Item - 2019.MM10.3

City Council on October 2 and 3, 2019, adopted the following:

1.  City Council declare a climate emergency for the purpose of naming, framing, and deepening our commitment to protecting our economy, our ecosystems and our community from climate change.

2.  City Council endorse a net zero greenhouse gas emissions target that is in line with keeping global average temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius, immediately strengthening Toronto's goal of becoming net zero before 2050, and City Council request the Director, Environment and Energy to report back by the fourth quarter of 2020 on the feasibility of actions that could achieve net zero by 2040.

3.  City Council commit to:

a.  looking for opportunities to invest in and accelerate high priority emission reduction areas in TransformTO, such as building retrofits and transportation, as part of the 2020 Budget;

b.  exploring all viable and equitable financing mechanisms to adequately finance and encourage climate actions and adaptation in the 2021 Budget cycle;

c.  accelerating the implementation of TransformTO climate actions at every opportunity; and

d.  engaging job-seekers, workers, unions, academic institutions, relevant sectors, and social service agencies in the creation of a low-carbon jobs strategy that supports a decent work agenda, career pathways for equity-seeking groups, and the expansion of green industry sectors across Toronto.
 

4.  City Council direct the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to report to City Council on possible amendments to the Statement of Investments and Procedures to become a green investment city by reflecting current responsible investment best practices, excluding fossil fuels from the portfolio, and actively investing in clean energy and climate solutions.

5.  City Council direct the Director, Environment and Energy to:

a. report back in the second quarter of 2020 on:

i. the feasibility of developing a formal adaptive resource management system to assist in achieving net-zero:

ii. options for establishing an advisory committee that includes scientists, businesses, community experts, labour groups, Non-Governmental Organization experts and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to provide regular peer review on plans to achieve net-zero; and

iii. the interrelationship between city strategies and targets, as well as a critical path analysis to achieve net-zero; and

b. report annually in the second quarter on the implementation status of climate actions and progress made towards meeting interim and 2030 emission reduction targets.

 
6.  City Council direct the Director, Environment and Energy to include in the 2021-2023 TransformTO implementation plan:

a.  actions to achieve a net zero greenhouse gas emissions in line with keeping global average temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius;

b.  strategies that would accelerate timelines for existing TransformTO actions;

c.  the feasibility of establishing interim 2023 and 2027 targets and actions that put Toronto on track to meet its 2030 target, including quick-wins in the transportation and building sectors;

d.  a strategy for securing dedicated and sustained climate funding to adequately finance climate actions necessary to meet 2030 emission reduction targets;

e.  a climate lens that evaluates and considers the climate impacts of all major City of Toronto decisions, including financial decisions;

f.  a plan to measure, monitor and reduce consumption-based (lifecycle) emissions;

g.  engaging residents and stakeholders in decision-making and provide greater public accountability;

h.  a commitment to meaningfully consult and cooperate with Indigenous communities on the development and implementation of TransformTO in accordance with the City’s commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;

i.  a plan to apply the City’s Equity Lens to TransformTO decision-making in order to ensure that strategies include and benefit equity-seeking groups;

j.  a plan to collaborate with youth, including youth from equity-seeking groups, to increase youth participation in the development and implementation of TransformTO strategies;

k.  the feasibility of creating a Toronto Carbon Budget to aid in the implementation of TransformTO; 

l. integration of resilience into TransformTO, consistent with Resilience Strategy Action 4.2; and

m. recognition of the City of Toronto’s role in uptake of innovation and a plan to:

i. improve collaboration with the academic and business community in the development and implementation of TransformTO strategies; and

ii. establish leadership on resilience consistent with Resilience Strategy Action 4.5.