MAY 28, 2019, GREATER SUDBURY UNANIMOUSLY DECLARED A CLIMATE EMERGENCY, MADE CLIMATE ACTION A PRIORITY AND SET A PATH FOR A PLAN TO REDUCE OUR CARBON EMISSIONS TO NET ZERO BY 2050, AND TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY FROM CLIMATE IMPACTS.  Thank you to Council and to all who helped make this happen.  As a City and as a community, we now begin the work in earnest to reduce our carbon emissions and prepare for climate impacts.  Stay connected so that we can all contribute by continuing to be a voice for climate action and/or taking personal action.
On November 12, 2019, Council approved taking the next steps on Greater Sudbury’s draft Community Energy and Emissions Plan. On September 22, 2020, Council unanimously approved the final plan. Here is their first implementation plan for City actions 2021-2025.  Here is our review of that plan: full analysis, and one-page summary. On Feb. 27, 2024, the City presented their Climate Action Update up to 2022, with proposed actions to 2028.  Although the report showed many climate actions taken by the City, it also showed we are not on track to reach net zero by 2050 or meet our science-based targets to reduce emissions. Read that report here, and our tracking of CEEP ‘primary actions’ here. 

In 2023, Council adopted a Community Climate Adaptation Plan, and approved a senior Climate Resilience position to coordinate implementation of the City’s climate mitigation and adaptation.  However, during 2024 budget deliberations, Council deferred a decision on funding the Climate Resilience Officer until 2025, where it was dropped.

In December 2024, staff presented the 2023 Climate Action Report.  The report again showed many actions taken by the City, but that our City and community had not reduced GHG emissions. The report also lacks an action plan to meet 2030 goals and milestones.  In response to the report, Mayor Lefebvre put forward a motion, unanimously  approved by Council, providing direction for specific steps forward for energy efficiency for homes and City facilities, electric and low carbon vehicles for residents and the City fleet, and renewable energy. 

In the Climate Action Report motion (CC2024-294)

By Q2 2025, staff were directed to: 

• Provide a detailed report to Council demonstrating energy use and related costs at all municipal facilities. PRESENTED JUNE 10, 2025. [No direction given to meet climate  goals for municipal buildings.]
• Bring recommendations to Council for developing an agreement with reputable third-party providers to increase the number of pay-to-use public EV chargers at City-owned facilities, at little or no additional cost to the City. APPROVED JUNE 10, 2025.
• Provide a report to Council with options for a community-wide home energy and resiliency retrofit guidance program.  3 YEAR PILOT APPROVED APRIL 29, 2025. LAUNCHED MARCH 2026.

By Q3 2025, staff were directed to: 

• Provide a report to Council itemizing the City fleet of low-emission vehicles and outlining scenarios for increasing that number over the next 10 years, with short, medium and long-term goals, expected investments, cost efficiencies and payback periods. FLEET ELECTRIFICATION PLAN APPROVED OCT.  7, 2025,  to electrify the City’s light duty and ice resurfacing fleet by 2035, consistent with CEEP. 
• Develop a land use planning policy framework to support renewable energy projects in the city and review City-owned properties to support the development of a renewable energy land bank program. APPROVED FEB 9, 2026 [For non-urban areas; some greenspace concerns].

In April 2025, Council received our community support package, with letters of support from 22 diverse local organizations, Dr. John Gunn, and Dr. David Pearson. On June 10, 2025, the climate action petition was submitted with signatures from 1195 residents from every area of Greater Sudbury, calling on Council to dedicate the staff and budget resources necessary to effectively implement Greater Sudbury’s Community Energy and Emissions and Climate Adaptation Plans, and meet emission reduction commitments.  We continue to gather signatures on the climate action petition. In October 2025, Council received our second community support package, with 13 letters of support from local doctors & health care professionals, local businesses, and local youth and arts community organizations.  

 On March 10, 2026, staff presented the 2024 Climate Action Report.  It shows that the city is taking some action, but that City GHG emissions are not yet declining, while total community emissions have declined but are not on track to meet emission reduction targets.  There is still no action plan to meet 2030 emission reduction targets.

Track our City’s progress: Read our latest updated status review of CEEP goals and ‘primary actions,’ and review of 2030 targets and milestones, and ‘near-term’ goals from the ‘CEEP Implementation Framework.’