Joining the United Nations' Cities Race to Zero - by Councillor Mike Layton, seconded by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie

The Race to Zero is a global campaign - led by the United Nations High-Level Climate Champions for Climate Action to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, and investors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November 2021. Cities Race to Zero is a campaign for cities by cities to inspire commitments and action from their peers around the world and channel the best available tools and expertise to help them stay on track with the 1.5 degrees celsius goal of the Paris Agreement. The objective of Cities Race to Zero is to recruit 1,000 cities to the Race to Zero by COP26. Cities are facing tremendous financial losses in the billions of dollars due to the increased intensity of storms, flooding, drought, wildfires and coastal flooding, linked to rising global temperatures; and billions of dollars of commercial real estate and business property are at risk due to current and projected rising sea levels and the intensity of storms, droughts, floods and wildfires, The objective of Cities Race to Zero is to build momentum around the shift to a decarbonized economy ahead of COP26, where governments must strengthen their contributions to the Paris Agreement. Showing strong city leadership in reaching net zero emissions by 2050 will send governments a resounding signal that cities are united in meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement and creating a more inclusive and resilient economy.

2. City Council reiterate its position that we are in a global climate emergency. 3. City Council reiterate its position to reach (net)-zero by 2050 or sooner, and commit to endorsing actions that are in line with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees celsius. 4. City Council direct the Director, Environment and Energy to report to the October 26, 2021 Infrastructure and Environment Committee to explain what steps have been taken toward achieving Toronto's interim goal of achieving 65 percent reduction of emissions from 1990 levels by 2030 in order to align with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 degrees celsius. 5. City Council commit to plan at least one inclusive and equitable climate action as listed in the Cities Race to Zero campaign that will help to place Toronto on a resilient pathway, consistent with the 1.5 degrees Celsius objective of the Paris Agreement and begin implementation no later than the third quarter of 2022. 6. City Council direct the Director, Environment and Energy to report on progress on this initiative annually, beginning no later than the third quarter of 2022 to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee.