Oakville Declares a Climate Emergency

Published June 26, 2019 at 12:00 pm

The town of Oakville has declared a climate emergency.

During a meeting, held on June 24, 2019, council unanimously passed a motion declaring a climate emergency in the town.

The town of Oakville has declared a climate emergency.

During a meeting, held on June 24, 2019, council unanimously passed a motion declaring a climate emergency in the town.

According to the recent press release, since 2005 Oakville has taken steps in order to reduce its impact on the environment. However, the recent declaration solidifies the town’s dedication to act now.

And when it comes to taking action, Mayor Rob Burton said everyone has a role to play.

 “The entire community — including council, town staff, businesses and residents — has an essential role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” Burton said in a statement. “Council and staff urge everyone to join in and immediately increase the priority of our fight against a climate crisis, through their everyday actions.”

In a resolution, which was put forth by Councillor Peter Longo, staff was directed, as noted in the release, to report annually on climate change actions and update the climate change strategy to:

  • address the operations of the corporation and the public of the municipality
  • identify the public’s role in the climate crisis and the actions the community can do to fight climate change
  • embed a climate crisis lens into the town’s asset management program
  • incorporate climate change crisis policies into Livable Oakville, the town’s official plan
  • increase action and ambition for the town’s climate change crisis-related activities
  • include performance metrics to track progress and timelines for achieving key deliverables/major milestones, and a strategy to report back publicly on the progress of municipal and public efforts

“Consequences attributed to the climate change crisis are already being seen in Oakville, such as the 2019 record-setting high lake levels, shoreline erosion and flooding of our parks and trails, the ice storm of December 2013, and the effects of Emerald Ash Borer and other invasive species on our local forests,” reads the release.

As a result, Oakville is creating a Community Energy Plan, along with Sheridan College and the Oakville Energy Task Force, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the town, and advance climate action by all members of the community. 

In addition, the town has created a top ten list of activities that residents can do to help reduce Oakville’s emissions. For more information, visit the town’s Climate Change page.

In April of this year, the city of Burlington also declared a climate emergency. Other municipalities, including Halton Hills, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, and St. Catharines, have also declared a climate emergency.

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