Item - 2021.IE26.19

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council direct the Director, Environment and Energy and the relevant Division Head and Corporation Officials to continue to advance the next phase of Pocket Change Neighbourhood Climate Action Plan, including the community and institutional round-tables, and include updates in TransformTO progress reports.

This report responds to a Council request in February 2021 for the Interim Director, Environment and Energy and the relevant Division Heads, City Corporation Officials, and School Boards, to support the next phase of Pocket Change Neighbourhood Climate Action Plan, including the creation of an institutional round-table, and that staff submit a report on the scope and opportunities for the institutional opportunities to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee.

The City is supporting the next phase of the Pocket Change Plus project, as a neighbourhood scale implementation of TransformTO, with efforts to leverage institutional assets and expertise to 'green' the neighbourhood and maximize opportunities for environmental transformation.

The Environment and Energy led the coordination of institutional stakeholders by organizing regular discussions and supporting partner organizations in the review of capital budgets, the evaluation of asset conditions, and identifying potential sustainability initiatives.

Attached is the draft report with scope, opportunities, and quick starts for climate action, including, but not limited to:

- Institutional commitments to achieve climate objectives and targets set out by TransformTO net-zero plan (concurrently reporting to committee and Council)

- Efforts to embed climate and resiliency lens within decision making processes.

- Initiated Energy Audits and Feasibility Work streams: solar at Greenwood Yard.

- Exploring Net-Zero pathways for Toronto Community Housing and other City buildings.

- Opportunities for public and/or institutional lands with potential for co-benefits: environmental, social, and net-zero initiatives.

- Potential design competition to synthesize the architectural, communal, and environmental components of sustainable neighborhoods - focus on public realm.