Green Policies for Toronto
The vast majority of the scientific community acknowledge the truth of global warming and the extent of profligate energy use and waste is now becomingly terrifyingly apparent: unless there is substantial reduction in green-house gas emissions within the next decade, it seems likely that global warming will become unstoppable, the polar ice caps will melt, and ocean levels will rise 20, 30, or more meters by 2050. The impact on life on earth will be devastating, as has been made clear in the recent film `An Inconvenient Truth’, and in Tim Flannery’s book `The Weathermakers.’
Cities play a large role in green-house gas creation – and there is much that can be done to curtail these emissions. While it is unfortunate that to date our national government has put such a low priority in addressing these problems, this is no reason why Toronto cannot be more active. Historically, most big problems are often first addressed in cities, with the national government later agreeing to follow cities’ leads.
As well, actions which curtain the use of energy and reduce green-house gas emissions are often cost effective, with capital costs paid by operating savings in a short period of time, as many companies and individuals are discovering. Green solutions are also excellent at creating meaningful jobs while providing a healthier environment.
Thinking green and living sustainably means looking at the whole range of human activity and determining where changes have the most impact and are most easily accomplished. As the city learned with recycling more than two decades ago, the public is often ahead of governments in its desire for action.
Here's an action plan
- Apply the Toronto Green Development Standards to all new development.
These development standards were developed by city staff, and set out a reasonable and comprehensive set of standards for water efficiency, solid waste reduction, energy efficiency, air quality and urban forest for new structures, large and small. (These standards can be found at http://www.toronto.ca/environment/pdf/gds.pdf . )
Unfortunately, City Council and the City’s Round Table on the Environment has proposed that the standards apply only to city-owned buildings, and that they be voluntary for any privately built structure. These standards should be mandatory for all new structures. As recommended by the consultant and city staff, the city should work with lending institutions to ensure financing is readily available to meet these standards.
- The City should significantly expand the program providing loans to retrofit existing structures, with the loans recovered mainly through energy savings.
- The City should investigate ways of assisting owners to replace inefficient furnaces, air conditioners and refrigerators with energy efficient machines. Usually the cost of energy savings over a ten year period is more than enough to pay for the cost of a new appliance.
- The City should substantially expand and improve transit service so that using transit becomes a more viable option for trips within and in/out of the city. Unless transit service is expanded or improved, it is unrealistic to expect automobile commuting to be reduced.
- The City should undertake pilot solar thermal building systems (as is done in Sweden) with a view to making these popular within five years.
There are many good ideas that merit attention, but these are five straightforward, proven, approaches that should be first priority for City Council.
