Test it. One, two, three. Okay. Climate Change Advisory Committee. Good evening everyone. We'll we'll start the Hamilton Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting. We do have quorum. Um so I'm just going to do a roll call. Um Councelor Casar. >> Yep. Uh, councelor Alex Wilson. Yep. All right, perfect. Um, >> Ian's here. Hi, Ian. Gabby's here. Baote, are you here? Okay. Uh, Jordan, no. Okay. Uh, Juliana, Jeff is, Sue is, um, is Jesse. Uh, Luchia is here. Aditia, no. Zach, no. Frank is here. Tristan, no. Shelley is here. And Mary Ellen is here. All right. Excellent. So, um, we have quorum, so we'll get started. Um, if you could just turn off your devices just to make sure that we are in silent mode on the meeting, that would be great. Um and then if you want to raise please raise your hand for people online if you can raise your hand if you have would like to speak and then for people in the room if you could just raise your hand and then I'll make a note and then I'll we'll go through that. Uh do want to do the land acknowledgements. The city of Hamilton is situated upon the traditional territories of the eerie neutral hiron wendon and the missagas. This land is covered by the dish with one spoon wampom belt covenant which was the agreement between the hudnesi and the anesabc to share and care for the resources around the great lakes. We further acknowledge that this land is covered by the between the lakes purchase of 1792 between the crown and the missagas of the credit first nation. Today, the city of Hamilton is home to many indigenous people from across Tur Turtle Island, and we recognize that we must do more to learn about the rich history of this land so that we can better understand our roles as residents, neighbors, partners, and caretakers. So, I didn't want to do the um agenda. Are there any changes to the agenda that would like to be noted by the CCAC? Seeing none, I was asking if I can have a mover and a seconder for the agenda. Sue and Shelly, was that you, Shel? >> Yeah. >> No, no, I got Sue, but Shel. Yeah. Thank you. All right. Um, is there anyone opposed to the approval of the agenda? Seeing none, it is carried. Are there any declarations of interest from any of the Hamilton climate change advisory committee just related to any agenda items that would like to be noted? Okay, seeing none, um and we'll move on. So, um I we have the minutes from the April 28th, 2026 meeting. I was just wondering if um people have any edits or noted any emissions that should be put into the meeting notes from the April 28th meeting. I don't see any. So just wondering if I can get a mover and a seconder and any seconders that I can thank Sue. Okay. And that is carried. We don't have any delegations on the agenda, so we will go through that. And then we have some items on agenda item number seven, items for information. We'll start out with the Office of Climate Change Initiatives updates. We're just getting the uh agend the the documents up. >> Yes. through the chair. If I can request to the CCAC um that we just change the OCCI ordering um just to allow our director Linda some time to present on the climate change reserve applications as she knows it best. I'm happy to start off on 7.1B the carbon budget and accounting framework and then uh when Linda is able to join she'll talk about the CCR. >> We don't need a motion or anything for that. Right. >> Carry on. Let's go. >> Okay. Thank you so much everyone. Um I'm going to go fairly quickly knowing that we've got quite a >> She's here. She's here. She just said I'm here. >> Okay. Should we go back to that? >> Just double checking. Linda, is your mic working and your camera? >> Hi folks. Yes. Apolog apologies. I've just joined. Trevor, why don't you go ahead and I'll get myself organized. >> Okay. Yeah, take your time. Okay. Thanks everyone. Um, so I've been um regularly updating this committee and specifically the the techn technical governance working group on Hamilton's carbon budget and accounting framework. Um but uh this is just a friendly uh update and a good news story is that uh the carbon budget and accounting framework uh was unanimously approved uh by uh general issues committee and further ratified by council council uh ratified it on June 3rd. Um so yeah, we're one of a few municipalities uh across Canada for that matter that has corporatewide carbon budget and accounting framework policies. Um, and I'll I'll just quickly go through um what I went through with general issues committee uh on May 27th. And this is a similar presentation. Next slide. >> I'm going to just scroll the back. >> Okay. Oh, just I'm going to escape here and then bring it down to like maybe like that. Is that okay? >> Yeah. >> Um and then just can you go back to the other slide just >> Yeah. >> Cool. >> There we go. Okay. Um, so just as a reminder, and I think this is what helped to allow council to make an evidenceinformed decisions and to adopt the carbon budget accounting framework as we've been uh updating them on an annual basis through our progress reports. And this is just a reminder of how the carbon budget and accounting framework is interwoven not only within Hamilton's climate action strategy and our community energy and emissions plan, but also previously ident identified by our office as a priority focus area. Next slide. Uh this was a slide just to really kind of show one is we've developed the vision and principles. Um and really the when you boil it down and this is what I'd mentioned uh to general issues committee is this framework is about transparency. It's about uh accountability uh for our goals and targets. and it's about making uh evidenceinformed decision decision-m as it relates to climate impacts on city-led projects. Another key point here is we developed this these this vision and principles uh through a variety of internal engagement uh with many departments and divisions. It was not the climate change office working in a silo. Uh the technical advisory committee included staff representation from finance, from procurement, from public works. Um, and it was a very collaborative effort across the city. Next slide. So, I kind of was half joking, but it's as I'm sure many counselors uh in the public uh are asking these questions is okay, what is a carbon budget accounting framework? And so, uh, this this lays out the first part of it, which is what is a carbon budget? Um, and won't go into the details as I'm as I'm sure many of you are aware. Um but essentially what a carbon budget just a general definition is the total net amount of carbon dioxide that can be still emitted by human activities uh to limit global warming to a specified level. and our consultant and through the calculations looking at the IPCC sixth assessment report um essentially based on those those tables and those calculations is roughly the world collectively uh to roughly with a high probability 67% chance to limit global warming uh within that 1.5 degree and two degree threshold for long-term average warming is 400 gigatons. um that doesn't mean much to me so I'm sure it doesn't mean a lot to a lot of people uh but those is the those are the global emissions from there the consultant um developed based on our direction a calculation methodology uh what's called the convergence and the contraction methodology from the C40s organization which is based on a global fair share approach um and really that fair share approach I think is important from that climate justice lens consideration as well and and an intergenerational um and global equity I would say around we as Hamiltonians and Canadians have been historically high emitting uh country and high emitting city and relatively speaking around the world uh a high GDP city and country. So therefore we need to drastically reduce uh our emissions uh to help the world collectively stay within that 400 gigatons. So based on that fair share approach, our communitywide emissions are estimated at 53 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. And then the corporation from the corporate um uh lead emissions such as our facilities, our fleet um that is a function of the community emissions and that is estimated at 422,000 or kilotons uh of CO2E. Next slide please. So the components of Hamilton's carbon budget and accounting framework includes uh two uh corporatewide policies and that is what um specifically council approved uh was appendix B attached to the uh peed staff report highlighted there on the screen. The first being the corporate corporate carbon budget and accounting framework and the second being the corporate carbon credit and offset policy which I'll talk about those two the purposes of those policies on the next slide and then the rest is what we consider an internal carbon management system and it's comprised of a variety of tools resources training updated templates um to integrate the carbon budget and accounting process into our existing financial processes. is okay. Next slide. Um I think as with any corporate policy really uh the policies are about establishing the high level roles and responsibilities uh for the organization and and specific departments and divisions uh and staff levels and really that's uh it lays out um the corporate carbon budget and accounting framework lays out those roles, responsibilities and timelines for the implementation of Hamilton's carbon budget and accounting framework. Um, and and I'll I'll be the first to say too that we weren't thinking at first we needed a corporate policy. Um, but really through internal engagement uh with staff and and others about what what what is it going to to take to implement this um a policy came a corporate policy came up time and time again um as setting the the clear transparent direction for the city. So that's what we did. Uh on the other policy, um this is the cor uh corporate carbon credit and offset policy. Um and really the purpose of that was to set the clarification and guidelines on how and when the city of Hamilton could purchase or sell carbon offsets. And I just wanted to kind of lay it out here too is one of the main reasons we did that um was really to stop city departments or divisions from even considering purchasing or selling carbon offsets. Um, and so it's it's clearly laid out in the carbon credit and offset policy that from uh and and I'll get the the exact terminology wrong, but it's thou shalt not uh purchase or sell uh carbon offsets until 2050 and until all feasible um options are implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. So, it's essentially putting a a temporary ban on selling or purchasing carbon offset credits. I will note both of these policies come with an annual review. Um and so as part of our office's responsibility is we we will do an annual review of these uh policies based on leading science and information. Um and should it require uh updates. There are there is delegated authority to our general manager of uh corporate finance to make minor uh updates to these policies. Uh but of course with any corporate policy that would require major updates, it would need to go back to council. Next slide. Uh this is just the process. Uh and I won't go through it in detail, but the little uh bubbles uh purple bubbles in there is really how we're following the existing budget process while implementing components of the carbon budget and accounting framework. And I think this was very critical to get buyin uh from finance staff uh specifically um and really highlighting uh to council um that this is a decision-making uh tool and additional information to be embedded throughout the budget process so senior leaders um directors managers directors and then our senior leadership team have the uh appropriate information related to climate impacts of city-led projects. Um and then finally allow council to transparently see uh climate implications um related to city-led projects through the budget cycle or budget process I should say. Next slide. Uh here's our proposed implementation timelines and um I think we're we're taking a a methodical approach weighing the climate emergency uh and the the urgency to implement this type of enabling framework combined with staff capacity resources. Um and so we're looking at uh first doing a two division pilot uh with staff training uh with those two divisions starting essentially now. Um, we're also looking at new capital projects over 250,000 uh through the 2027 budget process uh which anyone who knows like municipal budget processes that process is already well underway this year. So, we have staff already developing projects and project charters. So, um we're we're doing a little bit of catchup with those two divisions. Um, and what we thought was important is uh having a a recommendation report go to the new term of council on recommendations for scaling citywide. We would continue to look at capital projects for the 2028 budget cycle uh for capital projects. However, open up the voluntary approach for other projects less than 250,000. um really eyeing the 2029 budget process to make it mandatory for all new capital projects while also in previous years we'll we'll have to start diving into it. Um but again with anyone that understands like municipal budget processes too is there's new enhancements that staff asked but there's this long long long list of existing projects that have already been approved. Um there's also an operational uh uh budget process uh in addition to the capital budget process. Um and so essentially eyeing 2029 to look at um mandatory all new capital projects and begin um looking at operational projects and existing projects with a fully applied for all new and existing lead projects by 2030. And when we did internal engagement, that all seemed like a methodical, reasonable uh approach to to integrate what what I think we all consider to be a very big change management approach for the city to apply this um these calculators and these tools to climate impacts um on city-led projects. And I'll just quickly next slide. Yeah, this is just to reiterate these are all of the internal engagements we did. this committee will remember um uh it is probably about a year and a half ago so maybe it's a little vague but uh we did pre-con pre-conultation interviews and surveys to this committee around the uh the current budget accounting framework um and I think the lessons learned from there is um what we heard is okay this is all great but it sounds like a very corporate initiative so go and do it first and then come engage us with something tangible and that's what we've done. Um and I think part of the work of uh perhaps this committee and also the future uh community leazison group is looking at how we expand this framework um through a voluntary approach or voluntary reporting process for community- based uh institutions or initiatives. Um and I'll I believe that's it and I'll leave it there and open up for any questions. >> Any questions? Any questions for Trevor? Jeff? >> Um, yeah, this is it's great and very comprehensive. I guess I just had a a comment or a thought sort of in terms of the vision the vision piece up front. I guess maybe especially when conveying or preparing the report for the next uh council, just trying to tie in um the vision for this into like I know in the last strategic plan there was a vision statement for Hamilton to be the best place to raise a child and age successfully. Like how does this help with that? because um I think a lot of residents and and staff and counselors are going to struggle to to to put those two together like how I think ultimately all of what this committee this office does should tie back into that kind of a vision and the wording might be different but I think generally speaking there's not going to be a lot of uh controversy over you know wanting to make the city a good place to raise kids and to to grow older and all of that like to live you know that's that's what we be going. So, how does this help with that? And if that can be articulated, I know it's not an easy thing because it's it's a big thing and um as you showed like our contribution or the corporate contribution is small compared to Hamilton and Hamilton's small compared to Canada and the world, but you know, how does us doing that um help with what the city is trying to do? So, that would be my suggestion for just going forward. And I know this isn't as much of a communityf facing thing, but just in terms of how this is presented to a new council, I think that would be helpful. >> Any other questions for Trevor? >> Uh Ian, if I could then turn it over to you. Just I have one question. And I was just wanting to get some information on which are the two initial divisions that you um that you are going through the process and just out of curiosity why they were selected as the initial two. >> Yeah, through the chair. Uh thanks Gabby. Great question. Uh the two divisions we're eyeing are corporate facilities and an energy management from a capital facility standpoint. um hoping that they have new projects um but also looking at maybe how we assess existing projects that maybe didn't get priority over others. Um so from a capital standpoint and then the other uh division strategically is transportation planning and parking from a policy like long range planning perspective. So looking at potential environmental assessment, road long-term road reconstruction or new road construction projects um and playing around with the calculators and the scenario planning from a policy perspective. >> Excellent. Thank you very much. Any other additional questions on this agenda item? >> Oh, sorry. One thing quickly if there's no one else who has anything. I I'm just wondering um and sorry if this is contained. Is there is there a comparison against like a do nothing scenario or a status quo scenario? So it's like we need this new road or we need this overpass or bypass. Okay, we we do if it's something that's been directed or if there's a need that's been But the implication is, you know, if if we didn't do this, we're going to be saving money and we're going to be saving a bunch of I'm just wondering if there's a if there's sort of that consideration, too, because sometimes I I think that um like Hamilton's got a long to-do list and we're not going to be able to do everything on our to-do list. Um, and so the things we do obviously they have implication for the the rate base, the tax base, all of that stuff, but also carbonwise. So, um, maybe some things are going to be more efficient than others kind of thing. Anyways, just throwing that out there as well. >> Yeah. Through the chair, I can just quickly respond to and and wanting to be very clear to is what this framework is and what it isn't. It's a scenario planning tool specifically right now for greenhouse gas emissions assessments. So it doesn't automatically calculate costs or cost savings for that matter. But I think where I get really excited when I look at the capability of the calculators and the tools. It's essentially a scenario planning tool where you could calculate business asusual scenarios related to greenhouse gas emissions or lowcarbon options and scenarios for for example low utilizing uh uh low carbon concrete for example in a road reconstruction and it will be interesting to see and this is where the other templates need to come in is then how do we standardize that approach from a cost calculation standpoint um and how are those different scenarios ultimately which scenario is ultimately decided on and I think that will need to happen as it always does at the divisional level first. Um and so that that is things we want to learn through the pilot and and and the pilot phase. >> Seeing no other uh questions I think we can move on to 7.1 Linda if that would be great. Thank you. There we go. Hi everyone. Apologies for being a few minutes late. My bike ride home is uphill. So, if my cheeks still look rosy, you know what? Um anyway, appreciate the chance to just give you a quick update on where we're at with um the 2026 round of climate change reserve uh city-led projects recommended to receive funding. Um, so you're all you all should be aware now. We did uh circulate to you uh a communications update and it was pretty much identical to one that was sent to all of council um prior to uh June 17th. Um that was the general issues committee where our staff report went forward uh with the recommendations uh for projects that uh that re application reviewers agreed should be recommended to receive funding. So that happened last week. Um, and I just want to maybe preface um before I get into a little bit more detail, just acknowledge and thank uh both Jeff Hart and Mary Ellen Scandlin, the uh climate change advisory committee members who joined uh a review group that included five directors from the climate internal climate change initiative steering committee and we all worked together to review score and and have some conversations about projects that we felt should be funded. Um so this went forward on the 17th and we did receive um count uh committee GIC committee support on that recommended list and it's now going to move ahead to council tomorrow for ratification. So the the minutes from that GIC meeting are on the council agenda and I that'll be an opportunity I suppose if there are counselors who have any additional questions or comments on that report and the recommendations that that may happen tomorrow. But if if all goes through uh we'll be moving ahead um with this year it's a total allocation of about $3.26 26 million for 16 different projects. And you can see I think Beatatric has been um moving the screen up and down just um so that you can see the names of those projects and and in the communication that was circulated to you earlier and and I know that there's um there's a document attached to to the agenda for tonight that provides a little bit more detail about each project and the relevant actions within Hamilton's climate action strategy that it that it supports. Um, and then it also includes the the recommended amount of of funding for for each of those. So, if anyone has has questions, specific questions about any of the projects, I'm happy to do my best to try to answer um or um also, you know, I'm also happy to connect advisory committee members with the staff um who put these projects forward if you just want to have a a deeper conversation about what they've got planned moving forward. You'll you'll see from looking at the list, it's a really nice um variety of projects. We have everything from support um for an open space management plan and that's an action that's identified in Hamilton's climate action strategy. So, our colleagues in the environmental services division in public works um put that application forward um to another great application from city housing Hamilton to make some transitions of uh um methane gas powered hot water heater systems in both lower density and and multi- multilevel um residential social housing to transition them over to um um hot water systems powered through um airsource heat pumps. So, some some really interesting projects. Um quite a number of them we're going to learn a lot from. And I'm also happy to say that on this list there are a number of projects that really zero in on uh helping supporting Hamiltonians on adaptation. So, some great projects from our friends in public health. Cool kits and there's a cool neighbors program that's really focused on building neighborhood networks of caring. Um, they've also got a a really neat initiative that'll focus on helping community members to build box fan air filtration systems. So, that really zeros in on acknowledging the heat issues, but also um wildfire smoke and and remote wildfires and the smoke that that we've all we all have already experienced can travel into our community. Um, so I'm going to pause there and if anyone has questions, I'm I'm happy to answer answer them, do my best to answer them, but but also to connect you with other staff who's who who know these projects better better than I do, for sure. >> So, so far I see Luchia and Frank with their hands up. Are there any additional questions? >> All right, Lucia, take it away. Well, uh, thanks for the update and yeah, generally speaking, one for feedback that, you know, the list of projects, you know, in past years, the committee has been fairly, uh, uh, critical of some of the projects. I think you can see from the lack of people jumping to criticize this time around that were, um, very happy to see all the all the progress in the process and and want to recognize that work. Um I do however have one uh critical question maybe to be passed along to public health which is to talk about the cool kit program. Uh folks might remember and I think it might have even been the first advisory committee meeting I was citing evidence from the US that cool kits are not substantially effective in preventing people from going to the hospital. It might by an hour or two but it doesn't fundamentally change their reality if they're if they're in a case where uh they can't have access to cooling. So I'm curious because it does say that this is an evidenceinformed tool. Do we have evidence from public health that these cool kits are actually working? Um, and could we get that information? Because I think that that's useful in terms of showing people um, you know, why things like extreme heat bylaws and other and other things that maybe aren't aren't quite at the top of mind of of council need to be there because we're not fundamentally uh, based on evidence in the US changing people's destinies with these cool kits. >> Sure. Through through the chair. Yeah, Luchia. For sure. I can I can share some more information with you. We do have staff from public health who've been working on this initiative. Um did provide some additional information and it was very much focused on our people finding the contents of the kits useful. So, I don't know if it's going to dig down to the level that that you're asking about here, but I think just in terms of, you know, are are these items that that people who are receiving the kits are finding useful? We definitely have evidence from them that yes, pe people are confirming that they're they're using the contents of the kit and they're and they're finding it beneficial. Um, that's certainly not to say that this is enough to to address, you know, what you're pointing to, you know, the the bigger picture challenges that we're already facing and we know we're going to continue to face in Hamilton with impacted community members um when it comes to extreme heat and making sure people are supported and protected. I totally agree with you. We've got lots more we need to do, but I'm happy to I can I can certainly um provide that information. I'll get that through staff. Thanks. Much appreciated. >> Yeah, no problem. >> And Frank, take it away. >> I you sent that list to us before and I apologize for not getting back to you with some specific questions and probably won't be able to answer it, but I was I'm curious or would like to know a little bit more about the the heat pump program, the water the air source heat pump program. Uh you know, how many is it the same um make, model, and cost kind of thing? I think there was >> Yeah. So >> uncertainty >> through the chair. Those are great questions and maybe what I can do because um this the the specifics around um you know what particular models where they've been sourced from. Um I can't answer those questions but but I could certainly uh work to get you connected with the staff at City Housing Hamilton >> who are spearheading these efforts. Um they may they may not even know yet. I I don't I don't know. All I know is that >> they may not have placed the order. >> This is the transition that they're making. And I do know I mean the interesting piece about this project too is that they'll really be te testing you know that that system for a multi-level multi-res building and I think I think that's going to be interesting too. Um but I but I will I will commit Frank to getting you connected to the staff who who are directly involved in this project so that you can ask your questions of them directly. >> I appreciate that. Thanks. Yeah, no problem. Any additional questions for Linda? Jeff, take it away. >> Hey, Linda. Yeah, I appreciate um >> I appreciate uh >> this. I guess I'm still like I struggled with some of obviously I'm I don't want to go into too much detail and this has been discussed. I struggle with some of the the projects that were asked like came forward for funding. I'm just I guess hoping next year that it'll be less projects that you would think should be funded from um operating or capital budgets. And um for some of them like that are being funded um under this some of the climate benefits are fairly marginal even though some of the costs are also fairly marginal. Um, like I think they're better and they're less controversial than before, but I still think I still see this as being just a pot that a bunch of departments were looking for additional money from. So, they were having to Yeah. like the climate impact is going to be like having to come up with something because they needed funding for projects um that are are otherwise not funded. So there was a few of them like I don't want to necessarily call out some of these specifically but um just a few that I found kind of disappointing or you know more money for studies whereas the money could have been probably just used for implementation whereas just hiring consultants for certain things. So um I think it's there's an improvement over last year for sure but I think there could definitely still be a tightening up in terms of the type of projects what's being asked for and what ultimately gets funded. like there was some really good stuff like city housing or um Hamilton, some really stuff that was really tangible and some of the other community initiatives and then there was some of um like frankly the the pumps that's more dubious and it's just it was just looking for a place to to get money because there wasn't wasn't funding for. So, um and the other one that I was scratching my head over was the the bird friendly one. it was mostly for the the consultancy cost and I think there was some reaction from staff that they were like oh yeah no this is going to be for implementation too but it wasn't really clear initially that that was at all the intent and I was trying to get at like you know you could probably put up a lot of film for $300,000 on buildings that um instead of just studying it you know what I mean so that was just an example of ones that left me scratching my head a little bit in terms of in terms of the ask um So I guess definit definite improvement from year uh the last year and I'm just hopeful that there's I guess that that trend continues. Thanks. >> Yeah, through the chair. Thank you Jeeoff. Appreciate that that input for sure. Um and um you know if if you if if you feel you've got a little bit of time just to send me an an email. I mean I'm taking note of what you're telling me now, but if you wanted to elaborate, please feel free to do that. I think I think we're looking at this pro this process I mean it has already been a very iterative process with each year we're we're trying to get better at assessing and establishing solid criteria you know including parameters around you know what should we be considering and what shouldn't we be um and I definitely appreciate your insights I know you've done the reviews for a couple of years now so if if you've got more you'd like to share please do so um and we can certainly take a look and and do our best to strengthen the template for the next round. That would be much appreciated if you're if you're willing to share share in writing some of your concerns. Any additional questions for Linda? Okay, seeing none, I think we can move on to agenda item 7.1C, the Office of Climate Change Initiative 2026 work objectives. So this is a number of our work plan objectives. So we have to present our annual um update progress report to general issues committee and that's coming up really soon. till July 29th. If anyone wants to delegate, that's something that is always welcome. Um, we're also developing the rest of we we have to still develop the climate change report card and that's going to be in collaboration with you know the technical and governance working group of the climate change advisory committee. There's also an hopefully the internal and external uh dashboard that's going to be like maybe public facing. We have two division pilots for carbon budget and the C framework implementation. You heard a little bit about that. But uh of course the climate justice framework co-design continues. We're at the point where we've we've um the engagements have all been done for 13 different partners. Now it's a question of like analyzing getting the the reports the summary reports that were written get those analyzed and then from there actually build that that um that framework through the the guiding principles of that framework um and continue on to so we have our senior project manager she's working on the draft net zero policy for new corporate buildings and you've heard Katherine talk a little bit about that and if anyone has questions she's here on the on the webinar WebEx. We have another project manager who's been working on the neighborhood small grants program development and so that has to that there's still a bit of work to complete that work and and launch the program. Um Katherine can report back on better homes Hamilton pilot programs after she's done the analysis of that program and just give you know be able to provide more information on the different um archetypes that that were used and just the whole program itself and how to scale up. Of course we're going to be talking about the climate change advisory committee to community layers on group transition. Um and that's going to be as we all know our last meeting coming up September the 22nd. after that we're in layers on group. So how does that look? Get a bit more details on that and hoping that that will with the help of the um the working group the the uh comm community engagement and the climate climate justice working group of the climate change advisory committee. We're hoping to get support from from that group. And of course we're going to continue with our ongoing communications and engagements and hope you know potentially even a newsletter. And then of course we're excited to do our next um climate forum fall 2026. So volunteers are always welcome on that as well. And I think yeah I think that's it. Okay. So any questions and comments. >> I see Trevor Sue. Any others at this point? No >> through the chair. not a question, just to provide a bit of context of why we put this these slides together. Um and as you'll see in the other agenda items for today's discussion, we thought this would be helpful uh just from the major uh initiatives that we have on the go and wanting to complete in 2026 um as kind of a starting point to help the committee um uh kind of develop or or look at what what is on their remaining work objectives. and you'll see that as a an agenda item uh in this meeting to discuss as well. Um and and really just kind of laying it out there on from a understanding is this is the second last meeting of the CCAC. We have a final meeting. in September and there is quite a bit of work as you could see um from us but also from the working groups that I think uh want to be achieved and so yeah just just a starting point and hopefully this was helpful uh for the working groups just to kind of see where they fit in um in terms of the the our work objectives. >> Thanks Trevor Sue take it away. >> Thanks for that. I just had a clarifying question. Is the climate forum like the one last year that at David Brilley? Is that the Okay. So, um when do you have an idea when that will be taking place? It says fall but kind of an idea >> through the chair and Linda, please feel free to jump in if you want to add anything. Um to answer your first question, yes. Uh the climate forum proposed on the slide is similar to last year's climate forum. Um, I think this um this year's theme is going to be different than last year's theme. I'm not sure we've set on a on a firm theme, and I think we're open to feedback on that. Um, and apologies, what was the second question? >> Oh, uh, I think the the rough date uh to be determined. Um, but just looking at the calendar, it's probably it's probably not going to be in the early uh part of of October. So most likely I would say late late October. >> Any other different o any other questions on the OCCI update? >> Don't see any. So we will move on to agenda item 7.2 transition plan for advisory committee to make community leaison zone group. through the chair. There's no presentation uh on this one. I think we wanted to put this on as a discussion item. Um I think for two points of clarification and direction from the committee. Uh the first is that uh the climate justice and engagement working group um be the working group that helps to develop um the recruitment strategy for the next uh well maybe not next the new community liaison group. um and that recruitment strategy and perhaps we um could have included the the the terms of reference that been have been approved, but I think the first step would be the working group with staff support um looking at what the terms of reference lay out in terms of the recruitment strategy. Um because I think we did get some questions from counselors about like what that recruitment strategy looks like. Um, and it's not going to look like what it did previously with um, counselors leading it through interview subcommittees. It's staffled. Um, but I think what counselors really appreciated and I think through the consultations we did with this group is trying to um, align the recruitment strategy, the different reporting mechanisms with existing advisory committee structure. Um so part of that recruitment strategy does include uh and I think we need to discuss this of like the who, what, when, where and how of um getting future counselor involvement um in that recruitment strategy. Um and of course from a climate justice and um equity deserving like population approach first. Um that recruitment strategy um needs to be equitable in how we do the volunteer call out etc. And so we look forward to to working with that group. I think just one other final point of clarification is um as with any working group um it's open for additional participation. So if other members of the CC CCAC I felt so inclined to participate in that working group. Please feel free to I don't want to speak for you but reach out to the co-chairs. We'll help you organize the meetings. Um and we'll start uh start tackling that one. Oh, take it away. >> Yeah, thanks Trevor. I just wanted to add for the chair that um we will have support from the public engagement team. So, if we want to do some promotions um advertising to get more people involved, we we can have that kind of support as well. >> Thanks, Beatric. Any questions? I see Jeff Sue. Any hands on line? if you just want to get your while you're thinking about it. Um I'll Jeff and then Sue. >> I'm just curious a bit about process given that we're it's in the summer now and elections coming up. Um, is the terms of reference going to be something that's um approved by the next council or is this whole like obviously the next council decides that it wants to weigh in on in this it can, but how is how are things um like how is it anticipated that this is going to go? I'm asking this because if you're reaching out to communities, reaching out to people and say like this is how we envision things now. We don't really know what things are going to look like. Honestly, we don't really know what things are going to look like on the next with the next term of council because it's gotten to this point, right? So, I don't know even if it's prudent. Like, we're presupposing some things here. We're going to kind of make commitments if you're wanting to be equitable and just and all of these good things. um we're making certain commitments that we may or may not be able to to commit to going forward because we're not going to know what the direction is of the next council and they are ultimately the decision makers as we know. So that's my my note of caution because this was my caution like months ago when we were talking about this like I didn't know there were staff coming in saying hey we want you guys involved this is going to be great you know don't worry it'll be awesome I was like so what exactly is this going to be and like what would we be telling people and why should we be excited to be involved and I wasn't I wasn't understanding that and I guess I still am not understanding that I understand that this is the direction and this is the decision that's been made but it's all subject to change, right? So, I'm just saying like I don't know if it makes sense to go out to communities right now and for people to spend their sort of relational capital or however you want to describe it to promote something that may or may not um is not necessarily fully formed or not necessarily something that they can feed into but that might not lead to anything because council the new council could decide, hey, this isn't a priority for us right now for a number of for a number of good reasons, Okay. So, that would be my caution because if you go out there and you say some things and then that doesn't happen, then you're potentially burning bridges in that regard, too. >> Go ahead. >> Yeah, thanks Jeff. All super valuable feedback. I think there's just some points of clarification um for yours and and everyone's benefits. Um so the terms of reference um were received by council already um and we we don't need council approval moving forward um for this uh recruitment process for the climate change advisory committee. It's the whole purpose of the climate change advis sorry from the advisory committee transition to the community lison group. Um it's it's staffled. Um, and I think we're in a very unique situation because we have we're one of the few existing advisory committees. Um, so I just wanted to make it clear that like unless the new term of council wanted to do a reconsideration vote on this structure, um, which I don't necessarily see happening, but I mean, who knows? Um, it's it's very much a staffled, um, approach for the recruitment process. and for sure 100% hear you around prematurely going out to the community. Um that definitely wouldn't happen until we have a robust strategy developed. So really between now and September, my thought is we work with the working groups and others to develop what is that process? What does that look like? So come roughly November, December, um uh we have some marketing promotion material. We understand the the populations that we want to invite. Um and so the actual call out for the community probably wouldn't happen until maybe even early next year depending on timing. Um but so all we're really saying right now is we need to get all of our ducks in a row and do the planning exercises uh to do the recruitment. >> For the chair, I just have one quick thing to add. I understand that one former advisory committee is really um doing recruitment and that's the clean and green community lives on group I guess it's called now. So I I I'm going to look into how what they're doing, but it seems there's no there's a it looks like there's a every layers on group is going to be different. So I know that it's a concern, but that's that's what's happening and we're just going with what the expectations are, you know. So everyone's terms of reference that there's there's no I don't even believe that the the terms of reference are part of the approval like council approver at this point. I don't if I understood that it's just going to be as Trevor said really staff kind of led. >> Okay. Thanks. >> And Sue next. Take it away. >> Thanks for that. Uh what is the time frame for when we're to get to work on this? Um the second question is how much support will we be getting from the engagement team? And just something to what Jeff said. I got all in my head there for a second worrying about what you were saying and then uh I've kind of shifted to deciding that we go for this like we just put everything into making this the best recruitment process and the most just and whatever that we can and we see what happens. So happy to help with that. >> Yeah. So thanks for that Sue that's encouraging through the chair. I think that it's up to us to decide um because we said our last meeting as an advisory committee and it's the end of term of council of this council. So from there if even if we were to plan to launch in January or something like that I'm just you know maybe we can decide on that once we we meet as a as a group to talk about that. I guess maybe we'd want to know who wants to be involved in this and then go from there. Thanks. Go ahead. >> Yeah, I just wanted to prepare my family if I was going if they're going to be losing me again after working on the workshop and then if we were diving into this. So, I sort of Yeah. Hello, family. Sorry. >> Any additional questions from any members? >> I just >> Oh, Luchia, take it away. Um the technical and governance group at one point uh put together some handy governance um framework in place for working groups here. Um want to put that forward maybe to folks that are going to be involved if they want to look at that. It might um be a good starting point in terms of looking at uh you know some of these terms of referency things for the new um leazison group just because it'll be more voluntary participation. That's kind of what we had looked at. Um, and one of our past uh, members who al had to leave because they now work at the city, but um, they were really instrumental in helping to put that together and I think it would be great to leverage their expertise in in that as well. >> Do you want to respond or anything takeaways? >> You'll be joining us, right Luchia? >> And shout out to Tran. I'm sure you're talking about Tran. He's amazing. Any additional questions? Uh just one question with regards to next steps on this. Is there any kind of vote that needs to take place, approvals or anything like that for kind of delegating that to the kind of uh the community justice and community engagement working group? >> No. >> Yes. For the chair, I don't think so. Okay. We require No, we just need require volunteers. >> Okay. And then while it would be the just a reminder that it's open for any Hamilton climate change advisory committee member to join this effort, it's not uh limited to the climate justice and community engagement working group. Just reach out to Sue and uh Shelley. All right. Then that's the uh item 7.2. We have uh 7.3 climate change advisory committee um 2026 remaining work plan. Um is that relating to the working group or is there additional is there a staff person who's speaking to that? >> So for the chair I can speak to that. Okay. So, just people can object if they don't if they think it's too much. But we kind of we compiled what we assume from previous plans would would is what's left for the remaining 2026 year. Um, so the builder's working group, these are some of the points and I think uh Gabby you might want to comment on those because I know you had some further comments but again really looking at um tracking what's going on with the green building standards uh and relevant legislation. I know that the buildings work group is doing that anyway. Um and so I we put that point there concerning the green but green green um building standards plan into committee that might not be I mean again it's to keep working to keep informing um with your your your expertise um and you see a number of points here. I'm not going to read everyone up because it's I just in the interest of time, but I'll go on to the community engagement and climate justice one. And that's again the same idea of helping helping to um recruit or actually have a transition strategy for new members. The technical and governance working group uh will be recommending on an easy to understand climate report card with the key metrics and climate hazards which I think you're already working on. you just want to complete that work and again provide support and advice for the on the advancement of the carbon budget and counting framework. So that continues. Um and then we have the transportation working group and everyone's going to get a chance to to when you have your your updates you can tell us whether or not this is still the case. But the I know most recently Ian, you're the chair of this transportation working group and you have talked about again bringing together um community and non city organizations that are active on transportation issues to to uh recommend policies that will help the city of Hamilton reduce transportation emissions not currently adopted. And then the naturebased solutions working group has said that they would like to continue working on um advising on consolidation of updates and information regarding naturebased solutions and actions across the city. So those now once we get to the next item we can talk about you know if if this is appropriate what we've pulled together. Thank you. >> Thanks Beatatric. Um I think we can go on to agenda item then uh 7.4 four, right? Um for the climate change advisory committee working group updates. Um there we can start out with the community engagement and climate justice working group just in terms of whether this is aligned with what you think is what the um community um community engagement and climate justice working group will be able to achieve by the September. Keep in mind one meeting September meeting that's it. Um, sure. I I can just report for Sue and I um we've been um busy for many months really organizing um um a major um um workshop and it was called showing up for the crisis a workshop for professionals community leaders on climate distress healing and action uh was held on June 5th and well attended. Um, I want to especially thank Sue and uh Jordan and Tristan on our committee for their hard work on this. It was, you know, months and months of steering this thing to the original and I disappeared for a month right before it. So, it wasn't very good either. Um and at the you know kind really the um the um the people from the office of climate change initiatives were instrumental as well in in helping us pull this off and and uh coming in and uh Linda for example was you know an excellent uh um sort of host and uh helped us frame the day and uh it was really well um well put together especially the program that that Sue and Jordan and Tristan and worked on. So, we are working on right now more of a comprehensive report on it which will be we'll bring to you in September um which will include the budget and and um the major outcomes and we um have surveyed the people that attended. So, that will be coming up in September. I think that's Did you want to add anything Sue? >> Yeah, just so you don't have to totally wait for the report. I just wanted to say that again just thank you to the office of climate change initiatives. We had a pretty blue sky uh you know approach to this but um it was I think really worth it and your help was amazing and thank you um to everyone who helped with this. I I just want to say that it's not over and so many people were immediately asking us like what's next? What are you going to do next? And but the best part of this I think was the fact that everyone who worked on this, the the co-design team, but even the community engagement and climate justice working group folks who worked on it, including people from Hamilton is home, uh they're in like they didn't want the last meeting that we had like the wrap-up meeting about this to end. like so people are are they they want to continue and I think that's I think just I think that's and even with the during the transition they said that um they want to stay on and work so >> yeah and then I see Lucha's hand up anyone other hands up for the community climate justice and community engagement working group okay Luchia take it away >> just wondering if your report is going to have any recommendations for staff in terms of like lessons learned about public engagement, lessons learned about how uh you know citizens in Hamilton can be brought in a little bit more to stuff that OCCI is doing just to maybe bring it back to some of the core mandate here from the office. >> We can definitely do that if that is something that is wanted. I think even in terms of the idea of like the the fall climate forum event that staff's going to be hosting of the feedback that you can share um you know ways to make it more uh engaging and and reach folks would be awesome. Any additional questions? No. Seeing none, uh the next one on the agenda is the buildings working group. Ian, if I could just pass it on to you for the chairing just so I can speak to the building's working group. So the building's working group does have um the bu the the agenda items that were identified. I think one of the key things that might not be able to be got uh achieved by the September deadline is the city housing one just because that is dependent on city housing coming to the Hamilton climate change advisory committee or the buildings working group to be able to provide a presentation and I can't guarantee that that will actually take place. However, what we are anticipating is that there will be two meetings for the buildings working group in July. One of them will focus in on the corporate buildings as well as the green development standards. Really looking at what the city of Hamilton has kind of presented already on the corporate initiatives. um and then how that relates to the leading practices in other Ontario municipalities for go for the municipal roadmap towards net zero. In addition, the um there will be an update in terms of the green development standards and where that legislation stands. I don't know exactly what kind of recommendations could possibly be going to u planning committee as a result of the that legislation and how it gets implemented still being in flux. But certainly there is opportunities for recommendations rel related to um uh tracking uptake in this voluntary market to be able to understand what is being achieved in a voluntary market and then that kind of informing what needs to happen moving forward. if uh to move to SCA to drive uptake in a much more wholesome way that would actually address the issue um so that it helps build the case for the need for the Ontario building code to incorporate greenhouse gas emissions into its into itself and updates on energy efficiency and GHG considerations in um in the Ontario code the Ontario building code. So that would be one meeting just focusing in on GDS and the corporate buildings. Then the second meeting um for the meeting will be on scaling up retrofits and looking at what does that mean for like what's happening with better homes, what are the plans for Hamilton, what recommendations would like to go from the buildings working group and then ultimately from the Hamilton climate change advisory committee to um the city in regards to better homes Hamilton as well as what the what what recommendations would be coming from the committee to the city of Hamilton related to retrofits and scaling up retrofits and what needs to be considered by the OCCI and the city of Hamilton as a whole. But really what it comes down to and I'm hoping that we can actually have those two meetings in July which then leads us towards getting draft recommendations out to uh from from the buildings working group to the Hamilton climate change advisory committee. I'm anticipating that would be a Google doc that will be shared with the climate change advisory committee in August. And then the final to-do will be recommendations from the buildings working group to the Hamilton climate change advisory committee at the September meeting um for what goes to the city of Hamilton and the mechanisms for how it actually is presented um to the city of Hamilton. But that's the plans at this stage of the game. Any questions? Oh yeah, >> quick comment through the chair. Um, thanks Gabby. That's a lot. And I think just a comment that for all of the working groups to as you uh meet and as staff liaison and your support we can help is what are the best mechanisms to bring that forward? Um, is it formal citizen committee report that we would have to write to submit to general issues committee? Is it formal motions for example to have GIC approve and then direct staff work? So, um, yeah, just throwing that out there is don't forget about the and we're happy to help support you on what are the best mechanisms to bring that information forward. I would definitely say that that would need to be part of the recommendations that goes in front of the Hamilton climate change advisory committee at the September meeting so that they understand how this information is going to be shared with the city either through OCI staff or if it has to go through a community day um community um liaison no community citizens citizens committee report to be able to go to another department in within the city or to the GIC. >> So through the chair, I'm just I'm also trying to find out what templates are available because I'm not sure that the C the citizen committee report will be a tool that we can use anymore. So I'm not sure. So >> okay. So that still is something that we'll have to figure out at from the recommendations on what avenues is there available to the to the climate change advisory committee to get this in front of the city of Hamilton. >> Oh, sorry. Thanks. So, I see Katherine's hand up. Then Sue. I can Katherine. I see you're you're still muted. Okay. I'll then while we're figuring that, I'll turn it over to Sue. Oh, go. Go ahead. Sorry. >> Okay. Sorry. For some reason, I I was very slow. Um uh through the through the chair to the chair. Um Gabby, um I I just wanted to make you aware that uh I will be going to GIC on September 2nd regarding a report back to GIC on the Better Homes Hamilton program. So I just wanted you to be aware of that date. And then um I'm I'm in the calendar to be going to GIC again at the end of September regarding the corporate net zero um emission standard. So I just wanted you to be aware of those dates. And following through on that, are there is that maybe that's one of the questions I would have is there a mechanism for either of these the recommendations? No, they can't go into it. So the timing of if not through that what are the other mechanisms to get this in front of the city of Hamilton would be some of the key questions that I would have because the timing won't work for that right um it will it will work for city staff to inform the building's working group but I don't think it'll work for the vice versa to come on for the timing so then we'll just need to figure out an alternative pathway for how this information can get put as part of the record of recommendations. >> Okay. Okay. Sue. >> Hi Gabby. I just wanted to ask uh I wanted to clarify really. So you'll be sending something out to like the whole climate change advisory committee meeting and what will you like what will you be needing at that time? So it will be a email sent out to the whole buildings working group as well as the Hamilton climate change the whole Hamilton climate change advisory committee of the two meetings that will be taking place in July if you're able to join. They'll be reporting back to the whole climate change advisory committee on the draft recommendations that will be present that are potentially presented to the Hamilton climate change advisory committee that will take place in August. and then the really the finalization and input from the Hamilton climate change advisory committee by the end of August so that we can put it into for September whatever gets approved by that kind of time period for the Hamilton climate change advisory committee and really really comes down to it is just recommendations for what is the kind of coming from the Hamilton climate change advisory committee in terms of what the city of Hamilton needs to be kind of considering or taking into well taking into consideration as it goes through its next council term. >> That's super helpful. I just wondered what it what the ask really was just so that people were willing to open their emails and contribute to it. >> Yeah. So if you can join the meeting and you have input that would be amazing. If not but what we're really looking to get some input from the climate Hamilton climate change advisory committee is on the draft recommendations and questions people have on that. Okay. And then uh the next um one on the list is I think transportation. Let me just see. Sorry. >> Technical and governance. If I can turn that over to you, Luchia, that would be great. I mean, the update's fairly minor because Trevor already presented the carbon budgeting uh and accounting framework, which was uh something that I mean, I delegated at in a personal capacity, but members of our group were following very closely to see that that uh go through. Um the item remaining about the uh report card and making this more publicly accessible, that work has begun. We've got a framework document from Trevor that we are going to be finishing filling out and probably before we leave the room tonight, we'll set a time that works for everybody here um to to talk. And obviously any members online, we are definitely happy to have you join us. I'll send a notice out probably to the whole committee so that people can um can decide whether or not they're able to attend um and we can get the recommendations for what metrics the public would want to see about climate change in front of them. That would be great. Any questions for the technical and governance committee? Not seeing any. Then we will go on to the transportation working group. Ian, if I can call on you for that. Not seeing Ian there. So, why don't I just move on to Juliana if you have any updates on the naturebased solutions working group and we can come back to Ian. Take it away, Juliana. >> Thank you. Uh the note that Beatatric included in our work plan is accurate and so we will be continuing to work on that um uh report analyzing the how the policies that um have commitments around naturebased solutions how they align overlap or if there's anything lacking and trying to identify opportunities to strengthen that coordination and support implementation. So, we will also likely have some recommendations of that draft that are drafted to share with the uh committee in the summer time hopefully in advance of the September uh meeting. Any questions for Juliana? Not seeing any. Okay. Thanks, Juliana. Um Ian, are you able to unmute? I'm not sure if he's having technical issues. So that when we'll have to follow up and then put that as part of the meeting notes if that's okay. Um and then under agenda item number eight, any items for consideration? I don't see any. We do not have any. We don't have any motions. And um then we don't have any other business either. So, we can adjourn the meeting. >> Oh, sorry. Did I go through something way too quickly? Sorry. Take it away, Sue. >> Just putting Trevor on the spot. He did say he was going to talk about how he was going to make the last meeting fun. >> That that I'm just reminding on the record. >> Thank you, Sue. Actually, that's a great reminder. Um, and maybe something we forgot to talk about in item 7.2. Um I will kindly ask Beatatric to confirm what is the date of our last September meeting >> for the chair. It's September 22nd. >> Okay. September 22nd. Um so that's the last formal meeting of the climate change advisory committee. Um there is existing budget. Um and I think from a um logistic standpoint we probably should have it in this room again. um just with the broadcasting um and everything like that. But I think it would be and we discussed this as a team. I think it would be really great to hopefully have everyone come in person um and we can order some refreshments um and perhaps some snacks or food achieving the city's healthy food policy. Um but also just some time to celebrate um all of the great work and I and I know uh this our whole team and the city I think super appreciates all of the great work that uh each individual member has done and so we hope uh we hope to see everyone there in person September 22nd. September 22nd. Um and uh if we can get commitment on that um we can work on um providing some food and and catering uh ahead of that meeting. >> Excellent. Thanks, Trevor. Be interested. You put your finger up. No. >> Okay. Frank. Um Frank, take it away. >> I just wanted to circle back to the buildings committee. I had put my hand up, but I was pretty slow and I'm fighting a cold. So that's my reasoning for that. But uh I think uh Gabby, you gave us a good summary of where we're wanting to go. The the one thing that you stressed was green building standards are voluntary right now. And so we I think maybe as a committee we could look at how do we grease the wheels so that these voluntary standards are being adopted more readily by some of the people that are say leading the charge on on the environmental issues. uh that we we all are holding fairly closely. There's always somebody out there that's going to be willing to make an investment and so we need to look at ways of uh encouraging um the early adopters. That's the only thing we wanted to maybe add to that meeting occurring in July. >> Yeah, absolutely. Frank, I think there's that that the the the two key questions I think that are going to be really important for kind of identifying the recommendations coming from the group is that one, how do we drive uptake in a voluntary market and two how do we ensure transparency and uh associated with the tracking of where uptake is occurring and then over and over what period of time as well. >> Yeah. And I guess the point is we don't have to necessarily wait. There's some I say technologies uh some of the stuff that the that Linda uh mentioned just the heat pumps for example, but it's things that uh are ready to go. They're on the shelf and they just need uh uh you know some encouragement which we're doing and uh that will lead to others to follow without necessarily incentives or or uh you know um legislation to force people to do it. So uh so that's maybe we should start putting together that list so that when we come to July we have that uh recommendations not just starting from from zero. That's it. Sorry. Yes. Sorry, Frank. If you're able to do a little bit of a kind of short synopsis of what you're kind of presenting and what would be what you think are the the the easy or meeting the market where it's at in terms of driving uptake and that would be amazing. That would be great. And then I can take the lead on the transparency piece. That but that would be really great. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Okay. And then uh I am going to say that we're adjourning the meeting and receiving items. >> Oh yes, we have to vote on the receiving of the items from agenda item number seven. So if I can have a mover. Thank you Sue. Seconder. Thanks Shelley. And then we also need that's the acceptance of the agenda item number seven. And then if you can um we need a I guess a mover and a seconder to adjourn the meeting. >> No. All right then. There it is. The meeting is adjourned. Thank you everyone. I really appreciate it. >> Thank you. Have a great summer. >> Okay. >> Thanks everyone. Bye now. >> Bye. >> Good summer.