Climate Change Initiatives in the Region of Peel

According to the 2014 Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), humans have been the main cause of the recently observed rise in global temperature.

By Sabbir Saiyed, Manager, Transportation Systems Planning, Public Works, Region of Peel

IPCC, the leading international body for the assessment of climate change, was established by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization in 1988 to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.

If global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are not significantly reduced, warming will continue, resulting in devastating extreme weather events.

The Region of Peel, located in Ontario, serves 1.3 million residents and approximately 88,000 businesses in Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga. The Region’s climate change models have forecasted more extreme weather events. The July 2013 rainstorm and December 2013 ice storm both demonstrate the changing weather patterns and the high economic and social costs associated with severe weather.

It is clear to the Region that reducing GHG emissions will be necessary, and in response, the Region is working in partnership with its area municipalities, along with various Conservation Authorities, to develop strategies to minimize the impact of climate change, which is Term of Council Priority #1.

Transportation Initiatives

It has long been recognized that vehicle emissions are a major source of GHG in the atmosphere. While energy-related emissions from commercial, institutional, industrial and residential buildings in Peel make up the bulk of total community emissions, the transportation sector follows, making up 28% of the total.

Under Peel’s Active Transportation Plan, staff members are working to reduce single occupancy motor vehicle trips, thereby reducing GHG emissions.  Some of the initiatives include:

• Working on the Ontario Cycling Strategy and Ontario Trails Strategy
• Incorporating Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies in the development approval process
• School Travel Planning Pilot Program
• STEPS Pilot Program
• School Bicycle Parking Pilot Program
• Walk & Roll website
• Support Transportation Management Associations (Smart Commutes)

Under Peel’s Goods Movement Strategic Plan (2012-2016), there are also several initiatives underway to improve how goods move through the Region, thereby limiting GHG emissions. Under the strategic plan, 23 action items are well underway.

Some broad initiatives include:  

• Developing a strategy to encourage more efficient freight movement
• Developing a Smart Freight Association (SFA)
• Developing an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)

Changing weather patterns will continue to impact the residents and businesses in the Region, and in response, Peel staff will continue to work on mitigating the impacts and reducing GHG emissions.