The City of Hamilton is set to introduce its inaugural carbon budget in 2027 as part of its commitment to combat global warming. This budget will signify the maximum carbon emissions permissible for the city.
The initial phase of the carbon budget will focus on specific divisions and capital projects exceeding $250,000 during the 2027 budget process. The city’s general issues committee approved the staff-recommended carbon budget during a meeting on May 27.
City Manager Marnie Cluckie emphasized that the carbon budget will enable the city to assess the climate impact of decisions similar to financial considerations. Additionally, the city is developing a voluntary self-reporting carbon budget process to aid residents, businesses, and organizations in monitoring and reducing emissions.
Following the declaration of a climate change emergency in 2019 due to escalating local climate hazards, such as heat waves and flooding, Hamilton devised the Climate Action Strategy, which serves as the foundation for the carbon budget implementation.
A youth-led proposal by Environment Hamilton in 2023 recommended creating a carbon budget to reduce the city’s reliance on fossil fuels. The estimated allowable corporate emissions are 422,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, while community-wide emissions amount to 53 million tonnes.
Aligned with the Paris Agreement’s goals of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the ultimate objective of the carbon budget is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The pilot phase will commence shortly and is slated for full implementation by 2030, with staff scheduled to provide a progress report in 2027 along with recommendations for city-wide adoption.
Residents, like Miriam Sager and Lucia Iannantuono, have expressed support for the carbon budget, highlighting community concerns about climate change. While some endorse the corporate carbon offsets and credits policy as crucial for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, others, like Lucia Iannantuono, question the effectiveness of such measures.
The city is exploring options to purchase carbon offset credits from third-party companies through a carbon market to balance any remaining emissions after all reduction strategies have been exhausted.