Oshawa achieves top-level Milestone in the Partners for Climate Protection program

Key milestones achieved through TeachingCity partnership with Ontario Tech University

The City of Oshawa is proud to announce that it has achieved Milestone 5 of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program’s Milestone Framework, marking progress in reducing local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the city. With this accomplishment, the City has now completed all five PCP milestones at both the corporate and community levels.

This achievement demonstrates leadership in energy and GHG emissions management and places Oshawa among a select group of municipalities in Canada recognized for comprehensive climate action.

Through the unique TeachingCity Oshawa partnership, the City’s Planning Services Branch collaborated with Ontario Tech University to achieve Milestone 5 at the community level. The initiatives were led by Dr. Dan Hoornweg, Associate Professor, Ontario Tech’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, along with Energy Engineering student Adam Ristau, and community expert David Wotten. Together with the City, they delivered a GHG inventory and summary reports that highlight key metrics, emerging technologies, and opportunities to reduce emissions across the city. From a community perspective, this is one of the most comprehensive GHG inventories globally.

As a PCP member, the City is among more than 500 municipal governments across Canada taking a leadership role and making a significant contribution to reducing Canada’s overall GHG emissions. PCP member municipalities commit to developing both corporate (municipal operations) and community-wide GHG reduction plans, and have access to tools, resources and guidance.

Oshawa’s Community GHG Reduction Plan was developed through a collaborative process and identifies community-level actions that will reduce emissions while delivering environmental, economic and social benefits.

Participation in the PCP program aligns with the Care: Safe and Sustainable Environment goals of the Oshawa Strategic Plan 2024–2027: Innovate. Belong. Care. Lead.

About the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program:

The PCP program is managed and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI Canada).

The five milestones are:

Milestone 1 — Create a baseline emissions inventory and forecast
Milestone 2 — Set emissions reduction targets
Milestone 3 — Develop a local action plan
Milestone 4 — Implement the local action plan
Milestone 5 — Monitor progress and report results 

PCP has members in all provinces and territories, representing more than 70 per cent of the Canadian population. PCP receives financial support from the Government of Canada and ICLEI Canada. For more information, visit pcp-ppc.ca, fcm.ca and icleicanada.org.

About TeachingCity:

TeachingCity brings together the City of Oshawa and its education and research partners – Durham College, Ontario Tech University, Trent University Durham GTA and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. The partners address Oshawa’s urban issues through innovation, collaboration, applied research and shared experiential learning opportunities with the aim to position Oshawa as a local, national and global community of urban research and learning. Learn more at teachingcityoshawa.ca. 

Quotes:

“Reaching the top-level milestone in the Partners for Climate Protection program is a proud achievement for the great City of Oshawa and demonstrates that Oshawa is a municipal leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Mayor Dan Carter, City of Oshawa. “Thanks to innovative programs like our TeachingCity partnership with Ontario Tech University, we’re turning ideas into real results that will benefit our environment and community now and for years to come.”

“Oshawa’s achievements in the sector are ones that reflect the essence of collaboration, innovation, and forward-thinking leadership,” said Councillor Tito-Dante Marimpietri, Chair of the Economic and Development Services Committee. “Our efforts in balancing realistic and reasonable benchmarks are tangibly and effectively advancing meaningful environmental stewardship, and fostering a healthier, more resilient community. As Oshawa continues to grow as a dynamic metropolitan city, these collaborative and innovative milestones further position us as a national leader and a model for communities across Canada striving to build a sustainable and prosperous future.”

“Collaboration and partnerships are at the core of TeachingCity,” said Dr. Les Jacobs, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Ontario Tech University. “By connecting Ontario Tech’s research and innovation, academic expertise and student talent with municipal leadership, we are advancing practical, evidence-based solutions that support Oshawa’s climate goals while creating meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities for our students.”

“Capturing emissions across all scopes gives Oshawa a complete picture of its greenhouse gas footprint,” said Dr. Dan Hoornweg, Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Ontario Tech University. “That level of detail is critical to identifying where action will have the greatest impact, supporting informed decision-making and advancing meaningful progress toward a more sustainable future.”