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Earth Day 2025: Ways we can all shape a cleaner, greener future

April 17, 2025
Solar Panels

On Tuesday, April 22, York Region is celebrating Earth Day – a day to promote conservation and sustainability of Earth’s natural resources. 

The 2025 theme, Our Power, Our Planet, recognizes the critical role of renewable energy – like solar, wind and other technologies – in shaping a cleaner, greener future. Prioritizing renewable energy can decrease greenhouse gas emissions, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate the impacts of climate change. 

Support a healthy, sustainable planet for generations to come:

  • Buy fresh food at your local farmers’ market and store fruits and vegetables properly to make them last
  • Help keep York Regional Forests clean and healthy by joining our Green Up, Clean Up event on Saturday, April 26 at various Tracts
  • Learn how to find and fix water leaks to prevent costly damage and water waste
  • Look for energy-efficient appliances and lighting labeled ENERGY STAR that use less power 
  • Roll up your sleeves at our next community tree-planting event on Saturday, May 10 – take home your own seedling as a lasting reminder
  • Turn off idle tech like lights and computer monitors when not in use
  • Take transit, walk, carpool or cycle more often - check our cycling and transit options in York Region
  • Use a programmable thermostat to reduce overall energy consumption
  • Use reusable cutlery, grocery bags, mugs, straws and water bottles to reduce your waste

York Region’s Commitment to Resilient Communities and a Sustainable Future 

Our commitment to a cleaner, greening future is about more than just reducing our carbon footprint — it's about creating healthier, more sustainable communities for everyone. 

To reach our net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal by 2050, we continue to electrify our transit fleet, expand access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure and reduce energy consumption across our facilities.

Here are some of the ways York Region is investing in a greener future:

Building energy-efficient facilities

We continue to upgrade our buildings and facilities to be more energy-efficient, reducing overall energy consumption. Examples include:

  • The Region’s Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education Centre generates more energy than it consumes, exceeding the requirements of the Ontario Building Code and earning four Petal certifications under the Living Building Challenge – one of the most stringent certifications in the world
  • 22 Regional buildings have achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certifications, and another six in various stages of construction or design that are expected to achieve LEED certification
  • The Region’s solar panels (known as solar photovoltaic or PV arrays) generate enough energy each year to power 45 average-sized homes with clean, zero-emissions electricity - by supplying the electricity grid during the highest hours of demand, the Region helps offset greenhouse gas emissions caused by electricity generated from natural gas

Ensuring our transportation options are sustainable and accessible

York Region is committed to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable transportation options. To date, we have installed 70 electric vehicle chargers at 13 Regional facilities and deployed 17 fully electric and 38 hybrid vehicles.

Looking ahead, we will:

  • Add 18 hybrid SUVs to replace existing gas units
  • Add 75 electric buses to the York Region Transit fleet 
  • Install 38 more charging heads at various regional facilities
  • Order 11 fully electric vehicles and equipment including pickups, SUVs and zero-turn lawn mowers to replace existing gas/diesel units

In addition, construction of the Yonge North Subway Extension will allow riders to travel from Richmond Hill to downtown Toronto in just over 30 minutes, reducing traffic congestion and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by 4,800 tons per year.

Keeping our infrastructure resilient and your water safe

With 166 water and wastewater projects and 70 road capital projects on the go, we’re always maintaining and upgrading our infrastructure. Over the next decade, York Region will invest more than $7.4 billion in roads, transit and water and wastewater projects to keep our pedestrians, buses and cars moving efficiently and continue delivering clean, safe drinking water.

We leverage cutting-edge technology, including 24/7 monitoring and over 25,000 lab tests each year, to make sure your drinking water is clean and safe. In 2024, York Region water scored 100% in the Chief Drinking Water Inspector’s Annual Report.

York Region’s Climate Change Action Plan sets a path for reduced emissions and prepares for the Region’s future climate with actions to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.
Let’s do our part to protect our communities and our environmental health for generations to come.

Learn more about the actions York Region is taking at york.ca/ClimateChange and york.ca/Energy