Sustainability and climate change

We're preparing for climate change in Waterloo. Learn what the city is doing and how you can help.

On this page:

  1. How climate change affects us
  2. What the city is doing
  3. Follow our progress
  4. Get involved in local programs
  5. Contact us

How climate change affects us

We must recognize the impacts of climate change as changing weather patterns affect our environment, the health of our communities and how the city operates and serves its residents.

Climate change is changing our weather:

  • hotter days and nights with more heat waves
  • stronger wind and rain storms
  • more freezing rain and less snow
  • poor air quality from forest fires

How these changes affect your daily life:

  • increasing home insurance costs, energy bills, food prices and taxes
  • damage to homes from storms and flooding 
  • more heat-related health problems
  • fewer chances to enjoy outdoor activities due to heat
  • greater risk of ticks and bug-related diseases

What the city is doing

We can make a difference in Waterloo 

In Canada, municipalities:

  • contribute to 50% of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions
  • own close to 60% of public infrastructure
  • influence local change and help improve residents' well-being

Net-zero by 2050

We are the first in the region to aim for net-zero corporate emissions by 2050. What this means:

  • net-zero corporate emissions occurs when the amount of greenhouse gas emitted equals the amount removed from the atmosphere
  • reaching net-zero emissions is key to protecting our community and future generations from the long-term effects of climate change

City and regional climate plans

We have a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from city buildings, vehicles and equipment. Our Corporate Climate Action Plan and Energy Conservation Demand Management Plan (PDF) outline the steps we're taking.

Our Corporate Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PDF) shows how we will reduce the impact of climate change on city assets, operations and services.

Visit the TransformWR website to learn how we're reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. This strategy, developed by ClimateActionWR, targets emissions from cars, homes, businesses and waste.

Recent achievements

Waterloo has cut our corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 40% since 2010. Here's how we've adjusted our operations:

Climate change is a top priority in the city's 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.

Our key accomplishments include:

  • targeting net-zero corporate emissions by 2050
  • contributed $3.6 million to the Climate Action Reserve Fund to support climate projects
  • updating the Asset Management Policy and our 2024 Asset Management Plan to include climate change principles
  • creating Generation Park employment lands with LEED Silver and Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) Zero-Carbon Building Standards

Here’s how we’re leading the way in sustainable building practices:

  • updating the 2024 Green Building Policy to set new targets for reducing carbon emissions in city buildings by 2050
  • ensuring all new or renovated city facilities larger than 5,400 square feet are at least LEED Silver Certified
  • invested over $4 million on energy-saving upgrades at our recreation centres
  • installed a green roof at City Hall and the GreenLab at RIM Park, which includes a water recycling system that uses rainwater from artificial turf fields on natural grass
  • added new cold water ice-resurfacing systems that use less energy

We operate over 350 vehicles and equipment to provide city services. To reduce our environmental impact, we’re:

  • switching city vehicles and equipment to electric when possible, including cars, trucks, utility vehicles, rescue tools, ice resurfacers and sidewalk cleaners
  • buying off-road equipment with Tier 4 diesel engines for lower emissions
  • using software to manage maintenance and monitor vehicle use
  • having several bylaw officers use e-bikes instead of cars

Here's how we're making a positive impact in our community:

  • over 140,000 Neuron e-scooter and e-bike rides started or ended in Waterloo in 2023
  • growing our network of paths, trails, bike lanes and routes
  • offering community-focused lending programs through the Waterloo Public Library 
  • developing the Laurel Greenway, a nearly 2 km long linear park running through uptown Waterloo
  • adding new shade and water features to Waterloo Public Square to help keep people cool in the summer
  • taking care of our parks and green spaces by planting over 900 trees, created 2 new pollinator patches, supporting plant swaps, and maintaining native wildflowers and shrubs
  • using new tools and technology to proactively identify and repair watermain leaks to reduce water loss

Follow our progress

Learn more about our climate action:

Get involved in local programs

Community programs in parks

Get involved in community programs in parks, such as:

  • community vegetable gardens
  • Bee City – help support native pollinators and habitat
  • Partners in Parks stewardship activities, including:
    • litter cleanup
    • mulching trails
    • community plantings

Find more information on our Get involved with our parks webpage.  

Sustainability Advisory Committee

The Sustainability Advisory Committee (SAC) advises Council on implementing and promoting the city's sustainability program and strategy. Find more information about the committee. 

Make changes at home

Borrow instead of buy

Home improvements

Getting around

Reduce your carbon footprint

Earth Day Community Cleanup

Celebrate Earth Day (April 22) every day and help improve our environment. 

Thank you!

During our annual spring cleanup from April 25 to 27, 2025, over 1,000 people from neighbourhood and community groups, corporate teams, families and friends worked together in the spirit of Earth Day to clean up city parks in Waterloo.

Group participants removed over 570 kg of trash and large items from the parks.

We're proud of what our community can achieve when we work together as a team.

For questions directly related to our annual Earth Day Community Cleanup, please email stewardship@waterloo.ca

  • 1st Lexington Scouts group
  • 1st Waterloo Scouts group
  • 16th Waterloo Guide group
  • Adventure4Change
  • AFKW
  • Agfa HealthCare
  • Aquanty Inc.
  • Artic Wolf Networks
  • Camino Wellbeing – Erb St Community Centre
  • Canada TEMS Academy
  • Canon Medical Informatics team
  • City Utility Services
  • Clair Hills Community Association
    Eastbridge Community
  • Eastbridge Neighbourhood Association
  • Friends of Hillside Park
  • Friends of Waterloo Park
  • Killam Apartment REIT
  • Lakeshore North Neighbourhood Association
  • Lakeshore South Community Association
  • Lincoln Heights Neighbourhood Group
  • Lincoln Road Chapel
  • MacGregor Albert Community Association
  • Martin Family Earth Keepers
  • Mary Allen Neighbourhood Association
  • OTIP Group of Companies
  • Perimeter Institute
  • Power TakeOff
  • RideCo
  • Scotiabank
  • St. Matthew School
  • Tamil Cultural Association of Waterloo Region
  • Top Hat
  • University Downs Neighbourhood Group
  • Uptown Waterloo West Neighbourhood Association
  • Vista Hills Community Association
  • Waterloo Region Nature Kids
  • Waterpark Place
  • Westvale Community Association

Contact us

For more information about the city's climate change plans, contact sustainabilityclimatechange@waterloo.ca.