Environment

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, driven largely by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and unsustainable land use. These actions contribute to long-term shifts in temperatures, weather patterns, and ecosystems, leading to more frequent and intense natural disasters, rising sea levels, and biodiversity loss. Taking environmental action is essential not only to protect the planet but also to safeguard human health, food security, and economic stability.

Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change at the City of Windsor

The Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Office is responsible for spearheading the different environmentally focused plans of the City of Windsor. The plans the office is responsible for are as follows:

• Environmental Master Plan
• Community Energy Plan
• Corporate Climate Action Plan
• Climate Change Adaptation Plan

Although the Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Office has four core plans, it has provided input on a number of other municipal initiatives and plans. This helps indicate that the environment is embedded throughout the City of Windsor. Many of these other plans involve the public, reinforcing that environmental stewardship is a shared responsibility between the City of Windsor and its residents.

The Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Office also conducts regular in-person and online engagements to ensure the community’s knowledge and awareness of different environmental topics. The office is also responsible in part for the development and support of the community garden program in Windsor. The Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Office aims to promote environmentally responsible behaviours for both the City of Windsor and the Windsor community.

Climate Change Emergency Declaration

On Monday, November 18, 2019, City Council unanimously agreed to declare a climate change emergency in Windsor. The City of Windsor joined over 400 communities across Canada with its declaration. The Climate Change Emergency Declaration is a great step forward as we continue to prepare for Windsor-Essex's climate future. 

In response to the Climate Change Emergency Declaration, administration prepared a report titled Acceleration of Climate Change Actions in response to the Climate Change Emergency Declaration. Council approved this report on May 4, 2020.