Last week, the City of Ottawa’s Environment and Climate Change Committee met to discuss and finalize the 2026 Draft Operating and Capital Budget for environment and climate change.
Multiple delegations were present at the committee meeting, including Ottawa’s Community Action for Environmental Sustainability (CAFES).
In her presentation, Executive Director Angela Keller-Herzog highlighted that the city’s emissions reductions are not currently on track. After a consistent descent of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from 2012 to about 2020/2021, the city has seen a rise in emissions from about 2021 to present day.
“We’re right now in that middle segment of the diagram where emissions are rising, and it’s not entirely clear how we’re going to make those reductions to get back on track,” she said.
Recommendations by CAFES made at the end of the presentation included requiring that there be a clear linkage between spending and climate outcomes, including an explanation of the city’s pathway to net zero.
In addition to emissions targets, councillors also discussed the city’s tree planting strategy, called “Putting Down Roots for the Future.” This is a 20-year strategic Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) that includes a 40 per cent tree canopy cover target by 2046.
Coun. Rawlson King (Rideau-Rockcliffe) expressed concerns over delays in meeting this tree planting target. “I’m just wondering . . . whether the budget is really adequate to deal with our level of ambition around tree planting and tree management,” he asked city staff.
Coun. Tim Tierney (Beacon Hill-Cyrville) noted the urgency of the tree planting strategy. “We’re really trying to push as hard as we can to get some trees in the ground and get some canopy in place, but we do have to follow a whole series of regulations to ensure they’re put in the appropriate spots,” he said. “Are we moving as quickly as humanly possible on this?”
“When it comes to trees, yes,” answered city staff. They further explained the complexities of tree planting within urban areas. “We haven’t lost tree canopy, but we haven’t progressed either to get to that 40 per cent target . . . It’s not just about planting trees, it’s about maintaining the trees that we have. It’s about watering the trees that we have. It’s also around the planning cycle, to be able to ensure that basically we’re planting in areas where we’re giving the trees the greatest chance of survivability.”
Last Wednesday, city council approved the 2026 budget, including the capital budget of $52 million dedicated to environment and climate change.
