Government Plans
and how they can help you act
Government Leadership
Help make really great climate action possible
- Acknowledge the climate emergency, and the implications for your jurisdiction and constituency
- Develop a common, proactive vision of the future we want
- Develop transformation plans for key areas of your jurisdiction, including:
- resiliency and adaptation
- green energy
- heating and cooling
- transportation
- food
- waste
- community development
- local economic development
- industry and major emitters
- Implement regulatory, infrastructure investments, fiscal instruments, and programs to support your plan(s)
- Seek allies to help implement your plan(s)
- make climate action easy, affordable, and desirable
- review and adapt your plan regularly.
Canada's Climate Plans and Climate Sites
So how are we doing?
While most governments across Canada (from municipal to federal) have a climate plan, only a few have developed a strong public engagement and support plan, backed up by a public website.
We've looked at all the Provinces, Territories, and the federal government websites, and also at a cross-section of municipalities. This is what we have found to date..
Senior Governments
National
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Climate Plan
- The Pan Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change
- Canadian government: the Canadian government's information page on climate change.
Climate Action Sites
- n/a
Alberta
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Note: The United Conservative Party was elected on April 16, 2019. Their platform included a commitment to eliminate the carbon price and Energy Efficiency Alberta (including all the subsidies and incentives).
Climate Plan
Climate Action Sites
- Energy Efficiency Alberta: Alberta's one-stop site for energy saving incentives and rebates for homes and businesses. It doesn't get much simpler to save!
British Columbia
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Climate Plan
- B.C.'s Climate Plan: Information on the government's climate plan. See the section on Get Involved to find incentives for home and office energy conservation, community organizing, and transportation.
Climate Action Sites
- Climate Leadership: information about incentives and support or home energy and transportation solutions and community action.
- Climate Action Toolkit: A detailed website of ideas, guides, and resources available for community-based climate action.
Manitoba
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Climate Plan
Climate Action Sites
- Manitoba Hydro Power Smart: Information on conservation programs and incentives
New Brunswick
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Climate Plan
- New Brunswick Climate Change Site: New Brunswick's information site, with links to the province's climate plan
Climate Action Sites
- N/A
Newfoundland and Labrador
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Climate Plan
Climate Action Sites
- Turn Back the Tide: A great one-stop shop for Newfoundland and Labrador's climate action plan. Here, you'll find factsheets on solutions, links to incentives and resources, and interactive tools.
Northwest Territories
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Climate Plan
- Climate Change: The government's information site on climate change.
- Greenhouse Gas Strategy 2011 - 2015: The NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework is being developed to replace the Greenhouse Gas Strategy
Climate Action Sites
- N/A
Nova Scotia
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Climate Plan
- Climate Change: The government's information site on climate change, including a proposed cap and trade program.
- What Nova Scotia is Doing: Includes a link to the 2009 Climate Change Action Plan, "Toward a Greener Future.
Climate Action Sites
- N/A
Nunavut
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Climate Plan
- Nunavut Climate Change Centre: The government's information site on climate change, including a section on Voices From the Land. Information on climate plans can be found in the Publications section.
Climate Action Sites
- N/A
Ontario
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Climate Plan
- Climate Change: The Ontario government's main information page on climate change. Ontario's climate change plan can be found as a section of it's Environment Plan. Additional pages are available on key government initiatives, including:
- Cycling in Ontario
- Building Ontario (infrastructure projects)
Prince Edward Island
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Climate Plan
- Climate Change Action Plan: The government's information site on its climate change action plan.
Climate Action Sites
- N/A
Quebec
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Climate Plan
- Climate Change: The government's information site on climate change, with a page of links to reports and information on the Green Fund.
Climate Action Sites
- Fonds Vert: Information on the Province's Green Fund (French only).
Saskatchewan
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Climate Plan
- Climate Change: The government's information site on climate change.
Climate Action Sites
- N/A
Yukon
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Climate Plan
- Climate Change and Yukon: The government's information site on climate change, including a link to the Yukon Government Climate Change Action plan.
Climate Action Sites
- N/A
Municipalities
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
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Climate Plan
Partners for Climate Protection: FCM manages a federally-funded program to assist Canadian municipalities to plan for climate adaptation and mitigation. Over 300 municipalities across the country are involved, at various steps along the five milestones:
- Creating a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and forecast
- Setting an emissions reductions target
- Developing a local action plan
- Implementing the local action plan or a set of activities
- Monitoring progress and reporting results
Climate Action Sites
The PCP program recommends public engagement in the planning process:
- Milestone 3 encourages municipalities to seek public input, and
- Milestone 4 recommends setting up a community task force.
The emphasis is on public consultation as opposed to empowering individual and community action. FCM does encourage meaningful engagement, however, and a number of municipalities have developed a strong public component to their plans.
Toronto
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Climate Plan
- Transform TO integrates climate action and quality of life into a long term plan for the Toronto.
Climate Action Sites
- Live Green Toronto has great ideas on combining green living and quality of life. Be sure to sign up for the Live Green card to get discounts at participating stores and businesses.
- Toronto Atmospheric Fund: TAF has the mandate to support climate action throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Check their grants section for more information.
Vancouver
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Climate Plan
- Greenest City Action Plan: Vancouver's action plan to become one of the world's greenest cities.
Climate Action Sites
- How you can go green is a page on the Greenest City site with an overview of individual actions.
Montreal
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Climate Plan
- Stratégie de lutte aux changements climatiques: Montreal's climate mitigation and adaptation plan
Helping people act
Every government should have a web site or page dedicated to climate action -- helping Canadians act in their homes and communities.
Let's say you want to find out what incentives are available for energy conservation. Or perhaps you are looking for funding for a community project. Or you might want to know how your government is investing in transit or charging stations for electric vehicles. Whatever your interest, you should be able to access information with ease.
This is what a good information website should contain:
Priorities for climate action, including major government actions that will support individual and business action
Incentives and support for individuals and businesses, covering energy conservation, green power, transportation alternatives, and other climate solutions
Funding for community and non-governmental organizations, in particular for community action and programs to engage and support climate action
Climate campaigns and marketing tools, in particular collaborative campaigns to promote climate action and individual climate solutions
Links to other funding and programs with similar goals, including community development, nature, health, culture, and recreation.
Information on government investments in infrastructure, economic development and other measures in support of climate action
It can be done
In total, four of the fourteen senior governments have a climate action website with a mandate to engage and support climate action: British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Turn Back the Tide
A catchy title, a great design, and a website chock full of ideas and with links to incentives and support programs. Produced by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, this is what a government information site should look like.
