The Lower Don Lands is one of 17 founding projects of the global Climate Positive Development Program, a Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) program. The program launched by  President Bill Clinton in 2009 is supporting the development of large-scale urban projects that demonstrate cities can grow in ways that are “climate positive.” Climate positive developments will strive to reduce the amount of on-site green house gas emissions to below zero.

Along with the other founding projects, the Lower Don Lands will demonstrate climate positive strategies, setting a compelling environmental and economic example for cities to follow.

Waterfront Toronto is working to achieve climate-positive goals for the design and plans of the Lower Don Lands by using passive design, optimizing climatic effects from sun and wind, and prioritizing transit and multi-mode transportation options. Energy planning raises the bar for building energy efficiency and in deemphasizing the reliance on the grid. The design also includes strategies for water re-use and leading edge information technology to support sustainable living and working.
 

To reduce the net greenhouse gas emissions of their Climate Positive Development projects to below zero, property developers and local governments will work in partnership on specific areas of activity. This includes implementing economically viable innovations in buildings, the generation of clean energy, waste management, water management, and transportation and outdoor lighting systems.

By combining CCI’s business and finance expertise with the technical knowledge of the US Green Building Council, the Climate Positive Development program will support the planning and implementation process for each development and establish the standards and metrics by which the sites can measure climate positive outcomes.

When the initial projects are completed, nearly one million people will live and work in climate positive communities. Other climate positive development communities are located in Melbourne, Australia; Palhoca, Brazil; Victoria, Canada; Ahmedabad, India; Jaipur, India; outside Panama City, Panama; Pretoria, South Africa; Johannesburg, South Africa; Seoul, South Korea; Stockholm, Sweden; London, UK; San Francisco, USA and Destiny Florida, USA.
 

The William J. Clinton Foundation launched the Clinton Climate Initiative  to create and advance solutions to the core issues driving climate change. The Climate Positive Development Program was launched by President Clinton, Founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation, on May 19, 2009, at the C40 Summit in Seoul, South Korea.