XPost: can.politics, bc.politics, ont.politics   
   XPost: ab.politics   
   From: "@nyet.ca   
      
     	   
   Canada's cities lead on climate action   
      
   Amid the dire warnings about global warming's impacts, what's often   
   overlooked is that actions to reduce or prevent them will lead to   
   livable communities, improved air quality, protection of natural spaces   
   and greater economic efficiency, to name just a few benefits. So it's   
   not surprising that tangible positive action on climate change is   
   happening in Canada's cities.   
      
   Plenty of examples can be found in the National Measures Report,   
   released in mid-July by the Partners for Climate Protection, which   
   includes the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and ICLEI-Canada, a   
   local government organization dedicated to sustainability.   
      
   The report shows that, although Calgary is best known as the epicentre   
   of Canada's oil and gas sector, its government is investing in greater   
   energy efficiency and tackling greenhouse gas pollution. In just seven   
   years, it has cut emissions from operations by almost 50 per cent   
   through an innovative partnership with energy companies. Cost savings   
   from reduced energy use pay for the city's investments.   
      
   Edmonton was an early innovator in waste management, establishing one of   
   the first municipal composting programs in 2000. Its facility is the   
   largest of its kind in North America. Not only does it take in organic   
   waste from households, it also processes sewage sludge from the   
   wastewater treatment plant. Along with its recycling program, the city   
   now keeps up to 60 per cent of its municipal waste out of landfills, and   
   is aiming to increase that to 90 per cent. How does this help with   
   climate change? Diverting waste away from landfills reduces emissions of   
   methane, a greenhouse gas many times more potent than carbon dioxide.   
      
   In Ontario, Guelph is enjoying an economic revival and reducing energy   
   use and greenhouse gas emissions at the same time. Supported by   
   Ontario's Green Energy Act, the city aims to meet 25 per cent of its   
   total energy needs with locally sourced renewable energy. The policy   
   turned out to be a boon for the manufacturing sector, attracting solar   
   industry plants to Guelph and across the region.   
      
   My hometown, Vancouver, is the real leader on Canadian urban climate   
   initiatives. It has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions of any major   
   North American city — and they're continuing to drop.   
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   B.C is lucky to be powered by low-carbon hydroelectric power; Vancouver   
   leverages this advantage by making smart urban-planning decisions and   
   encouraging active transportation such as walking, biking and public   
   transit.   
   Almost half of city trips are now made without a car.  Battling sprawl   
   and encouraging sustainable transportation has its advantages beyond   
   reducing the carbon footprint.  Good transit and improved liveability   
   have attracted people to Vancouver's increasingly vibrant downtown core,   
   lush green spaces and seaside pathways.   
   		   
   		[Yay !, Gregor Robertson !   
      
   Local progress can spur even greater momentum as cities collaborate with   
   each other and other levels of government.  The C40 Climate Leadership   
   Group, started in 2005, has grown from 18 to 69 megacities around the   
   world, including Toronto and Vancouver — representing one in 12 people   
   on the planet. C40 and related initiatives have allowed cities to set   
   goals together, measure and verify progress and share success stories on   
   how to tackle global warming, while reaching out to smaller centres and   
   co-operating with national governments.   
      
   The influence and importance of tackling global warming at the municipal   
   level has become so great that the UN now formally recognizes city   
   governments in negotiations on climate change.  It makes sense. The UN   
   notes that although cities cover just two per cent of the world's   
   surface, they produce more than 60 per cent of CO2 emissions.   
      
   How can federal and provincial governments get on board?  First, they   
   can establish policies that offer financial and program support to urban   
   global warming action, such as investing in public transportation. The   
   B.C government has helped cities develop climate change plans and become   
   carbon neutral, and Nova Scotia has established a Climate Change   
   Adaptation Clearinghouse to assist cities.   Other provinces could take   
   similar action.   
   And all provinces and the federal government need to get serious about   
   the greenhouse gas emissions they control.   
      
   Our future will be determined by the choices we make now to prioritize   
   clean energy, better transit and smarter urban design. Canadian citizens   
   and governments should recognize the benefits of acting and co-operating   
   on global warming. There's still a long way to go, but cities are   
   showing the way.   
      
      
   ~ By David Suzuki with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation   
   Science and Policy Manager Ian Bruce.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)