Climate Change Adaptation Initiative

Renewable energy programs, energy efficiency frameworks and the substitution of fossil fuels are examples of climate change mitigation measures.

Here are a few examples of how we are building corporate resilience to our changing climate.

Mitigation

Climate change mitigation means the promotion of policy, regulations and project-based measures that help stabilize or reduce greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.

Renewable energy programs, energy efficient frameworks and the substitution of fossil fuels are examples of climate change mitigation measures.

We have been taking inventory of our greenhouse gas emissions and encourage the following climate change mitigation programs:

Corporate Sustainability
Green Living

Adaptation

Climate change adaptation includes any initiatives or actions that reduce the effects of climate change on built, natural and social systems.

Preparing for climate change adaptation does not negate the need to support and implement mitigation measures, it is just another method of dealing with the climatic change impacts.

Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities (BARC)

Since 2004, the town has been an active member of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability which is an international association of government organizations committed to sustainable development.

ICLEI’s Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities program, is a municipal climate change program that involves a five step milestone approach to improve a community’s readiness.

Milestone 1 and 2 were completed in 2011 and 2012
Milestone 3 was received by Council in 2014
Milestone 4 was awarded in 2015
Milestone 5 was presented to the town in 2016

Objectives

To increase the town’s capacity to protect against and respond to projected climate change impacts.
To educate through effective and efficient means of communication.
To monitor the implementation of adaptation actions and goals in order to make continuous operational improvements.

The development of the internal Climate Change Strategy (pdf) and Oakville’s Climate Change Primer (pdf) work to fulfill these objectives.

Community resilience

To find out what you can do to increase your personal resilience to our changing climate and protect yourself, your home, family and property visit the Climate Change page and learn more about Oakville's Climate Change Primer.