TransformTO Overview

TransformTO is Toronto’s ambitious climate action strategy. TransformTO will reduce local greenhouse gas emissions, and improve our health, grow our economy, and improve social equity. Everyone will have a part to play in transforming Toronto into a low-carbon city.

According to the latest inventory release (2017), overall emissions have been reduced 44 per cent from 1990 levels, while Toronto’s population and economy continued to grow.

  • 52 per cent of GHG emissions in Toronto comes from homes and buildings, primarily from burning natural gas to heat indoor spaces and water
  • 38 per cent of GHG emissions in Toronto are generated by transportation, with 80 per cent of those emissions attributed to personal vehicles
  • 10 per cent of GHG emissions in Toronto are generated by waste, with food waste being the primary source

Toronto’s greenhouse gas reduction targets, based on 1990 levels:

  • 30 per cent by 2020
  • 65 per cent by 2030
  • Net zero by 2050, or sooner

Achieving these targets will require transformational changes in how we live, work, commute, and build.

To reduce the worst impacts of climate change and meet our GHG reduction targets, here’s what we must achieve.

Homes and buildings:

  • By 2030, all new buildings will be built to produce near-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
  • By 2050, all existing buildings will have been retrofitted to improve energy performance by an average of 40 per cent.

Energy:

  • By 2050, 75 per cent of the energy we use will be renewable or low-carbon; 30 per cent of total floor space across Toronto will be connected to low-carbon heating and cooling energy.

Transportation:

  • By 2050, 100 per cent of vehicles in Toronto will use low-carbon energy; 75 per cent of trips under 5 km will be walked or cycled.

Waste Diversion:

  • By 2050, 95 per cent of waste will be diverted from landfills.

With the support of community consultations and technical scenario modelling, TransformTO identified strategies that will reduce Toronto’s emissions and lead to a low-carbon city that is healthier, more prosperous and more equitable. More than 2,000 Torontonians were engaged in developing the plan.

Reports and updates on the TransformTO strategy and community engagement.

In 2016 and 2017, nearly 2,000 Torontonians provided input on the development of the City’s climate action strategy, TransformTO, by participating in events and an online survey.

Our commitment to engaging the community continues through community events, public consultation opportunities, and the creation of a Reference Panel on Climate Action in 2019.

Learn how you can get involved.

Early in 2016, the City began a technical modelling exercise to assess how greenhouse gas emissions will change over time in key sectors – buildings, transportation, waste, energy sources, land use – given current federal, provincial and municipal policies and programs.

See the TransformTO technical modelling scenarios and learn how they will be used.

CityInSight Opens in new window is a data visualization tool for the City’s TransformTO Climate Action Strategy. You can use the tool to get a better understanding of the projected emissions for Toronto, and you can manipulate certain variables for your own analysis and research.

Learn about TransformTO’s new tool to visualize projected emissions for Toronto.

The City’s Environment and Energy Division is coordinating the preparation of the next TransformTO Implementation Plan, 2021- 2023, which will build on the actions already underway for 2017 to 2020. The Plan will recommend climate actions and priorities within key sectors to 2023 to support the achievement of Toronto’s greenhouse gas reduction targets.

Opportunities for resident and stakeholders to provide their input on this Plan were available from October 7 to November 11, 2019. Visit ‘Get Involved’ to learn more about the consultation methods.