Ambitious Vision Aims to Build Resiliency, Reach Net Zero Emissions by 2050

RICHMOND HILL – As part of its commitment to balancing growth and green, Richmond Hill Council has approved the vision for a more sustainable, low carbon city and a community-driven plan to achieve it. 

Developed in consultation with residents, businesses and community partners, the Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP), Richmond Hill’s Path to a Low Carbon Future, will guide the City in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), conserving energy and exploring related economic opportunities. By 2050, the City aims not to emit more GHGs than it is offsetting. Offsetting is the reduction of emissions in one place to compensate for emissions in another.

In 2050, the vision for a low-carbon city includes rooftop gardens and bioretention gardens across the community and more trees everywhere. The air is cleaner and everyone is healthier. Those who own a car have an electric one that doesn’t emit any pollution. On many days, people don’t use their cars at all. All essentials are a short walk away, there’s more bike paths than ever, and the subway shuttles residents downtown within minutes. Everything—the lights, heating and air conditioning, computers, public buses—is powered by electricity generated from renewable sources like hydro, wind, and solar. 

The CEEP outlines seven program areas each with their own sub-targets to help achieve this goal, including: 

• Transportation transformation
• Energy efficient buildings
• Smart, renewable energy
• Towards zero waste
• Compact community
• Municipal leadership
• Natural heritage 

To realize this vision, the City and community must work together. As an initial call to action for residents, the City is also releasing A Guide to Talking to People in Your Life About Climate Change. This toolkit was co-developed with members of the community and is a resource for citizens to reach out to each other to encourage climate action.

For more information, to download the CEEP and access climate change resources, visit RichmondHill.ca/ResilientRH.  

QUOTES

“Our goal is for Richmond Hill to become a moreresilient, low-carbon community with a diversified and strong economy. Council is committed to working with the community and other levels of government to realize this ambitious vision. Collectively, our actions can help to mitigate the effects of climate change in our community. No action is too small and I want to encourage residents and businesses to participate.” - Acting Mayor Joe DiPaola 

QUICK FACTS

As a result of numerous environmental initiatives already underway:

• The City’s corporate energy use has declined by 7.3% since 2015 and greenhouse gas emissions are down 21.6% since 2014
• New LED street, park and parking lot lights save the City $650,000 annually and reduce GHG emissions equivalent to taking 25-35 cars off Ontario roads every year
• Richmond Hill’s tree canopy coverage has increased by 4% (equivalent to 100,000 trees) since 2010
• Active transportation infrastructure such as bike routes and trails have increased by 4.1% and 7.5% respectively since 2015
• Numerous stormwater management and valleyland restoration projects have improved resiliency, protect our community from flooding and erosion, as well as improve water quality

The CEEP was made possible in part by a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Energy’s Municipal Energy Plan program.

MEDIA CONTACT
Ash O’Malley, Communications Advisor
ash.omalley@richmondhill.ca