Targets and Progress

The City of Saskatoon's Climate Action Commitment 

Consistent with our strategic goal of Environmental Leadership, the City signed on to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in November 2015.  This international pact commits the City of Saskatoon to take action on both the causes and effects of climate change by reducing emissions and building resiliency plans for Saskatoon’s infrastructure and services. Other Canadian signatories include Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, and Windsor. 

Emission Reduction Targets 

The City has committed to reducing emissions to net zero by 2050—meaning that by the year 2050 the total amount of carbon that Saskatoon emits is equal to the amount removed from the atmosphere through sequestration. 

The Low Emissions Community Plan (LEC Plan) is the City’s plan to reduce emissions, with detailed targets and actions required to decrease emissions in Saskatoon. Currently, the LEC Plan reflects a previous target of 80% emissions reduction. It will be updated to reflect the net zero target through the LEC Plan Refresh, expected by March 2025. 

The LEC plan includes a financial and economic analysis, and was designed to enhance the following benefits: 

• Reduced expenses for residents, businesses, and the municipality. Investments in technology, conservation, efficiency, and clean energy generation reduce operating and maintenance costs, provide new revenue opportunities, and protect our community from rising energy and fuel prices. 

• A diversified and growing economy, resilient to both local and global changes. Our community can capitalize on new and existing sectors like renewable energy, building, construction, and cleantech with additional employment opportunities. 

• Improved equity and quality of life for all. This is achieved through improved accessibility, housing quality, food security, and poverty alleviation. 

• Improved community health. Active lifestyles, cleaner air, and improved water and soil quality can significantly reduce rates of hospitalization, illness and disease, and mortality for everyone in our community. 

Tracking Our Progress 

You can track our progress in the 2021 Climate Action Progress Report.  

To meet Saskatoon’s net zero target and manage our resources and waste more effectively, we’re working to reduce emissions in several critical sectors: 

• Buildings and energy efficiency: Improving the energy efficiency of civic and community buildings by making upgrades to insulation, windows, and heating/cooling systems. 

• Energy Generation: Switching to renewable and low-emissions energy where possible. 

• Transportation: Electrifying the City's fleet, creating infrastructure for active transportation, and encouraging use of public transit. 

• Land use: Increasing density of our neighbourhoods and increasing the share of multi-unit housing. 

• Waste management: Diverting waste away from the landfill (food and yard waste create emissions as they break down in the landfill). 

• Water conservation: Reducing potable water use (water takes energy to treat and pump).