Climate Resilient Burlington Plan

Explore Burlington’s Climate Resilient Plan, including actions to address extreme weather, reduce flood risks and help residents adapt to climate change.

Climate change is a global problem with local consequences and solutions. Recognizing the severity of a changing climate, City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and in 2022 approved the Climate Resilient Burlington plan to prepare for and adapt to our changing climate.

Climate Resilient Burlington

Climate Resilient Burlington: A Plan for Adapting to Our Warmer, Wetter and Wilder Weather is a City initiative that helps:

The 2022-2032 Action Plan

The 2022-2032 action plan identified 32 actions under five themes and 10 action groups.

Theme 1: Resilient Built and Natural Infrastructure

  • Infrastructure Design and Life Cycle Management
  • Flood Management
  • Service Disruption

Theme 2: Thriving Natural Environment

  • Tree Management
  • Natural Area Management

Theme 3: Health and Well-Being

  • Extreme Heat and Health

Theme 4: Disaster Resilience

  • Community Capacity Building
  • Citizen and Business Support Programs

Theme 5: Strong and Resilient Economy

  • Agriculture
  • Local Economy

Climate resilient programs and information

Existing local programs or information that can help you prepare and adapt to warmer, wetter and wilder weather.

  • Home Flood Protection Program - A residential flood risk reduction education program that helps Burlington residents take action to reduce their flood risk and reduce damage in the event of a flood. Up to 50% of the assessment fee for up to 20 households is available every year.
  • Plumbing Permit Fee Grant Program - A financial assistance program that covers the cost of a building permit for flood prevention work, such as the installation of a backwater valve and/or sump pump and the repair/replacement of a sanitary line with the installation of a backwater valve. Assistance is offered to Burlington residents on a first come, first served basis.
  • Enhanced Basement Flooding Subsidy Program - Halton Region's Enhanced Basement Flooding Prevention Subsidy Program makes it easier and more affordable for residents in Halton to make improvements that can help reduce the risk of flooding. These include downspout disconnection, weeping tile disconnection and sump pump installation, backwater valve installation, and sewer lateral (pipe) lining and repair.
  • Basement Flooding Mitigation Program - Halton Region's Basement Flooding Mitigation Program allows the Region to make improvements to wastewater mains, laterals and maintenance holes in the City of Burlington and other municipalities within Halton Region.

  • Lyme disease - Halton Region provides information about Lyme disease and how to protect yourself and your family against the spread of the bacterial infection.
  • West Nile virus - Halton Region provides information about West Nile virus and how to reduce impacts on residents
  • Tree pests and diseases - Learn more about the different pests and diseases that can affect the health of our local trees and what you can do to lower risk.

Visit the Climate Resilient Burlington project page and the Climate Change page to learn more about the initiative, including the launch event recording, document libraries and more.

Climate Change Impacts Story Map

View our interactive Climate Change Impacts story map with information on Burlington-specific climate change impacts resulting from the following climate hazards:

  • Extreme heat and extreme cold
  • High winds
  • Rainfall and freezing rain
  • Lake effects
  • Vector-borne diseases (diseases of illnesses spread through insects like ticks or mosquitoes)

A list of resources is also available to help you prepare for and adapt to warmer, wetter and wilder weather.

Staff Reports and Presentations

Contact Us

Environmental Sustainability
426 Brant St., PO Box 5013
Burlington, ON  L7R 3Z6

Phone: 905-335-7777
Email Environmental Sustainability

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