Climate Action

On February 10, 2020, the following Declaration of a Climate Emergency was approved by Stratford City Council:

“Whereas climate change is currently contributing to billions of dollars in property and infrastructure damage worldwide, stressing local and international economies;

Whereas climate change is currently jeopardizing the health and survival of many species and other natural environments worldwide, stressing local and international ecosystems;

Whereas climate change is currently harming human populations through rising sea levels and other extraordinary phenomena like intense wildfires worldwide, stressing local and international communities;

Whereas recent international research has indicated a need for massive reduction in carbon emissions in the next 10 years to avoid further and devastating economic, ecological, and societal loss;

Whereas the climate in Canada is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world, as per Canada’s Changing Climate report;

Whereas an emergency can be defined as "an often dangerous situation requiring immediate action";

Whereas municipalities such as Kingston, Vancouver, London and Hamilton have already declared climate emergencies;

Therefore, a climate emergency be declared by the City of Stratford for the purposes of naming, framing, and deepening our commitment to protecting our economy, our ecosystems, and our community from climate change.”

The Corporate Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) 2023 has been developed as a climate mitigation strategy for the City of Stratford with recommendations to strengthen climate action within all corporate operations including corporate-owned facilities, fleet, outdoor lighting, municipal solid waste, and water and wastewater infrastructure. The CEEP is intended to serve as a guiding document to steer municipal efforts towards decarbonization, aligning with our Council's commitment to reduce greenhouse gases. Key documents include:

• Annual Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report 2024
• Annual Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report 2023
• Corporate Energy and Emissions Plan 2023
• September 27 2023 Management Report to Infrastructure, Transportation and Safety Sub-Committee regarding the Corporate Energy and Emissions Plan 2023
• November 29 2023 Management Report to Infrastructure, Transportation and Safety Sub-Committee regarding the Annual Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2022

The City's Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) was adopted by Council on August 12, 2024.

This plan will guide Stratford in its collective efforts to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030, and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Stratford’s climate action efforts consist of more than just reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is to make Stratford a more livable, connected, and healthy community. In order to get to carbon neutrality, we all need to work together.

As required by the Province of Ontario, O. Reg. 25/23 (formerly O. Reg. 507/18), the City develops a 5-year Corporate Energy Conservation & Demand Management Plan (CECDMP):

• Corporate Energy Conservation & Demand Management Plan (CECDMP) 2019-2024
• Corporate Energy Conservation & Demand Management Plan (CECDMP) 2024-2029

The City of Stratford is inviting community members, organizations, and local partners to share their perspectives as part of the development of a Climate Adaptation and Resilience Strategy.

Climate change impacts everyone in Stratford; residents, businesses, community organizations, and future generations. To develop a strategy that is effective, equitable, and grounded in local realities, it is essential that we hear from as many voices as possible. We encourage you to participate through the survey on our Engage Stratford page.

This initiative is funded in part through a grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).

Ongoing retrofits to existing buildings include envelope upgrades, installation of insulation and high-performance windows, lighting upgrades to LEDs and replacement of fixtures with those that meet energy efficient standards such as Energy Star.

• Seven facilities approved for funding to undergo feasibility studies from Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM): Burnside Agriplex, City Hall, City Hall Annex, Dufferin Arena, Police Station, Rotary Complex, and William Allman Memorial Arena. These feasibility studies will help identify pathways to retrofit these facilities to low carbon, energy efficient buildings. Planned deep retrofits for the buildings’ portfolio are anticipated to drive overall corporate emissions reductions.

• Stratford Rotary Complex, Agriplex and Stratford Public Library are completely retrofitted with energy efficient LED lighting. Phased lighting upgrades to LED options continue for William Allman Memorial Arena, City Hall, Destination Stratford, Dufferin Arena, and other facilities.

• Installation of an electric heating boiler at the William Allman Memorial Arena replacing two existing gas-fired units at the facility. The electric boiler is now the main source for heating, with the two existing gas-fired boilers being the secondary heating source when demand peaks.

• Replacement of a rooftop HVAC unit at City Hall Annex serving the third floor.

Ongoing end-of-life replacement of corporate fleet with hybrid or plug-in hybrid models and fully electric vehicle (EV) options, subject to availability. All future budgeted light duty vehicles are proposed to be hybrid, plug-in hybrids and EVs.

• Since 2021 the City has added 21 hybrid vehicles to its fleet to replace internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, resulting in significant reductions in fuel usage and resultant GHG emissions. In 2024, the City procured its first electric van and successfully transitioned 16% of its entire fleet to low carbon options.

• Fully electric vehicles are being added to the fleet and facility upgrades are being planned to accommodate Level 2 charging.

• Ongoing replacement of operational tools and equipment from natural gas and diesel options to electric and battery counterparts such as ice surfacers, leaf blowers and articulating boom lift.

• Stratford Police Services (SPS) continues to replace ageing fleet with low carbon options. Out of an inventory comprising 33 vehicles, 18 are gasoline, 1 is diesel powered and 14 are hybrid vehicles. Overall, SPS has completed 42% of their fleet transition to hybrid vehicles, benefiting from operational cost savings and contributing to corporate emissions reductions.

• The Transit Division also initiated significant upgrades to the transit fleet, with two new hybrid buses procured to phase out two aging units.

• Received funding support from Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) towards the deployment of EV chargers in the community and increase availability of localized charging opportunities for res9idents and visitors to Stratford.

• Since 2017, 25 ports of Level 2 and Level 3 charging stations have been installed at municipal parking lots, resulting in annual GHG savings of approximately 50 tonnes of CO₂e, and gasoline savings upwards of 22,000 litres.

• Installation of EV chargers at City facilities being planned to future-proof infrastructure and in anticipation of charging requirements for corporate fleet.

• Since 2019, 76% of total streetlights have been converted to LED. Remaining lights include high-pressure sodium, fluorescent lamps, incandescent and metal halide lamps. Conversions for some streetlights to LEDs are planned for 2026, subject to budget approval.

In partnership with Festival Hydro, ongoing upgrades of streetlights to LED fixtures have been made, resulting in energy and cost savings, and low maintenance requirements.

Ongoing tree planting efforts on public and private lands, with a strong focus on planting native species to promote biodiversity and increase carbon sequestration.

• Control of invasive species in natural areas such as buckthorn and Japanese knotweed through partnerships with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA).

• Developed the Stratford Invasive Plant Plan as a collaboration between the City, UTRCA and the Energy and Environment Advisory Committee.