Region cuts emissions and diesel use
York Region is crediting its electric fleet with helping it make “steadfast progress” in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and diesel use.
“As our communities grow and the demand for Regional programs and services increase annually, our commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 becomes increasingly vital,” York Region Chairman and CEO Eric Jolliffe says. “By continuously implementing electrification and energy-saving initiatives, we are making steadfast progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
According to its 2024 Corporate Energy Update, the Region is continuing to trend below the pre-pandemic corporate emissions targets it set. Implementing the Corporate Fleet Electrification Plan saved 115,000 litres of gasoline and lowered net emissions by 229 tonnes last year.
Corporate emissions totalled 75,000 tonnes in 2024, an increase of three per cent or 2,200 tonnes. That was driven largely by York Region Transit services providing additional hours of service and routes in response to a 12 per cent increase in ridership. With record high ridership offsetting single vehicle use and reducing traffic congestion, overall environmental impacts from increased ridership are more sustainable than the increase in transit bus emissions, the Region notes.
Electrification of 18 transit buses conserved 53,600 litres of diesel fuel in 2024. The Region expects to receive 75 additional electric buses in 2025 and another 25 in 2026, which will significantly reduce future diesel fuel consumption, according to the Corporate Energy Update.
Implementation of the Region’s Corporate Fleet Electrification Plan for non-transit fleet vehicles saved 115,000 litres of gasoline, lowering net emissions by 229 tonnes. (Reported emissions are direct emissions under the Region’s control and exclude indirect emissions that result from third parties delivering services on behalf of the Region, such as contracted snowplows.)
“By prioritizing a ‘conservation first’ approach, York Region is seeing measurable emission reductions in fleet vehicles and buildings, demonstrating success of current efforts and prudent use of investment in a more sustainable future,” says City of Richmond Hill Mayor David West, chair of Public Works – Environmental Services. “Amid growing pressures of climate change, York Region is demonstrating strong cost-effective initiatives towards mitigation and adaptation.”
Most corporate emissions are from fossil fuel consumption, including gasoline, diesel fuel and natural gas. Innovations to electrify vehicles and buildings are one of the fastest growing areas of climate mitigation technology and proving to be a dominant path toward York Region’s net-zero emissions commitment, the Region reports.
Looking ahead, Canada’s Carbon Price legislation repeal is expected to reduce fossil fuel costs in 2025, it notes. Recent sustainability initiatives continue to deliver “steady and consistent” annual corporate greenhouse gas emissions reductions, the Region says. However, challenges with supply chain delays and tariff impacts, limited heavy vehicle electrification technology and replacing assets too early all need to be managed to continue reducing emissions, it adds.
Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan initiatives deliver annual decreases in corporate greenhouse gas emissions toward an 81 per cent reduction by 2050 and support climate change mitigation in the 2022 Climate Change Action Plan. Learn more at york.ca/Energy.