HalifACT: Acting on Climate Together

Zero Emissions Day – Sept 21

The current amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere is 417 parts per million (PPM), the highest it’s been in human history. The last time this much CO2 was in the atmosphere was more than three million years ago. Global temperatures were between 2.5 and 4 C warmer and sea levels were as much as 25 metres higher.

CO2 is the gas that accounts for about 70 per cent of the greenhouse effect and, as the International Panel on Climate Change explains, “CO2 is the main anthropogenic [or human-caused] control knob on climate.”

Water vapour is the main contributor to the natural greenhouse effect and carbon dioxide emissions are the biggest human contribution. When heat from the sun radiates from the Earth’s surface, greenhouse gases trap some of that heat and makes it build up.

The big difference between water vapour and CO2 is that water vapour condenses and precipitates, while C02 remains in the atmosphere for anywhere between five and 200 years. (Water vapour typically only stays in the atmosphere for 10 days.) Every degree of warming also increases the atmosphere’s ability to hold onto water vapour by 7 per cent, making the greenhouse effect worse and flooding more likely during extreme weather because of a buildup of water in the atmosphere.

HalifACT and reaching net zero

The focus of HalifACT, our climate action plan, is investing resources into what we as a municipality can control. Zero Emissions Day is an opportunity to remember how many sources of emissions we need to address and how we can act on climate together so that future generations can enjoy a stable climate.

HalifACT sets a target of reaching net-zero municipal emissions by 2030 and net-zero community emissions by 2050. HalifACT describes our “carbon budget” as the amount of carbon that we can emit from this point on and still stay within 1.5 C of warming above pre-industrial levels. We don’t have much room for error if we want to meet this target.

Our municipal Solar City program has facilitated over $20 million worth of solar energy upgrades and kickstarted the local solar energy industry. We’ve installed 8,000 kW of solar energy capacity to date, and that number is growing rapidly. We have many other initiatives underway to support our climate goals, including the Municipal Electric Vehicle Strategy and the Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot program. We are retrofitting existing municipally owned buildings to increase energy efficiency and ensuring new ones are built to net zero or net-zero ready standards. The newly opened Halifax Commons Aquatics Facility and the Kiwanis Grahams Grove Community Building both are both net-zero ready.

The bathtub metaphor

Our planet’s atmosphere is like a bathtub and the gases we emit are filling that atmosphere faster than the “drain” can reduce water levels. The “drain” is the combination of natural processes that reduce carbon levels in the atmosphere—the wetlands, forests and especially the ocean—all of which absorb huge amounts of carbon.

If we keep filling the bathtub faster than it can drain, global warming will get worse. Currently, all of the fossil fuels we burn (for example, over 90 million barrels of oil per day) create a rush of CO2 that is filling up the tub and overwhelming the drain. HalifACT and other ambitious climate action plans are focused on turning off the faucet and getting to zero emissions in time.

Here’s how you can help:

• if you can, use public transit or active methods of getting around like biking or walking
• consider going electric when you purchase a new vehicle
• wash your clothes in cold water and hang them to dry
• unplug electronics when not in use
• take shorter, cooler showers
• only use your dishwasher when it’s full
• turn off lights in your home when they aren’t needed
• invest in a home energy upgrade, if possible

HalifACT: Acting on Climate Together

HalifACT is one of the most ambitious climate action movements in Canada. It's our community response to the climate crisis that will build a more resilient and healthy future in Atlantic Canada while preparing for current and future climate impacts. On June 23, 2020, Halifax Regional Council unanimously adopted HalifACT – a transformational plan to achieve a net-zero economy by 2050.

HalifACT is more than a plan – it’s a commitment to reducing emissions, switching to clean and reliable energy sources and demonstrating leadership from local government.

Investing in our future

As outlined in the approved 2022/23 Budget, a Climate Action Tax was established to implement the Strategic Initiatives of HalifACT. The tax is also being used to leverage climate action funding from the private sector, federal and provincial governments, providing the necessary investment for the success of HalifACT in the years to come.

Funds from the Climate Action Tax directly support HalifACT in acquiring electric vehicles and buses, constructing net-zero buildings and leading projects that improve the resiliency of communities and infrastructure.

Moving forward, the Climate Action Tax has been incorporated into the annual Budget and it is anticipated to remain in place for at least the next 10 years, with the associated rate determined annually. For the 2023/24 Budget and onward, the Climate Action Tax is a part of the base budget and does not factor into the tax increase required to balance the budget.

In the 2023/24 Budget, HalifACT capital initiatives received a total of $20.7 million in funding. Seven new positions were added to the HalifACT team to move climate action forward and help meet the goals of the plan.

For more information about the Climate Action Tax and funded HalifACT initiatives, visit: halifax.ca/budget.

Current progress report summary

See highlights from our latest progress report, presented to the Regional Council on November 22, 2022. 

Early successes in mitigation:

• $175,000 grant to support retrofit program received from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities 
• municipal guidance with our electric vehicle strategy, energy retrofit pilot and net-zero corporate buildings
• $20 million in solar energy systems installed through Solar City
• one third of Regional Centre All Ages and Abilities Bike Network is complete

Early successes in adaptation:

• $275,000 worth of trees to support Urban Forest Master Plan
• Natural Infrastructure Funding to improve Eastern Passage’s Shore Road ($5 million project)
• 1.25 acres of land and $750,000 for Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes land acquisition 
• emergency backup generators installed at four community locations to provide emergency comfort centres during extreme weather events

The Plan

Regional Council unanimously approved the HalifACT 2050 – Acting on Climate Change Together plan, the municipality’s long-term climate action plan to reduce emissions and help communities adapt to a changing climate. Have a look at our plans and supporting documents.

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