The first month of 2025 is coming to an end. During this time, Los Angeles burned, showing that nobody, not even the rich and famous, are immune to losing their home to the climate crisis.
Around 200,000 people faced evacuation orders. Total economic losses are estimated to surpass $200 billion. As always, those with the least resources suffer most.
All during January 2024 data was compiled and released. The year 2024 was confirmed as the hottest year on record, sending our planet past 1.5 C of heating for the first time. Passing 1.5 C of warming “poses large risks for natural and human systems” (IPCC).
The year shattered records as Canada's most expensive year for weather disasters, with extreme events affecting millions of lives.
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, 2024 also shattered the record for the costliest year for severe weather-related losses in Canadian history at $8.5 billion. This is “nearly triple the total insured losses recorded in 2023 and 12 times the annual average of $701 million in the decade between 2001 and 2010”.
Have you noticed your home insurance premiums going up? The Insurance Bureau of Canada warns rates will continue to rise, and more and more homes will be uninsurable, as losses from the climate crisis skyrocket.
In a surreal juxtaposition, while the inescapable images and data of a rising climate crisis filled our January news, U.S. President Trump used his first day in office to trumpet “drill, baby, drill” and pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement (the global agreement to limit global warming).
Large banks pulled back from climate commitments. Canada and Ontario prepared for elections, and major players hastened to back away from carbon fee and dividend, despite the evidence that carbon pricing is effective in reducing emissions, 80 per cent of Canadian households get back more than they pay (with lower income households benefitting most), and Canadians are almost evenly split in seeing it as good or bad policy.
The news is not all bad. For example, other countries and 24 U.S. states have been quick to reaffirm their commitment to the Paris agreement, and the uptake for renewable energy continues to grow. However, it is no small wonder that many people are feeling overwhelmed by the dumpster fire of world news filled with climate disasters, loss of human rights, conflict, and threats to democracy.
What we do locally matters more than ever. There is so much we can do in our own community to cut fossil fuel pollution, and to protect our families, neighbourhoods, and land from growing climate impacts.
Yes, our local actions matter. Canada is one of the top 12 fossil fuel polluters in the world. Cities are responsible for ~70 per cent of global emissions. Cities influence some of Canada’s biggest emission sources: transportation, buildings, and waste. Every effort to cut fossil fuel pollution matters, because every point of a degree warming avoided means less severe impacts.
Here in Greater Sudbury, our biggest sources of fossil fuel pollution (in order) are private vehicles, industry, and heating buildings. When we improve options for walking, biking, and bussing to cut emissions, we also make it easier for all community members to get to where they need to go, and access opportunities. When buildings are retrofit to be more energy efficient, we also make housing more affordable by addressing heating costs and energy poverty.
What we do in our community makes a difference right here where we live, for our families, neighbourhoods and the land we love. We can take action here that influences our own local microclimate, and that protects us from the risks of the climate crisis. We can see that all around us with the success of our regreening efforts. In one specific example, the Junction Creek Subwatershed Study showed how regreening has protected neighbourhoods from flooding during heavy rains.
Installing rain gardens in neighbourhoods is a simple way to decrease flooding risks. Planting trees and replacing hard surfaces with planted areas cuts extreme temperatures whether at the level of a single park, a neighbourhood or a region. For example, a recent Ontario study shows how increased greenery results in lower ambient temperature, less discomfort from humidex values, and less energy use for cooling buildings.
These are just two examples of simple projects residents, neighbourhoods, and towns can do to meaningfully reduce the risks from extreme rainfall and extreme heat. What’s another simple step you may not have associated with the climate crisis? Connecting with and caring for your neighbours increases the climate resilience of your family and community.
So where are we at when it comes to acting local on climate change?
In December 2024, staff presented Greater Sudbury’s 2023 Climate Action Report, showing we are not yet on track to meet our commitments on climate action. It shared good actions taken by the city, but reported no reduction in fossil fuel emissions, and no action plan to meet 2030 goals and milestones. Greater Sudbury's Community Energy and Emissions Plan lays out a path to cut fossil fuel emissions in half by 2030, and to net zero by 2050, but most of the 'near term goals' to be completed by 2025 are not yet done.
After the presentation of the Climate Action Report, a motion (CC2024-294) by Mayor Paul Lefebvre, supported unanimously by council, set out some specific steps forward for energy efficiency for homes and city-owned facilities, electric and low-carbon vehicles for residents and the city fleet, and renewable energy. These steps will support our city in reducing emissions and achieving cost savings.
A city leadership re-organization announced this month also raises hopes for more support for local climate action. Environmental sustainability gets two new mentions in the titles for senior staff: general manager of growth, development and environmental sustainability; and director of planning and environmental sustainability.
However, the re-organization does not yet include senior leadership for climate change in our city.
The 2025 municipal budget also included approval for more transit hours, and Greater Sudbury’s new Sustainable Waste Strategy and other waste diversion, part of the commitment to achieve net zero fossil fuel emissions by 2050.
This is a significant year for Greater Sudbury’s Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP), our community’s plan to cut fossil fuel emissions. “Near term” goals from the CEEP’s implementation framework are meant to be completed by 2025.
A few are well underway, like policy support for compact communities, and increased regreening efforts. Most have not yet been done. The mayor’s motion has kickstarted some, such as assessing properties for solar energy, transitioning the city’s vehicles to electric, adding EV charging stations, retrofitting city buildings, and providing guidance for homeowners to do energy retrofits. Others are not being done at all, like developing a local green building standard, establishing a renewable energy co-op to support local clean energy production, or providing leadership and coordination for actions by the wider community.
Protecting our families, homes, neighbourhoods, water, and natural spaces from growing climate impacts is just as urgent as reducing emissions.
Greater Sudbury’s Community Climate Adaptation Plan addresses this aspect of acting on climate. However, near-term goals and implementation plans have yet to be set. We should not wait: preventing impacts rather than reacting to disasters is always the best course. We will all benefit, and those most vulnerable will benefit most. As reported by the Canadian Climate Institute, proactive adaptation can “dramatically cut costs, protect households and secure a more affordable and prosperous future.”
Our city has a climate plan that will cut heating bills, improve food security, add safe bike routes and EV chargers, improve bus service, protect our neighbourhoods, protect our land and water, provide emergency shelters and housing supports, and connect community. Our city has a plan to reduce pollution and protect our homes and families, but action is falling short.
There are many things each of us can do to act on the climate crisis. One of those things is to talk to your representatives. Contact your mayor and councillor not just for immediate inconveniences like potholes and missed garbage pick ups, but for fundamental needs like a safe climate, and protecting our community from climate impacts. Then connect with your neighbours and community groups and act together for a better community for all of us.
Read our updated status review of CEEP goals and “primary actions,” and review of 2030 targets and milestones, and “near-term” goals from the “CEEP Implementation Framework.”
Naomi Grant is the chair of the Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury