TransformTO explained

TransformTO is a plan adopted by the City of Toronto to bring the city to carbon neutrality by 2040.[1] The plan was adopted by city council unanimously in July 2017,[2] and has components addressing buildings, transportation, waste, and natural systems. The plan initially started in response to the 2016 Paris Agreement, aiming to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but the timeline was accelerated following the council's 2019 declaration of a climate emergency by city council.[3] [4] [5]

While the main goal of the TransformTO is to reach net-zero carbon emissions, it also aims to achieve co-benefits that positively impact the lives of Torontonians. Thus, the plan targets social equity, public health, protections for low-income groups, and local economy enhancements.[6]

History

Consultations for the plan started in 2015, as the Paris negotiations were underway.[7] It precedes the federal government's 2020 net-zero emissions accountability act, which made the target of carbon neutrality by 2050 legally binding.[8] The consultation was initiated with leadership from City Council,[9] and was done as a collaboration between the city's environment and energy division and The Atmospheric Fund, with input from 10 other divisions and 20 community representatives, including indigenous groups.[10]

The plan originally aimed to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. In December 2021, propelled by councillor Mike Layton,[11] the city set a new timeline for reaching net-zero by 2040, 10 years earlier than the national goal.[12]

The Toronto & York Region Labour Council endorsed the plan.[13]

Strategy

The plan includes four component strategies, covering buildings, transportation, waste, and natural systems.

Governance

In May 2022, the Toronto City Council endorsed a city-created "Accountability and Management Framework" that is meant to guide long term implementation of the strategy. The framework aligns with the C40 climate action planning framework. It calls for the creation of three groups:[14] [15]

Implementation

Under its buildings sub-strategy, the City of Toronto offers energy retrofit loans finance capital improvements that reduce energy demands of buildings.[19] Within the transportation sector, the ferries connecting the city to Toronto Islands are planned to be converted to electric power.[20] The Toronto Parking Authority has initiated a program for electric vehicle charging stations in city-operated parking lots.[21]

Community groups have also taken up climate action under the plan's umbrella, including groups encouraging cycling as a form of soft mobility.[22] Danforth-area residents are leading an effort to retrofit their homes to reduce their carbon emissions.[23]

Despite considerable progress up to 2022, the city is not projected to reach its 2030 goals, making it unlikely to reach net zero by 2040.[24]

The Toronto Green Standard (TGS) is a sustainable design standard for all new private and city-owned buildings in the city. It is one of the cornerstones of the TransformTO strategy.[25]

Controversies

In late 2022, the Ontario government passed Bill 23, titled More Homes Built Faster Act. The bill includes building code provisions that override the Toronto Green Standard, the provisions were later repealed.[25] [26]

In mid 2023, the provincial government gave permission to the Port Lands plant to increase its production capacity from natural gas, thus increasing the carbon emissions of Toronto and making it more difficult to meet TransformTO goals.[27]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2017-11-17 . TransformTO . 2022-09-24 . City of Toronto . en-CA.
  2. Web site: 2017-07-04 . City council unanimously passes TransformTO climate plan . 2022-09-24 . thestar.com . en.
  3. Web site: 2019-09-26 . City of Toronto aiming to be carbon neutral by 2050 or earlier . 2022-09-24 . thestar.com . en.
  4. Web site: 2019-10-02 . Mayor John Tory enlists major institutions in emissions plan as Toronto declares 'climate emergency' . 2022-09-24 . thestar.com . en.
  5. News: Cook . Stephen . 2019-04-25 . City of Toronto staff to explore cost of climate change, legal options for compensation from greenhouse gas emitters . en-CA . The Globe and Mail . 2022-09-24.
  6. Book: Sustainability Solutions Group . Considerations of Co-benefits and Co-harms Associated with Low Carbon Actions for TransformTO . January 27, 2017 . English.
  7. Web site: 2015-11-27 . Cities take lead in climate change battle . 2022-09-24 . thestar.com . en.
  8. News: Chung . Emily . 2021-10-20 . The world is aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. Here's what that means . . 2022-09-24.
  9. Touchant . Lauren . 2022-01-01 . Municipal climate leadership in Canada: the role of leadership in the expansion of municipal climate action . International Journal of Public Leadership . 19 . 2 . 97–115 . 10.1108/IJPL-08-2021-0040 . 2056-4929.
  10. News: Cheuy . Sylvia . 2019 . TransformTO: Multisolving in Action . 1 . Tamarack Institute . PDF . 2022-09-24.
  11. Web site: 2022-07-27 . Toronto councillor Mike Layton will not seek re-election in October . 2022-09-24 . thestar.com . en.
  12. Web site: CityNews . 2022-09-24 . toronto.citynews.ca.
  13. News: TransformTO and Getting to Net Zero . en . Toronto & York Region Labour Council . 2022-09-24.
  14. Web site: 2022-05-24 . Toronto council adopts net-zero management framework - constructconnect.com . 2023-01-06 . Daily Commercial News . en-US.
  15. Web site: Agenda Item History . 2023-01-06 . toronto.ca . en.
  16. 2022-05-24 . Toronto council adopts net-zero management framework. constructconnect.com . 2022-12-29 . en-US.
  17. Web site: 2022-06-22 . City of Toronto invites local residents and organizations to join new Climate Advisory Group . 2022-12-29 . City of Toronto . en-CA.
  18. Web site: City of Toronto . 2022 . Climate Advisory Group – Draft Terms of Reference . 2022-12-29 . City of Toronto .
  19. Web site: 2017-11-17 . Energy Retrofit Loans . 2023-01-20 . City of Toronto . en-CA.
  20. Web site: Blenkey . Nick . 2022-01-18 . Toronto will take ferry fleet all-electric . 2022-09-24 . Marine Log . en-US.
  21. Web site: Authority . Toronto Parking . Toronto Parking Authority Kicks Off Electric Vehicle Charging Initiative . 2023-01-06 . www.newswire.ca . en.
  22. Web site: City of Toronto campaign "TransformTO" aims to get Torontonians moving Watch News Videos Online . 2023-01-06 . Global News . en-US.
  23. Web site: 2022-08-27 . How one Toronto neighbourhood is coming together to fight climate change faster for less money . 2023-01-06 . thestar.com . en.
  24. Slater . Kimberley R. . Ventura . Jacob . Robinson . John B. . Fernandez . Cecilia . Dutfield . Stewart . King . Lisa . 2022-12-22 . Assessing climate action progress of the City of Toronto . Buildings and Cities . en . 3 . 1 . 1059–1074 . 10.5334/bc.248 . 2632-6655. free .
  25. Web site: Nov. 25 . Fatima Syed . Read . 2022 7 Min . More green construction, less gravel mining: Ford walks back some environmental changes in Ontario housing bill . 2023-05-18 . The Narwhal . en.
  26. Web site: 2022-11-01 . Doug Ford's new housing bill guts green building law he voted for as Toronto councillor, say critics . 2023-05-22 . thestar.com . en.
  27. Web site: https://www.facebook.com/marcooved . 2023-05-29 . Toronto city council voted against more gas-plant production. The province is making it happen anyway . 2023-06-05 . thestar.com . en.

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