Guelph

Active Transportation Program is part of City of Guelph Transportation Master Plan, 2022.

Community Grants (formerly Wellbeing Grants) provide funding for not-for-profit organizations that supports operating costs, events, special programs or projects, or for small capital items that support the quality of life of Guelph residents. The Community grants are not an exclusive environment/climate change fund. Grants also exist through Our Food Future, for example, Food Access Spark Grants provides $50,000 in community grants to help address food access issues in Guelph and Wellington County.

The Climate Adaptation Plan, 2023 is primarily an internal risk planning document, staff shared the plan with different audiences throughout the duration of the project:

Guelph has committed to the United Nations Race to Zero campaign and the goal of being a net-zero carbon community by 2050. The Community Call to Climate Action report released in May 2025 shares key steps we can all take to help reach this goal.

Guelph's Race to Zero sets a target of 63% reduction by 2030 against 2018 baseline and a net zero carbon community by 2050.

In support of Race To Zero, the City plans to offer a zero-interest loan to residential property owners in Guelph to help cover the costs of residential energy efficiency upgrades.

Transportation Master Plan 2022 includes a Recommended Network drawing in Schedule 1 of the document. This map shows the overlapping priority networks (Cycling, transit, potential resiliency widening etc.) of the recommended road network for Guelph. Schedule 2 in the document depicts the pedestrian priority network for areas of the enhanced pedestrian realm. These specific streets can be considered “prioritized” for Complete Streets.

At present the City of Guelph does not have EV Ready Requirements for new developments.

The City of Guelph’s Corporate Fleet Electrification plans (internal), highlighted in the 2026 Corporate Climate Action Plan, focus on reducing municipal emissions by transitioning to electric buses and light-duty vehicles to meet net-zero goals by 2050.

The City of Guelph’s Corporate Climate Action Plan (released early 2026) outlines a roadmap to achieve 100% renewable energy and net-zero corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The plan focuses on cutting corporate emissions by over 10,000 tonnes by 2035 through building retrofits, electrifying the municipal fleet, and upgrading energy systems

The City of Guelph is committed to annual performance reporting to City Council and the community to ensure accountability. The latest one on Environmental Sustainability Report is from 2024.

Guelph is a premier Canadian hub for agri-innovation, combining top-tier research, over 150 industry organizations, and a focus on circular food economies. The city, in collaboration with the University of Guelph, focuses on agri-food sustainability, technology, and economic growth through initiatives like "Our Food Future," aiming for a sustainable, localized food system.

The Urban Forestry Management Plan (UFMP plan was developed in 2012 and provides strategic guidance for managing Guelph’s urban forest until 2032. Every five years, there is an evaluation of progress and update on policies and practices. The most recent update on UFMP implementation was provided on August 2020. The canopy target is 40%, as per UFMP. The 2019 Guelph Urban Forest Study Report provides technical details related to tree canopy variations across different land types (e.g., vacant, industrial, private, public, etc.) and at the neighbourhood level. This report helps inform the implementation of the next phase of UFMP.