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
- Attend a community dialogue in your neighbourhood
- Host your own climate conversation. Email us at climatechange@ottawa.ca to get resources to support you.
- Check out the Resource Hub (coming soon) for more information that supports individual and community preparedness for climate change
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
- Attend a community dialogue in your neighbourhood
- Host your own climate conversation. Email us at climatechange@ottawa.ca to get resources to support you.
- Check out the Resource Hub (coming soon) for more information that supports individual and community preparedness for climate change
Subscribe to the climate change e-newsletter to receive updates on the Climate Resiliency Strategy and other climate change initiatives.
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
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.
Add your idea
Debby Clarke7 days agoPlant more trees, especially native trees. Plant more pollinator gardens on boulevards, in parks and in other public spaces.
Ensure residents of Ottawa that for every tree that falls due to storms, and destruction caused by “development”, the city (or developers) will plant at least two native trees. Create a clear and easy process for residents to identify spaces that need trees and/or pollinator gardens. Encourage community associations in their volunteer efforts to create native species spaces. Provide free “pollinator garden” signs. Create a public information campaign to provide information about the importance of planting native trees and native plants in our efforts to combat climate change.
0 comment0Climate Resiliency Team2 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 comment4Climate Resiliency Team2 months agoKeeping yourself cool
Ottawa Public Health has many resources on how to protect yourself during a heat wave. Soaking your feet or hands in cold water and using a fan is an effective way to cool your body down if you don’t have air conditioning.
1 comment1Climate Resiliency Team2 months agoSplash pads and pools
Increase the number of splash pads and pools and make them more available when it’s hot
0 comment2Techabout 1 month agoAccelerate Radiative Cooling adoption
Radiative Cooling paints, coatings and films are materially inexpensive, nontoxic and can achieve sub-ambient cooling without complex installation. A wide array of minicipal powers can induce and accelerate the technology's adoption to counter the urban heat island effect.
0 comment3 -
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
More rainy days and heavy rain events: What can you, your community, and/or your City do?
2 months agoClick 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.
Add your idea
Colin Pritchardabout 1 month agoGet a citywide Permaculture Consult
0 comment1KReekieabout 1 month agoPromote integrated rainwater capture systems in new buildings that collect rainwater for household use.
0 comment1UrbanEnvironmentalist89about 1 month agoGreenway Rewilding
I am temporarily living in Oleans this month, and while I love the network of multi-use pathways here - but there is so much potential for them to be even better. These pathways are built on wide grassy corridors that have eliminated all natural features that were present prior to development. In undeveloped areas, the natural marshlands of tall grasses, bullrushes, and creeks are home to countless species of birds, insects/pollinators, and support aquatic life. Rewilding these corrdiros - while maintaining a active transit corridor with perhaps a grassy buffer of ~2-3m would better retain stormwater and mitigate flooding, while providing important habitat for pollinator insects, birds, and other wildlife that has been extirpated from the area due to the development of suburban sprawl. Much of these grassy areas are wet, soggy grass after rainfall (which makes sense - it was previously marsh!) and is not fit for use as recreational open space anyway. This proposal would also reduce the maintenance costs (grass cutting), saving tax payer dollars in the long run. This is such a no-brainer, quick win across several related fronts (surrpotting wildlife, flood mitigation, urban heat island...), and would represent an important step to help make up for the devastating impacts that our (continued) suburban sprawl development has had on these lands. We need to make space for wildlife and natural systems, which in turn will help reduce the negative impacts of climate change/more extreme weather. Thank you.
2 comments3LWolfabout 1 month agoNaturalized stormwater systems
Naturalized stormwater systems create attractive and inviting places that support biodiversity while connecting residents with nature: https://www.nativeplantsolutions.ca/what-we-do/naturalized-stormwater-systems/
0 comment6Climate Resiliency Team2 months agoCheck if your property is at risk of river flooding
Use the City of Ottawa interactive map to see what areas are expected to flood under different flood events
1 comment2 -
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
Click on “Add your idea” below to share your ideas with us!
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.
Add your idea
James_meg_wireabout 1 month agoSlow down drainage upstream
Bare land all over Ottawa also happens to be at a higher elevation than the river. Watershed needs to be slowed down with more spread out forests and native plans instead of focusing on fewer larger sections of reforestation. Get rid of lawns and incentivize re wilding. Find a use for abandoned mines such as buffers for spring melting or just all watershed.
0 comment0Colin Pritchardabout 1 month agoPlant more native trees and bushes (male & female)
0 comment2Climate Resiliency Team2 months agoExplore options for emergency backup power
For example mobile solutions, generator sharing, low-emission sources and/or energy storage.
1 comment10ebider28 days agoDepave to increase areas that can absorb stormwater
Ottawa could be finding areas and lots to depave and turn into greenspaces that can better absorb larger amounts of precipitation. In an *ideal*, best case scenario, this would include reducing lanes of certain roads, adding separated bike lanes and having green strips running alongside the roads to absorb stormwater runoff from them.
0 comment4ns20about 2 months agoEstablish a volunteer brigade to assess proximity of tree limbs to power infrastructure so city can proactively prune
0 comment4 -
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
Click on “Add your idea” below to share your ideas with us!
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.
Add your idea
J Rinfretabout 1 month agodiscourage driving
0 comment5MelDabout 1 month agoEducate our population on the URGENCY of climate action
Changing seasons is one of the many consequences that will come in the following years. There isn't enough urgency in our response. We need to make bigger and bolder changes. We need to be more strict on recycling and composting, like many cities in Europe and Asia. We need to encourage Reducing and Reusing before recycling. We need to spread this type of messaging more efficiently and frequently.
0 comment4Climate Resiliency Team2 months agoPlant trees suitable for future climate conditions
The City of Ottawa has several programs that support tree planting
3 comments4Mike S30 days agoAssess cooling capacity of community buildings to meet new heat extremes and upgrade / provide shade as needed.
0 comment0J Rinfretabout 1 month agoreplace more and more asphalt with soil and trees, bushes to absorb runoff from rain and snow
0 comment5
Who's Listening
-
_________________________________
Email climatechange@ottawa.ca
Stay informed
Upcoming events
-
June 09 2023
-
June 13 2023
-
June 19 2023
-
June 29 2023
Project Timeline
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Quick Links
Key Documents
-
Summary of Top Climate Risks (946 KB) (pdf)
-
Climate Change Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (2022) (3.12 MB) (pdf)
-
Climate Vulnerabilities and Risks by Focus Area (Appendix D) (3.58 MB) (PDF)
-
Climate Projections for the National Capital Region - Executive Summary
-
Climate Projections for the National Capital Region Report, Volume 1: Results and Interpretation for Key Climate Indices (8.49 MB) (pdf)
-
Climate Projections for the National Capital Region Report, Volume 2: Plots and Tabular Data for All the Climate Indices (126 MB) (pdf)
-
What We Heard Report - CVRA Public Engagement (810 KB) (pdf)
-
Urban Heat Island Map showing temperature differences for Ottawa (1.64 MB) (pdf)
-
Urban Heat Island Map showing temperature differences within Ottawa’s Greenbelt (2.78 MB) (pdf)
-
Creating a Climate Resilient Ottawa - April 4.pdf (7.49 MB) (pdf)