City of Waterloo in pursuit of Net-Zero corporate greenhouse gas emissions

Posted On Monday April 22, 2024

As the first municipality in Waterloo Region to set a corporate target of net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, the City of Waterloo is celebrating Earth Day by sharing some of the transformational changes and day-to-day successes on the way to achieving that goal. Waterloo is moving confidently towards the 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target and building a strong foundation to pursue the corporate goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

"We're the first municipality in the region to target the ambitious goal of net-zero corporate emissions by 2050, and we’re making transformational changes to City operations and facilities to get there,” said Mayor Dorothy McCabe. “Whether it's the low-carbon retrofitting of recreation facilities, or the dozens of small operational changes that we're making in every City division, Waterloo is taking action and demonstrating leadership in environmental sustainability and addressing climate change."

The estimated corporate GHG emissions from the City of Waterloo for 2022 are 5,078 tCO2. This is a decrease of 5.8 per cent from 2021 and represents a 40 per cent decrease from the 2010 baseline. This is significant progress towards the corporate goal of 50 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030, and creates a solid basis to pursue the goal to reach net-zero corporate emissions — the point at which the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emitted is equal to the amount that is removed from the atmosphere — by 2050.

Here are some of the ways that Waterloo has successfully adjusted our day-to-day operations to reduce our overall GHG emissions:

  • Piloting the use of cold water for ice making and ice maintenance. Hot water has been traditionally favoured for making strong and smooth ice, but with new technologies available the City is piloting the use of cold water, which requires less energy to create and maintain the ice.
  • Adding electric vehicles and tools to our fleet and equipment. The City continues to replace gas-powered vehicles and equipment as our fleet comes up for renewal and as technology allows. This includes ice resurfacers, e-bikes for use by Municipal Enforcement Services, utility trucks and other vehicles, and battery-powered rescue tools. The City currently has more than 20 electric on- and off-road vehicles as well as several electric power tools used by operational crews. The City is also working on an electric vehicle charging infrastructure strategy to plan for the infrastructure needed to support EVs.
  • Expansion of online services to reduce paper use and transit time. Several divisions have increased their online service offerings and reduced the need for paper and travel. Planning application packages are now available through Engage Waterloo, and the City continues to reduce our need for paper documents by using electronic files for Council processes, records management, budget records and large document file sharing.
  • Composting of leaves and flowers to create new soil. Staff in Parks, Forestry, and Cemetery Services collect the waste left from leaves and flowers on gravesites and other horticultural activities and compost it. The compost is then repurposed for other horticultural and parks work, eliminating waste and the need to purchase new soil.
  • Increased use of hybrid meeting equipment. Hybrid and online meeting options continue to reduce travel requirements for attendees, with the added benefit of more options for accessibility and increased participation.
  • Donation of used fire equipment and fire fighting gear. Structural gear is donated to Firefighters without Borders, and old uniforms are donated to The Working Centre, Ray of Hope, and other agencies in need.
  • Adoption of PFAS-free firefighting foam agent. This will eliminate the use of PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl), long-lasting chemicals which break down very slowly over time and may be linked to harmful health effects.
  • Removal of fossil-fuel powered generators from the apparatus specifications for fire equipment. The increased availability of battery-powered scene tools and lighting mean that gas-powered generators are no longer required.
  • Updating the Waterloo Public Library’s Strategic Plan. The update of the strategic plan included strategic goals of 1) reassessing and amending the library’s policies, plans, practices, and spaces with and emphasis on Reconciliation and sustainability, and 2) enhancing the environmental literacy skills within the community.
  • Strengthening of staff capacity through training. In 2023 staff from the Strategic Initiatives and Asset Management teams participated in training to strengthen the City’s efforts to integrate climate change into City operations and services. As a result, staff are placing focus on climate change adaptation which contributes to the overall work to meet corporate climate change goals.

On a community level the City has been working with community partners to develop Green Development Standards (GDS) and integrate energy considerations into development through the new Terms of Reference for Energy Studies pilot. The Generation Park sustainable employment lands have been launched, opening the door to one of Canada’s first net-zero-ready light industrial and commercial business areas. The City also continues to divert dog waste, improve the active transportation network, engage with the community, and encourage bike use and safety.

To protect residents against the impacts of climate change and improve enjoyment of outdoor public spaces, the City installed temporary and permanent shade structures and water features in Waterloo Public Square, completed the Laurel Greenway Master Plan, broadened residents’ abilities to plant boulevard gardens, and hosted several natural stewardship activities throughout the City.

The City will continue to integrate sustainability and climate considerations into all operations and services, implement the actions in the recently approved Corporate Climate Action Plan (CorCAP), work with community partners on shared initiatives, and advocate to the provincial and federal governments on the urgent need for more climate action grant funding.

 

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Media contact:

Cari Van Niekerk
Director, Corporate Communications
Cari.vanniekerk@waterloo.ca