Climate Change and Sustainability
Climate Change and Sustainability is a forum to allow for shared ideas among residents, businesses, and city staff to advance sustainability and climate action goals.
To achieve success in limiting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapting to an altering local climate, we need our whole community to be part of the solution. The City of Peterborough is committed to protecting our community, its economy, and its environment from climate change.
Get Involved!
We invite you to use this forum to stay informed and share your ideas by connecting with your fellow community members. There are several ways to provide input by filling out the Surveys, Share Ideas, and Open Comment tabs.
Everyone in Peterborough has a part to play to prevent climate change from accelerating and impacting our city. The municipality is stepping up to the plate to support residents and businesses transitioning to low-carbon lifestyles and business practices. We want to work with individuals who are changing lifestyles, making improvements at home or work, and recognizing that a more sustainable community is better for everyone and the planet.
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Who's listening
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Email jbyrne@peterborough.ca
Peterborough's Past and Future Climate
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Historic Climate (1981-2010)
Climate Change and Sustainability is currently at this stageDecades of weather observations from the Peterborough Airport has made it possible to calculate the average local climate that is made up of temperature, precipitation, humidity, and other weather variables.
Temperature averages:July 26.6CJanuary -13.5CAnnual precipitation averages:Rainfall 712 mmSnowfall 151 cmAverage frost free days:Annual 132 daysAverage length of heatwave:2.8 daysDays with overnight +20C temperatures:2.1 days(Source: Canada Climate Normals 1980-2010 Station Data) -
Future Climate (2021-2050)
this is an upcoming stage for Climate Change and SustainabilityClimate scientists using models predict that Peterborough's local climate will change at a rapid rate over the next three decades. The difference in weather from the historic averages are listed in the brackets below.
Temperature averages:July 28.6C (+2C)January -10.6C (+2.9C)Annual precipitation averages:Rain and snow 899 mm (+36 mm)Average length of heatwave:5.0 days (+2.2 days)Days with overnight +20C temperatures:9.2 days (+7.1 days)(Source: ClimateAtlas.ca)
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Far Future Climate (2050-2080)
this is an upcoming stage for Climate Change and SustainabilityThe farthest climate projections for Peterborough go up until 2080. If GHG emissions are not significantly reduced in the preceding decades, then the local climate's most severe modifications will occur.
Temperature averages:July 31.0C (+4.4)January -7.4C (+6.1C)Annual precipitation averages:Rain and snow 926 mm (+63 mm)Average length of heatwave:7.7 days (+4.9 days)Days with overnight +20C temperatures:24.8 days (+22.7 days)(Source: ClimateAtlas.ca)
Document library
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Anti Idling FAQ.pdf (24.7 KB) (pdf)
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Terms of Reference for Proposed Peterborough Environmental Advisory Committee (72.9 KB) (pdf)
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Greater Peterborough Area Community Sustainability Plan
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City of Peterborough Community and Corporate Climate Action Plans
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Peterborough Climate Projections.pdf (337 KB) (pdf)
I expect Peterborough will be going to clear PLASTIC garbage bags soon. I suggest we skip the plastic bags altogether and encourage paper bags for garbage and use garbage cans, preferably metal, again, NOT plastic. At least paper bags will break down in the landfill. Not impossible, we use paper for green waste after all. I detest plastic.
An article describing Carbon removal from the air. https://vancouversun.com/news/b-c-government-announces-new-merritt-plant-to-remove-carbon-dioxide-from-the-air
An article describing a new automobile tire from Michelin. https://youtu.be/Ql0Mkr3dwNU
By using municipal assets, budget priorities and economic development for Local Distributive Renewable Power Generation (an extension of Fit and Micro Fit) residents become more locally energy secure and new energy enterprises encouraged.
By a source of local, public funding for Economic Localization. e.g. a Public Trust or bank owned by the local community for ventures in environment, energy, economy. A Committee of both Councils to assess/test its feasibility and to scour the Municipal Act for opportunities. SEE Eligible Investments and forward rate agreements, s. 418 of Municipal Act, O. Reg. 43/18, s. 2. and 2.1.
By Budget Reform including co-ordinated Watershed budgeting for best use of resources with aim of funding economic infrastructure as well as physical infrastructure to build local climate security in life essentials produced in this region e.g. food, energy
Envision City & County as one economic & environmental Watershed that must build LOCAL SECURITY & RESILIENCE fast by securing life essentials: food, energy, water wellness and culture = LOCALIZE them as much as possible.
How? By redefining & coordinating City and County roles & actions administratively, technically and economically toward the highest climate resilience possible (the Vision).
Wetlands should receive greater buffers. All wetlands should be assumed to be provincially significant before development. All development should be avoided with in or near all wetlands and there should be a net wetland gain policy for all types of wetland. All bogs and fens regardless of size as well as vernal pools should not have development within 120 meters.
Philip is right the system is broken and any new initiative seems like a bandaid to the old way. For example why does the city plan to buy new diesel trucks for the green waste program? its because the landfill will be full if we dont separate wet from garbage. Perhaps some discussion with the companies that are producing the waste packaging and whatnot would make sense. Guy is right 2 no action
To CL: another source is the 2020 book, "Choosing Earth: Humanity's Great Transition to a Mature Planetary Civilization," by Duane Elgiin, a practical visionary of long-standing.
To CL: Advocate for system reorganization, citing impossibility of current structural forms to address impending crises. Possibly a government commons where open debate is unrestricted by assigned roles and follow-up into action is possible. See "Sweden's ministry for the future: how governments should think strategically and act horizontally," Centre for Public Impact, on line, no room for URL
It is hard to find a clear SYSTEMIC approach. Challenge is the close interrelatedness of all climate aspects. How can staff get Council to take CCAP more seriously? What get done ahead of ("for info" Rpts) Budget cycle?
Examine RFPs for "leading" adaptation.
Report on what could happen if we DON"T make climate survivability the main city organizing principle?
Need more space for ideas! Stovepiping municipal initiatives and issues contradicts a systemic approach required for adequate response to a multi-formed crisis that extends beyond "climate change." Interconnected and needing simultaneous consideration are collapse, species diversity, gross human inequities, and what paradigm or archetype can replace an economy destroying the earth.
Under Key Household Actions: Why limit survey takers to just three key household actions? Why not have them check off as many as possible? I would check off all of them. Also, why ask what actions people are "considering". Why not "actions you have taken." We are in a climate emergency! Past the point of "considering." We need to all be thinking in terms of action now--including the city!
18 months after declaring a climate emergency and what do we have? A web site and a funding request to CFM to do a study to see how we can inform our citizens about the programs available to retrofit their homes. Is that what you do when your house is on fire? Apply for funds to hire a consultant to do a study to find the nearest fire hydrant? Sorry for being so crabby, but this box is out of spa