This consultation was open from:
November 22, 2017
to January 21, 2018
Decision summary
The ministry is no longer pursuing this proposal. The actions in this proposal, as well as the comments and feedback received were considered in the drafting of the current government’s Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan, which outlines proposed actions and commitments to help strengthen the province’s resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Decision details
Recognizing the government’s ongoing commitment to addressing climate change and preparing communities and families for the effects of a changing climate, the ministry has decided to no longer pursue this proposal.
As outlined in our Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan, we are committed to addressing climate change by reducing greenhouse emissions and helping communities and families prepare for the effects of a changing climate.
In November 2017, the previous government consulted on proposed actions to help strengthen climate resiliency in the province. The actions in this proposal, as well as the comments and feedback received during this consultation, were considered as part of the development of the current government’s Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan, which outlines proposed actions and commitments to help strengthen the province’s resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Since that time, our government has made significant progress on numerous climate change commitments, including:
- Launching the first-ever broad, multi-sector provincial climate change impact assessment to identify where the province is vulnerable to climate change. Following a competitive procurement process, Ontario selected a consulting team led by the Climate Risk Institute to conduct the assessment.
- Issuing $3.7 billion in green bonds to help finance public transit initiatives, extreme-weather resistant infrastructure, and energy efficiency and conservation projects.
- Establishing an advisory panel on climate change to provide the minister with expert advice on the implementation of the province’s climate change actions, especially on how Ontario can prepare for the costs and impacts of climate change.
- Updating the Provincial Policy Statement to include changes to enhance direction for planning authorities to prepare for the impacts of a changing climate. It also includes enhanced stormwater management policies to protect water and support climate resilience.
- Province extended and increased funding to $2 million for the “Build Back Better” pilot project, through which the province provided municipalities that qualified for Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance funding up to 15% above the estimated cost of rebuilding damaged public infrastructure to make it more resilient to extreme weather.
We have refocused our approach to climate change adaptation as part of the Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan. Under the Plan, to further strengthen our work to update government policies and build partnerships to improve local climate resilience, we have
- launched a provincial climate change impact assessment (https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/57998/ontario-launches-first-ever-climate-change-impact-assessment);
- appointed an Advisory Panel on Climate Change (https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/54791/ontario-appoints-advisory-panel-on-climate-change);
- established an inter-ministry working group co-chaired by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and Treasury Board Secretariat to explore opportunities to embed climate change considerations across government decision making; and
- proposed the developments of an online tool to make climate change impact information more broadly available.
Effects of consultation
Public consultation on the proposal for this decision was provided for 60 Days, from November 22, 2017 to January 21, 2018. As a result of public consultation on the proposal, the ministry received a total of 35 comments: 19 comments were received in writing and 16 were received online.
Comments received were considered in the drafting of the current government’s Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan. We will also consider these comments as we continue to work with partners on future climate change initiatives.
Specific comments can be grouped into the following categories:
The importance of a provincial climate change impact assessment and its role in preparing communities, businesses and individuals for climate change adaptation
- comments noted the need for understanding potential climate change impacts and the need for a practical and useful assessment
- many noted the needs of their sector to better understand what to adapt to, and suggested that work already completed, or underway, be considered when undertaking the assessment
- additional comments referenced the scope of the assessment, suggesting that specific sectors be included
- comments also reflected a broad range of sectors across the economy that are looking for information on potential climate change impacts
Support for developing better climate change information for Ontario and broader public awareness:
- comments indicated a need for all sectors of the economy to understand climate change data, where to obtain valid data, and how to apply this for decision making;
- additional comments highlighted the difficulty in knowing which datasets are valid.
Interest in opportunities for collaborating on developing and delivering climate change information:
- comments reflected on existing capacity and activity in relation to climate change data and their translation, and the need for enhanced collaboration and exchange of information.
Support for an all-of-government approach to considering climate change.
- comments noted the need for the government to lead the way to consider climate change, and for coordination across ministries.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
438 University Ave
15th Floor
Toronto,
ON
M7A 1N3
Canada
Connect with us
Contact
Louis DesRosiers
438 University Ave
15th Floor
Toronto,
ON
M7A 1N3
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
Description of policy
Ontario's approach to climate change adaptation
The climate is changing with more frequent and extreme events like flooding, forest fires, ice and wind storms, dry land and warming winters. The effects of climate change increase the risks to our health and costs to homes and businesses, economy and society.
Ontario has responded. Ontario's actions to put a cap on the greenhouse gas pollution that businesses can emit, along with the carbon market, work with Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan to move Ontario toward a low carbon economy.
Yet, climate change is already affecting Ontario. As Ontario reduces greenhouse gas pollution, it must also adapt. Building on existing efforts, Ontario is taking further action to help Ontario residents adapt to a changing climate by:
- Creating a new climate change adaptation organization to help build local adaptation capacity, enhance networks and take action
- Working with climate change adaptation experts to undertake a province-wide risk assessment of climate impacts to better understand vulnerabilities and prioritize our actions
- Developing an enhanced all-of-government approach to climate change adaptation
- Sharing information on the effects of climate change to help Ontario residents better understand the current and future effects of a rapidly changing climate
These steps will help Ontario continue to build a resilient province, where our communities and businesses can thrive in the face of a changing world.
The details of the proposal for Ontario's climate change adaptation approach.
Purpose of policy
Ontario has made progress on a number of climate change adaptation actions, and this proposal outlines the next set of actions to help ensure communities and their partner organizations, governments, private businesses and individual Ontarians have the information they need to build resilience in a changing climate.
Other information
Adaptation is part of Ontario's comprehensive approach to fighting climate change, which also includes the Ontario Climate Change Strategy and the Ontario Climate Change Action Plan.
Public consultation
This proposal was posted for a 60 day public review and comment period starting November 22, 2017. Comments were to be received by January 21, 2018.
All comments received during the comment period are being considered as part of the decision-making process by the Ministry.
Please Note: All comments and submissions received have become part of the public record.
Other public consultation opportunities
We welcome your comments
We invite your thoughts and ideas on adaptation and for the kinds of services and programs that the new climate change adaptation organization could offer. Feedback will help inform the design of programs and services.
If you have any comments or questions please respond to this posting or contact us:
Email at:
OntarioAdapts@ontario.ca
Mail or walk-in comments at:
Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
Strategic Policy Branch
77 Wellesley St. West, 11th floor
Toronto, ON M7A 2T5
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
438 University Ave
15th Floor
Toronto,
ON
M7A 1N3
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from November 22, 2017
to January 21, 2018
Connect with us
Contact
Susanne Jakobsen
438 University Ave
15th Floor
Toronto,
ON
M7A 1N3
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
16By email
0By mail
0