Climate Readiness Pledge

Whitchurch Stouffville
Ontario Municipal Election Candidates

Download the pledge.

Climate change is happening, municipal governments have an essential role in:

Building community resilience — preparing residents, businesses, and infrastructure to withstand and adapt

to extreme climate events before they strike; and

Ensuring local self-sufficiency — strengthening natural areas, local food systems, and the local economy to

reduce climate vulnerability.

By endorsing this Climate Readiness Pledge I recognize the urgent risks posed by the climate crisis and pledge to advance the climate actions below as key municipal policy priorities for The Town of Whitchurch Stouffville. If elected I will move or support a Council motion to immediately assign staff and financial resources within the Corporation of the Town of Whitchurch Stouffville to pursue the actions outlined in the Climate Readiness Pledge.

Predicted Climate Trends to 2050

Predictions for York Region in 2050 (latest reference = TRCA report) forecast a WARMER, WETTER, WILDER climate. As a society, we are beyond the tipping point and now must equally address and implement policies and programs to not only MITIGATE the worst effects of climate change by reducing absolute greenhouse gas emissions but to prepare our community to ADAPT to these climate trends.

WARMER weather - more heat waves, extreme heat, & milder winters

Increased heat stress, especially for vulnerable persons
Disruption to services, activities, agriculture
Impacts on ecological health and invasive species

WETTER weather - more rainfall, extreme storms & winter rain

Increased flood risk
Damage to built and natural infrastructure
Disruption to services, activities, agriculture

WILDER weather - more intense storms, high winds, hail, ice

Increased risk to community health and safety
Damage to property and green infrastructure
Disruption to essential services, including fire and EMS

THE CHALLENGE FOR WHITCHURCH STOUFFVILLE

Compared with other York Region municipalities, Stouffville has a lower level of commitment to climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Sustainable Stouffville assessed municipalities based on their existing programs, plans, and other available indicators.

Tier - Advanced

Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Newmarket, Aurora

Standalone Community Energy Plans or MEPs; sector-specific GHG pathways; dedicated sustainability staff; active program delivery

Tier - Developing

King Township, East Gwillimbury, Georgina

Newly adopted or actively developing full Climate Action Plans; active GDS programs; Climate Emergency declarations driving urgency

Tier - Emerging

Whitchurch Stouffville

Primarily corporate focus; limited staff capacity

Sustainable Stouffville Climate Readiness Pledge

If elected to the Town of Whitchurch Stouffville, the candidate pledges to:

Prioritize community health and well being through engagement - Launch a holistic program to help the community (residents and businesses) to understand the bigger picture around climate change, connect the dots between the different types of adaptation and mitigation actions and guide the community to resources and funding opportunities including the preparation of community-wide climate adaptation and mitigation plans.Build community disaster resilience.
Build capacity in the community to prepare for and respond to more extreme events and long-term climate stresses. Invest in proactive measures to prepare for increased extreme events to avoid post-storm reactive costs.
Engage the community to encourage climate adaptation actions - Help residents undertake weather readiness assessments on their homes. Promote household preparedness and evacuation planning, encouraging property-level measures. Promote and augment existing programs for home and business climate resilience retrofits. Provide education and resources that support citizen health and well-being in the face of climate impacts.
Manage infrastructure to prepare for future climate conditions and carbon neutral goals - Integrate climate risk assessments into all municipal planning, budgeting, and asset management. Ensure that all municipally owned assets are optimized for energy efficiency including electrification of the municipal vehicle fleet. Retrofit critical public infrastructure to withstand future climate conditions.
Value, conserve and enhance the multiple services that natural areas provide - Accelerate actions to increase tree canopy and access to green space. Protect and restore wetlands, forests, and riparian zones.
Contribute to a strong local economy - Support and develop resilient local supply chains to help withstand impacts associated with extreme climate events. Promote local sustainable businesses. Require commercial businesses to participate in the provincial Energy and Water Reporting & Benchmarking for Large Businesses. Facilitate active transportation shopping opportunities and infrastructure.
Support locally grown food - Expand the opportunities to support local food production across the TWS (such as community gardens, rooftop gardens, backyard gardening, etc.) Support the agricultural community in preparing for climate change.