About BACCC
BACCC harnesses the power of the community to fight climate change. Our strength lies in collaboration and the diverse expertise of our member organizations.
In 2017, the Mayors of Burlington and Hamilton vowed to work together on a regional approach to climate action. Both Cities came together with Mohawk College to open the Bay Area Climate Change Office (BACCO).
In its first year, BACCO commissioned a regional greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and conducted a community engagement program to help set direction for climate action in the region. The report recommended BACCO establish the Bay Area Climate Change Council (BACCC) with representation from multiple sectors.
BACCC harnesses the power of the community to fight climate change. Our strength lies in collaboration and the diverse expertise of our member organizations.
We are supported by the Cities of Hamilton and Burlington and administratively housed at Mohawk College in the Centre for Climate Change Management.
“Local governments have direct or indirect control over 60% of Ontario’s greenhouse gas emissions. There are no substitutes for local information, local capacity and local strategies and solutions.”
Yuill Herbert, Sustainability Solutions Group, 2019
Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas (GHG) emitted through human activities. Science tells us that to avoid the most catastrophic effects of a changing climate, we must transition to net zero carbon by 2050.
9.85 million tonnes of carbon were emitted in the Hamilton Burlington Bay Area in 2016.
If the Bay Area is to reach net zero by 2050, the top sources of emissions must be eliminated — even as our population continues to grow. A low-carbon future for both Hamilton and Burlington requires changes to new and existing buildings, transportation networks, local industry and energy sources. Developing and advocating for climate policies that would effectively reduce emissions in these sectors is BACCC’s main focus.
Regional GHG Inventory
The regional greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory measures the emissions currently caused by everyday activities across the Bay Area communities. It also forecasts potential future emissions depending on which actions are taken. BACCC uses the GHG inventory to identify actions with the highest potential for reducing local emissions. The leading sources of emissions in our region are from transportation, buildings, and industry. Learn more about our focus areas.
Annual Reports
To learn more about BACCC’s year in review, view our 2023 Annual Report.
Strategic Plan
We have a new 2024-2026 Strategic Plan which was approved by Council in March of 2024. The plan defines our direction for the next three years.
Theory of Change
To reach net zero carbon by 2050, BACCC is working with partners to cut carbon emissions in the Hamilton and Burlington Bay Area by 50% by the year 2030. This will require big changes to new and existing buildings, transportation networks, local industry and a focus on low emissions energy, including:
- Improving low carbon modes of transportation
- Reduce vehicle kilometers travelled
- Increasing zero carbon vehicle uptake
- Retrofitting existing buildings
- Building new buildings to a zero carbon standard
- Reducing local industrial emissions through innovation
- Connecting industry with research and development (R&D)
- Understanding the energy needs of the Bay Area
- Ensuring energy needs are met
Learn more about our plan to cut emissions in the Bay Area.
Directory
Staff
Victoria Coffin (she/her),
BACCC Acting Manager
Victoria leads the Bay Area Climate Change Council. She is responsible for the overall management of the collective, including the development and execution of BACCC’s strategic plan, supervision of its staff team, and oversight of its budget and operations. Victoria is a lawyer with experience advising hundreds of clients in private sector, government and not-for-profit. She has deep experience in leading collaborative efforts, first demonstrated as diplomat with the Canadian foreign service, working as part of Canada’s trade negotiations team. She has a JD from the University of Saskatchewan and a B.Com from Queen’s University. In her personal time, Victoria volunteers as a director for two not-for-profit organizations.
Julia McLeod (she/her),
BACCC Program Coordinator
Julia is responsible for overseeing BACCC’s communications, administration and project management work. Julia strongly believes that engaging the community and stakeholders on climate change action is necessary to achieve the Bay Area’s target of net zero carbon by 2050.
Julia holds a Master of Environment and Business from University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Science from Western University. She has experience collaborating with local businesses and community events on sustainability initiatives and achieving greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.
Kudakwashe Wamambo (he/him),
BACCC Policy Analyst
Kudakwashe is responsible for shaping evidence-based, non-partisan public policy that drives equitable climate action in the Bay Area region. He is responsible for leading policy research, conducting in-depth analysis, and engaging with stakeholders to advance strategic climate initiatives. Kudakwashe holds a Graduate Diploma in Computational Data Analytics for the Social Sciences and Humanities and a Master of Public Service in Economics & Public Policy from the University of Waterloo.
Allyson Jeunne Borines (she/her),
BACCC Junior Communications Coordinator
Allyson is a Fine Arts graduate currently studying Supply Chain Management at Mohawk College. Back in the Philippines, she has participated in various volunteer programs focused on community development and environmental awareness. With her skills and experience in graphic design, she aims to support the Bay Area’s goal of achieving net zero carbon by 2050. Allyson believes that art and design can play an important role in connecting with people and spreading environmental awareness and change.
Aidan Regan,
Graphic Design Student
Welcome to our newest team member, Aidan!
Members
BACCC Chair,
Richard Koroscil
Burlington Economic Development Corp,
Anita Cassidy
BurlingtonGreen,
Amy Schnurr
Burlington Sustainable Development Advisory Committee,
Peter Nimmrichter
Clean Air Hamilton,
Barry Duffey
Environment Hamilton,
Ian Borsuk
Hamilton Chamber of Commerce,
Katie Stiel
Hamilton Conservation Authority,
Fionnula Wade
Hamilton Health Sciences,
Victoria Brzozowski
Hamilton Industrial Environmental Association,
Geoffrey Knapper
Hamilton Regional Indian Centre,
Brenda Jacobs
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