My Attitude Towards The "Greening Greater Toronto" Initiative

The civic issue that I chose to focus this project on is climate change; to be more specific the “Greening Greater Toronto” initiative. Climate change is an ongoing issue that is affecting the whole world and if we continue down the path we are on, our days here on Earth will be numbered. But the “Greening Greater Toronto” initiative is trying to create more environmentally safe options, which will help issue improve. Some of these options include: making more sustainable transportation options (public transportation, riding a bike/more bike lanes, carpooling, etc.), and using more reusable products, just to name a few.

The significance of the issue means that there have been multiple different initiatives and funds put together. One of these initiatives is the “Race to Reduce” initiative; this project challenges building owners and their tenants to reduce energy use by 10 percent over a four year period. Leslie Domenico states that if the goal of “Race to Reduce” is reached it will have the same effect as removing 27,000 cars off the road. Another initiative that has been made is the “Greening the Goods” initiative; this project brings low-carbon options to the industry of “movement of goods” in Toronto. These options of new policies and ideas’ have been presented to the government alongside businesses. If the “Greening the Goods” initiative were to be put in place, the cost and emissions released would be cut: saving time, money, and our environment. One fund that has been put in place is the self-proclaimed “first-ever voluntary carbon-emission reduction fund”; so far Td Bank Financial Group and The Bank of Montreal have committed a $13 million investment, which puts them one step closer to becoming the first large carbon-neutral corporation in all of Canada. This fund will get put towards environmental awareness, alongside many other things.

Some proposed solutions to this issue are, to create more energy efficient or sustainable transportation, this will improve air quality by having less CO2 emissions being released into the atmosphere. A solution that will come from the “Race to Reduction” initiative is that by having companies reduce their energy transitions by 10 percent, this is also equivalent to 27,000 cars being taken off the road; therefore this will also improve air quality. Another solution is reducing the number of trees cut down; since trees help change CO2 into oxygen. All of these aforementioned solutions will help improve climate change overall, but especially in Toronto (a.k.a The Greening Greater Toronto initiative).

My opinion towards this issue is that climate change is a serious issue that we as the human population need to start taking more seriously. If we continue down the path we are heading towards, we will continue to shorten our days here on Earth. I believe that with initiatives like “Greening Greater Toronto” and “Race to Reduce” we can diminish our carbon footprint. As well as improving our air quality, our pollution levels, and many more positive outcomes.