Toronto scores an ‘A’ as a global climate change leader

The City of Toronto is being recognised as a global leader on environmental action and transparency, achieving a place on the “CDP Cities A List” for the second consecutive year. 

CDP, an environmental impact non-profit organization, runs the global environmental disclosure system that helps companies, cities and regions measure and manage their risks, as well as opportunities, on climate change, water security and deforestation. 

Toronto is being recognised for its actions over the past reporting year to develop robust climate change strategies, track and act to reduce emissions, assess and mitigate climate risks, and transparently report the information in its 2019 disclosure to CDP. 

“This ‘A’ rating is a testament to the City’s commitment to addressing the climate emergency,” said Toronto Mayor John tory. “With our sights set firmly on reaching net zero by 2050 or sooner, we are innovating, investing and transitioning Toronto into a healthier, more prosperous and resilient city. I encourage all cities to work toward achieving net zero locally,” said Tory.

To score an A, a city must have established a city-wide emissions inventory, have set an emissions reduction target, have published a climate action plan, and have completed a climate adaptation plan to demonstrate how it will tackle climate hazards. A total of 105 cities globally received the “A” designation. Details are available at cdp.net/en/cities/cities-scores. 

Toronto’s TransformTO climate action strategy, which City Council adopted unanimously in 2017, identifies a series of short- and long-term actions to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, transportation and waste. 

In 2019, City Council voted to declare a climate emergency and adopt a stronger emissions reduction target: net zero by 2050 or sooner. 

Since 2017, the City has implemented and expanded several key initiatives, including the launch of neighbourhood climate action grants, the issuance of Toronto’s first Green Bond, the completion of energy retrofits to 21 Toronto Community Housing buildings, the installation of solar panels on 100 City-owned properties and the adoption of Toronto’s first electric vehicle strategy. 

More information about Toronto’s TransformTO climate action strategy is available at toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/environmentally-friendly-city-initiatives/transformto.