Charlottetown City Council has adopted the City’s first-ever Climate Action Plan, an ambitious strategy that establishes goals and actions to prepare Charlottetown for the impacts of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Climate Action Plan charts a path towards a collaborative response to climate change, identifying ways government, residents, businesses and community groups can work together. It identifies targets and indicators to track the City’s progress toward implementation, including reducing corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent below 2015 levels by 2030 and by 60 per cent by 2040. Developed over the last two years, the plan incorporates feedback from extensive public engagement to ensure it supports the needs of our diverse community.
“Collaboration is a central tenet of climate action and we are grateful to the nearly 1,000 residents, businesses and community organizations that provided essential local knowledge and insights that shaped this plan,” said Councillor Trevor MacKinnon, Chair of the City’s Environment and Sustainability Committee. “We also know that climate change affects some individuals and communities more than others. So, as we move forward into the implementation of this plan, it is critical that we do so collectively and equitably.”
As a coastal community, Charlottetown is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change including sea level rise, heavy rainfall and windstorms. These impacts pose significant challenges to the city’s natural systems, infrastructure, local economy and community well-being. These impacts are detailed in the plan’s companion report, the
Cost of Doing Nothing Report that was released in February 2025.
The Climate Action Plan’s goals and actions are grouped under 10 themes:
• Climate Equity and Reconciliation – A key priority of the plan is ensuring actions taken also work to increase equity in Charlottetown.
• Emergency Preparedness – With increased occurrences of extreme weather predicted, the plan outlines actions to ensure the City’s emergency measures team is prepared and ready to respond.
• Food Security – The plan builds on previous work the City has done to support a secure and resilient food system.
• Efficient and Resilient Buildings – Energy use in buildings makes up 21 percent of the City’s corporate emissions and 40 percent of community emissions. Climate change can adversely affect buildings; increasing home and building efficiency and resiliency can work towards both climate adaptation and mitigation.
• Renewable Energy and Energy Storage – The plan outlines strategies to increase solar energy generation and storage at City-owned facilities.
• Sustainable Transportation – Transportation accounts for over 50 per cent of Charlottetown’s greenhouse gas emissions, which can be reduced by expanding public transit and active transportation options to decrease reliance on private vehicles.
• Natural Assets and Green Infrastructure – The plan outlines actions such as tree planting and invasive species management that will build on the City’s efforts to support and protect our natural areas.
• Adapted Critical Infrastructure – By working in partnership with the community and other levels of government to strengthen our critical infrastructure, the City can reduce the direct impact of damages due to climate change.
• Governance - The plan lays out steps to develop a sustainable funding model to support implementation and guide City decisions with climate action in mind.
• Education and Communication – The plan focuses on building awareness of climate change impacts and solutions in the broader community by sharing data and ultimately moving towards collaborative climate action.
“The Climate Action Plan will build on past success and guide the City into the future,” said Mayor Philip Brown. “It sets out concrete actions, timelines and targets that will move Charlottetown towards a low-carbon, resilient future. I want to thank our dedicated staff and collaborators who worked hard to create this action-oriented, comprehensive plan.”
The plan was developed in partnership with The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Canada and QUEST Canada, with funding assistance through the Canada Community Building Fund (formerly Gas Tax Fund), Municipal Strategic Component.
The Climate Action Plan aligns with Charlottetown’s strategic goals of community-building and placemaking, governance and civic engagement, inclusive economic growth, and infrastructure and the environment.
Read the full
Climate Action Plan.