FAQs

Climate Adaptation: Actions we can take to manage the risks of climate change impacts. Examples include increasing trees and green space, flood protection, and reducing landfill waste by increasing recycling and organics recycling.

Climate Mitigation: Actions we can take to reduce emissions that cause climate change. Examples include energy efficiency, renewable energy from solar or wind sources, and using electric vehicles instead of gas-powered.

Climate Resilience: the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses and systems within a city to survive, adapt and thrive no matter what kinds of chronic stresses or acute shocks they encounter.

A Climate Action Plan helps a community identify what kind of natural and built environment they want to enjoy in the future, and what actions should be taken now to ensure that future. 

A Plan usually includes the following pieces:

• Baseline assessment - greenhouse gas Inventory, climate vulnerability assessment, and existing actions already underway in the community;
• Action plan - the Planning Team will agree on community goals, and identify actions that need to be taken to meet these goals;
• Community Engagement - along the way, community members will receive information and opportunities to share their opinions about what to include in the plan;
• final rollout - a successful plan will include what steps to take once the plan is written and the community is ready to start taking action.