Mayoralty candidate wants Ottawa to hit net-zero by 2050

Ontario Construction News staff writer

A candidate for mayor of Ottawa has released a climate action strategy designed to bring the city to net-zero emissions by 2050.

โ€œOur city urgently needs bold climate action, but we have been missing the political will to prioritize it,โ€ said candidate Catharine McKenney. โ€œHowever, with the right leadership, we can live in an Ottawa with green, affordable buildings, safe walkable neighbourhoods, and a tree canopy that helps cool our homes.ย I have a proven record of bringing the environment into every discussion at City Hall and I have a plan for Ottawa to become a climate leader.โ€

McKenneyโ€™s says the plan proposes commitments consistent with Ottawaโ€™s climate change master plan and facilitates the investments needed to make them a reality.ย Based on the Cityโ€™s projections within its plan, buildings and transportation will make up about 75% of emissions reductions from now until 2050.

Goals include:

  • Greening buildings to reduce emissions and save on energy costs
  • Protecting and increasing both greenspace and the tree canopy
  • Creating safe and walkable neighbourhoods that include bike infrastructure and low-emission transit
  • Designing a climate resiliency plan

โ€œThe costs of climate inaction are too high,โ€ McKenney said. โ€œThis summerโ€™s severe storm damaged Ottawaโ€™s tree canopy, homes and infrastructure. If we donโ€™t take bolder climate action now, these intense weather events will be more common and worse. But I have a strategy that helps our communities become more resilient in the face of environmental change and do our part to reduce climate pollution.โ€

If elected, McKenney would create a chief climate officer position to oversee implementation of the master plan and seek to ensure the partnership of Indigenous Peoples to build a more sustainable city and protect the environment.

There are six people running for the mayorโ€™s seat in Ottawa. The municipal election is Oct. 26.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

I accept the Privacy Policy