TRCA's Initiatives
At the TRCA we are convinced that the most effective way to prepare for climate change is to remain flexible, and incorporate a mitigative and adaptive approach to the impacts associated with climate change.
We believe in conservation and acting sustainably in everything we do, from reducing our use of electricity, greening our fleet, promoting sustainable education, to supporting green technologies and alternative sources of energy. TRCA's Sustainability Management System (SMS) enables us to track indicators of operational sustainability.
In addition to acting sustainably, the TRCA's goal is to become a trusted resource in areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation. TRCA is involved in several programs and projects aimed at increasing our understanding of climate change and developing new projects and partnerships to reduce our region's ecological footprint - helping to create a livable sustainable region in the future.
To learn more about what TRCA is doing about Climate Change, follow the links below:
Watershed Plans
TRCA is currently developing the 'next generation' of watershed plans to address climate change and adaptive management. To maximize the effectiveness of the plans, TRCA is working with climate prediction models through the Rouge and Humber River Watershed Plans to better prepare for future variability.
Flood Management to Reduce Risk
With the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, Flood Forecasting and Early Warning Systems have been updated. State-of-risk information is communicated to partner municipalities and the public to ensure that the risks to life and property as a result of flooding are effectively managed.
The West Don Lands flood protection project and the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Land flood protection design are examples of TRCA's approach of integrating reduction of flood risks into community design.
Water Balance
To address the impact of the increased surface runoff from urban sprawl, innovative stormwater management and water balance technologies are being developed through the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program (STEP). Examples include permeable pavement, bio-retention swales, rainwater harvesting systems, erosion and sediment control ponds, air biofiltration systems and rooftop gardens.
Enhancing Greenspace
TRCA is the largest landowner (15,000 hectares) in the GTA region. The purpose of TRCA's Greenlands Acquisition Project is to secure public greenspace for the protection of our natural heritage, air quality and the health of the population.
A Terrestrial Natural Heritage Systems Strategy (TNHSS) has been developed to protect and enhance regional biodiversity within TRCA's jurisdiction.
To assist partner municipalities and communities in reducing urban heat island effects and to ensure improved air quality, the TRCA planted more than 250,000 trees in 2007 alone. TRCA is implementing the Urban Tree Canopy targets for the City of Toronto and will continue to augment existing forest cover wherever appropriate.
Local Food Production
Today, a total of 1,396 hectares of TRCA land is rented for agricultural use. Within its land base, TRCA is well placed to support the emergence of new near-urban agriculture. Near urban agriculture reduces the ecological footprint of communities through the provision of locally grown food. One such project, the 3.2 hectare urban farm on TRCA-owned land in Black Creek Pioneer Village, was developed in 2005 in partnership with the City of Toronto and other community groups.
Sustainable Community Development
The Block 39 project, located in the City of Vaughan, is currently the largest Energy Star community under development in Ontario. Facilitated by TRCA, this project has been supported by the developer, the builders, the gas and electric utilities, the City of Vaughan and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Block 39 will be a local example of the sustainable technologies that The Living City Campus at Kortright will be demonstrating.
Green Building Partnership
TRCA has formed a partnership with two green building councils, the Canada Green Building Council - Greater Toronto Chapter (CaGBC-GTC) and the World Green Building Council (WGBC). In both cases, TRCA assists in programming and operations. In May, 2007, TRCA won the bid to host the World Green Building Council Secretariat in the Earth Rangers building at The Living City Campus at Kortright.
Greening our own Operations
TRCA has incorporated sustainable thinking and values into its own buildings, lands, operations and programs since 1957. Points of pride for the organization are the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification of the Restoration Service Centre and the fact that the building uses 100% green energy. The Kortright Centre, which is at the heart of The Living City Campus, uses 100% green energy.
Ontario EcoCentres – helps education centres “walk the talk”
The Ontario EcoCentres program provides education centres a concrete, comprehensive framework that promotes the principles of sustainability in the behaviour of occupants, operational practices and organizational culture. TRCA has developed this certification program through collaboration with 8 other local environmental and education organizations. Fourteen centres have joined the program in the pilot year 2011.
Modeling Sustainability- The Living City Campus at Kortright
The Living City Campus at Kortright offers a model for sustainable design and practices. As a Centre of Excellence, it has the potential to be a global centre of research and development in climate change adaptation and mitigation within urban environments.
Community Transformation
Community Transformation has several programs dealing with greening retail, health care and municipal facilities underway. One such program, the 'Mayor's Megawatt Challenge,' has already achieved a total energy savings of 2%. This energy savings has resulted in the reduction of 1,500 tonnes of green house gas emissions since 2003.
Partners in Project Green
The purpose of Partners in Project Green is to identify and facilitate potential partnerships between businesses to reduce the generation of waste, improve energy efficiency, implement renewable energy technologies and undertake collaborative projects with the industrial/commercial sectors of our watershed.
Education and Outreach
TRCA has been a partner in the Ontario EcoSchools program since 2002. TRCA is the first conservation authority, and Black Creek Pioneer Village the first museum, to achieve Ontario EcoSchools certification.
To learn more about TRCA's other initiatives, please visit our home page:
http://www.trca.on.ca/
To view workshop and presentation proceedings, please visit the Resources section on the Climate Change web page.
