A Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan

Ontario has made significant progress to address climate change.

Our total greenhouse gas emissions have dropped by 22 per cent since 2005 – even while the rest of Canada saw emissions increase by 3 per cent during that same time.

Ontario will continue to do its part.

On November 29, 2018, we released our Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan that considers our province’s specific priorities, challenges and opportunities, and commits to reducing our emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, a target that aligns with the Federal Government’s Paris commitments.

We will address climate change by:

Building resilience: helping families and communities prepare

We are committed to preparing families and communities for the costs and impacts of climate change, and to protecting our natural environment, communities, businesses and municipalities. We will improve our understanding of how climate change will impact Ontario.

  • The government will be following through on its commitment to undertake Ontario’s first-ever broad, multi-sector provincial climate change impact assessment to identify where the province is vulnerable and which regions and economic sectors are most likely to be impacted.
  • Ontario is helping make information available to homeowners on the practical and affordable actions they can take to help lower their risk of basement flooding, such as by supporting the Home Flood Protection Program.

Making polluters accountable

We will ensure polluters pay their fair share for their greenhouse gas emissions, while also ensuring industry continues to make advances to help Ontario achieve its share of reductions.

  • On July 4, 2019, Ontario finalized its new emissions performance standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from large polluters, without a carbon tax.
  • We are finalizing amendments to Ontario fuel regulations to increase access to clean and affordable energy for families and encourage the uptake of lower carbon fuels to help reduce emissions from the transportation sector.

Activating the private sector

We recognize that our private sector has the capital, capability and know-how to transform clean technology markets and transition Ontario to a low-carbon economy. This is why we intend to help facilitate the private sector’s best projects and ideas to drive emission reductions at the lowest cost to taxpayers. Our plan will ensure the prudent and responsible use of public resources to drive private sector investment.


Climate change impacts:

Your weather

By the 2050s, our average temperatures are projected to rise by about 2.5-3.7°C.

Your food and drink

Extreme weather damages Ontario’s crops and makes food more expensive.

Your home

Climate change leads to extreme weather events that affect homes, like flooding.

Your hobbies

Warming streams and lakes in Ontario could result in the loss of many coldwater fish.

What you can do

  1. Choose cleaner travel choices, such as public transit or bicycle

  2. Drink tap water to cut back on plastics and pollution

  3. Enjoy local food to cut down on pollution, processing and refrigeration