Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Toronto has been recognized for environmental action, achieving a place on the Customer Data Platform’s (CDP) “CDP Cities A List” for the third consecutive year. Toronto is one of 105 cities globally to receive the 2021 ‘A’ designation, from among more than 1,000 cities reporting their environmental impact through the CDP system.
The city developed a climate change strategy, tracking actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, assess and mitigate climate risks and transparently report the information in its 2021 disclosure to CDP.
CDP, an environmental impact non-profit organization, runs a global environmental disclosure system that helps companies, cities and regions measure and manage risks and opportunities on climate change, water security and deforestation.
Toronto adopted the Transform TO Net Zero Strategy in December 2021 with a goal of reducing emissions to net zero by 2040, calling the target one of the most ambitious in North America.
Community-wide GHG emissions in Toronto were 38 per cent lower in 2019 than in 2009, according to the 2019 Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Council has said that future GHG reduction targets will require additional federal and provincial funding, as well as support from Toronto’s residents and businesses.
Plans include
- Net Zero Existing Buildings Strategy to significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels in all existing residential, commercial and institutional buildings. The strategy will set voluntary performance measures and targets initially, intending to begin the transition to mandatory requirements in 2025.
- Net Zero Carbon Plan to reduce emissions from more than 2,500 city-owned buildings (approximately 9.5 million square metres) by at least 80 per cent by 2040.
- Toronto Green Standard (TGS) continues to raise the bar to all but eliminate the use of natural gas in new buildings. For more than 10 years, the TGS has helped transform the market, resulting in 169,000 tonnes of avoided carbon dioxide emissions annually. Learn more.
- Green Will Initiatives allows the city to partner with large building portfolio owners across Toronto to accelerate emissions reductions from their buildings.
- Electric Vehicle (EV) strategy aims to reduce barriers to electric vehicle adoption, including a pilot project with EV charging stations currently installed.
- TTC’s Green Bus program includes a commitment to 50 per cent of its bus feet being zero emissions by 2032. The TTC has one of the largest fleets of electric buses in North America.
“Toronto’s Net Zero Strategy ensures we act quickly to create greener buildings, greener vehicles, a greener transit system and a greener city overall,” said Mayor John Tory.