Committee approves investments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resiliency

The City’s Environment and Climate Change Committee today approved its portion of Draft Budget 2025, including key investments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resiliency. This budget also supports core services that residents rely on every day, such as water services and waste collection. The City would also invest in growing Ottawa’s tree canopy. This includes two new programs. A new Private Land Tree-Planting Program would distribute trees across the city and provide full-service tree planting in priority areas, free of charge. This program would increase tree planting while enhancing public education and awareness of urban forest stewardship. The City would also invest $500,000 to initiate new proactive tree replacements in the right of way. Staff continue to identify and target priority areas for tree planting across Ottawa, ensuring more equitable access to the health, economic and environmental benefits of urban forests while planting trees where they are needed most. The City would commit $6 million annually to implement the Climate Change Master Plan, supporting efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate resiliency.  A total of $347 million is allocated to initiatives reducing GHG emissions and over $22 million is allocated to enhance Ottawa’s climate resilience. Investments that will strengthen Ottawa’s resilience to climate impacts include: 

• $14 million for tree and forest maintenance and $1.9 million for tree planting​
• $2.8 million in energy-management investments
• $2 million for natural-area acquisitions, including funds to secure and conserve important greenspaces and environmental lands

The draft budget commits $361 million in capital investments towards the City’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, including: 

• $224.6 million investment in wastewater for growth and asset renewal, including $157 million in projects at the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre
• $85.6 million to ensure a continued supply of quality drinking water, including renewal of water purification plants
• $33.8 million for stormwater services
• $17 million for integrated water and sewer projects

The City continues to invest in sustainable waste management by adding $37.1 million in investments, including:

• $19 million for capital construction at the Trail Waste Facility landfill​
• $2.3 million for Solid Waste Master Plan initiatives
• $1.5 million for continued enhanced waste-diversion efforts, including at City parks

The Committee’s Draft Budget 2025 will rise to Council for final consideration on Wednesday, December 11. For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.