‘It’s not an audit’: Environmental advocate critical of “A-List” rating for climate action in Windsor

The City of Windsor has been listed among the top 15 per cent for climate action in the world. But what does that really mean?

The Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) says the ranking Windsor recently received from CDP is not a true reflection of what’s happening in the city.

“It’s not an audit or anything close to an audit,” CEA Coordinator Derek Coronado said.

According to Coronado, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) ranking is based on points earned through a questionnaire.

“The point system in the questionnaire, you get points for filling it out,” he said.

“But if we look at the indicators in that questionnaire as well, there’s a time lag.”

Coronado said, for example, when the questionnaire was filled out last year, Windsor was working on two key policies for the environment: The Deep Energy Efficiency Programme (DEER) and the Sandwich South Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan (SNAP).

“Oh, that’s good. That gets you points,” Coronado explained.

However, both were shelved by council, he said.

“So, are we talking about actual climate action or paperwork?” Coronado wondered.

According to a news release, Windsor received an “A” grade from CDP.

The city is one of 112 worldwide that have made the list, recognized for leadership in environmental transparency, climate action, and resilience planning.

Windsor is just one of eight in Canada to earn such a ranking, although the website doesn’t include a list of how the city achieved the ranking.

“We are proud to announce that the City of Windsor has once again achieved an ‘A’ grade in our 2024 CDP climate reporting, maintaining our strong commitment to environmental sustainability,” said Mayor Drew Dilkens, quoted in a news release.

“Since we began reporting in 2016, we’ve consistently demonstrated leadership in addressing climate change, earning a leadership level score of A minus or higher each year.”

Status of SNAP and DEER

The city confirmed late Thursday that SNAP concluded in October 2024 and is publicly available.

However, there is no set time for when it intends to proceed with environmental measures contained in it.

Meantime, Windsor officials blame a lack of sustainable funding from the upper levels of government for why DEER is not proceeding.

It would have seen 80 per cent of Windsor homes retrofitted to have more energy efficient HVAC systems.

Coronado said it would have cost Windsor $200 million over ten years.

“It was the major project of the city’s Climate Action Plan in terms of the amount of emission reduction it offers,” Coronado said.

“The city doesn’t have an alternative to the DEER program. They shelved it and just said, ‘That’s it. We’re not doing it.’”

“The DEER program funding requirements are substantial, and no federal funding is available after 2026,” a city spokesperson said.

“There is too much financial risk to the City of Windsor to proceed with the program and apply for additional funding.”

What is Windsor doing right?

Coronado said they are pleased with the Stormwater Financing Plan.

It bills landowners for stormwater management based on how much natural land they have.

Owners with large concrete yards or parking lots will pay more to process the storm rain runoff.

“It’s an important project that the city followed through on, despite the complaints so far, they’ve kept to their guns on it,” Coronado said.

Here is the list of programs provided to CTV News from the city about their environmental programs:

• Windsor Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program: This program offers financial support to homeowners to help protect their homes from basement flooding, which is becoming more common due to increased extreme weather events. Eligible improvements include installing sump pumps, backwater valves, and disconnecting downspouts to prevent water from entering the sewer system, thus reducing flood risks.
• Residential Stormwater Management Programs: Windsor residents can take advantage of programs that provide guidance and incentives for managing stormwater on their property. Options like rain barrels, permeable paving, and rain gardens help reduce the amount of stormwater runoff, minimizing the strain on the city’s sewer system and lowering flood risks.
• Green Bin Program (Upcoming 2025): Windsor is launching a green bin program aimed at diverting organic waste from landfills. This program allows residents to compost their organic waste, helping reduce methane emissions from landfills and promoting more sustainable waste management practices.
• Tree Planting Programs: Windsor offers several tree planting initiatives that encourage residents to plant trees on their properties. Trees provide numerous environmental benefits, such as absorbing carbon dioxide, offering shade that reduces cooling costs, and managing stormwater through natural absorption.
• Windsor Review of Community Improvement Program (Upcoming – Date TBD): An upcoming program in Windsor may offer incentives to residents/business who install energy efficient upgrades as part of their development. This initiative aligns with the above city efforts to increase the use of renewable energy, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and help residents lower their energy bills while contributing to climate mitigation efforts.
• Encourage a Modal Shift towards Public Transportation and Active Transportation – This plan for expanding and improving the active transportation network of Windsor was approved in June 2019. The plan has set a target to increase the mode share to 25 per cent by 2041.
• District Energy Systems: Expanding the use of district energy systems to provide efficient heating and cooling.
• Renewable Energy Projects: Increasing the adoption of solar and wind energy within the community.
• Energy Performance Standards: Implementing higher energy performance standards for new buildings.
• Fleet Electrification: Transitioning the city’s vehicle fleet to electric vehicles to reduce emissions from transportation.
• Building Retrofits: Upgrading municipal buildings to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
• LED Street Lighting: Converting street lighting to energy-efficient LED technology.
• Waste Reduction Initiatives: Implementing programs to reduce waste and increase recycling within city operations.
• Energy Management Systems: Installing advanced energy management systems in municipal facilities to optimize energy use.

- With files from CTV Windsor’s Kate Otterbein and Travis Fortnum.