Toronto’s climate emissions down 44 per cent from 1990 levels

Thestar.com
July 11, 2019
Jennifer Pagliaro

Toronto has seen greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 44 per cent over 1990 levels as the city continues to work on short-term strategies in a climate change action plan.

A new report by city staff shows Toronto has surpassed the 2020 goal of a 30 per cent reduction, which was celebrated by Mayor John Tory and environmental advocates alike Wednesday. But some of those same advocates say the report lacks any way to keep track of whether the city is on track between targets that are decades apart.

“Really what today is about is an accountability exercise to the public so that they know an issue that they care deeply about that far from just passing a plan at city council, we’re coming back and saying after two years, here’s the progress,” Tory told reporters, crediting the city’s strategy in part with the decrease.

At the same time a release from the city indicated the next steps in implementing the TransformTO plan could include the international target of net zero emissions by 2050.

That would be an encouraging development, said Sarah Buchanan, the clean economy program manager for advocacy group Environmental Defence, who said Toronto has done “quite well” already in reducing its emissions.

She said to think about a net zero target like balancing a bank account. It could mean a building may take energy from the grid but creates just as much or more energy than is consumed and returns it to the grid through installed solar panels.

She likened the city’s short-term strategies to “low-hanging fruit,” which she said is not to undermine the important work the city has done to tackle emissions in their control -- such as replacing fleet vehicles with energy-efficient or zero-emission models or constructing new, net-zero buildings.

“I think it’s going to be a tougher road ahead,” Buchanan said.

Bryan Purcell, the vice-president of policy and programs for the Atmospheric Fund, a regional non-profit agency that invests in low-carbon initiatives, said surpassing the 2020 goal was significant, but agreed hard work lies ahead.

He noted the two most significant developments in the reduction of greenhouse gases to date happened in partnership with the province -- eliminating coal-fired energy and installing methane capture technology at landfills.

“The new provincial government hit the reset button on climate policy, essentially,” he said, noting the end to conservation programs and the cap-and-trade program under Premier Doug Ford.

Council has not made a decision yet on making net zero emissions a goal. The latest release from the city says that would “require bold and robust policies, programs and significant investment.” The current goal is a “low-carbon” Toronto. The next target is a 65 per cent reduction over 1990 levels in 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050.

Both Buchanan and Purcell said with the right programs and policies in place, emission neutrality is possible.

“Yes, let’s celebrate our success to-date, but tomorrow it’s time to redouble our efforts and see if we can move further faster,” Purcell said, adding all city decisions should be screened for a carbon impact.

The new status report is not headed to any committee or council, staff told the Star despite earlier direction from council that status reports be provided to council. A further implementation plan for TransformTO expected this year has now been delayed to “early 2020”

While the status report shows progress has been made overall on emissions and with some of the short-term strategies, the way the report is written makes it difficult to know if the city is on track with its goals.

Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4 Parkdale--High Park), a former Greenpeace campaigner, said he remains concerned about funding constraints in the city’s budget and delays that may have caused the city to slip on the path to those future targets.

“The original climate plan had dates and reductions specifically outlined in order to achieve the long-term target,” he said. “With delays in implementing pieces over the last two years, we can no longer say that those dates and targets will be met.”

Heather Marshall, campaigns director for the Toronto Environmental Alliance, another advocacy group, agreed.

She said it’s critical both that the city make clear what the interim targets are to know if Toronto is on track to hit the next goal in 2030 and that status reports go to council so that something can be done if the city is falling behind.

“We know the next 10 years are so crucial,” she said. “The implications are huge if we don’t meet our targets.”