Peace and Environment News* June 1995
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Peace and Environment News * June 1995 |
by Heather Breeze
Two and a half years after Ottawa City Council resolved to reduce the City's carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent by the year 2005, the City of Ottawa Task Force on the Atmosphere has released its action plan.
The Task Force's mission was to find ways to reduce CO2 and other fuel emissions that contribute to the greenhouse effect. Reducing greenhouse gases would have the added benefit of a cleaner and healthier living environment for Ottawa residents.
Energy efficiency is the main focus of the eleven-point plan. Each point attempts to address a barrier preventing effective energy use in the three sectors that use the most energy in the city: transportation, residential buildings, and commercial buildings. Industry accounts for only 10 percent of the energy used in the City.
Each element of the plan is fairly low cost. The City will launch a Corporate Challenge, which will ask corporate residents to make a public commitment to helping the City meet its 20 percent target. The City's goal will be widely publicized to encourage citizens to do their share. An information service will be set up to answer questions about energy efficiency.
A key element of the plan is the development of a standardized municipal greenhouse gas monitoring system. While greenhouse gas monitoring data is available from several different sources, there is no standard method for compiling information on greenhouse emissions for municipal areas. Other municipalities will be able to use the system for their own emissions programs.
The transportation sector, which contributes to more than a third of CO2 emissions in the City, will be targeted by encouraging people to walk or bike to work, take OC Transpo, or carpool. The Action Plan suggests setting up programs with employers to reduce the number of commuters who use single-occupancy vehicles. Unfortunately, the Plan does not discuss possible links with ongoing municipal initiatives that encourage cycling, walking, and riding public transport, such as the City's cycling plan.
The Task Force decided not to call for mandatory standards and regulations in its Action Plan, believing that a voluntary approach would be more likely to motivate Ottawa citizens. This is a weakness of the Plan: years of reports on the detrimental effects of human-caused CO2 emissions on the environment have not encouraged a widespread switch to less polluting technologies. The Task Force believes that the public support and information which will be available from the City will make a difference this time.
Louise Comeau, Task Force member from the Sierra Club, doesn't think it's likely that the City will reach its 20 percent target by 2005. The plan "represents a good foundation for future action," she commented. She said that future regulatory bylaws, such as an anti-idling bylaw, will be needed to reach the targets.
Task Force membership reflected the broad interests concerned with energy use. Representatives from the Ottawa-Carleton Home Builders Association, Environment Canada, Ottawa Hydro, Consumers' Gas, the University of Ottawa, as well as the RMOC and the City were all involved in drawing up the final report. The Sierra Club represented environmental organizations and coordinated the input from other local groups. The broad representation may ensure more "buy-in" and result in the successful implementation of the plan, despite its voluntary nature.
The 20 percent target reflects Canada's promise to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000, and reduce them by 20 percent by 2010. At current projections, Canada will increase CO2 emissions by 10.6 percent by 2005. Canada has only 0.5 percent of the world's population, but contributes about 2 percent to global CO2 emissions caused by human activity.
To receive a copy of the Action Plan or to comment on it, contact Carolyn Cahill of the Environmental Management Branch at the City of Ottawa, 244-5300 ext. 3362.
Heather Breeze is a regular contributor to the Peace and Environment News.
Converted July 7, 2000 - Lg
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