The City has Master Plans that address aspects of environment and sustainability such as the Stormwater Master Plan, Parks Master Plan, Strategic Plan, Transportation Master Plan, Urban Forest Plan, and Cycling Master Plan.
Environment & Sustainability
Sustainability in Cambridge revolves around how we develop, how we move, how we interact with our natural environment, living within our resources, and thinking of future generations when making decisions today.
The Official Plan
The Official Plan contains policies for protecting environmental features, sustainable design, and parkland greenspaces acquisition.
Environmental Planning
The planning process starts with Subwatershed Studies which looks at an entire watershed bioregional scale and the features, species, habitat and ecological processes that require protection and/or buffers from future development.
Environmental Assessments and Studies
Environmental Assessments are completed for municipal infrastructure projects like new roads or bridges. Environmental Impact Studies are submitted as a part of a planning application prior to development in order to take a more detailed view of the potential impacts on natural features, systems and organisms on a proposed site. Contaminated sites are identified and addressed through the planning process and feature phase one and two studies. Finally, tree management plans provide an inventory of trees on a site, identify trees to be removed and may contain a compensation planting plan.
Climate Change
The City declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has developed emissions reduction plans like the Energy Conservation Demand Management Plan which deals with our City-owned buildings and vehicles. A separate plan, TransformWR, is a strategy for reducing emissions the broader community in Cambridge and Waterloo Region. The City also has a Climate Adaptation Plan for building resiliency in our infrastructure and operations and to address the projected impacts of climate change. While the City of Cambridge Climate Adaptation Plan looks at corporate municipal operations, the Community Climate Adaptation Plan for Waterloo Region looks at potential impacts on the community of increased precipitation and flooding, heat, and other related impacts.
Natural Heritage and Trees Mapping Tools
These online mapping tools let you see the tree canopy on your property, size and species of your street tree, geological history and natural heritage sites in Cambridge:
Community Involvement
Cambridge has a rich history of individuals and small groups, schools, community associations and businesses that are making a difference in our local environment through their stewardship, citizen science, and planting projects. This includes the rare Charitable Research Reserve, Idea Exchange, Grand River Conservation Authority, Reep Green Solutions, Sustainable Waterloo Region, and community organizations such as the Ancient Mariners Canoe Club.
Cambridge Bee City
Bee City Canada designated Cambridge as a Bee City in 2021. Bee City designation was pursued through an application to Bee City Canada and a City Council Resolution. It highlighted two decades of community organizations and their projects dedicated to biodiversity, habitat enhancement, food security, monitoring and education around pollinators. The designation sets the stage for continuing projects, hosting an annual pollinator event, and annual reporting.
Past Pollinator-Friendly Accomplishments in Cambridge
- A Butterfly Loop walking trail with interpretive signage (rare Charitable Research Reserve)
- The establishment of the Cambridge Pollinator Preserve (Ancient Mariners Canoe Club)
- The creation of a community seed library (Cambridge Public Library)
- Five local, pollinator-friendly gardens to serve the vulnerable (Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank)
- Planting of more than 12,000 native trees, wildflowers and shrubs at 30 sites across the city (Cambridge City Green and community partners)
- Commitment to City beds and gardens that use pollinator-friendly plants and areas to encourage bee and butterfly habitats (City of Cambridge)
- Annual events offering educational and native seed resources such as Seedy Saturday
Cambridge City Green
Cambridge City Green is a group of volunteers who encourage and coordinate community projects that benefit our local environment. The group leverages the enthusiasm and effort of thousands of volunteers. Cambridge City Green is a subcommittee of the Cambridge Environmental Advisory Committee (CEAC). Projects led by Cambridge City Green volunteers include the Cambridge Community Clean Up, walks (e.g. TREEmendous Cambridge, Jane's Walk, etc.) and planting projects (e.g. Cambridge Pollinator Preserve). For more information contact CambridgeCityGreen@Cambridge.ca or sign up to get notification of upcoming events at www.CambridgeCityGreen.ca.
Cambridge Environmental Advisory Committee
The Cambridge Environmental Advisory Committee (CEAC) advises Council on ways to protect, maintain and enhance the natural environment.
