Markham

Markham's Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP) is a long-term strategic plan to improve walking, cycling, and other modes of active transportation for everyone. The ATMP identifies actions that will be undertaken to advance a well-connected and safe active transportation network.

The Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund is a municipal program that provides funding for innovative environmental initiatives that contribute to the sustainability, health and protection of Markham’s natural environment. The fund provides financial support for projects within Markham that deliver demonstrable, widespread environmental benefits to the Markham community. The Sustainable Neighbourhood Small Grant supports resident-led sustainability projects within the City of Markham that promote education, understanding and participation in environmental sustainability.

The City of Markham’s Municipal Energy Plan (MEP) – Getting to Zero is a comprehensive long-term city-wide energy plan with the objective to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The goal of the Municipal Energy Plan is to improve energy efficiency, reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to achieve net zero as outlined in the Greenprint, Markham’s Community Sustainability Plan.

Markham Centre’s Community Energy Plan, 2023 will guide energy-related decisions for both buildings and transportation and align new development with Markham’s goal for net-zero emissions by 2050.

Corporate and Community EV Policy and Strategy is under developing and expected to be completed in 2025.

The City of Markham has committed to net zero emissions by 2050.

The City of Markham and the City of Richmond Hill are partnering to conduct a feasibility study on the potential to implement a local financing program for home energy retrofits.

The updated Sustainability Metrics Program (SMP) was approved by council in May 2022. The SMP has threshold scores and minimum performance levels that are aligned with partner municipalities: Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and Brampton. The Program uses a point-based system in which a development proposal earns points for achieving criteria (metrics) organized around the categories of built environment, mobility, natural environment and parks, infrastructure and buildings, and innovation. Points earned through these criteria go towards the minimum sustainability score that development proposals are required to achieve. The threshold levels are Bronze, Silver, and Gold. All new development is required to meet the minimum Bronze level performance level. A minimum sustainability score of 55 replaces the LEED Sliver requirement for medium and high-density residential and mixed-use developments endorsed by Council in 2008.

A green/cool roof metric is incorporated in the Sustainability Metrics Program.

Markham is presently working on a Low-Carbon Municipal Fleet Strategy to replace the City’s fossil-fuel based fleet vehicles with best-value zero emission vehicles (ZEVs), including the infrastructure and governance requirements to support the transition​. The Strategy received 50% funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). Markham is planning to bring the Strategy to Council in 2025.

The City of Markham’s Municipal Energy Plan (MEP) – Getting to Zero is a comprehensive long-term city-wide energy plan with the objective of net zero emissions by 2050. 4 facility near net-zero emission pilot projects are underway at 3 community centres and 1 fire station. The intent is to pilot innovative low-carbon solutions that can be scaled up and replicated across similar facilities.

Markham has submitted a capital budget request to develop an Urban Agriculture Strategy and Policy.

Markham, in collaboration with TRCA and York Region, completed the Markham Urban Forest Study which provides recommendations to further the City-wide urban forest cover. As part of those recommendations, Markham has begun to develop a 20-year strategic Urban Forest Management Plan, which will develop goals for the urbanized area of Markham and the protection, maintenance, and growth of the urban forest canopy including the soil and soil volume.