Report to/Rapport au :
Planning and Environment Committee
Comité de l'urbanisme et de
l’environnement
and Council / et au Conseil
2 December 2004 / le 2 décembre 2004
Submitted by/Soumis par : Ned Lathrop, Deputy City Manager/Directeur
municipal adjoint,
Planning
and Growth Management/Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance
Contact Person/Personne
ressource : Carol Christensen, Manager/Gestionnaire, Environmental Management /
/Gestion de l’environnement
Planning, Environment and Infrastructure
Policy/Politique d'urbanisme, d'environnement et d'infrastructure
(613) 580-2424 x21610,
Carol.Christensen@ottawa.ca
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SUBJECT: |
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OBJET : |
PLAN DE GESTION DE LA QUALITÉ DE L'AIR
ET DES CHANGEMENTS CLIMATIQUES |
REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That
the Planning and Environment Committee recommend Council approve the Air
Quality and Climate Change Management Plan.
This Plan commits the City to undertake a number of measures to reduce
our contribution to global climate change and to maintain and enhance our local
air quality. Approval of this Plan will
commit the City to:
a. Reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions within
its Corporate business by 20%, relative to 1990 levels, by 2007 through
continuing to implement reduction measures already underway and by implementing
the following new measures:
i. Review
current corporate resource use (energy) and set targets for further reduction;
and
ii. Develop
a Corporate green procurement policy.
b. Reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions within
the Community by 20%, relative to 1990 levels, by 2012, by continuing to
implement reduction measures already underway and by implementing the following
new measures:
i. Partner
with the Federal government to develop and implement driver education for
targeted commercial fleets and for the public;
ii. Collaborate
with federal and business organizations to implement freight fleet efficiency
programs;
iii. Public
education on range of energy efficient activities and green procurement for
home, travel and work through promotion and use or expansion of federal,
provincial and non-government organizational programs and information
materials, as appropriate;
iv. Explore
the feasibility of using Local Improvement Charges under the Municipal Act to encourage
home retrofits;
v. Implement
a Better Buildings Partnership program to encourage commercial building
retrofits, dependent upon adequate funding being established through the 2006
budget review process;
vi. Develop
building, site and community Design Guidelines to help guide and encourage
energy efficient developments, green buildings and green roofs; and
vii. Promote
and facilitate the development of new alternative energy projects using green
or renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, heat recovery and use of
process by-products.
c. Implement air quality programs that
further enhance the improvements to be achieved by the above measures through
implementing the following new measures:
i. Partner
with the Federal government on public education for efficient residential wood
burning and winter air advisories; and
ii. Collaborate with other agencies on approaches to address emerging air quality issues within the community.
RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT
Que le Comité de l'urbanisme et de
l'environnement recommande au Conseil d'approuver le Plan de gestion de la
qualité de l'air et des changements climatiques. En vertu de ce plan, la Ville
s'engage à prendre un certain nombre de mesures afin de réduire notre
contribution aux changements climatiques qui surviennent à l'échelle mondiale
ainsi qu'à maintenir et à améliorer la qualité de l'air à l'échelon local. Une
fois ce plan approuvé, la Ville devra :
a. Réduire de 20 p. 100 d'ici à 2007 (par
rapport aux niveaux de 1990) les émissions de gaz à effet de serre provenant de
ses activités, en poursuivant la mise en œuvre des mesures de réduction déjà
prises et en appliquant les nouvelles mesures suivantes :
(i) examiner
l'utilisation actuelle des ressources (énergie) et fixer des objectifs de
réduction supplémentaires;
(ii) Élaborer
une politique d'achats verts.
b. Réduire
les émissions de gaz à effet de serre dans la collectivité de 20 p. 100 d'ici à
2012 (par rapport aux niveaux de 1990), en poursuivant la mise en oeuvre des
mesures de réduction déjà prises et en appliquant les nouvelles mesures
suivantes :
(i) S'associer
au gouvernement fédéral afin d'élaborer et de mettre en oeuvre des mesures de
sensibilisation des automobilistes pour ce qui concerne les parcs de véhicules
commerciaux et le grand public;
(ii) Collaborer
avec les organismes fédéraux et commerciaux en vue de la mise en oeuvre de
programmes d'efficience pour les parcs de véhicules de transport de
marchandises;
(iii) Mener
des programmes de sensibilisation de la population par rapport à un large
éventail de mesures d'efficience énergétique et d'achats verts visant les
foyers, les déplacements et le travail, par la promotion et l'utilisation ou
l'élargissement de programmes et de documents d'information émanant d'organismes
fédéraux, provinciaux et non gouvernementaux, s'il y a lieu;
(iv) Examiner
la possibilité d'utiliser les redevances relatives aux aménagements locaux
prévues par la Loi sur les municipalités pour favoriser l'adaptation des
résidences;
(v) Mettre
en place un partenariat pour l'amélioration des immeubles afin de favoriser
l'adaptation des immeubles commerciaux, à la condition que des crédits
suffisants puissent être dégagés à cette fin dans le budget de 2006;
(vi) Établir
des lignes directrices pour la conception des immeubles, des sites et des
collectivités afin de favoriser la réalisation d'aménagements tenant compte de
mesures d'efficience énergétique, d'immeubles écologiques et de toitures
vertes;
(vii) Promouvoir
et faciliter l'élaboration de projets faisant appel à l'utilisation de sources
d'énergie écologiques ou renouvelables, comme l'énergie éolienne, l'énergie
solaire, la récupération de chaleur et les sous-produits de procédés
industriels.
c. Mettre
en œuvre des programmes de qualité de l'air qui favorisent les améliorations
pouvant être obtenues grâce aux mesures ci-dessus, par la mise en œuvre des
nouvelles mesures suivantes :
(i) S'associer
au gouvernement fédéral pour la réalisation de programmes de sensibilisation de
la population à l'utilisation efficace du chauffage au bois dans les résidences
et à la qualité de l'air en hiver;
(ii) Collaborer
avec d'autres organismes afin de trouver des façons d'aborder les questions
nouvelles liées à la qualité de l'air dans la collectivité.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Assumptions
and Analysis:
In its Environmental Strategy, approved in 2003, the
City committed to complete an Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan to
contribute to the goals of Clean Air, Water and Earth and Development in
Harmony with the Environment as well as to meet the strategic environmental
commitment of managing our greenhouse gas emissions as a Partner for Climate
Protection. This report presents the
proposed Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan for the City of Ottawa.
Both globally and locally, we are observing
both health and environmental effects from air quality, either through the
emission of air contaminants or greenhouse gases that result from a range of
human activities. Canada has committed
internationally to address climate change by signing the Kyoto Accord in 2002,
newly ratified in October 2004 with the signing by Russia. This Accord commits all member countries to
reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 6%, relative to 1990 levels, within
the period of 2010 to 2012.
At a municipal level, the Federation of
Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has estimated that municipal governments can
influence the levels of approximately 50% of greenhouse gases within their
communities. Through the 1990’s to
present day, a total of 118 Canadian municipalities have joined the FCM’s
Partners for Climate Protection program, committing to local greenhouse gas
reductions that range from 6 to 20%, relative to 1990 levels.
The Air Quality and Climate Change Plan for the
City of Ottawa proposes the following targets:
·
A corporate
business target of 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, relative to 1990
levels, by 2007; and
·
A community
target of 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, relative to 1990 levels,
by 2012.
The City has already achieved an approximate
12% reduction in greenhouse gases, relative to 1990, within its own operations
through such initiatives as a corporate building retrofit program and a fleet
emissions reduction strategy. The additional
improvement required to reach a 20% reduction by 2007 will be achieved through
continued implementation of existing corporate programs as well as through
implementation of a corporate green procurement strategy and additional energy
use reductions identified through a review of our corporate energy use.
On the community side, the challenge will be
greater. With an increased population
and per capita energy use since 1990, the greenhouse gas reduction target of
20% relative to 1990 levels means that the actual greenhouse gas emission
reduction needed is 63%. A number of
complimentary initiatives are already underway through implementation of the
Official Plan, Transportation Master Plan, Smog and Heat Action Plan and
projects such as the cogeneration facility at Trail Road landfill and at the
R.O. Pickard Environmental Centre. As
well, the Integrated Waste Management Master Plan, to be considered separately
by Committee will contribute significantly over time to greenhouse gas emission
reductions. New community programs
proposed through this Plan include a Better Buildings Partnership for
commercial building retrofits, partnership educational initiatives for home
activities and for commercial fleets, development of design guidelines and
promotion and facilitation of alternate energy resource projects.
In addition to the air quality improvements that the community will achieve with the reduced energy consumption needed to meet these greenhouse gas targets, additional air quality benefits will be sought through new programs in cooperation with other agencies, such as education on residential wood burning. Existing programs that already contribute to improved air quality include the City’s Pesticide Reduction Strategy, Salt Management Strategy, Official Plan Noise Guidelines and the Noise By-Law.
Financial
Implications:
The Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan
identifies a mix of existing and new programs which will contribute to reducing
greenhouse gas emissions and improving our local air quality. Any new programs with financial implications
will submit cost considerations to future budget processes.
For 2005, an amount of $45,000 has been identified within the Environmental Management account to implement identified research, establishment of corporate and community energy use levels and greenhouse gas emissions and to prepare promotional materials Approval of these funds will be considered during the 2005 budget process.
Public
Consultation/Input:
Preparation of the plan included feedback on air quality and climate change considerations through the City's previous Ottawa 2020 consultations, through circulation of a draft plan in late summer to interested public and staff expert groups and through a public consultation session in September 2004.
RÉSUMÉ
Hypothèses et analyse :
Dans sa Stratégie environnementale, qui a été
approuvée en 2003, la Ville s’engageait à élaborer un Plan de gestion de la
qualité de l’air et des changements climatiques afin de contribuer à l’atteinte
des objectifs en matière de qualité de l’air, de l’eau et du sol et de
développement en harmonie avec l’environnement. Ce plan devait aussi permettre
à la Ville de donner suite à l’engagement qu’elle a pris de gérer ses émissions
de gaz à effet de serre, en sa qualité de partenaire pour la protection du
climat. Le présent rapport présente le projet de Plan de gestion de la qualité
de l’air et des changements climatiques de la Ville d’Ottawa.
Tant à l’échelle de la planète qu’au niveau
local, nous sommes à même de constater les effets de l’air sur la santé et
l’environnement, notamment ceux qui sont dus au rejet dans l’atmosphère de
contaminants ou de gaz à effet de serre découlant de l’activité humaine. Sur le
plan international, le Canada s’est engagé à contrer le problème des
changements climatiques en signant, en 2002, l’Accord de Kyoto, qui peut
maintenant prendre effet après avoir été ratifié par la Russie en octobre 2004.
Les pays signataires de cet accord s’engagent à réduire leurs émissions de gaz
à effet de serre de 6 p. 100, par rapport aux niveaux de 1990, d’ici à la
période 2010-2012.
Au niveau municipal, la Fédération canadienne
des municipalités (FCM) a estimé que les administrations municipales sont en mesure
d’exercer une influence sur environ 50 p. 100 des gaz à effet de serre produits
dans leur milieu. Depuis les années 1990, 118 municipalités canadiennes ont
adhéré au programme Partenaire pour la protection du climat de la FCM,
s’engageant ainsi à réduire de 6 à 20 p. 100 les émissions locales de gaz à
effet de serre par rapport aux niveaux de 1990.
Le Programme de gestion de la qualité de l’air
et des changements climatiques de la Ville d’Ottawa propose les objectifs
suivants :
·
Réduction de 20
p. 100 d’ici à 2007, par rapport aux niveaux de 1990, des émissions de gaz à
effet de serre découlant des activités de la Ville;
·
Réduction de 20
p. 100 d’ici à 2012, par rapport aux niveaux de 1990, des émissions de gaz à
effet de serre dans notre collectivité.
La Ville a déjà réduit d’environ 12 p. 100 ses
émissions de gaz à effet de serre par rapport aux niveaux de 1990, notamment
par la rénovation et l’adaptation des immeubles et la réduction des émissions
provenant du parc de véhicules. Les améliorations requises pour atteindre
l’objectif de 20 p. 100 fixé pour 2007 seront obtenues grâce au maintien de
programmes municipaux existants ainsi que par la mise en œuvre d’une stratégie
d’achats verts et la réduction supplémentaire de notre consommation d’énergie,
à la suite d’un examen de celle-ci.
En ce qui concerne l’ensemble de la
collectivité, le défi sera plus difficile à relever. En raison de
l’augmentation de la population et de l’accroissement de la consommation
d’énergie par habitant auxquelles nous avons assisté depuis 1990, la réduction
de 20 p. 100 des émissions de gaz à effet de serre par rapport aux niveaux de
1990 signifie qu’il faudra en réalité réduire ces émissions de 63 p. 100. Un
certain nombre d’initiatives complémentaires sont déjà prises dans le cadre du
Plan officiel, du Plan directeur des transports, du Plan d’action contre le
smog et la chaleur et de projets tels que l’usine de cogénération de la
décharge du chemin Trail et du Centre environnemental R.O. Pickard. De plus, le
Plan directeur de la gestion intégrée des déchets, que le Comité examinera
séparément, contribuera grandement à la réduction des émissions de gaz à effet
de serre. Le Plan de gestion de la qualité de l’air et des changements
climatiques prévoit aussi la mise en place de nouveaux programmes
communautaires, notamment un partenariat pour l’amélioration des immeubles en
vue de la rénovation et de l’adaptation des immeubles à vocation commerciale,
des projets de sensibilisation menés en partenariat pour les résidences et les parcs
de véhicules, l’établissement de lignes directrices de conception ainsi que des
mesures destinées à promouvoir et à faciliter les projets faisant appel à
l’utilisation de sources d’énergie de remplacement.
En plus des améliorations à la qualité de l’air que l’on obtiendra grâce à la réduction de la consommation d’énergie nécessaire pour atteindre les objectifs de réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre, on recherchera d’autres avantages sur le plan de la qualité de l’air en mettant en place de nouveaux programmes en collaboration avec d’autres organismes, notamment pour sensibiliser la population aux questions touchant le chauffage au bois dans les résidences. Par ailleurs, la Ville possède aussi certains autres programmes qui contribuent déjà à l’amélioration de la qualité de l’air. Ce sont notamment la Stratégie de réduction de l’usage des pesticides, la Stratégie de gestion des sels de voirie, les lignes directrices sur le bruit contenues dans le Plan officiel et le Règlement sur le bruit.
Répercussions
financières :
Le Plan de gestion de la qualité de l’air et des
changements climatiques énumère un ensemble de programmes nouveaux et existants
qui contribueront à réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre et à
améliorer la qualité de l’air dans notre ville. Le coût de tout nouveau
programme ayant des répercussions financières sera étudié au moment de
l’établissement des budgets futurs.
Pour ce qui concerne l’année 2005, on a prévu des crédits de 45 000 $ dans le compte de la gestion de l’environnement pour la réalisation des travaux de recherche répertoriés, pour l’établissement des niveaux de consommation d’énergie et d’émissions de gaz à effet de serre de la Ville et de l’ensemble de la collectivité ainsi que pour la production de matériel promotionnel. L’approbation de ces crédits aura lieu au moment de l’établissement du budget de 2005.
Consultation publique / commentaires :
Le Plan tient compte des commentaires formulés au sujet de la qualité de l’air et des changements climatiques lors des consultations que la Ville a menées dans le cadre de l’opération Ottawa 20/20 de même qu’à la suite de la diffusion, à la fin de l’été, de la version préliminaire du Plan parmi les groupements publics et spécialisés concernés, et d’une consultation publique menée au mois de septembre 2004.
BACKGROUND
On a global basis, air pollution and climate change
impacts from human activities amount to billions of dollars and thousands of
deaths. Extreme weather events, such as
the ice storm of 1998 or the hurricane-related storm and resultant flooding
that we experienced this past September, remind us of weather variability
related to climate change. Locally,
impacts of air pollution on our economy are estimated at $65 million per
year. In addition, the Ontario Medical
Association attributes over 100 deaths per year and 900 emergency room visits
within the City to air pollution.
On average, the global temperature rose by
0.5oC in the last 30-year period. In
Ottawa, the temperature rose by 1oC, a change that is consistent with the
prediction that climate changes will be greater at higher latitudes. Expected ecosystem impacts from climate
change include habitat loss, habitat and species population imbalances due to
invasion by exotic pests and vector species (e.g. West Nile virus) and
extinction of species.
Hazardous air pollutants and greenhouse gases
are linked to the burning of fossil fuels.
In Ottawa, transportation is the largest source of air emissions. This sector is responsible for 40% of our
community’s greenhouse gas emissions as well as 85% of our nitrogen oxides, 90%
of carbon monoxide, 60% of sulphur dioxide, 46% of particulate matter smaller
than 2.5 microns and smaller quantities of various carcinogenic
substances. In addition to our
transportation, and residential heating and cooling sources of air
contaminants, other sources include commercial buildings, industry (emit 150%
more total particulate matter than transportation), waste disposal, agriculture
(ammonia) and road dust. We are also
exposed to other non-chemical sources of air pollution such as pollen, mould,
odours, noise and light. The health
impacts of all these contaminants range from annoyance to serious respiratory,
nerve and immunological disorders.
In the summer, our air quality is further
impacted by long-range transport of air pollutants from the Ohio Valley and
southern Ontario. All these emissions
contribute to smog episodes within Ottawa, the number of which have been increasing
and are expected to increase even further as our climate changes. In the winter, the emissions from our
year-round fuel consumption activities such as transportation combined with
on-site heating source combustion (oil, natural gas and wood) and increased
vehicle idling result in poor air quality events, especially when regional air
masses stagnate.
Air quality emissions have serious consequences
to our health. Sulphur dioxide
decreases pulmonary capacity. Nitrogen
oxides are lung irritants and are also associated with heart disease. Carbon monoxide is responsible for
congestive heart failure and respiratory infections in children and the
elderly. Unlike other air pollutants,
no safe level exists for particulate matter, with health effects including
respiratory infections, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Ground level ozone impacts both animal and
plant health through such effects as decreasing lung and immune function,
causing asthma, lowering agricultural productivity and tree health.
Additional benefits of reducing greenhouse
gases will be cleaner air, fewer traffic accidents, healthier residents and
increased economic prosperity by reducing our costs for energy generated
elsewhere. In addition to lessening our contribution to climate change,
reducing greenhouse gas emissions contribute to our quality of life.
Amongst environmental concerns expressed by
Ottawa citizens, air quality ranked as one of the top concerns during the
consultations for the Ottawa 2020 Growth Management Strategy. This ranking for air quality as a top
environmental issue was also confirmed by local public opinion surveys
conducted by the City for its pesticide reduction initiative and by Environment
Canada to obtain general perspectives on environment.
This public support, as well as identified environmental trends, led to the commitment within the City’s Environmental Strategy, approved in 2003, that the City would prepare an Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan (AQ&CCMP). The document presented with this report is this supporting plan that aims to maintain and enhance our City’s air quality and to reduce both our City’s corporate business and our community’s greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, relative to 1990 levels. Through implementation of this plan, the City would be contributing to its environmental goals for development in harmony with the environment and clean air, water and earth. In addition, the Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan’s initiatives contribute significantly to the strategic commitments within the Environmental Strategy to manage greenhouse gas emissions as a Partner for Climate Protection. The proposed measures also help the City in fulfilling its commitments to demonstrate leadership, manage its resources efficiently and effectively and build environmental factors into decision-making.
DISCUSSION
The AQ&CCMP establishes a broad range of
strategic actions to reduce our overall air emissions. Energy and emission reductions of community
and City activities have been recognized through a large range of existing
programs, ranging from land use planning to alternative energy resources and
transportation demand management. The
Plan places particular emphasis on reducing greenhouse gases and capitalizing
on the associated benefits to air quality.
The AQ&CCMP maintains the former municipal
commitments for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 20% from the 1990
baseline levels for both the corporation and for the community. The Plan proposes that these targets be met
by 2007 for corporate activities and by 2012 within the community. To achieve this commitment will require
implementing a suite of measures and partnerships. As the Nation’s Capital, Ottawa must strive to be a leader and is
well positioned to take advantage of the readily available expertise within the
Federal Government. It is with both
their lead and support that the City can accomplish the plan’s suggested
measures to reduce both greenhouse gases and air contaminants. Through coordinated and cooperative efforts
amongst City programs, the federal and provincial governments, the City of
Gatineau, private and non-for profit organizations, our corporate and community
targets can be achieved. Document 2
demonstrates how the City of Ottawa can meet our 20% community target by 2012
by detailing the measures, responsible agencies and the potential contributions
to GHG reduction.
The greenhouse reduction challenge will require
an updated inventory and an aggressive plan that incorporates and builds on the
City’s existing strategies and plans as well as initiatives such as alternative
energy projects (District Energy and landfill gas cogeneration). This 10-year plan builds on a number of
existing City strategies and plans, the majority of which are approved by
Council, including:
· the
Official Plan (2003);
· the
Climate Change Action Plans for the former City of Ottawa (1995) and Regional
Municipality of Ottawa/Carleton (1998);
· the
Fuel Emission Reduction Strategy (2004 update);
· the
Transportation Master Plan (2003);
· the
Integrated Waste Management Master Plan (draft);
· the
Smog and Heat Action Plans (2004);
· the
Draft Transportation Demand Management Strategy; and
· the
Draft Salt Management Plan.
The plan also calls for a review of existing
policies and regulations and their role in creating a sustainable
community. The City has great potential
to influence sustainable development by:
· encouraging
“green buildings” by aligning development requirements with expected outcomes
and by developing an internal policy to achieve LEED status for municipal
buildings (already underway);
· lobbying
for changes in the energy requirement of the Ontario and National Building
codes;
· promoting
energy conservation through Better Buildings Partnerships or Local Improvement
Charges that promote and help finance energy efficient building retrofits;
· promoting
technologies that incorporate alternative energy sources such as landfill gas
co-generation, biogas co-generation, windmill energy, hydro electricity and
solar energy;
· instituting
a series of programs aimed at behavioral changes to:
· reduce
the use of single occupant vehicles;
· be
more efficient in wood burning; and
· reduce
odours, noise and light pollution.
The Ottawa community has already demonstrated
its ability to participate in and influence behavioral change through such
campaigns as Smoke Free O2ttawa. In
cooperation with other like-mandated organizations, the City can expand its
current environmental and health education and promotional campaigns to lead
all of us on a more sustainable path.
While a great portion of the plan is aimed at climate change mitigation, there is a small section on adaptation. The measures suggested are aimed at urban heat island mitigation and smog and heat alerts. The need for a more in-depth adaptation plan has been identified and will be developed in the future.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
Achievement of the measures outlined within this plan
by 2012 will significantly reduce the community's contribution to climate
change. By achieving a 20% reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions, the City of Ottawa will be contribute 5.42 less
tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent gases to the atmosphere. This action will in turn encourage local
residents, businesses and agencies as well as other Canadian and potentially
international municipalities to initiate action or continue to do their part to
reduce global climate change.
Collectively, we will be able to slow the rate of ecosystem change and, with
continued efforts, reverse the climate and ecosystem impacts we have observed
to date.
In addition, the City will see improved air quality benefits through implementation of this plan, resulting in healthier human, wildlife and plant residents.
CONSULTATION
For preparation of this plan, staff have sought
extensive feedback from focused expert groups such as the Environmental
Advisory Committee, Pollution Probe, Environment Canada, Natural Resources
Canada and the Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee. Feedback on the positioning and content for
the Plan and its measures was also provided by relevant staff expertise in the
areas of Surface Operations, Public Health, Real Property and Asset Management,
Solid Waste, Water and Wastewater Services, Mobility and Area Traffic
Management, Transportation and Infrastructure Policy, Planning and Fleet
Services.
The City also hosted a public consultation
workshop in September 2004. The plan is
a response to the citizen’s concerns expressed during the Ottawa 2020 and
Environmental Strategy consultations through 2002 and 2003. A summary of the resulting suggestions is
attached in Document 3, with the main suggestions including:
1. Public
education through both incentives and penalties
2. Ensure
that the City leads by example. Make Ottawa the leader in GHG reduction
3. Focus
on air pollution impacts on human health
4. Align
individual and municipal actions with federal actions on the Kyoto Commitment
5. Monitor
progress through inventories and targets
6. Promote
‘green roofs,’ increase tree and shrub planting by 50%
7. Consider
alternative fuels in City operations. Reduce air pollution from municipal
public transportation
8. Have
an anti-idling program
9. Address
light pollution
10. Institute
and promote Transportation Demand Management
11. Reduce
and monitor road salt use
12. Promote green buildings that use daylight
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
For 2005, the measures and activities proposed will
be conducted through the use of existing program resources, as noted in
Document 2. In addition, an amount of
$45,000 in the Environmental Management capital account (#902560) would be
required for conduct of some of the research, preparation of a corporate green
procurement policy, preparation of a 2003 corporate and community energy use
and greenhouse gas emission inventory and development of supporting promotional
materials identified within this plan.
Future financial implications will be identified as programs are developed with individual projects vetted through the City’s budgetary process. The approach for the identified new projects is to access partnership resources and innovative funding mechanisms to the extent possible. With the very recent ratification of the international Kyoto Accord, both the federal and provincial governments will be implementing a number of initiatives to ensure our collective success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As the capital City, we will be well placed to take advantage of this interest and growing momentum.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 1 The
Air Quality and Climate Change
Management Plan (distributed under separate cover)
Document 2 Summary
of Measures, Impacts and Implications
Document 3 Summary of Public Feedback on Climate Change and Air Quality
DISPOSITION
Upon approval by Council, the Environmental Management Division will coordinate implementation of this plan amongst participating City programs and will take the lead on community-oriented initiatives.
SUMMARY OF MEASURES, IMPACTS AND IMPLICATIONS Document 2
|
Comment
(in some cases a sample may represent several similar types of comments) |
AQ
& CC Mgt. Plan Response |
|
Emphasize education |
Education specifically profiled as a general tool (section 6.1) and
within specific actions |
|
Encourage action through incentives rather than penalties Penalize poor practices as you promote good ones |
The need for incentives is discussed in several sections – specific
actions would have to follow through implementation measures/ budget
processes, etc. There is also a need
for some regulations and disincentives as well; the challenge is striking the
right balance and there were comments on both sides during the Environmental
Strategy consultation |
|
Need to change the habits of individuals by offering options that
reduce GHG and emissions |
The Plan recognizes the importance of individual action through
education, One Tonne Challenge, Home energy audits, etc. |
|
Ensure that the City leads by example |
Extensive corporate component including targets and actions |
|
Take some of the focus off the natural environment and provide more
consideration of human health |
Health concerns in terms of air quality, the potential impact of
climate change, and co-benefits of climate change measures are dealt with
throughout. |
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Place more consideration on true cost accounting |
Will be addressed through the City’s corporate green procurement policy
plus through promotion of green procurement and energy efficiency options
within the community |
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Actions by individuals and communities, as supported by
municipalities, should be consistent with Federal Action on Kyoto |
Plan accounts for Federal Programs and is consistent with Federal
Efforts |
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Make inventories and targets an important part of the Env. Strategy |
AQ & CC Mgt. Plan includes a GHG inventory, a monitoring program
and has set specific targets |
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Only set targets that are appropriate and enforceable |
Targets set in the plan are aggressive and place Ottawa in the
forefront of Climate Change Action.
GHG reduction targets involve a wide variety of actions with varying
degrees of City control and influence.
Measures can be enforced where the municipal control and legal tools
are available. |
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Try to achieve more than the 20% Targets – make Ottawa in the 10th
percentile of Canadian Cities for GHG reduction |
The 20% by 2012 target is considered to be very aggressive,
particularly given the potential population growth. This target makes Ottawa one of the leaders in GHG reduction
targets. |
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Recognize tree planting, green roofs and community gardens as major
themes, encourage green roofs and develop a program |
Green roofs are included as an action in the plan (promotion of Green
Buildings 6.3.2) and as a follow up to a workshop a task force to promote
them has been set. |
|
Increase tree and shrub population by 50% to combat climate change and
heat island effect |
The Plan promotes greening to combat the heat island effect |
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Complete an agricultural and forest carbon sink assessment |
A forest assessment is being done through the City Green project. No current plans to assess agricultural
sinks. |
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Consider alternative fuels for buses |
Part of the fleet emissions reduction strategy |
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Influence Hydro Ottawa to reduce GHG emissions or use alternative
energy sources |
Energy Ottawa partnerships to establish District Energy and LFG
cogeneration |
|
There is a need for an anti-idling program |
Anti-idling program is well underway and incorporated in the Plan |
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Don’t waste time on measuring air quality – leave it to the Province |
The Plan does suggest additional monitoring as the Federal and
Provincial System is not able to address local issues and hot-spots |
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Increase electricity prices to encourage conservation |
Not within the City’s power but clearly an important component of
meeting the targets |
|
Place a priority for hybrid vehicles in City Parking lots |
Suggested preferential parking for energy efficient cars in the plan |
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Incorporate system to filter PM in bus exhaust |
New buses have PM traps; issue addressed within the Fleet Emission
Reduction Strategy |
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Address light pollution as an environmental and quality of life issue Develop a comprehensive outdoor lighting plan that would be implemented
through bylaws |
Plan deals with the health impacts of light pollution and recommends
suitable policies |
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Establish a method to monitor human health costs resulting from
vehicular emissions in transportation corridors and roads, and link to TMP |
Air quality monitoring is planned to extend the two stations in the
City |
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No safe level for PM |
Addressed in the discussion on PM and the strategies |
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Relate property taxes to impervious lot cover |
Property taxes are based on a Provincial Assessment system that does
not calculate impervious surface.
Impervious covers are discouraged through the promotion of Green
Buildings. |
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Compare bus pollution to rider ship levels and alter/replace remove
routes that pollute more than a similar number of cars |
Interesting take, but not addressed in the plan or the Transit Service
Strategy. Health Canada is studying pollution levels in different mediums. |
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Suggested TDM strategies More carpooling Provide City vehicle for car pooling More winter Cycling paths, etc. etc. |
The Plan emphasizes the need to approve and implement the
Transportation Demand Management Strategy in partnership with the Federal
government. |
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Monitor and reduce Road salt and consider alternatives |
Discussed in the Plan |
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Carefully examine new building styles to ensure that wind tunnels are
not created and sunlight is not being blocked |
The Management Plan promotes Green Buildings and discusses urban
design issues (Ottawa by Design). |