• Sustainable Stouffville has introduced a Climate Readiness Pledge asking municipal candidates to commit to seven local action areas.
  • Priorities include climate-resilient infrastructure, community and disaster preparedness, local food webs, and a more circular economy.
  • Candidates who sign would commit, if elected, to supporting Council action focused on those priorities, including resource commitments.
  • Stouffville has a “lower level of commitment to climate change adaptation and mitigation” compared to other York Region municipalities, the group says.
  • Analysis from TRCA suggests York Region is projected to become warmer, wetter, and subject to more intense extreme weather through 2100.

 

Sustainable Stouffville is calling on candidates to not just acknowledge the impacts of a changing climate, but assure voters that Council action during the next term will strengthen Stouffville’s response.

The local volunteer organization has introduced its Climate Readiness Pledge, outlining seven areas the municipality must address as York Region prepares for increasingly extreme weather. Candidates who endorse the pledge agree that, if elected, they will move or support a Council motion assigning Town Staff and financial resources to advance the initiatives.

The pledge comes after updated climate projections presented to York Region’s Agriculture and Agri-Food Advisory Committee in January point to a future expected to be warmer, wetter, and subject to more intense extreme weather.

Analysis from Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) foresees more frequent and intense heat events, increased annual precipitation, and heavier one-day rainfall in the area.

Public health, local infrastructure, agricultural operations, natural areas, and essential services could all face consequential impacts, and if the community wants to be prepared, Sustainable Stouffville says the municipality has work to do.

The organization’s assessment of climate adaptation and mitigation efforts across York Region places Stouffville in its lowest “Emerging” category, suggesting the town has more limited climate-related programs and plans in place compared to its neighbours. Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Newmarket, and Aurora are categorized as “Advanced,” while King, East Gwillimbury, and Georgina are categorized as “Developing.”

The pledge is intended to address that gap. Priorities include engaging residents and businesses on climate preparedness, building community capacity to respond to extreme weather events, and incorporating climate risk into municipal planning, budgeting, and asset management.

The pledge also asks candidates to support property adaptation measures, protecting and enhancing natural areas, growing resilient local businesses and supply chains, and expanding opportunities for locally grown food.

According to TRCA projections to 2100, annual precipitation is expected to increase by 10 to 15 percent. Over the same period, temperatures could increase by 4 C to 6 C, while the median number of annual frost dates could decline by 42 to 72 days.

Extreme heat could also affect York Region municipalities for as much as two additional months each year, with added poor air quality days due to wildfire smoke a real possibility.

The growing season may extend by a median of 36 to 65 days, depending on the projection under consideration. However, while potentially supporting local growers and increasing harvests, the extended warmer weather could also bring greater pest and disease pressures.

TRCA identifies a range of resulting impacts, including additional flooding and erosion, increased damage to public and private property, disruption to infrastructure and services such as hydro, and rising operating and asset management costs.

As the Region works to adapt to climate change alongside broader efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, TRCA research scientist Sharon Lam explained that opportunities may also arise.

“We can shift and create opportunities for growth and for sustainability in ways that can enable nature and people to thrive together,” she said during her January presentation to the Advisory Committee.

“Across the region, we can see many examples of adaptation and mitigation being done together at various levels, from local to regional scales,” Lam added.

Intended to give residents a way to identify which candidates have made a specific climate-readiness commitment during the campaign, Sustainable Stouffville’s pledge signatories will be recognized by the organization.

 

Cover image taken by Markus Spiske