Whitby Climate Emergency Response Plan

The Town has completed the Whitby Climate Emergency Response Plan, which was developed in two phases: Phase 1: Resilience and Phase 2: Mitigation. Phase 1 identified risks, like heat and flooding, to better prepare for future climate-related events. Phase 2 is focused on climate change mitigation, to identify actions to reach the Town's target of net-zero emissions.

The Whitby Climate Emergency Response Plan includes corporate actions for the Town, as well as community actions for Whitby service providers, businesses and residents to help reduce and prevent the risks of climate change. The Plan clearly outlines the resources and the timing required to implement each of the actions.

Climate Emergency Response Plan - Phase 1: Resilience

Phase 1 involved the development of a Resilience Plan, which was endorsed by Council in September of 2022. The purpose of the Plan is to address the climate changes we already experience in Whitby and expect to experience in the future even with the adoption of GHG emissions mitigation measures. Risk and vulnerability modelling was done by developing two future scenarios for the Town:

• An adapted scenario, where measures to reduce the direct and indirect risks of climate change are applied across the community; and
• A business-as-usual scenario, which includes growth and development without a climate adaptation lens.

To support the achievement of the adaptation actions, a detailed five-year community-led Implementation Plan has been developed. View Phase 1 of the Plan below:

• CERP Phase 1: Resilience- Executive Summary
• CERP Phase 1: Resilience- Implementation Plan
• CERP Phase 1: Resilience - Technical Summary
• CERP Phase 1: Resilience - Consultation Report

Climate Emergency Response Plan - Phase 2: Mitigation

Phase 2 involved the development of a Mitigation Plan, which was endorsed by Council in December of 2023. The Mitigation Plan focuses on climate mitigation and identifies the sources of GHG emissions in Whitby. It provides guidance and recommendations to meet the Town's community-wide GHG emissions reduction target of net-zero by 2045. To support the Mitigation Plan, a short-term Implementation Plan has been developed to actively guide progress from 2024 to 2030 on the low-carbon pathway. View Phase 2 of the Plan below:

• CERP Phase 2: Mitigation - Mitigation Plan
• CERP Phase 2: Mitigation - Implementation Plan
• CERP Phase 2: Mitigation - Financial Analysis
• CERP Phase 2: Mitigation - Engagement Summary
• CERP Phase 2: Mitigation - Data, Methods, and Assumptions

Next Steps

As part of next steps for Phase 1: Resilience, the Town is working on implementing a variety of action items identified in the Implementation Plan for 2024, such as:

• Develop and implement a community wide education campaign on climate risks, preparedness and recovery; and
• Select a neighbourhood for a pilot project to install green infrastructure, with signage and community participation where possible.

For Phase 2: Mitigation, a variety of action items will also be implemented in 2024, such as:

• Complete a study to determine the areas throughout the Town that are best suitable for a district energy, and wastewater heat recovery. Based on study, install one geothermal pilot project by 2026.
• By end of 2024, update the Whitby Green Standard's (WGS) minimum requirements to Tier 2 and develop a Terms of Reference (TOR) outlining specific requirements for each performance criteria.
• Investigate the development of a residential and a commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program.