Municipal elections across the GTHA are approaching, and with them comes a rare opportunity. This is a moment to reset our collective expectations for what leadership in our cities should look like. Climate change isn’t going away, and its impacts are already shaping the daily lives of residents, the bottom lines of businesses, and the capacity of municipal services to deliver reliably.
It may feel like support for climate action is receding, but research shows public expectations for actions like green building policy in cities remains strong. The fact is, despite difficult social, political, and economic conditions, municipalities have practical, effective tools at their disposal to reduce emissions while improving affordability, health, jobs, and resilience.
As someone who works every day with municipal partners, utilities, and community stakeholders, the data shows clearly that climate action is not a “nice‑to‑have.” It is essential infrastructure for a thriving city.
This election is a chance for candidates—and voters—to embrace that reality.
What the data shows: Where emissions come from and why it matters
TAF’s Carbon Emissions Inventory for the GTHA gives us a clear picture of where municipal emissions originate and how trends are shifting. Some are encouraging. Others are moving in the wrong direction. But across the board, the data points to the same conclusion: cities have meaningful levers to influence emissions and other public benefits.
Our recommendations are grounded in this evidence. They focus on low‑ or no‑cost actions that municipalities can take today—actions that deliver multiple benefits and fit squarely within municipal roles and authorities.
Other levels of government, businesses, and individuals also have critical responsibilities. But municipalities and the communities they serve are where climate change meets daily life. That makes local leadership indispensable.
TAF’s top six municipal recommendations for today’s leadership
These recommendations meet the moment. They all reflect municipal authority, have carbon reduction potential, and help deliver on other critical social benefits. They are practical, implementable, and aligned with best practices across North America.
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Green Buildings: Help existing buildings improve efficiency and get on track to net zero
Large buildings are one of the biggest sources of urban emissions, so building owners and stakeholders will need a supportive pathway to decarbonize. Energy and Water Reporting & Benchmarking (EWRB) is a commonly used, low‑cost, high‑impact tool that helps owners understand their energy and water use and identify savings. And it gives municipalities the data they need to design effective policies like Building Emissions Performance Standards.
Recommendation: Build the foundation for future performance standards by adopting and ensuring compliance with Energy and Water Reporting & Benchmarking (EWRB) requirements.
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Green Buildings: Support high standards for new construction
Most municipalities have developed strong standards for new construction on paper, though recent legislation has complicated implementation. Focusing on better compliance for existing standards ensures new buildings are efficient from day one, reducing long‑term costs and risks for residents and businesses, without slowing down development. Incentives – which can take both financial and non-financial forms – help accelerate market leadership and innovation.
Recommendation: Improve compliance with existing energy standards and reward high‑performance new construction projects with meaningful incentives.
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Clean Electricity: Remove outdated barriers for clean tech and distributed energy resources
Clean electrification is central to long term affordability and resilience in the GTHA. Solar, battery storage, heat pumps, and district energy systems reduce energy costs, improve reliability, and support local jobs. Municipalities can accelerate deployment simply by removing outdated barriers and coordinating better with utilities.
Recommendation 2: Review zoning bylaws and permitting processes to identify and address barriers to low carbon technologies like solar, heat pumps, batteries and district energy, following Toronto’s recent amendments and encouraging further updates.
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Clean Transportation: Remove parking minimums
Parking minimums lock land into outdated designs that don’t match today’s needs such as EV charging, solar canopies, pedestrian walkways, and better site design. Removing parking minimums reduces the cost of construction and embodied carbon, making development more affordable and beneficial for communities.
Recommendation: Remove parking minimums from new developments and existing parking lots.
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Clean Transportation: Safer, healthier, shorter trips
Walkability and cycling infrastructure are increasingly supporting growing cities globally because of their direct benefits at individual and community scales. They are proven to improve health outcomes and generate more business activity in communities. Changes to zoning rules to integrate more walkways and cycling paths, enables more frequent, shorter and safer trips for all modes of transport.
Recommendation: Amend zoning rules to integrate walkway and cycling infrastructure.
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Clean Transportation: EV charging where people need it
EV adoption is rising, but charging access remains uneven. Municipal clarity and streamlined processes would immediately assist the growing number residents and businesses who need this infrastructure.
Recommendation: Develop local bylaws and reduce red tape to clarify and encourage the deployment of EV charging in the places residents rely on most.
A carbon lens for every decision
Climate action shouldn’t be siloed. Cities should apply a carbon lens to all major decisions, including programs, projects, infrastructure, land use planning and budgeting. This ensures public dollar investments support long‑term affordability, resilience, and economic competitiveness.
Municipalities should also maximize provincial and federal funding. Application windows for programs like the $6 billion Build Communities Strong Fund Direct Delivery Stream are often extremely short. Clean electricity tax credits are another major opportunity that municipalities can leverage with the right preparation, offering a 15% rebate on municipal investments in renewable energy or storage. Cities need shovel‑ready projects—such as low‑carbon district energy systems—lined up and prioritized so they can act quickly when funding becomes available.
Making it matter
To voters: Ask candidates how they plan to integrate climate action with affordability, health, and resilience. Show them you understand how they are interrelated. Encourage them to champion practical, evidence based solutions that strengthen your community.
To candidates: Climate action is not separate from the core responsibilities of municipal leadership. It is central to delivering reliable services, protecting residents, supporting local businesses, and building a future that is both affordable and resilient. Embrace it. Demonstrate your ability to manage multiple priorities. Ground your commitments in evidence and practical steps.
Municipal elections are a chance to choose leaders who understand that climate action is city‑building. Let’s seize it.
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