Stricter building codes, solar panels on municipal buildings, electric vehicle-charging stations throughout the city, expanded pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and a target of 80 per cent lower greenhouse gases (GHG) by 2050.

These are just some of the measures in Mississauga's draft Climate Change Action Plan that would move the city closer to becoming net zero, which means taking as many GHGs out of the atmosphere as a project creates.

According to a staff report, the plan, which also aims to build the city’s ability to respond to climate events, requires "significant action" by the city, residents and developers, as well as more than $450 million over the next 10 years, money that is not accounted for in Mississauga's capital forecast.

For Leya Barry, Mississauga's climate change co-ordinator, a big challenge in the plan is stimulating a mentality shift in city, including considering gas-fuelled vehicles as a last resort to get around.

"I think, generally, climate action doesn't necessarily require us to fundamentally do new things," Barry said. "But it requires us to do the things that we're used to doing a little bit differently."

In order the meet its goals, the plan would require that 50 per cent of trips "to, from and within Mississauga" would be made by modes of transportation other than driving a car. Earlier this year, the City of Vancouver approved a similar target that called for 50 per cent of trips in the city be made with pollution free-vehicles by 2030.

The plan follows Mississauga declaring a climate emergency in June, which directed city staff to return with a climate action plan before the end of the year. Mississauga is one of over a thousand governments to declare a climate emergency according to data from Innovation for a Cool Earth Forum.

The plan will be considered on Wednesday (Sept. 18), and city staff are recommending that council approve the draft climate action plan and move it to public consultation.

Barry said that council will not be approving the more than $450-million price tag at the meeting, but subject to public consultation the plan could to return to council before the end of 2019.

Disclaimer: These poll results are not scientific. They are the informal findings of a survey presented to the readers of The Mississauga News and reflect the opinions of those readers who have chosen to participate. The survey is available online to anyone who is interested in taking it.