Who's Taking Action?
Climate change affects us all. Greater Sudbury has joined the ranks of thousands of municipalities around the world taking action to reduce energy and GHG emissions and stimulate a green economy.
Achieving a net-zero Greater Sudbury by 2050 will rely on the combined efforts of the entire community – government, businesses, not-for-profits and residents. Here are some of the actions currently underway.
Want to add your organization’s efforts? Email earthcare@greatersudbury.ca or fill out the form on our Over to You page.
Compact Complete Communities
Achieve energy efficiency and emissions reductions by creating compact, complete communities through infill developments, decreasing dwelling size through an increase in multi-family buildings, and increasing building type mix.
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status | |
City of Greater Sudbury | Tiny/Small Home Review | Short term (1-2 years); in progress | |
Commercial Parking Standards Review | Short term (1-2 years); in progress | ||
Lasalle Boulevard Corridor Study - Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment | Short term (1-2 years); in progress | ||
Residential Parking Review | Short term (1-2 years); in progress | ||
Official Plan Review Phase 2 | Short term (1-2 years); in progress |
Efficient Buildings
Periodically increase the energy efficiency of new buildings until all new buildings in 2030 onward are Passive House energy efficiency compliant.
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status | |
City of Greater Sudbury | Monitor local green building trends | Short term (1-2 years); planned | |
Education on Building Permit Requirements for Changes in Heat Source | Short term (1-2 years); planned | ||
Develop a GSHC apartment building that meets Passive House standard. | Short term (1-2 years); planned |
The existing building stock is retrofit for 50% increased energy efficiency by 2040 and large buildings are routinely recommissioned.
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status | |
City of Greater Sudbury | Install regenerative elevators in one Greater Sudbury Housing Corporation building | Short term (1-2 years); not yet started | |
Conversion to more energy efficient boilers in GSHC buildings | Short term (1-2 years); planned | ||
Implement optimization strategy of GSHC housing stock. | Short term (1-2 years); planned | ||
Feasibility Study on Community Efficiency Financing | Short term (1-2 years); not yet started |
Achieve net-zero emissions in City buildings by 2040.
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status | |
City of Greater Sudbury | Conduct an energy audit for the older section of Pioneer Manor identified for bed redevelopment | Short term (1-2 years); not yet started | |
Continue to undertake energy retrofits as required at Pioneer Manor | Medium/long term (~3+ years); not yet started | ||
Conduct infrared scan of roof at Pioneer Manor | Short term (1-2 years); not yet started | ||
Bed redevelopment at Pioneer Manor | Medium term (~3 years); not yet started | ||
Assess efficacy of energy efficient technology for arenas | Short term (1-2 years); in progress at 2 arenas, others in planning stage | ||
Assess efficacy of laser system for standard ice thickness | In progress | ||
Use of building automation | Long term (4-5 years); not yet started |
Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste
Decrease energy use in the potable water treatment and distribution system by up to 60%by 2050.
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status | |
City of Greater Sudbury | Finalize Water/Wastewater Assessment Management Plan | Short term (1-2 years); in progress | |
Apply energy-efficiency lens for routine equipment maintenance and replacement | In progress | ||
Develop Best Operating Practices/Best Operating Guidelines (Operational Excellence) | Ongoing | ||
Conduct a full capital needs assessment for the Valley. | Short term (1-2 years); in progress | ||
Inflow & Infiltration Reduction Plan | In progress | ||
Mobile District Metered Area Testing | Short term (1-2 years); in progress |
Achieve 90% solid waste diversion by 2050. An organics and biosolids anaerobic digestion facility is operational by 2030.
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status | ||
City of Greater Sudbury | Anaerobic Digester System - Ongoing Review | Short term (1-2 years); in progress | ||
Develop a single-use plastics strategy, especially relating to water (e.g., straws, bottled water) | Medium term (~3 years); in progress | |||
Feasibility study for a small biodigester in the Valley (might be initiated by Environmental Services). |
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Low-Carbon Transportation
Enhance transit service to increase transit mode share to 25% by 2050.
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status | |
City of Greater Sudbury | Transit Technology Improvements | Recurring; planned | |
Major Mobility Hub Infrastructure Improvements | Recurring; not yet started |
Achieve 35% active mobility transportation mode share by 2050
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status |
City of Greater Sudbury | Paris-Notre Dame Bikeway Construction | In progress |
Annual Active Transportation Infrastructure Improvements | In progress | |
Traffic Signal System Renewal | In progress | |
LED Streetlight Conversion | In progress | |
Rainbow Routes Assocation | Trails and Non-Motorized Routes Development and Promotion | Ongoing |
Electrify 100% of transit and city fleet by 2035
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status |
City of Greater Sudbury | Electric Vehicle Procurement | Short term (1-2 years) |
Drone Pilot Program | Short term (1-2 years); planned term |
100% of new vehicle sales are electric by 2030.
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status |
Electric Vehicle Society, Sudbury | Electric Vehicle Education and Awareness Campaign | In progress/ongoing |
Industrial Efficiency
Increase industrial energy efficiency by 50% by 2040.Support local industrial efforts to reduce energy use and GHG emissions
Local Clean Energy Generation
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status |
City of Greater Sudbury | Assess the potential to expand landfill gas collection to Azilda and Hanmer landfill sites | Medium term (~3 years); not yet started |
Establish a renewable energy cooperative (REC) to advance solar energy systems and other renewable energy efforts of the CEEP.
Goal 13
Install 10 MW of ground mount solar PV each year, starting in 2022.
Install net metered solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on 90% of new buildings and 80% of existing buildings, supplying 50% of their electric load.
Goal 15
Expand the downtown district energy system to 23 MW capacity.
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status |
City of Greater Sudbury | Expand district energy | Long term (4-5 years); not yet started |
Install 50 MW of renewable energy storage.
Low-Carbon Energy Procurement
Procure 100% of community-wide grid electricity and 75% of natural gas demand from renewable sources by 2050.
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status | |
City of Greater Sudbury | Develop a green procurement strategy/plan | Short term (1-2 years); planned |
Carbon Sequestration
Goal 18
Increase the reforestation efforts of the Regreening Program.
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status | |
City of Greater Sudbury | Develop a Regreening Master Plan | Medium term (~3 years); not yet started | |
Enhance carbon sequestration through soil creation | Medium term (~3 years); not yet started | ||
Other Carbon Sequestration Projects
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status |
Junction Creek Stewardship Committee | Restoring impaired habitats and green spaces along Junction Creek | Ongoing |
Other Actions
Organization | Project | Timeline/Status |
Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury |
Net Zero Sudbury: Online presence and Community Engagement |
In progress/ongoing |
Sudbury Shared Harvest | Establishing Edible Forests, forest gardens and educational opportunities | In progress/ongoing |