Climate Action

Provide feedback and ask questions of the Town by emailing ClimateAction@georgina.ca.

By 2050, the number of days over 30 degrees Celsius is projected to increase from an average of 9 days per year to an average of 35 days, particularly impacting vulnerable populations, the electricity grid, agriculture, wetlands, and summer recreation and tourism.

Multiple initiatives already address extreme heat such as York Region’s Heat Relief resources including a Plan for People Experiencing Homelessness, promotion of the Town of Georgina’s Cooling Centres, and providing air conditioned spaces and frequent breaks to Town staff who work outside on very hot days. 

The new or enhanced actions in the Climate Action Plan for extreme heat are: 

• Advocate for expanded on-demand public transit options and continue to promote existing public transit options

• Advocate for air conditioning in schools Strategic Initiatives

• Develop and share tip sheet on pet safety during extreme heat

• In partnership with LSRCA, ensure tree species planting list is climate resilient

• Ensure attendees have access to shading and cooling at Town-run summer events

• Increase shade at beaches and parks (tree canopy and/ or shade structures) to encourage safe use during extreme heat

• Diversify activities at waterfront parks to attract visitors in extreme heat or poor lake quality conditions

• Investigate adding “Rural Resiliency” stream to Community Improvement Plan to support agri-tourism all year round

• Extend use of recreational fields and diamonds into evenings when temperature is cooler with adequate lighting

By 2050, phosphorus and salt levels in the lake will likely increase, particularly impacting the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, coldwater fish, insects, and amphibians, and summer recreation and tourism.

Multiple initiatives already address nutrient loading such as a Town pilot project to implement stormwater catch basin filters to trap sediments and solids before draining, ClearWater Foundation’s award-winning environmental education  and Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority’s Phosphorus Offsetting Policy. 

The new or enhanced actions in the Climate Action Plan for nutrient loading are: 

• Create a "Love our Lake" campaign to promote responsible resident and visitor practices to protect lake health and support climate action 

• Advocate for more provincial and federal funding, support, and coordinated action for Lake Simcoe in partnership with Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and regional coalitions 

• Share resources and explore partnerships on lake-related conservation projects with the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation 

• Partner with local organizations to host community shoreline and beach clean-ups 

• Update and implement Salt Management Plan 

• Update septic maintenance inspection program to encourage maintenance best practices

• Incorporate Low Impact Development (e.g. bioswales) when expanding or rehabilitating stormwater infrastructure and roads where geographically/ topographically feasible (due to high water table at many existing sites) 

• Promote third-party environment-related funding programs and resources available for farmers 

By 2050, projections show there will be as much rain as snow in winter and less lake ice, particularly impacting Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, first responders, agriculture, wetlands, winter recreation and tourism, and electrical utilities.

Multiple initiatives already address warmer and rainier winters such as Council support of provincial regulation on road salt and working with York Region Police on public warnings about lake ice risk.

The new or enhanced action in the Climate Action Plan for warmer winters is: 

• Diversify outdoor activities for years of warm winter conditions 

By 2050, the volume of rain during one-day storms will increase by approximately one-quarter, particularly impacting agriculture, fields, and stormwater and road infrastructure.

Multiple initiatives already address more extreme storms such as ensuring that Town infrastructure is designed to manage future climate conditions, maintaining stormwater ponds and Town ditches, and implementing recommendations of the Infiltration and Inflow study to reduce unnecessary volume in the wastewater system. 

The new or enhanced actions in the Climate Action Plan for extreme storms are: 

• Identify parks with persistently poor drainage and re-naturalize priority areas
• Share information and resources to help residents reduce flood risk at home
• Maintain and clean ditches, culverts, and stormwater management ponds

The Town of Georgina as a corporation emits approximately 2,100 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, mainly from buildings (52 percent) and fleet vehicles (39 percent).

Multiple initiatives already address corporate GHG emissions such as retrofitting all Town streetlights and many interior building lights with LED bulbs, building an energy efficient Multi-Use Recreation Centre (MURC) and purchasing hybrid electric vehicles, electric push mowers and two electric ice re-surfacers. 

The new or enhanced actions in the Climate Action Plan for corporate GHG mitigation are: 

• Develop a plan to strategically plant trees and vegetation in priority locations
• Provide resources and education regarding sustainable product and material options
• Monitor and communicate driver behaviour stats to promote fuel efficiency
• Evaluate Net Zero Ready option in the design of new corporate building
• Building retrofits and equipment upgrades consider options for more energy efficient (including electric) models (rather than like-for-like replacement)
• Perform energy efficiency assessments on buildings with greatest absolute emissions or intensity; and implement improvements (e.g. building commissioning, retrofits, etc.)

The broader community of Georgina emits approximately 380,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, mainly from transportation (68 per cent) and buildings (26 per cent)

Multiple initiatives already address community GHG emissions such as residents switching to electric vehicles, retrofitting their homes for energy efficiency and/or electrification and the Town, LSRCA and others planting trees, which absorbs carbon dioxide. 

The new or enhanced actions in the Climate Action Plan for community GHG mitigation are: 

• Promote third-party grants and programs available for small business and Industrial Commercial and Institutional energy retrofits (ie. Save on Energy program) 

• Add "Green Business Leader" award to Business Excellence and Mayor and Council Milestone Awards 

• Promote third-party grants and programs available for residential energy and water retrofits and initiatives 

• Encourage carpooling (use of 404 Go Transit Lot or digital platforms) 

• Advocate for electric vehicle readiness in Ontario Building Code for commercial and residential buildings 

• Explore electric vehicle infrastructure requirements for parking lots through Parking Study Review 

• Encourage builders to include electric vehicle readiness as option in sales packages 

• Encourage electric vehicle charging infrastructure in industrial, commercial, institutional (ICI) development through site plan approval process 

• Encourage mixed-use neighbourhoods in applicable Secondary Plans 

• Encourage more compact development through incentive programs (as available), streamlined application processes, and policies 

• Create and implement Waste Management Plan 

• Partner with local non-profits on tree planting and native restoration initiatives, prioritizing areas near watercourses or sloped grassy areas 

• Promote legacy programs to encourage residents to contribute to community tree plantings 

Learn more about flooding safety tips, water, wastewater and stormwater projects, environment and sustainability, and tree preservation. 

Refer to York Region’s Climate Change Action Plan and Climate Change and Health Vulnerability Assessment.  

Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority has a Mitigation Strategy and Adaptation Strategy for the Lake Simcoe watershed. 

• Climate Action Plan presentation to Mayor and Council – June 4, 2025 – report; presentation
• Climate Change Action Plan Status Update to Mayor and Council – Nov. 20, 2024 – report; presentation
• Climate Change Action Plan Priority Risks and Opportunities to Georgina Environmental Advisory Committee – Oct. 22, 2024 - presentation
• Climate Change Action Plan Risks and Vulnerabilities to Georgina Agricultural Advisory Committee – June 25, 2024 – briefing note; presentation
• Climate Change Action Plan Risks and Vulnerabilities to Georgina Economic Development Advisory Committee – June 24, 2024 - presentation
• Climate Change Action Plan Threats and Opportunities to Georgina Environmental Advisory Committee – June 11, 2024 – briefing note; presentation
• Project introduction to Georgina Environmental Advisory Committee on May 7, 2024 - briefing note; presentation

June 6, 2025 - Town introduces first Climate Action Plan

The United Nations definition of climate change provides a good explanation: “Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.

The main greenhouse gases that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car or coal for heating a building, for example. Clearing land and cutting down forests can also release carbon dioxide.”

Climate change impacts many aspects of life in Georgina and around the globe. The purpose of the Climate Change Action Plan is to better understand these impacts and plan accordingly. Some examples of what these impacts might be include: 

• Less predictable growing conditions for farmers (variable precipitation, temperature)
• More stormwater and extreme precipitation causing damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructure
• Impacts to physical health such as injuries during extreme weather events, heat illnesses and exposure to worsening air quality
• Impacts to mental health caused by feeling anxious, sad and/or scared about the future, or trauma from first-hand experience of extreme weather events
• Impacts on Lake Simcoe related to tourism, water level and quality and ice-free periods

Climate action is participating in any of the thousands of solutions to prevent or adapt to climate change on an individual or group level. These can be reducing your carbon footprint by driving an e-bike instead of driving a fossil-fuel burning car, writing green building policies, or advocating to preserve wetlands. Climate action can be in the form of mitigation, which means preventing future impacts by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change. One example of this is increasing the energy efficiency of your home by installing a heat pump to replace a gas furnace. Climate action can also be in the form of adaptation, which means adapting to the impacts that climate change is already having such as strengthening the building codes to withstand more extreme weather. Many climate actions have co-benefits, which are benefits beyond reducing climate risk. For example: planting trees can provide habitat, food and prevent erosion in addition to absorbing carbon dioxide (mitigation) and providing shade (adaptation).

A Climate Change Action Plan is a document outlining priority actions on climate change. The plan will identify the greatest risks to Georgina from climate change and corresponding actions that can prevent or reduce that risk. The Town’s Climate Change Action Plan will include climate mitigation and adaptation actions for the corporation and the community at large.

During the 2023-27 Corporate Strategic Planning process, feedback from the public highlighted that taking care of the natural environment including Lake Simcoe is vital to community identity and well-being. The community emphasized the need to support Georgina’s resilience through environmental sustainability including preventing and adapting to climate change. Developing a Climate Change Action Plan was identified as a priority.

The main advantages of a Climate Change Action Plan are coordinating existing actions, strengthening partnerships, enhancing community engagement, and demonstrating leadership and vision on new initiatives. This will continue to make Georgina a great place to live, work and play. 

The Town is consulting a number of regional partners regarding climate risks and vulnerabilities, including the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and York Region. Local community organizations and the public are also key informants to ensure the plan reflects a range of perspectives and realities, and have been engaged throughout the summer 2024.