Hamilton councillors support new climate-change office, part of two new 'substantive' plans

As Hamilton neared the end of a third day of a heat wave, with temperatures feeling like 40 C Monday, city council's general issues committee approved new initiatives aimed at tackling climate change, including the creation of a new climate-change office to oversee the city's efforts.

The initiatives fall under two separate plans, one for climate mitigation and another for adaptation, and include a more detailed roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and a new advisory committee to help guide future decisions, starting with the next term of council.

Council must still ratify the decision before it becomes final.

The shift to net zero – which would require numerous big changes, including a move away from fossil fuels, increased building efficiency and planting more trees – is estimated to cost $11.4 billion, and come from a mix of public and private money.

However, those projects are expected to generate a total savings and revenue of $10.6 billion, and would see the average city household in 2050 spend $2,873 less on fuel and electricity than if things continued as they are today.

"Between 2021 and 2050, the net-zero scenario saves the average Hamilton household about $37,000 on fuel and electricity expenditures (this does not include any capital costs of energy efficiency improvements)," reads one of the city's two plans, called ReCharge Hamilton.

Those savings may require upfront costs by residents and businesses however, it says. 

Council's 'most substantive, serious report on climate change'

A new director of climate change initiatives, to lead the climate change office, will cost about $215,000.

"Inaction is going to cost us more money," said Ward 1 Coun. Maureen Wilson, following comments from Ancaster councillor Lloyd Fergsuon that $215,000 is too much to add to the next council's budget.

"We're burdening [current and future generations]. We don't have a choice. This city, its infrastructure, parts of it will soon be underwater, its vegetation will be at risk of failing."

Ferguson, who has announced his retirement after this term of council, was the sole vote against the suite of measures, saying deciding on this type of spending should wait until the budget cycle.

"It's almost unconscionable that this kind of report would come in [now] with this kind of budget impact," he said.

The plans follow the city's 2019 declaration of a climate emergency. 

Earlier this year, Environment Hamilton climate change campaigner Ian Borsuk told CBC Hamilton the energy and emissions plan had been in the works for six years, and that many environmental advocates were worried the city wasn't designating enough resources to the complex problems related to climate change.

At Monday's committee meeting, he was optimistic as he delegated in support of the plans.

"This is probably the most substantive, serious report that council has received on climate change," he said. "It's actually a testament to what can be done with so little resources and really gets me excited about what the next term of council will be able to accomplish. Now, we'll finally get to start moving on these things."

Plans include extreme heat pilot, retrofit program

Trevor Imhoff, the city's senior project manager for air quality and climate change, said current or near-future projects that flow from these plans include an extreme heat pilot project, aimed at helping seniors in CityHousing Hamilton buildings cool down during heat waves, and a home efficiency retrofit program that is expected to launch soon. 

While some councillors and delegates were concerned that not enough is planned to help renters deal with climate change, others, such as Coun. Brad Clark (Ward 9), worried it would be hard to convince homeowners already struggling to pay the bills to take out loans for home retrofits. Even if they wanted to, noted Clark, many may not qualify for a traditional loan.

"It is our intent to prioritize those individuals… who are potentially on the threshold of energy poverty," responded Imhoff. "I am committing the project team to say, 'What are all the avenues to address those potential inequities?'"

Numerous delegates, while voicing support for council's plans, called for actions to go even further. At least one delegate called for more concrete timelines for approved projects. 

A recently created grassroots coalition of groups such as Save our Streams and Hamilton 350 pitched a number of additional initiatives the group is hoping will be included in the city's plans.

The initiatives would help make the city "more resilient to the effects of climate change," the group says.

It is asking the city to:

• Achieve the Global Biodiversity Framework's targets for 2030 at a local scale, including committing to protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030. 
• Endorse the Made in Hamilton Greenbelt Plan and advocate and take steps to ensure that farmland and natural areas are permanently protected by inclusion in the Greenbelt Plan. 
• Support and recognize the importance of protecting and growing the Hamilton Nature Network.
• Commit at least $10 million per year to purchase and restore natural lands and waters.

"Hamilton is going to pay one way or another," said delegate Dave Carson, a member of Hamilton 350. 

"It's better to prepare than to pay for the consequences of unpreparedness. Please act now and don't let down the current and future citizens of Hamilton."