Climate Adaptation Plan

Project category

Environment, Conservation & Sustainability

Project state

Active

Visualization of a clock around the Earth with the text "Time to Adapt"

Climate Risk Assessment and Adaptation Planning

Preparing Collingwood for climate impacts and protecting our community, natural spaces, and everyday services.

Project Complete: Climate Adaptation Action Plan Endorsed by Council

Thank you to everyone who participated in the development of Collingwood's Climate Adaptation Action Plan. Community members, partner organizations, technical experts, and Town staff helped identify local climate risks and shape actions to build a more resilient community.

The Climate Adaptation Action Plan has now been endorsed by Council and will guide the Town's efforts to prepare for changing weather, protect community infrastructure and services, and strengthen natural systems.

To view the approved plan, supporting documents, and implementation information, visit the Town's Climate Adaptation Action Plan webpage at https://www.collingwood.ca/climate-adaptation-action-plan.

Moving into Implementation

The project planning and engagement phase is now complete. The Town is transitioning into implementation of the Climate Adaptation Action Plan and will integrate adaptation actions into municipal planning, infrastructure management, service delivery, and future decision-making.

Progress updates will be shared through Town reports, Council updates, and future climate-related initiatives.

Climate change is already affecting Collingwood. This project will help the Town understand local climate risks and plan practical actions to protect people, services and natural spaces.

This work will:

Identify how climate and weather changes are affecting Collingwood today

Assess which services, locations and residents are most at risk

Outline actions the Town can take to prepare and reduce damage

Support safe and reliable delivery of Town services (roads, water, emergency response, parks, recreation, facilities)

Help protect natural spaces such as parks, trails, wetlands and waterfront areas

Ensure Collingwood remains a healthy, active and welcoming community

Identify actions individuals in the community can take to help adapt and be ready for changing weather
The plan is Town-led, with input from partners and community members.

It will result in a Climate Risk & Vulnerability Assessment and Climate Adaptation Plan for Council's consideration in Summer 2026.
Climate adaptation is about preparing for the climate impacts and changing severe weather we are already seeing in Collingwood—flooding, heavy storms, extreme heat, and shoreline erosion.
For Collingwood, adaptation means:

Protecting people, homes, businesses and neighbourhoods

Keeping Town services running during extreme weather

Reducing damage and emergency costs

Safeguarding parks, trails, waterfront areas and natural spaces

Maintaining the natural features that make Collingwood beautiful, support our outdoor lifestyle and local economy

Helping the community stay healthy, safe and connected

A climate-ready Collingwood benefits everyone—residents, businesses, visitors and future generations.
The draft Climate Adaptation Plan will outline:
- How climate change is affecting Collingwood today
- Which services, locations and residents are most at risk
- Practical steps the Town can take to prepare for flooding, heat and storms
- Roles for the Town, regional partners and community
- Priority actions and when work could begin
- How progress and results will be tracked over time
This project will produce a draft plan for Council's consideration in Summer 2026.
This Task Force is made up of Town staff with a broad range of expertise spanning infrastructure, emergency services, planning, environment, finance, communications and community services. Their role is to guide this project and provide strategic oversight. They will also ensure that the Town takes action across all areas of the municipality, including services, infrastructure and policies. As the plan gets implemented, their job will be to ensure that the Town builds the internal capacity it needs across all departments to ensure adaptation planning and implementation are embedded in the everyday work.
Community engagement was an important part of developing the Climate Adaptation Action Plan. Throughout the project, residents shared experiences, identified local climate concerns, and helped validate priorities and actions.

The engagement phase has now concluded. We appreciate everyone who participated through workshops, public events, online surveys, social media engagement, and community conversations.
Collingwood is taking a practical, step-by-step approach to protecting our community from the impacts of climate change. Different projects focus on different parts of the challenge, and together they help keep Collingwood safe, healthy and ready for the future.
Mitigation (Community Climate Action Plan) focuses on actions that reduce emissions that contribute to climate change:

Reducing emissions

Improving sustainability

Using energy more efficiently

Adaptation (this Project) focuses on managing and reducing the negative impacts already happening due to climate change, like flooding, storms, heat, and shoreline erosion:

Preparing for the climate impacts we're already seeing

Protecting people, homes and businesses

Keeping everyday services dependable during extreme weather

Mitigation and adaptation efforts work together to:

Help keep residents safe and healthy

Protect parks, trails, waterfront areas and natural spaces

Support responsible growth and long-term planning

Reduce emergency costs and help the Town plan smarter for the future

Together, these efforts help Collingwood stay strong, resilient and ready to meet the challenges of climate change.
February 2026
- Established a Resilient Collingwood Task Force which is made up of Town staff with a broad range of expertise spanning infrastructure, emergency services, planning, environment, finance, communications and community services. (learn more about the Task Force below)
- Held three in-person workshops with an average of 20 participants representing around 16 areas of expertise
- Reviewed climate impacts specific to Collingwood
- Examined how changing weather patterns may affect municipal services, community spaces, and natural areas
- Assessed which services and systems are most vulnerable to climate impacts
- Evaluated and prioritized key climate risks based on likelihood and potential consequences
June 2026
- Connected with nearly 300 community members on June 13, 2026, at the Collingwood Downtown Farmer's Market. Anonymous data was gathered using feedback frames
- Polled the Town's social media audience through a series of questions between May 27 and June 16, 2026, on matters related to climate change
- Hosted a community engagement session in April 2026 where residents shared their experiences with changing weather, identified climate risks that matter most to them, and provided input on how the Town should prepare and prioritize adaptation actions
- Completed more in-person workshops, totaling five workshops with technical experts
- Drafted vision, goals, and objectives for Collingwood’s Climate Adaptation Plan
- Completed the preliminary set of adaptation actions for further review and refinement based on public and subject matter expert input.
October 2026
- Presentation of the draft Climate Adaptation Action Plan to Committee of the Whole
- Council endorsement of the Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment and Climate Change Adaptation Plan