Durham Region

The Regional Cycling Plan 2021 (RCP 2021) provides the Regional Municipality of Durham and its area municipalities with the tools and guidance necessary to support the planning, design, implementation and promotion of a connected, safe and accessible cycling network that accommodates people of all ages and abilities.

Durham’s Community Climate Adaptation Plan sets out a vision, goals and actions to help Durham Region adapt to climate change. This strategy was developed in collaboration with Durham Region, local municipalities, conservation authorities, energy utilities, and other local stakeholders.

The Durham Community Energy Plan (DCEP) accelerates the transition to a clean energy economy, while simultaneously achieving multiple economic and social benefits.

The Region does not have a formal plan but it is implementing Community EV projects via the Federal Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) – Funding for rounds 1 & 2 were approved, round 3 is pending, and round 4 is submitted.

The Durham Community Energy Plan sets a goal to reguce GHG emissions by 80% below 2007 levels by 2050. The Region is currently working to establish a new set of corporate GHG emissions reduction targets for 2025 and 2030.

Durham Greener Homes is a program of the Regional Municipality of Durham administered by Windfall Ecology Centre. It is designed to help residents save energy and money with expert home energy coaching services, loans, and rebates.

Complete Streets planning is undertaken by municipalities within the Region.

The Region and local area municipalities are required to develop corporate asset management plans and reports which include reporting on risks and climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives. Integration of climate adaptation into infrastructure design and operations occurs on a divisional basis. The Region is currently developing a Sustainable Infrastructure Design Policy and Standard in alignment with Strategic Plan goals and values, providing a tool to operationalize sustainability into Transportation, Water and Wastewater, and Waste infrastructure projects and facilities. Staff expect to present an overview of a draft policy and example standard to Council in 2025.

GDS are implemented at local level. The Region and several local area municipalities have approved new standards incorporating climate resilience into new construction. In 2023, Durham Council approved the Durham Standard – A Standard for Regional Municipality of Durham Facility Construction and Renovation Projects requiring measures for asset resiliency, circular economy, water efficiency and ecology. Town of Ajax, City of Pickering, Town of Whitby, and Municipality of Clarington have Green Development Standards approved or under development that promote cool roofs, natural heritage and urban forest, stormwater management, renewable energy, and greenspace protection.

In February 2023, Council approved Durham Region Transit’s 2023- 2032 Transit Service and Financing Strategy (Report #2023-DRT-05) which outlines an unprecedented 10-year investment in DRT services, including a 127 percent increase in revenue services, significant capital investments to implement the DRT Fleet Electrification Plan, and priorities for infrastructure, accessibility, and passenger amenities. The 2024 budget includes an increase of 59,665 revenue service hours, bringing total service to 569,876 hours of conventional service and 174,692 hours of On Demand service. In April 2023, Regional Council adopted a Light Duty Fleet Electrification Plan

Durham Region Corporate Climate Action Plan sets a goal of net zero. In addition, Durham Net Zero Standard was presented to Council in 2023.

Annual Progress Report is provided through The Atmospheric Fund Report to Durham Region Roundtable on Climate Change. In addition, The Durham Climate Dashboard is an online platform designed to monitor progress in achieving the Region’s climate targets.

Region of Durham Agricultural Strategy provides a vision and guiding principles that will be basis for identifying key actions to support the growth and viability of the agriculture and agri-food industry in Durham, over the next five years. Agriculture and Rural System Discussion Paper, Envision Durham provides an overview of Durham’s Rural Area and the current Regional Official Plan policy framework, identifies Provincial policy requirements and trends since the last ROP review, and identifies preliminary approaches and questions for discussion and feedback

The Region does not have a formal plan, but it is noted as a future action in Envision Durham - the Durham Regional Official Plan.