Climate Resiliency Strategy

Ottawa’s climate is changing. Overall Ottawa will become much warmer and wetter over the coming decades, with more extreme heat days, heavy rain and extreme weather events like severe winds, floods or winter storms. The City is developing a Climate Resiliency Strategy to guide how Ottawa can prepare for and respond to the anticipated impacts of changing climate conditions.
The Climate Resiliency Strategy is one of eight priorities of the Climate Change Master Plan.
Taking action on climate change requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also ensuring Ottawa is prepared for the impacts of a changing climate. Energy Evolution is the City’s strategy to reach zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Climate Resiliency Strategy focuses on getting Ottawa ready for a changing climate. Learn more about Energy Evolution and what you can do to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.
What will Ottawa’s climate look like in the future and what are the risks?
Overall Ottawa will become much warmer over the coming decades, with more heavy rain and more extreme weather events. Find out more about how we expect Ottawa’s climate to change and the impacts this will have:
Get involved and have your say
To develop a strategy that values the perspectives and unique circumstances residents of Ottawa have, we need your input. You can get involved in the following ways:
- Share your ideas for how we can all prepare for the impacts of climate change
- Host your own climate conversation. Email us at climatechange@ottawa.ca to get resources to support you.
Subscribe to the climate change e-newsletter to receive updates on the Climate Resiliency Strategy and other climate change initiatives.
Ottawa’s climate is changing. Overall Ottawa will become much warmer and wetter over the coming decades, with more extreme heat days, heavy rain and extreme weather events like severe winds, floods or winter storms. The City is developing a Climate Resiliency Strategy to guide how Ottawa can prepare for and respond to the anticipated impacts of changing climate conditions.
The Climate Resiliency Strategy is one of eight priorities of the Climate Change Master Plan.
Taking action on climate change requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also ensuring Ottawa is prepared for the impacts of a changing climate. Energy Evolution is the City’s strategy to reach zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Climate Resiliency Strategy focuses on getting Ottawa ready for a changing climate. Learn more about Energy Evolution and what you can do to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.
What will Ottawa’s climate look like in the future and what are the risks?
Overall Ottawa will become much warmer over the coming decades, with more heavy rain and more extreme weather events. Find out more about how we expect Ottawa’s climate to change and the impacts this will have:
Get involved and have your say
To develop a strategy that values the perspectives and unique circumstances residents of Ottawa have, we need your input. You can get involved in the following ways:
- Share your ideas for how we can all prepare for the impacts of climate change
- Host your own climate conversation. Email us at climatechange@ottawa.ca to get resources to support you.
Subscribe to the climate change e-newsletter to receive updates on the Climate Resiliency Strategy and other climate change initiatives.
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The average temperatures of all seasons in Ottawa are increasing. This means the seasonal conditions we have become familiar with are already looking different due to climate change. Shorter winters and longer summers might be perceived as a good thing, but this can have detrimental impacts on human health, our natural environment, City infrastructure, and recreational and tourism activities. Seasonal variability can stress trees and other natural and agricultural areas and create better conditions for invasive species and insects that carry diseases like Lyme disease and West Nile virus. More icy winter conditions can affect our ability to move around the City – whether on foot, by transit, or by cars - and warmer winters impact recreation and tourism like skating on the Rideau Canal. The City’s Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment looks in detail at the way Ottawa is currently and will be impacted by these changes in climate conditions.
Learn more about what to expect in the future Ottawa in 2050: Changing Seasons, what the City is already doing to adapt to climate change, and what you can do to prepare.
Preparing for changing seasons will require everyone to take action to protect ourselves and our environment.
What are some other ways we as a City and you as an individual, business, or community can build our resilience to changing seasons?
Note if you want to share links to resources in your idea posts, add them as a comment to your post to avoid it being marked as spam.
We will remove any posts that are rude, disrespectful or share disinformation about the reality of climate change.
Mike S7 months agoUpdate/create/advocate for business continuity plans for essential services during extreme weather events.
0 comment0Climate Resiliency Team8 months agoOutreach and education on more effective salt application
Raise awareness on the harmful effects of salt and ways to reduce salt use, including with commercial and multi-residential properties
0 comment6estev17 months agoRequire or incentivize net zero buildings
Ideally require all new buildings to be net zero or offer incentives (e.g. tax rebate)
0 comment7Mike S7 months agoDevelop indicators to measure adaption progress over time and tie relevant management staff’s compensation to successful implementation.
0 comment0Mike S7 months agoEnsure infrastructure planning follows up to date flood maps
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Extreme heat: What can you, your community, and/or your City do to prepare?
about 2 months agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.Click on “Add your idea” below to share your ideas with us!
Ottawa’s climate is already getting warmer. The number of days above 30 degrees Celsius is expected to increase by four times to 43 days per year by the 2050s. More summer heat might be perceived as a good thing, but prolonged periods of extreme heat, drought, and humidity can be dangerous. Extreme heat can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even death, especially for children, older adults, people experiencing homelessness, people who work and exercise outdoors, those with existing health conditions, and those without good access to air conditioning. Warmer temperatures also affect how we spend time outside and increase the risks of droughts and forest fires. The City’s Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment looks in detail at the way Ottawa is currently and will be impacted by these changes. Learn more about what to expect in the future Ottawa in 2050: Temperature, what the City is already doing to adapt to climate change, and what you can do to prepare
Preparing for increased heat will require everyone to take action to protect ourselves and our environment.
What are some other ways we as a City and you as an individual, business, or community can build our resilience to extreme heat?
Note if you want to share links to resources in your idea posts, add them as a comment to your post to avoid it being marked as spam.
We will remove any posts that are rude, disrespectful or share disinformation about the reality of climate change.
Liz J6 months agoMaximum Temp for Rental Units
There is currently a minimum allowable temperature for rental units during the winter, but no maximum. This means apartments are not required to have a.c and many buildings have policies of no window ac units. A city-wide policy change regarding this, or pressure on the provincial government to change this requirement would make the summers much easier for renters.
0 comment2MelissaPC4 months agoParks with more shade. Splash pads turned on earlier or left on later in year depending on weather and not the date.
Be adaptable.
0 comment0Barb6 months agoMandate replacement of City trees that die or must be removed
Currently residents decide whether to replace City trees on City land adjacent to their property. Failure to maintain our City tree canopy affects all residents by decreasing shade, creating hotter sidewalks and asphalt, reduced air quality and decreased ecosystems for wildlife.
0 comment2MelD7 months agoRefillable water bottle stations in outdoor public spaces and more shaded seating areas
A lot of cities in Europe have refillable water stations all over their downtown core, which can serve as a reminder to carry around a water bottle and to drink more water. These stations could also ensure proper hydration, even in our most vulnerable, and allow quicker access to water. Also, there is a lack of shaded seating, especially near our bike paths.
0 comment15Climate Resiliency Team8 months agoLead your community through a mapping and visioning activity like the Citizen's Coolkit
The Citizen’s Coolkit, created by the University of British Columbia, is a guide that supports communities to implement climate solutions by mapping how climate change is impacting their neighbourhoods and homes and taking action to implement solutions.
1 comment7 -
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Ottawa’s weather is becoming more variable and unpredictable – with extreme heat, severe winds, flooding and freezing rain projected to increase in both severity and frequency. Events like the Ontario-Quebec derecho in May 2022, tornadoes in 2018 and 2019, and flooding of the Ottawa River in spring 2017 and 2019 show us that Ottawa is already experiencing extreme weather. Extreme weather damages property and infrastructure, threatens health and safety, and reduces access to essential services like safe transportation, electricity, and health and social services to name a few. Extreme weather affects everyone, but some populations are less able to prepare for and respond to these events. The City’s Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment looks in detail at the way Ottawa is currently and will be impacted by these changes in our climate conditions. Learn more about what to expect in the future at Ottawa in 2050: Extreme weather events, what the City is already doing to adapt to climate change, and what you can do to prepare.
Preparing for more extreme weather will require everyone to take action to protect ourselves and our environment.
What are some other ways we as a City and you as an individual, business, or community can build our resilience to extreme weather events?
Note if you want to share links to resources in your idea posts, add them as a comment to your post to avoid it being marked as spam.
We will remove any posts that are rude, disrespectful or share disinformation about the reality of climate change.
BYL2 months agoUse climbing vines to provide shade if there is no room for trees
For narrow sidewalks or other areas where there is no room to plant trees, we should install frames to support native vines that can provide shade and other modest mitigating effects.
1 comment3Jerry Fiori7 months agoClean out ditches in Merivale Gardens to allow water to drain away from houses. Establish a storm water management plan for Merivale Gardens
0 comment4AG2 months agoCleats not Salt?
I can't help wonder if it would be cheeper for the city to give rebates on cleats instead of salting all icy sidewalks & roads. Also seniors & disabled are an issue here. Increased ice events are increasingly expensive and seniors & disabled are becoming shut-ins more often, despite best intentions. Current system is failing them. So maybe the government could once and for all invent a way for seniors to easily/quickly put on cleats like a slip-on. Wouldn't this free up money/resources eg. to help a smaller number of special cases disabled in wheelchairs? Also, as an environmentalist, I hate using salt. So I use sand, which quickly washes away. So I often just shovel a bit of snow on top of the ice. If it doesn't stick to the ice, I spray a bit of water first. but usually it does if sun hits it once. No salt/sand required. Often wonder why other's don't do this? PS. Salt is only as good as the person spreading it... ie. what good is a dump of a mound of the stuff ???
0 comment0Shelby3 months agoMore community gardens
Provide resources (seed libraries for local vegetables and native plant species), open more community gardens so we can grow our own food.
1 comment4LFWestboro7 months agoRequire green infrastructure and permeable surfaces when building increased intensity urban housing: Green roofs, urban forests.
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More rainy days and heavy rain events: What can you, your community, and/or your City do?
about 2 months agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.Click on “Add your idea” below to share your ideas with us!
Ottawa is expected to get more rain, especially in spring, fall and winter. More rain in the spring can cause water levels in rivers and creeks to rise, especially if the spring melt happens quickly, impacting property and infrastructure near watercourses. More intense rainstorms can overwhelm sewer systems and flood streets, parks, and basements. Flooding damages properties and infrastructure impacts safety and transportation and affects agricultural harvests. The City’s Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment looks in detail at the way Ottawa is currently and will be impacted by these changes in our climate conditions. Learn more about what to expect in the future at Ottawa 2050: More rainy days and heavy rain events, what the City is already doing to adapt to climate change, and what you can do to prepare.
What are some other ways we as a City and you as an individual, business, or community can build our resilience to more rainy days and heavy rain events?
Note if you want to share links to resources in your idea posts, add them as a comment to your post to avoid it being marked as spam.
We will remove any posts that are rude, disrespectful or share disinformation about the reality of climate change.
Environnement4 months agoRespect de la déclaration d'urgence climatique
Le Conseil municipal actuel devrait confirmer la déclaration d’une urgence climatique faite par le même Conseil municipal en 2019.
0 comment1ebider4 months agoExpand Rain Ready rebates for all Ottawa residents.
The Rain Ready rebates are currently only for those living in particular zones historically prone to flooding. What we have seen though is increased flood across Ottawa during exceptional summers. Therefore everyone should have access to these rebates so they can better prepare their homes and avoid flooding issues.
0 comment2Climate Resiliency Team8 months agoDevelop flood response plans for communities in flood-prone areas
Work with communities to raise awareness about flood risks and how to get prepared. Consider support for at-risk / priority population groups.
0 comment1AG2 months agoRe-evaluate Townhomes Downspouts/Regs
Townhouses often share eavestrophs & downspouts resulting in overflow issues to just one property during extreme rain. Force of water can push water uphill into basements etc. I've installed 2 downspouts where there was only one, raised & lowered grading - very difficult for just me. I'd like the city to review building codes, & bylaws to reflect this imbalance in shared water management responsibility. Beware that some leaf guards also seem to not be able to handle extreme downpours.
0 comment0Environnement4 months agoImprove communication
Develop a database that will allow to identify who is responsible for what. Nobody seems to know what the CCN, the municipality, environmental organizations. They should all cooperate and avoid duplication and benefit from each other competencies.
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Who's Listening
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Email climatechange@ottawa.ca
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Quick Links
Project Timeline
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Phase 1: Climate Projections
Climate Resiliency Strategy has finished this stageCompleted in 2020
To better understand how Ottawa’s climate will change, the City, in partnership with the National Capital Commission and Environment and Climate Change Canada, worked with climate scientists to develop detailed projections for the National Capital Region until 2100.
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Phase 2: Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
Climate Resiliency Strategy has finished this stageCompleted in 2022
The City undertook a Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment to identify the top climate risks facing Ottawa. Forty priority risks were identified that require action in the next one to three years. These include risks related to higher temperatures and more precipitation, as well as extreme weather like flooding, severe winds and freezing rain.
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Phase 3: Developing the Climate Resiliency Strategy
Climate Resiliency Strategy is currently at this stagePlanned completion 2024
The Climate Resiliency Strategy is currently being developed. It will identify a series of actions that minimize Ottawa’s vulnerability to the effects of climate change and strengthen our ability to respond and recover from climactic events when they occur.
Key Documents
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Climate Change Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
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Climate Projections
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Climate Projections for the National Capital Region - Executive Summary
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Climate Projections for the National Capital Region Report, Volume 1: Results and Interpretation for Key Climate Indices (8.49 MB) (pdf)
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Climate Projections for the National Capital Region Report, Volume 2: Plots and Tabular Data for All the Climate Indices (126 MB) (pdf)
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Infographics
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What We Heard Report - CVRA Public Engagement (810 KB) (pdf)
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Urban Heat Island Map showing temperature differences for Ottawa (1.64 MB) (pdf)
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Urban Heat Island Map showing temperature differences within Ottawa’s Greenbelt (2.78 MB) (pdf)
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Creating a Climate Resilient Ottawa - April 4.pdf (7.49 MB) (pdf)