Climate Change

Preparing Pickering for a Changing Climate

The City of Pickering has been proactively building climate resilience through a range of Council-endorsed programs, plans, and policies. These include the Integrated Sustainable Design Standards, Corporate Energy Management Plan, Amendment 23 to the Pickering Official Plan, Stormwater Management Design Guidelines, and the Community and Safety Well-Being Plan. In addition, the City supports the community during weather-related emergencies through measures such as warming and cooling centres at City facilities, naturalization projects, shade structures and splash pads, waterfront restoration, and the distribution of weather alerts and service disruption notices.

Building on these ongoing initiatives, in May 2025, Pickering Council endorsed the City’s first Community Climate Adaptation Plan (CCAP). Developed with input from residents, community organizations, technical experts, and regional partners, the CCAP serves as a roadmap to integrate climate resilience into City operations, services, and the broader community. The Plan outlines practical, measurable actions to help prepare for and respond to the impacts of extreme heat, heavy rain, and severe weather, with a strong focus on climate equity to support vulnerable populations.

Highlights of the Plan include:

• Integrating climate adaptation into municipal planning, infrastructure, and service delivery
• Ensuring climate equity by addressing the needs of vulnerable populations
• Implementing practical actions that will measurably improve community resilience

View the Community Climate Adaptation Plan (CCAP)

Corporate Energy Management Plan (CEMP)

Pickering’s Corporate Energy Management Plan outlines strategies to improve energy efficiency across municipal operations. It supports the City’s efforts to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through building retrofits and conservation measures. 

Integrated Sustainable Development Standards

The City’s Integrated Sustainable Development Standards use a tiered checklist for low-rise, mid to highrise residential and nonresidential developments, with mandatory Tier 1 performance features and optional Tier 2 enhancements. Key measures include onsite renewable energy, green roofs, backup power for resilience, EV and bicycle support, urban heat island reduction, and stormwater management.

Community Energy Plan

With regard to community energy and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, the the Region of Durham, utilities, and local area municipalities collaborated to develop a Community Energy Plan.

Power outages can occur during extreme weather events like storms and heatwaves.  These disruptions can affect services such as heating, cooling, food storage, and communication.

How to Prepare:

• Build an emergency kit with flashlights, batteries, water, non-perishable food, medications, and a battery-powered or crank radio
• Consider investing in backup power options, such as a portable generator (to use safely outdoors)
• Weatherproof your home by sealing windows and doors and insulating water pipes
• Stay informed by monitoring weather forecasts and local emergency updates
• Have a household emergency plan in place in case evacuation or shelter is needed
• Check on family, friends, and neighbours

Helpful Resources:

• Pickering Emergency Preparedness
• Elexicon Energy – Outage Map
• Government of Ontario – Power Outages and Blackouts

Extreme Heat

Heatwaves can cause heat exhaustion and heat stroke, especially in older adults, young children, and those with chronic conditions.

Stay safe:

• Stay hydrated and avoid outdoor activity during peak heat
• Use fans, air conditioning, and cool showers
• Wear light, loose clothing and seek shade
• Visit Warming and Cooling Centres during heat alerts
• Check on family, friends, and neighbours

Extreme Cold

Severe cold can lead to hypothermia and frostbite, particularly for those without adequate shelter or heating.

Stay safe:

• Dress in layers and limit time outdoors during cold alerts
• Visit Warming and Cooling Centres if needed
• Prepare an emergency kit with essentials
• Never use unsafe indoor heating methods that risk carbon monoxide exposure
• Check on family, friends, and neighbours

Poor air quality from wildfire smoke or smog can affect many people, especially those with asthma, heart conditions, or other respiratory illnesses.

Stay Safe:

• Sign up for air quality alerts
• Limit outdoor activity on days with poor air quality
• Keep windows and doors closed and use an air purifier if available
• Follow health guidance from Durham Region Health Department or your healthcare provider
• Check on family, friends, and neighbours

Flooding and increased stormwater runoff can cause significant damage to homes, businesses, and the natural environment. Knowing your risk and being prepared is the first step in safeguarding your home or business.

Understand the Risk

Check if your property is in a flood-prone area using the TRCA Flood Plain Map Viewer or the CLOCA Floodplain Mapping Tool.

Stay Informed

Sign up to receive real-time flood alerts and messages from the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA).

Take Action at Home

Reduce stormwater runoff on your property by planting trees, installing rain gardens, or using rain barrels. These natural infrastructure solutions can help reduce the risk of stormwater runoff. Visit Unflood Ontario to explore more actions you can take.

Learn More

Visit the City’s Flood Safety page for local information on how to prepare for and respond to flooding. For broader regional guidance, explore Flood Ready Durham to learn more about flood prevention and safety across the Region of Durham.

Wind, ice, and lightning storms can damage infrastructure and cause power outages.

Stay Safe:

• Secure outdoor items and trim tree branches near buildings
• Keep phones and battery-powered flashlights charged
• Follow weather alerts from Environment Canada
• Review storm safety tips on Preparing for an Emergency

Warmer temperatures increase the risk of diseases spread by mosquitoes and ticks, such as Lyme disease and West Nile virus.

Protect yourself:

• Use insect repellent containing DEET
• Wear long sleeves and pants outdoors
• Remove standing water from items such as birdbaths, flowerpots
• Check for ticks after spending time outside

Helpful Resources:

• Public Health Ontario – Vector-Borne Diseases
• Durham Region – Tick-Borne Illnesses

Resiliency measures can help protect your home from the impacts extreme storms, flooding, and prolonged heat. It’s important to explore what might be the right fit for your property.

A few options to consider:

• Installing backwater valves and sump pumps to prevent basement flooding
• Using a rain barrel and/or rain gardens to help manage stormwater on your property
• Maintain eavestroughs and downspouts to direct water away from your foundation
• Plant native trees and shrubs to improve natural drainage and shade your property

Helpful Resources:

• Unflood Ontario – Tools to reduce stormwater and flooding risks
• Coming Soon! Weather-Ready Home Renovation Services from Durham Greener Homes! Durham Greener Homes is launching its new Weather-Ready Home Renovation Services to help Durham residents identify and reduce the impact of weather risks, including extreme heat and cold, flooding, and windstorms. With virtual or on-site weather-ready home assessments, you will receive expert personalized recommendations for smart, cost-effective upgrades to improve your home's resilience against extreme weather.

Make your kit accessible and readily available. Consider including the following items:

• two litres of water per person per day
• canned food, energy bars and dried foods (remember to replace the food and water once a year)
• manual can opener
• flashlight and batteries
• battery-powered or wind-up radio
• First Aid Kit
• special needs items - prescription medications, infant formula or equipment for people with disabilities
• extra keys for your car and house
• cash - include smaller bills, such as $10 bills (travellers cheques are also useful) and change for payphones
• sunscreen and sunglasses (with full UVA and UVB protection)
• emergency plan - include a copy of it and ensure it contains in-town and out-of-town contact information
• emergency car kit - items to include

Create your Emergency Preparedness Action Plan using the Emergency Management Ontario's online tool.

Review additional emergency supplies list from the Government of Canada that could be of use.

Learn about the nuclear Alert Ready system and nuclear emergencies.

Follow us on Twitter @CityofPickering and Like us on Facebook for regular #BePrepared messages.