Environment Strategy

Richmond Hill has a long tradition of working with the community to protect our natural environment. Since 2014, the City has built on this tradition by implementing our Environment Strategy, "Greening the Hill: Our Community, Our Future." Its mission is to create a healthier environment through: 

• Responsible community development
• Reliable municipal management
• Effective community programming

View the Public Guide to the Environment Strategy.

View the Environment Strategy 2021 Accomplishments highlight sheet. 

Spring Greening Speaker Series

Thank you to all our speakers and participants in the Spring Greening Speaker Series!  Video recordings of the presentations are available on the City's YouTube page, which you can access through the links below.

Environment Strategy Update

Achieving a more sustainable environment in Richmond Hill is a community effort and together we have made great progress in protecting our local environment. Building on that positive momentum, we’re updating our Environment Strategy to consider emerging issues, current trends and priorities.

Thank you to our residents and stakeholders who provided feedback through our survey and consultation workshops!  Your time is appreciated, and your thoughts, ideas and concerns helped to inform the draft Environment Strategy update. 

Draft Environment Strategy Update 

The draft Environment Strategy update builds on our successes and brings a stronger lens to how we can all work together to protect our environment as the City grows and climate change impacts intensify. The original Strategy’s vision and mission continue, with minor updates to improve clarity.

• Vision – Richmond Hill: a community that protects, enhances and restores its natural environment.
• Mission – To achieve our vision by engaging and inspiring residents, leading by example and encouraging sustainable growth.

Our focus will also shift from what we want to protect, enhance and restore to how we can protect, enhance and restore our local environment.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to comment on the draft update. Your feedback will help inform the final document, which we expect to bring to Council for final approval in late spring/early summer.

If you have any questions, email us at greeningthehill@richmondhill.ca.

Environmental Scorecard

Richmond Hill’s first Environmental Scorecard uses key indicators to show progress on our efforts to protect, restore and enhance our natural environment. Covering the years 2015 to 2019, the indicators are grouped into three categories:

• Greening our Consumption (waste; water use; energy and GHG’s)
• Greening our Natural Spaces (water quality and stormwater management; trees; biodiversity; community gardens)
• Greening our Growth (sustainable development; transportation) 

View the Environmental Scorecard.

How to get involved

Learn about our Environmental Initiatives.

View our calendar for upcoming green events and projects.