Winnipeg's Climate Action Plan:
Planning for Climate Change. Acting for People.
Update October 2018: Thank you to everyone who provided feedback during development of Winnipeg’s Climate Action Plan. The Plan received unanimous support from Council on September 20, 2018 and the Plan was approved for implementation.
Recognizing that climate change is a serious global environmental problem, the City of Winnipeg developed a community climate action plan, an initiative called Winnipeg’s Climate Action Plan: Planning for Climate Change. Acting for People. The City built on the technical work already completed in Winnipeg’s 2011 Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Forecast (2015) by focusing on long-term goals achieved through a series of short-term actions. This Plan addresses the community’s challenges and opportunities with respect to global climate change, offers new targets for emissions reductions, and provides recommendations for new and enhanced policies, programs and actions.
- Engage
- Timeline
- Background
- Documents
- FAQs
- Related Links
- Climate Action Advisory Group
Engage
Update October 2018:
Thank you to everyone who provided feedback during the development of Winnipeg’s Climate Action Plan. Feedback from the public engagement process was incorporated into Winnipeg’s Climate Action Plan. A copy of the Plan, which has been approved by Council , is available in the 'Documents' tab, along with submissions received from delegations during the public hearing process.
Previously:
From November 2017 through February 2018, stakeholders were invited to provide input into the development of Winnipeg’s Climate Action Plan in two phases. The intent of Phase 1 engagement was to create a climate vision for the City, introduce target-setting, and develop the climate actions that can be taken at the community level.
Phase 2 included a Public Priorities Workshop. The intent of this phase was to seek more in-depth community input on the topics identified during Phase 1. Attendees joined facilitated discussion groups and were asked to record their input in workbooks. Participants were also asked to engage in a ‘Dotmocracy’ exercise that solicited further perspective on public priorities.
We reached nearly 4,800 stakeholders through the engagement process and as a result, we received more than one hundred questions and comments in addition to a large volume of input provided via event workbooks. This includes 4,674 people who were reached through online engagement, 69 who participated in-person at the kick-off event, and 56 people who attended the Public Priorities Workshop.
A summary report of the feedback received throughout the project is available. In addition, the following public engagement reports are available with details on what we heard:
Phase 1
- Kick-off Event (November 10, 2017)
- Online Ideas Jam (November 28, 2017)
- Phase 1 - Combined Summary
Phase 2
- Public Priorities Workshop (February 27, 2018)
- Phase 1 & 2 Combined Summary
The public engagement process is designed to provide a number of opportunities for involvement and to inspire dialogue and participation using creative methods. Feedback from the public engagement process will be included in a final report to Council and incorporated into the Plan and recommendations where possible.
If you would like to stay updated on City of Winnipeg public engagement events, follow the City on Facebook and Twitter, or sign up for the City of Winnipeg public engagement newsletter.
Background
Climate change is recognized as one of the most serious global environmental problems and results from an accumulation of atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHG). On November 25, 1998, recognizing the importance of dealing with climate change, the City of Winnipeg committed to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program.
The PCP program is a network of Canadian municipal governments that has committed to reducing greenhouse gases and acting on climate change. It empowers individual municipalities to take action against climate change through a five-milestone process that guides members in creating GHG inventories, setting realistic and achievable GHG reduction targets, developing local action plans, and implementing plans using specific, measurable actions to reduce emissions. The City was awarded a Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Fund grant to complete this action plan.
The City’s commitment to reduce GHG emissions is also recognized in A Sustainable Winnipeg, the City’s guiding sustainability strategy and a supporting document to the City’s OurWinnipeg community plan.
In 2015, Mayor Brian Bowman reiterated the commitment to action on climate change by endorsing the Big City Mayors’ Climate Change Action resolution that committed the City to:
- Emissions reduction targets that addressed both short and long-term commitments;
- Developing a municipal climate action plan that reduces GHG emissions, identify the risks associated with climate change and how those risks will be mitigated; and
- Regular reporting on municipal emissions.
In November 2016, the Winnipeg 2011 Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Forecast report was presented to Council. The report updated the community-wide GHG emission inventory from 1998, reported on three emission forecast scenarios for the year 2050, and an emissions reduction opportunities assessment.
The City’s commitment to the development of a climate change action plan has evolved through the commitments and initiatives described above. Winnipeg’s Climate Action Plan was developed with a number of opportunities for community input and the outcomes included:
- A clear vision for the community on how to mitigate climate change impacts;
- Targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction;
- Identification of opportunities for the City and the community to act on achieving the specified targets;
- Recommendations concerning the adoption of new policies; and
- A framework strategy for implementation of the Plan.
The public engagement process for this project was designed to provide a number of opportunities for involvement and to inspire dialogue and participation using creative methods. The views and input of Winnipeg residents were incorporated into the development of Winnipeg’s Climate Action Plan. Feedback from the public engagement process was incorporated into the Plan recommendations wherever possible, and was included in the final report.
Documents
| Document Name | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Winnipeg's Climate Action Plan Summary | 2019-10 | Document |
| Delegation Submissions and Letter of Support | 2018-10 | Report |
| Winnipeg’s Climate Action Plan | 2018-08 | Document |
| Climate Change Working Group Final Report | 2017-01 | Report |
| Phase 1 & 2 Combined Summary | 2018-06 | Report |
| Public Priorities Workshop Engagement Summary | 2018-06 | Report |
| Public Priorities Workshop Poster | 2018-02 | Advertisement |
| Public Priorities Workshop Postcard | 2018-02 | Advertisement |
| Public Priorities Workshop Newspaper Ads | 2018-02 | Advertisement |
| Public Priorities Workshop News Release | 2018-02 | Advertisement |
| Phase 1 Engagement Summaries | 2018-02 | Report |
| Online Ideas Jam Postcard | 2017-11 | Advertisement |
| Kick Off Event Poster | 2017-10 | Poster |
| Kick Off Event Newspaper Ads | 2017-10 | Advertisement |
| Kick Off Event Postcard | 2017-10 | Postcard |
| Kick Off Event News Release | 2017-10 | News Release |
| Garbage and Recycling Master Plan (Comprehensive Integrated Waste Management Strategy) | 2011-10 | Community Plan |
| Transportation Master Plan | 2011-11 | Community Plan |
| OurWinnipeg | 2011-08 (Currently under review) | Community Plan |
| A Sustainable Winnipeg | 2011-08 (Currently under review) | Sustainability Strategy |
| City of Winnipeg Community 2011 Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Forecast | 2015-03 | Report |
Frequently Asked Questions
Actions which reduce or prevent the emission of atmospheric greenhouse gasses.
Date added: October 2017
Climate adaptation refers to actions that help communities or ecosystems cope with changing climate conditions, e.g. flood protection measures. Although the focus of the Plan was on reducing the city’s contribution to climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the next steps will include dedicated efforts to prepare for a changing climate and the associated risks. There are a number of co-benefits and synergies between climate mitigation and climate adaptation efforts and with Council’s recent approval of Winnipeg’s Climate Action Plan, we look forward to advancing work in both of these areas.
Date added: October 2017
The Plan includes renewed greenhouse gas emission reduction targets that support the community’s vision and reflect the science of climate change mitigation – both what is possible, and what is necessary to avoid catastrophic impacts associated with climate change. The renewed targets include:
- 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 relative to 2011 levels
- 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 relative to 2011 levels
Sector-specific targets (for 2030) are also described in the Plan.
Date added: October 2017
The public engagement program for Winnipeg’s Climate Action Plan has finished. The City will continue to work with local organizations and community experts as we refine and implement the actions outlined in the Plan.
Date added: October 2018
The Plan outlines the City of Winnipeg and the broader community’s commitment to work together. It provides a framework to proactively, meaningfully and effectively mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In doing so, the City can also:
- Create a more prosperous, innovative and diverse local and regional economy
- Construct more complete neighbourhoods and revitalize the livability of all communities throughout Winnipeg
- Improve the efficiency of transportation networks and reduce traffic congestion
- Build and maintain healthier buildings to live and work in which are less expensive to operate
- Enhance connectivity of green spaces and parks throughout Winnipeg to support biodiversity and natural systems
Date added: October 2017
The climate actions were developed through careful consideration of feedback from the public engagement sessions, inputs from the Climate Action Advisory Group, City staff, as well as best practices from other jurisdictions. Past climate planning efforts, such as the City of Winnipeg Community 2011 GHG Inventory and Forecast (2015) and OurWinnipeg have also helped to inform efforts.
Date added: October 2017
The community sectors that are included will help inform the development of the Plan are based on Winnipeg's Community 2011 GHG Inventory and Forecast report. The energy and GHG inventory in this report includes the following five sectors and activities:
- Building Electricity and Natural Gas - residential and commercial consumption of electricity and natural gas;
- Vehicles – vehicle travel from passenger and freight motor vehicles;
- Transit – Winnipeg Transit vehicle travel
- Waste Disposal – solid waste generated by the community
- Water and Waste Water – energy for potable water and wastewater treatment and distribution
Action and priorities were identified for all sectors. However, the sectors that represent the largest source of emissions are also the greatest opportunity for GHG reductions and these include:
- Vehicle Travel (contributes approximately 50% of greenhouse gas emissions)
- Building Natural Gas (contributes approximately 34% of greenhouse gas emissions)
- Waste Disposal (contributes approximately 15% of greenhouse gas emissions)
Date added: October 2017
Yes. Most similarly-sized Canadian cities, and nearly all large cities around the world, have either adopted or have committed to adopting stand-alone or policy-integrated goals, targets, and action plans.
Date added: October 2017
Related Links
Climate Action Advisory Group
The City has invited a diverse and collaborative group of climate experts and stakeholders to help inform the development of a community climate vision, targets and climate action plan.
The group will consist of stakeholders and technical experts representing government, industry, business, community organizations, and non-profit agencies. We will to draw on their expertise to help draft the Plan’s vision and targets, and to identify and test out climate action ideas. Members will be asked to collaborate in small groups to identify implementation guidelines around several key programs or policies. This work will involve a broad range of stakeholders thinking through how to establish programs that can be tested and rolled out in the City.