Wellington County, Ont. – Wellington County has been awarded $105,000 in federal funding to develop ‘Weather-Ready Wellington’, a new climate adaptation plan that will help protect local infrastructure, safeguard essential services, and strengthen community resilience to the growing impacts of climate change.
The investment, announced August 22 by the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), comes through FCM’s Green Municipal Fund under the Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation initiative. Wellington County is one of 70 municipalities across the country selected to share $5.2 million in federal support for climate adaptation planning.
Climate projections show Wellington County will face rising average temperatures, more days above 30°C, stronger storms, and shorter return periods for extreme events. These changes are already contributing to road washouts, power outages, erosion, water main breaks, and agricultural challenges. FCM notes that every dollar invested in climate adaptation saves $13 to $15 in future disaster recovery and infrastructure costs.
“This funding represents a significant opportunity for Wellington County to build on our established climate leadership,” said Warden Chris White. “Through our ‘Future Focused’ climate plan, we committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 6% by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050. The ‘Weather-Ready Wellington’ plan will complement those efforts with adaptation strategies that prepare us for the climate realities ahead.”
‘Weather-Ready Wellington’ will build on the County’s existing climate work, which includes the ‘Future Focused Climate Mitigation Plan (2022–2030)’, the ‘Rural Water Quality Programme’ (3,300 projects worth $9.9 million since 1999), the ‘Green Legacy’ tree planting initiative (over 3.3 million trees since 2004), and the ‘Experimental Acres’ regenerative agriculture support programme.
“Adaptation planning allows us to take a proactive, evidence-based approach to resilience,” said Karen Chisholme, Climate Change and Sustainability Manager for the County. “This funding will enable us to assess risks and develop strategies tailored to Wellington County’s unique vulnerabilities - from extreme weather impacts on rural infrastructure to changing conditions affecting our agricultural sector.”
Work on the ‘Weather-Ready Wellington’ Climate Adaptation Plan will begin immediately. The plan will identify climate vulnerabilities across Wellington County’s diverse landscapes and develop targeted strategies that can be embedded into long-term planning and decision-making. Engagement opportunities for residents, businesses, agricultural partners, and community organizations will be announced in 2026 to ensure the plan reflects local knowledge and priorities.
Learn more about Wellington County’s climate change work at wellington.ca/climatechange.
About the County of Wellington
The County of Wellington is a thriving rural community in southwestern Ontario, home to seven member municipalities and approximately 97,000 residents. The County is committed to sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and supporting strong agricultural and economic sectors.
About FCM’s Green Municipal Fund
FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF) provides funding and knowledge to help municipalities reach net-zero and build resilience. Since 2000, GMF has reduced emissions by 2.9 million tonnes, supported nearly 13,000 person-years of employment, and added $1.24 billion to Canada’s GDP through more than 2,300 projects.
Media Contact: Karen Chisholme, Climate Change and Sustainability Manager, 519.837.2600 x 2063, karenc@wellington.ca