Ontario Construction News staff writer
WHITBY – Durham Region has received $140,000 in federal funding to update its Community Climate Adaptation Plan, as municipalities across Ontario face more frequent extreme weather and climate-related disruptions.
The funding, announced Dec. 9, comes from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund through its Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation program. It will be used to support a 10-year update to the Durham Community Climate Adaptation Plan, which was last approved by regional council in 2016.
Regional staff say the plan requires updating as climate impacts intensify across Durham, including heavier rainfall and flooding, ice storms, heat waves and increased exposure to wildfire smoke. These events have led to rising infrastructure repair costs, service interruptions and health risks for residents.
As part of the update, the region will review existing adaptation actions, analyze updated climate projections and consult with municipal partners, stakeholders and residents to identify gaps and emerging risks.
Regional Chair and CEO John Henry said the funding will help the municipality better understand how severe weather affects regional services and infrastructure, and inform decisions aimed at reducing long-term risks.
The updated plan is also expected to include a stronger focus on equity, with consideration given to how climate impacts affect residents differently. Areas such as access to cooling centres, transit and emergency communications will be reviewed through a climate-risk lens.
According to Durham Region, climate adaptation planning helps municipalities identify vulnerabilities and coordinate responses across departments and with external partners. The revised plan is intended to better integrate climate resilience into long-term planning and day-to-day operations.
Regional officials say the work comes as extreme heat, severe storms, freezing rain events and power outages become more common across the region.
More information on the Community Climate Adaptation Plan update is available at durham.ca/AdaptationPlan.
