Item - 2014.PE28.6
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on July 8, 2014 with amendments.
- This item was considered by the Parks and Environment Committee on June 23, 2014 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on July 8, 2014.
PE28.6 - Resilient City - Preparing for a Changing Climate
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on July 8, 9, 10 and 11, 2014, adopted the following:
1. City Council adopt the "Climate Change Risk Management Policy", as outlined in Appendix A to the report (June 9, 2014) from the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer, which establishes the necessary processes and controls for systematically identifying, assessing and taking action to mitigate risks arising from a changing climate and defines roles and responsibilities.
2. City Council require all City Agencies and request all City Corporations to adopt the City's Climate Change Risk Management Policy or a similar policy that is consistent with the one adopted by City Council and advise the Chief Corporate Officer when such policy has been adopted.
3. City Council request the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada to prioritize the health and safety of residents resulting from a changing climate and extreme weather, with attention to the particular needs of large cities as a result of their density and the age of infrastructure, and the need for intergovernmental coordination among all governments, including municipalities; and direct the City Manager to continue to work with provincial and federal officials, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and key municipal stakeholders to advance this intergovernmental priority.
4. City Council direct the Chief Corporate Officer in collaboration with the Executive Environment Team members to:
a. establish a process to manage across City Divisions and Agencies the interdependencies of infrastructure and services identified as being at risk to a changing climate; and
b. to explore partnership opportunities with the private sector and broader public sector, such as telecommunication, private utility, healthcare, banking and insurance, in the implementation of collective action that increases Toronto’s resilience to a changing climate and extreme weather.
5. City Council direct the Director, Environment and Energy to:
a. lead the City’s efforts to monitor and research how the climate is changing and when new information relevant to the City of Toronto becomes available, provide this to City Council, the City Manager, the Deputy City Managers and all Division Heads;
b. assist, where necessary, City Divisions and Agencies in undertaking climate change and extreme weather risk assessments of their operations and the identification of actions that could be taken to mitigate those risks;
c. coordinate annual reporting to City Council on the implementation of the “Climate Change Risk Management Policy” with the first report to be presented in the first quarter of 2016; and
d. collaborate with the Director of Strategic Communications and all relevant City Divisions, Agencies and Corporations, to establish a corporate-wide integrated approach to communicating, educating and engaging residents and businesses about the resources and supports available to them and the actions they can take to increase their resilience to a changing climate and extreme weather.
6. City Council request the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Corporate Officer to prepare a business case for consideration during the 2015 budget process and beyond that provides resources required to support implementation of the Climate Change Risk Assessment Policy.
7. City Council endorse the proposed letter of understanding, as outlined in Appendix C to the report (June 9, 2014) from the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer, between the City of Toronto and Toronto Hydro for Collaborative Energy Planning.
8. City Council direct the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Corporate Officer to identify proposals for consideration during the 2015 budget process and beyond for financing required increases in the electrical standby capacity in critical City-owned buildings operated by Facilities Management.
9. City Council authorize the Director, Environment and Energy the option to provide access to the Toronto Climate Risk Assessment Tool to the private sector and broader public sector at no financial cost and with the discretion to dispense with an indemnity.
10. In recognition of continued significant increases in global greenhouse gas emissions, City Council request the Chief Corporate Officer to develop for Council's consideration a program accelerating the actions being taken to address the emission reduction and sustainable energy targets as adopted in the Climate Change Action Plan and the Power to Live Green: Toronto's Sustainable Energy Strategy; and that such program include:
a. performing the required studies and analyses to accurately define the major sources of emissions both stationary and mobile;
b. recommending to City Council a course of action for the City to undertake to lower emissions in the Toronto airshed;
c. consulting with City Councillors, academia, subject matter experts, community leaders, appropriate City Divisions, Agencies and Corporations to ensure the recommended initiatives are timely and, effective;
d. engaging with Federal, Provincial and Municipal Governments in initiating the regulatory and policy changes needed to address climate change;
e. reporting annually, starting in 2015, on progress made through the Sustainable Environment and Energy Progress Report, as identified in City Council's Strategic Actions (action #6); and
f. identification of the resources necessary to develop the proposed program in the 2015 Operating Budget for Budget Committee and Council's consideration.
City Council Decision Advice and Other Information
City Council considered the following Items together:
- PE28.4, headed "Toronto's 2012 Greenhouse Gas and Air Quality Pollutant Emissions Inventory";
- PE28.5, headed "Corporate Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan (2014-2019) - Green Energy Act - Regulation 397/11"; and
- PE28.6, headed "Resilient City - Preparing for a Changing Climate".
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-70623.pdf
Communications (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/pe/comm/communicationfile-48371.pdf
(June 23, 2014) E-mail from Bala Gnanam, Director, Sustainability and Building Technologies, BOMA Toronto (PE.New.PE28.6.2)
(June 23, 2014) Letter from Lucy Cummings, Executive Director, Faith and the Common Good (PE.New.PE28.6.3)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/pe/comm/communicationfile-48355.pdf
Motions (City Council)
In recognition of continued significant increases in global greenhouse gas emissions, City Council request the Chief Corporate Officer to develop for Council's consideration a program accelerating the actions being taken to address the emission reduction and sustainable energy targets as adopted in the Climate Change Action Plan and the Power to Live Green: Toronto's Sustainable Energy Strategy; and that such program include:
a. performing the required studies and analyses to accurately define the major sources of emissions both stationary and mobile;
b. recommending to City Council a course of action for the City to undertake to lower emissions in the Toronto airshed;
c. consulting with City Councillors, academia, subject matter experts, community leaders, appropriate City Divisions, Agencies and Corporations to ensure the recommended initiatives are timely and, effective;
d. engaging with Federal, Provincial and Municipal Governments in initiating the regulatory and policy changes needed to address climate change;
e. reporting annually, starting in 2015, on progress made through the Sustainable Environment and Energy Progress Report, as identified in City Council's Strategic Actions (action #6); and
f. identification of the resources necessary to develop the proposed program in the 2015 Operating Budget for Budget Committee and Council's consideration.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Jul-08-2014 5:40 PM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - PE28.4, PE28.5 and PE28.6 - Perks - motion 1 |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 34 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Michelle Berardinetti, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Gary Crawford, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mark Grimes, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Peter Leon, Gloria Lindsay Luby, James Maloney, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, John Parker, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Ceta Ramkhalawansingh, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
Total members that were Absent: 11 | Members that were absent are Josh Colle, Vincent Crisanti, Mike Del Grande, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Chin Lee, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Anthony Perruzza, David Shiner, Karen Stintz |
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Jul-08-2014 5:42 PM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - PE28.6 - Adopt the item as amended |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 36 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Michelle Berardinetti, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Gary Crawford, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mark Grimes, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Peter Leon, Gloria Lindsay Luby, James Maloney, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, John Parker, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Ceta Ramkhalawansingh, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Michael Thompson, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
Total members that were Absent: 9 | Members that were absent are Josh Colle, Vincent Crisanti, Mike Del Grande, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Anthony Perruzza, Karen Stintz |
PE28.6 - Resilient City - Preparing for a Changing Climate
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Parks and Environment Committee recommends that:
1. City Council adopt the "Climate Change Risk Management Policy", as outlined in Appendix A of the report (June 9, 2014) from the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer, which establishes the necessary processes and controls for systematically identifying, assessing and taking action to mitigate risks arising from a changing climate and defines roles and responsibilities.
2. City Council require all City Agencies and request all City Corporations to adopt the City's Climate Change Risk Management Policy or a similar policy that is consistent with the one adopted by City Council and advise the Chief Corporate Officer when such policy has been adopted.
3. City Council request the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada to prioritize the health and safety of residents resulting from a changing climate and extreme weather, with attention to the particular needs of large cities as a result of their density and the age of infrastructure, and the need for intergovernmental coordination among all governments, including municipalities; and direct the City Manager to continue to work with provincial and federal officials, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and key municipal stakeholders to advance this intergovernmental priority.
4. City Council direct the Chief Corporate Officer in collaboration with the Executive Environment Team members to:
a. establish a process to manage across City Divisions and Agencies the interdependencies of infrastructure and services identified as being at risk to a changing climate; and
b. to explore partnership opportunities with the private sector and broader public sector, such as telecommunication, private utility, healthcare, banking and insurance, in the implementation of collective action that increases Toronto’s resilience to a changing climate and extreme weather.
5. City Council direct the Director of the Environment and Energy Division to:
a. lead the City’s efforts to monitor and research how the climate is changing and when new information relevant to the City of Toronto becomes available, provide this to City Council, the City Manager, the Deputy City Managers and all Division Heads;
b. assist, where necessary, City Divisions and Agencies in undertaking climate change and extreme weather risk assessments of their operations and the identification of actions that could be taken to mitigate those risks;
c. coordinate annual reporting to City Council on the implementation of the “Climate Change Risk Management Policy” with the first report to be presented in the first quarter of 2016; and
d. collaborate with the Director of Strategic Communications and all relevant City Divisions, Agencies and Corporations, to establish a corporate-wide integrated approach to communicating, educating and engaging residents and businesses about the resources and supports available to them and the actions they can take to increase their resilience to a changing climate and extreme weather.
6. City Council request the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Corporate Officer to prepare a business case for consideration during the 2015 budget process and beyond that provides resources required to support implementation of the Climate Change Risk Assessment Policy.
7. City Council endorse the proposed letter of understanding, as outlined in Appendix C of the report (June 9, 2014) from the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer, between the City of Toronto and Toronto Hydro for Collaborative Energy Planning.
8. City Council direct the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Corporate Officer to identify proposals for consideration during the 2015 budget process and beyond for financing required increases in the electrical standby capacity in critical City-owned buildings operated by Facilities Management.
9. City Council authorize the Director of the Environment and Energy Division the option to provide access to the Toronto Climate Risk Assessment Tool to the private sector and broader public sector at no financial cost and with the discretion to dispense with an indemnity.
Origin
Summary
The success of Toronto and its quality of life will be influenced by how resilient the City of Toronto, its residents and businesses are to the direct and indirect effects of a changing climate and associated extreme weather events.
Recent events, such as the July 8, 2013 rain storm, the many extreme heat alerts during the summer of 2013 and the December 2013 ice storm offer a number of lessons that identify the need to set a course of action that will help the City and its communities prepare for future eventualities and become more resilient to a changing climate. Toronto already has strategies and initiatives such as the Toronto Green Standard, Wet Weather Flow Master Plan, the Hot Weather Response Plan and the Strategic Forest Management Plan that are building up Toronto’s resilience, but more work is required to:
1. support the integration of climate change resilience into decision making across all City operations;
2. further identify the changes required in Toronto's services and infrastructure to make them more resilient;
3. establish approaches for coordinating resilience action according to identified interdependencies of infrastructure and services and priority populations;
4. seek the engagement and assistance of the federal and provincial governments to address the impacts of the changing climate on the health and safety of residents;
5. partner with the private sector and broader public sector to coordinate the City's efforts with them to improve Toronto's overall resilience; and
6. support residents and businesses in taking actions that enhance their personal resilience.
The purpose of this report is to outline an approach that will see climate change resilience integrated into decision-making and co-ordination of City operations and services. This report proposes a Climate Change Risk Management Policy that defines roles and responsibilities for identifying and mitigating climate risks and proposes mechanisms for co-ordinating, resourcing and prioritizing actions. In addition, this report responds to the climate resilience directives made by City Council when it discussed how the City responded to the December 2013 ice storm.
It is important to note that this report focuses on improving Toronto's climate change resilience, while other reports being prepared by the City Manager and the Medical Officer of Health for presentation at the July 8, 2014 meeting of City Council address issues associated with being prepared for emergency events that occur as a result of extreme weather.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-70623.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/pe/comm/communicationfile-48371.pdf
(June 23, 2014) E-mail from Bala Gnanam, Director, Sustainability and Building Technologies, BOMA Toronto (PE.New.PE28.6.2)
(June 23, 2014) Letter from Lucy Cummings, Executive Director, Faith and the Common Good (PE.New.PE28.6.3)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/pe/comm/communicationfile-48355.pdf
Speakers
Gabriella Kalapos, Clean Air Partnership
Lucy Cummings, Executive Director, Faith and the Common Good