
• Participated in Project Green’s collection drive to celebrate Waste Reduction Week. Clothing donations were donated to Diabetes Canada and electronics were recycled by Electronic Recycling Association.
• The City’s Parks Forestry and Environment and Library divisions collaborated to host three repair hubs in 2024 to allow residents to learn and repair broken items using the City’s tools. Two at Malton Library and one at Meadowvale Community Centre.
• Diverted and composted 1,900 kilograms of organics during the 2022 Ontario Parasport Games and 2022 Ontario Summer Games.

What is active transportation?

Active transportation refers to any human-powered transportation used to get from one place to another. Examples of active transportation include, walking, cycling, using a wheelchair, in-line skating and skateboarding.

Benefits of active transportation

• Helps maintain an active lifestyle
• Cuts down on greenhouse gases, air pollution and noise pollution
• Reduces the need for new parking lots and roadways

City’s accomplishments

• Created the Pedestrian Master Plan which shapes how pedestrian pathways, routes and infrastructure are designed and implemented.
• Created the Cycling Master Plan to build a cycling network that will result in 897 kilometres of infrastructure to be build over 27 years.
• In June 2024, the City launched its first shared system of e-bikes and e-scooters. Up to 300 e-bikes and 900 e-scooters are available for rent across Mississauga.

• Reduce, upcycle and repurpose: Celebrate Circular Economy Month and Waste Reduction Week
• Reduce, reuse or recycle your waste for Circular Economy Month
• Zero-emission transit: Mississauga launches innovative hydrogen-powered bus initiative
• Improve comfort and unlock savings: Transform your home with energy-saving retrofits
• Making climate change a priority for Mississauga: Taking meaningful steps now for a greener future
• Mississauga receives Active Transportation funding for vital waterfront trail connections
• Green-minded Mississauga businesses tackle GHG emissions
• Mississauga awarded for focus on cleaner economies
• Reduce, upcycle and repurpose: Celebrate Circular Economy Month and Waste Reduction Week
• Council Approves Build Beautiful – the City’s New Stormwater Master Plan
• Mississauga Strengthens its Commitment to Climate Action
• Opting for a Greener Future: Investing in Low-carbon and Resilient Solutions in Mississauga

To find out more about actions the City is taking on climate change, visit the City’s news page.