City moves forward on important projects to combat climate change

Through our Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), the City is working to decrease Mississauga’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to combat climate change and prepare the community for climate change impacts like increased flooding, ice storms and extreme heatwave events.

This year, we advanced key actions to help meet the current targets set out in the CCAP.

Lowering transportation emissions

Increased concentrations of GHG emissions are the primary cause of climate change. We are working to reduce these emissions by investing in cleaner transportation options.

• Hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric buses: transit buses are the top source of GHG emissions from municipal operations and services. To lower these emissions, the City will be adding new hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric buses to its fleet to make public transit more sustainable in the future.
• Electric vehicle charging stations: electric vehicles produce less emissions than traditional gas-powered vehicles. Eight electric vehicle (EV) chargers were installed at Burnhamthorpe Community Centre. Eighteen more public EV chargers will be installed later this year throughout the city. In total, the City has invested in over 100 EV chargers for both corporate fleet and the public.
• Shared e-bike and e-scooter devices: in June, 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 and are a greener and cleaner option for travelling around Mississauga.

Energy-efficient buildings

These types of buildings use less energy to perform the same tasks as traditional buildings while reducing GHG emissions and saving money on energy bills.

• Supporting home retrofits: the Centre for Community Energy Transformation, a non-profit that is co-funded by the City, launched an energy coaching service for Peel residents. The coaching service provides tools, resources and custom recommendations to participants interested in completing a home energy retrofit.
• Green Development Standards: in April, the City approved new Green Development Standards which will ensure that new developments are more resilient, energy-efficient and sustainable.
• New district energy system: as a result of signing agreements with the City, Enwave recently broke ground on a new district energy system at Lakeview Village. Unlike traditional heating and cooling systems, which are large contributors to GHG emissions, district energy systems are more efficient, consume less energy and reduce GHG emissions when connected to a low carbon fuel source.
• Greening City buildings: the City continues to apply the Corporate Green Buildings Standards to its major renovation and new build projects. The City recently received the ENERGY STAR® Building of the Year Award for advancing energy efficiency improvements at Erin Mills Twin Arena. All new fire stations are also being built to net zero energy standards.

Reducing waste with community programs

The City hosted innovative programs throughout the year to help residents reuse, recycle and repair items to reduce waste.

• Recycling collection drive: unwanted clothing and household items were donated to Diabetes Canada and electronics were collected and recycled.
• Repair Hub: the City hosted a Repair Hub to help residents repair broken items and give them a second life. Volunteer experts helped to repair electronics, small appliances, bicycles, toys and clothing.
• Waste free movie nights: during these large outdoor events food truck vendors offered reusable dishware to minimize the need for single-use items.

Help shape the update to our Climate Change Action Plan

We will be updating the CCAP in 2025 to set more ambitious GHG reduction targets that are aligned with the international goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Do you have some ideas to contribute as we update our CCAP? Visit Mississauga’s Climate Lab to learn more about the importance of climate action and some of the City’s current initiatives. Share your comments until December 20, 2024.

Learn more about GHG emissions and CCAP progress reporting.

Tags

• Climate Change