International organization gives Burlington solid grade on its Climate Action Plan

The City of Burlington’s efforts to address climate change have received a positive grade from an international organization.

The Climate Disclosure Project (CDP) gave a grade of ‘B’ to the climate action efforts from the City’s Climate Action Plan.

This is the first time Burlington has received a grade from the non-profit charity which provides a global disclosure climate action reporting platform for businesses and all levels of government

The Climate Action Plan is a community emissions inventory and carbon reduction target. CDP awarded the grade for the City’s reporting, recognizing its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change.

“It’s important for the City of Burlington to show leadership by taking action on climate change by reducing our carbon footprint as well as developing a plan to adapt to the impacts of climate change,” said Mayor Marianne Meed Ward.

“It’s also important that we join other cities around the world by reporting through the Climate Disclosure Project to share data and the progress on our climate action commitments and hope that encourages other communities to sign on.”

Videos

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Reporting through the CDP platform helps the City to meet its reporting requirements for the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM), the largest global alliance for city climate leadership across the globe.

Burlington joined GCoM in 2020 and was one of 25 Canadian municipalities to participate in Showcase Cities, a program hosted by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Partners for Climate Protection program and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. The program was designed to support municipalities in their actions to meet the requirements of GCoM.

“By 2050, 70 per cent of the world’s population will live in cities, meaning their role in curbing climate change cannot be overstated,” said Katie Walsh, Head of Cities, States and Regions, CDP North America.

“As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, city governments must protect their communities. Transparency around environmental impact is an important first step. It is heartening to see the City of Burlington disclosing their climate impact and risks to ensure a resilient, equitable and just future for individuals and businesses in their community.”

For more information on the City’s climate change efforts, visit the city website or the CDP website.