Toronto

ActiveTO is a suite of programs – Major Road Closures, Cycling Network Expansion and Quiet Streets – that contribute to the health and well-being of Toronto residents by providing the space to be physically active. The City also has a Cycling Network Plan, 2021, that consists of three components: a Long-Term Cycling Network Vision, the Major City-Wide Cycling Routes, and a three-year rolling Near-Term Implementation Program.

1) The Climate Action Fund supports community-led projects, activities and events that directly or indirectly (education/outreach) reduce the harmful emissions that contribute to climate change. 2) The Community Investment Funding provides short-term funding for not-for-profit, grassroots and resident-led groups to design and lead community-based projects that provide social services and encourage resident engagement and leadership development. 3) The Green Debenture Program leverages the City’s low cost of borrowing to finance capital projects that contribute to environmental sustainability.

First Toronto Resilience Strategy, 2019 is a corporate and community strategy.

TransformTO Net Zero Strategy triggers new and accelerated implementation actions to drive down community-wide emissions, particularly in the short term, and establishes the trajectory needed to reach net zero by 2040.

Toronto’s first Electric Vehicle (EV) Strategy, approved by City Council in January 2020, identifies actions that the City can pursue to support the transition to electric light-duty vehicles (cars, vans, trucks and SUVs for personal and shared use). Toronto City Council considered an update on Electric Vehicle Strategy Implementation at their July 19, 2022 meeting.

TransformTO Net Zero Strategy set a goal for the City to reduce community GHG emissions by 30 % by 2020; 45 % by 2025; 65 % by 2030; and net zero by 2040 (below 1990 levels).

1) Energy Retrofit Loans For Buildings - Through its Energy Retrofit Loan program, the City of Toronto provides low-interest financing for building retrofits that reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. 2) Home Energy Loan Program, also known as BetterHomesTo is a residential program. The City of Toronto offers financing of up to $75,000 to cover the cost of home energy efficiency improvements through its Home Energy Loan Program (HELP). 3) SolarTO - Through this portal, the City provides information and resources to help Toronto residents and businesses assess the rooftop solar potential of their properties and proceed through the steps to installation.

Toronto's Complete Streets Guidelines provides a new approach for how the city designs its streets. Complete Streets build on many of the City’s existing policies, guidelines and recent successful street design and construction projects. The Complete Streets Guidelines provide an expanded toolbox of ways to improve Toronto’s streets.

First, Toronto Resilience Strategy, 2019 is a corporate and community strategy.

City of Toronto has adopted EV Ready Requirements as part of their Zoning Bylaw and the TGS version 4 requiring all residential parking spaces provided for dwelling units located in an apartment building, mixed-use building, and multiple dwelling unit building, but excluding visitor parking, must include an energized outlet capable of providing Level 2 charging or higher to the parking space.

The Toronto Green Standard (TGS) V4 was adopted by Council in 2021. The Standard consists of performance tiers, with Tier 1 being mandatory and applied through the planning approval process. The Development Charge Refund Program offers financial incentives for eligible and verified Tier 2 and 3 performance, low emissions projects. Embodied carbon is incorporated in the TGS in the voluntary tiers and is applied to City of Toronto corporate green standards for their own buildings and aims for a minimum of 20% embodied carbon reduction, compared with a baseline building.

Toronto's Green Roof Bylaw sets out a graduated green roof requirement for new development or additions that are greater than 2,000 m² in gross floor area. The requirement ranges from 20-60% of the available roof space of a building.

Sustainable City of Toronto Fleets Plan, 2023 provides an update to the Sustainable City of Toronto Fleets Plan (The Plan) goal and objectives in addressing climate mitigation and adaptation with strategies for transitioning City Fleets to sustainable, climate resilient, net zero operations. It also provides a progress report on City Fleets' prior and current strategies and initiatives, changes in environmental circumstances, and external drivers and barriers.

Toronto Green Standard Tier 3 target applies to internal City of Toronto buildings/new construction, replacing the previous LEED standard for the City of Toronto.

The 2022 Annual Update report outlines the Toronto’s progress in implementing the TransformTO Strategy’s Short-term Implementation Plan (2022 to 2025) and provides an update on the five critical steps the City is taking to steer community-wide emissions towards net zero

The Toronto Food Strategy aligns with the growing international, national and regional food movements and the increasing recognition of the important role of cities in promoting healthy sustainable food systems.

Toronto’s Strategic Forest Management Plan provides the direction necessary to achieve a healthy, sustainable urban forest. It includes the following six strategic goals: Increase canopy cover Achieve equitable distribution Increase biodiversity Increase awareness Promote stewardship Improve monitoring