Also discussed here:Talking Points for Presentation to Environment Committee on Choosing Our Future(2 page pdf, Bill Pugsley, Feb. 21, 2012)
Today, we review the plans for mitigating Climate Change over the next 40 years, developed by the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau that make up the National Capital Region of Canada. While the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions is from heating and cooling and energy for buildings, the largest emission increases come from transportation and commuting by private vehicles in this urban area, one of the country’s cities at over 2,700 km2 (for Ottawa). Using best practices, emissions could be reduced by 27% from transportation, 95% from electricity and 100% from waste to meet the long term goal of 80% reductions by 2060. A number of potential targets for transportation, buildings, energy and waste are included. We look forward to a year by year funded action plan by each of the three jurisdictions (two cities, two provincial governments, and the federal government) to reach these targets.
Key Quotes:
“Under the best practice future residents and businesses could avoid a doubling in energy spending, saving $2.5 billion annually. By 2060, emissions in core community sectors would be 40% below 2007 levels. Early action could drive a 20% reduction in emissions by 2020”
“the major community sectors over which municipalities have greatest influence: Land Use; Transportation; Buildings; Energy Supply; and Solid Waste”
“the fastest growing energy sector is transportation. Transportation accounts for roughly one-quarter of energy use in the Region”
“the Province has committed to reducing GHGs by 6% from 1990 levels by 2014, 15% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.”
“emissions from transportation are estimated to decrease 27% by 2060 using Best Practices. This is due to a combination of higher vehicle efficiency and more non-automobile transportation (public transit, walking, cycling) supported by better infrastructure, and shorter travel distances due to land use changes”
“The Ontario government has set a target of one out of every 20 vehicles to be electrically powered by 2020. .. encourage or require new multi-unit residential and commercial buildings to provide charging facilities for battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles”
“Emissions from electricity generation and consumption in Ottawa are expected to decrease dramatically, dropping by more than 50% by 2020 and nearly 95% by 2060 when compared to 2007 levels”
“Landfilled waste and greenhouse gases from waste would be almost eliminated by 2060 if best practices were adopted.. A key part of the strategy could be to focus on the virtual elimination of organics from landfills”
Related articles
- Solar power to generate majority of electricity by 2060 (evoenergy.co.uk)
- Inventory report expected to show progress on climate policies (theprovince.com)
- B.C., Ontario and Quebec lead Canada's climate efforts: Suzuki Foundation (theprovince.com)
- New Report to Show Progress in Northeast States Toward Meeting Emissions Goals Shows tackling global warming emissions can coincide with economic growth (gloucestercitynews.net)
- Inventory report confirms oil-and-gas pollution rising (business.financialpost.com)
- Why the world needs a better way to measure cities' emissions (greenbiz.com)
- Denmark Aims to Achieve 35 Percent Green Energy by 2020 (cleantechies.com)
- Study: Electric cars not as green as you think (news.cnet.com)
- Denmark Aims to Achieve 35 Percent Green Energy by 2020 (e360.yale.edu)
- Purchasing Ottawa Real Estate (ruralstops.blogspot.com)
- Ottawa, Gatineau public transit should integrate (cbc.ca)
- Developers argue against Ottawa Greenbelt expansion (cbc.ca)
- Ottawa-Gatineau population outpaced national growth (cbc.ca)
No comments:
Post a Comment