Whitby

The Town of Whitby's Active Transportation Plan (ATP) provides guidance to encourage people to use transit, walk and cycle more often and to make our community more connected and accessible, and safer for everyone.

The Climate Emergency Response Plan includes corporate actions for the Town, as well as community actions for Whitby service providers, businesses and residents to help reduce and prevent the risks of climate change. The Plan clearly outlines the resources and the timing required to implement each of the actions.

The Climate Emergency Response Plan: Phase 2: Mitigation was endorsed by Council at the Regular Council Meeting on Monday, December 18, 2023. The Plan focuses on climate mitigation and identifies the sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Whitby and provides guidance and recommendations to reach the Town’s community GHG emissions reduction target of net-zero by 2045. The Town of Whitby will work with the community to commence the actions outlined in the Implementation Plan which actively guides the Plan’s progress from 2024 to 2030.

The Town of Whitby publishes annual sustainability reports.

The Zero Carbon Costing Study sets a goal for the Town to reduce community GHG emissions by 20% by 2025, 40% by 2030, and 100% 2045 (below 2020 levels).

The Town has partnered with the Region of Durham for the Durham Greener Homes Program - a regionwide community retrofits program.

The Downtown Whitby Pedestrian Action Plan was prepared as a standalone document to support a Complete Streets approach to Whitby’s downtown heritage neighbourhoods and surrounding areas. It has been incorporated into the broader Active Transportation Plan (ATP) as it shares many of the same objectives, principles and recommendations. It is also set to support future improvements and recommendations for Downtown Brooklin. In Table 10.7, recommendation 7 from the ATP: Prepare a Complete Streets plan for Dundas Street between Henry Street and Hickory Street and Recommendation 8a. from the ATP: Develop Complete Street policy and related guidelines specific to Downtown Whitby

The Climate Emergency Response Plan includes corporate actions for the Town, as well as community actions for Whitby service providers, businesses and residents to help reduce and prevent the risks of climate change. The Plan clearly outlines the resources and the timing required to implement each of the actions.

There are EV Ready Requirements in Tier 2 Core Performance. For example, at least 20% of parking spaces are equipped with electric vehicle charging stations.

The Whitby Green Standard (WGS), Version 1 has been in place since September 2020. In 2024, the Town is working to update the WGS to Version 2 with a tentative schedule to go to Council in Q1 of 2025. The WGS is a tiered program approach. Tier 1 is mandatory and required through the planning approval process. Tiers 2 to 4 are higher level voluntary standards that could eventually be tied to financial and non-financial incentives. The Town is currently updating their Green Standard to version 2. Additionally, the Town is looking into developing an incentive program in partnership with the Durham Region, the City of Pickering and the Town of Ajax.

Whitby Green Standard has a Section LUN1.8 Biodiverse Green Roofs for Pollinators which states: “Using at least 50% plant species native to southeast Ontario, restore predevelopment native ecological communities, water bodies, or wetlands on the project site in an area equal to or greater than 15% of the development footprint.”

The Whitby's Costing Study identifies Zero Carbon Modelling for fleet which reflects a gradual conversion of all gasoline and diesel vehicle and equipment assets to fully electric models. This approach is reflected in Whitby's Fleet Master Plan which is currently underway development and will be presented to Council for their endorsement.

Whitby’s allotted portion of the global carbon budget was determined as 62.6 kilotonnes from 2021 to 2045. Zero Carbon Whitby embeds short, medium, and long-term targets to remain within this budget. The Zero Carbon Costing Study was endorsed by Council in 2022. The Costing Study identifies all new builds to be net zero ready which aligns with the goals of Whitby Green Standard. For existing buildings a transition plan and associated costs have been identified in the study to achieve net zero.

An Urban Forest Management Plan is currently under development.