Climate Change Action

The Climate Change Action service advances climate action in Collingwood through corporate and community milestones that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resiliance to climate change impacts.

Community Climate Change Action Plan

The Sustainable Collingwood Plan is the Town’s roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preparing for climate change impacts, and building a healthier, more resilient community. The Plan supports Council’s 2019 climate crisis declaration and aligns climate action with community priorities such as affordability, infrastructure planning, environmental stewardship, economic resilience, and quality of life.

Climate change is already affecting Collingwood through warmer temperatures, more frequent heatwaves, increased rainfall and storms, and shorter winters. These changes create challenges for infrastructure, public health, natural ecosystems, and municipal finances. Taking action now will help reduce future costs, protect community assets, and improve long-term well-being.

The Plan sets a community-wide target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% below 2019 levels by 2040. It is informed by local data, community input, and collaboration with residents, businesses, organizations, and regional partners. Community engagement highlighted strong support for practical climate actions that provide local benefits, including lower energy costs, healthier neighbourhoods, improved transportation options, environmental protection, and a stronger local economy.

To achieve these goals, the Plan focuses on four strategic areas:

  • Retrofit and Reimagine Our Buildings
  • Sustainable Transportation
  • Resilient Natural and Infrastructure Systems
  • Climate-Ready Local Economy and Community Culture

These priorities are supported by ongoing climate education and community capacity-building initiatives to encourage shared responsibility and participation across the community.

By working together, Collingwood can reduce emissions, strengthen resilience to climate impacts, protect the natural and built assets that define the community, and create a more sustainable, connected, and prosperous future for current and future generations. Read the full plan by clicking the button below. 

Sustainable Collingwood Plan

A wave crashing against rocks in the foreground and the Collingwood Grain Terminals in the distance.

Greener Collingwood Corporate Climate Change Action Plan

The Town of Collingwood recognizes that it plays a role in maintaining a healthy environment and a sustainable future. Collingwood Council unanimously declared a Climate Crisis in October 2019 to demonstrate the Town’s commitment to protecting the community, economy, and ecosystems from the effects of climate change. 

Climatic changes can result in a variety of unintended consequences based on location. In Collingwood, risks could include, but are not limited to, human health concerns, social equity risks, biodiversity loss, increased presence of invasive species, reduced water quality, increased natural disasters, economic challenges, and infrastructure damage. 

In response to Collingwood’s Climate Crisis declaration, the Town joined The Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program, which outlines a five milestone framework to guide municipalities through acknowledging and reducing emissions produced from corporate operations and community sources.

To date, the Town of Collingwood has achieved recognition for Corporate Milestones 1 through 3 and Community Milestone 1.

  • Corporate Milestone 1 illustrated that in 2019, the Town of Collingwood produced approximately 3,370 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) from corporate operations. The Greener Collingwood Corporate Climate Change Action Plan serves as the framework for the Town to reduce corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has satisfied Milestone 2 and 3 of the PCP program.
  • Community Milestone 1 illustrated that in 2019 community emissions were estimated to be 207,218 tCO2e.

The Greener Collingwood Corporate Climate Change Action Plan aims to achieve the following 3 goals to address the Town’s corporate responsibility and dedication to mitigating climate change:

  • Integrate climate change and sustainability into the Town of Collingwood's corporate culture,
  • reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 30% below 2019 levels by 2030, and 
  • become a corporate and municipal leader in sustainability initiatives and greenhouse gas reduction measures in the region.

The Corporate Climate Action Plan is divided into 5 categories with 19 actions to help integrate climate change considerations into decision-making.

Five icons action plan categories: Buildings & Facilities, Transportation & Fleet, Solid Waste, Environment & Biodiversity, Behaviour & Climate Change

Read the full plan here: Greener Collingwood Corporate Climate Change Action Plan (PDF)

Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) Program

The Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) Program is a national network of over 500 municipalities with the shared goal of acting against climate change and reducing local greenhouse gas (GHH) emissions. The PCP program provides a five-milestone framework, to guide municipalities through the creation, implementation, and monitoring of local climate action to acheive corporate and community GHG reduction targets.

Five Partners for Climate Protection milestones, 1 creating and inventory, 2 setting a target, 3 developing a plan, 4 implementing a plan, 5 monitoring the impact

Tree Canopy and Urban Forest

The Town of Collingwood values the urban forest and its contribution to the liveability of our community. In addition to the environmental, social, aesthetic and economic benefits of the urban forest, the Town recognizes the importance trees have on health, quality of life, tourism, recreation and green infrastructure. The Town is committed to sustainable management of the urban forest as well as supporting community action and stewardship to maintain, renew and enhance this natural resource for future generations.

Explore the Full Urban Forest Management Plan (PDF)

Enhanced Urban Stream Health Monitoring in partnership with the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority

Collingwood is traversed by four major watercourses:

  • Silver Creek
  • Black Ash Creek
  • Pretty River
  • Batteaux River

These beautiful and valuable natural resources provide recreation for local residents and provides habitat for wildlife. Healthy rivers keep our harbour clean, helps build local economies and helps boost tourism in Collingwood. Our rivers are also essential green infrastructure for containing rain and snowmelt, diluting sewage effluent, and they also offer flood protection to the urban areas of our town.

Learn more about Collingwood Stream Health.

Corporate Initiatives

The Town of Collingwood recognizes many internal corporate efforts toward environmental sustainability and is taking action on new corporate initiatives like recycling, composting, and reducing single use plastics. To leverage these efforts and encourage expansion of actions and understanding, an internal corproate "Greener Collingwood" group has been formed to implement consistent and sustainable practices across the corporation.