MARK GRIMES CLIMATE ACTION
MARK GRIMES Councillor - Ward 3 Etobicoke-Lakeshore
One of the most pressing issues facing our world today is climate change. Effectively tackling this issue requires commitment at the local, national, and global levels. Back in 2017, City Council voted unanimously in favour of adopting the TransformTO Climate Action Strategy, which set out our long-term, low carbon goals and strategies to reduce local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Then in October 2019, City Council voted to declare a climate emergency and accelerate our efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and adopt a stronger emissions reduction target of net zero by 2050 or sooner. In Toronto, homes and buildings account for over half (55%) of total community-wide emissions. This past summer, City Council adopted a number of strategies to address this, and help us reach our TransformTO targets. • The Net Zero Existing Buildings Strategy presents 9 policy actions to enable and accelerate the uptake of energy efficient retrofitting by building owners, and looks to decarbonize all existing residential, commercial, and institutional buildings within the next 30 years. • The Net Zero Carbon Plan seeks to reduce emissions by 80% in City-owned buildings by 2040. • An updated version of the Toronto Green Standard looks to achieve net zero emissions in new development by 2030, with City-owned developments requiring net zero emissions in 2022. While this is what’s being done at the city-level, there are ways that you can make greener changes to make your own home more energy efficient. The City’s Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) provides low-interest loans for insulation, new windows, more efficient heating and cooling
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systems, and roof-top solar panels. Additionally, BetterHomesTO is a one-stop resource to help Toronto homeowners better access information on City and partner programs, and provides guidance and support in understanding the options for improving the energy efficiency of Toronto homes – you can check out this resource at www.betterhomesto.ca. Another great way that you can contribute to creating a health environment is to help us grow the tree canopy in our community. Through the City’s Tree Planting Strategy, you can contact 311 to have a tree planted on the cityowned road allowance in front of your home. Additionally, over the last few years, the Long Branch Neighbourhood Association has held a number of Tree for Free events where they have given away native tree species for planting on private property. These types of events are made possible through the City’s Community Planting & Stewardship Grant, as well as this dedicated neighbourhood association. We’re always looking for new opportunities to plant more trees, and a new partnership between the City and Forests Ontario approved by Council in November will result in the planting of 200,000 native trees and shrubs in Toronto’s parks, ravines, and environmentally sensitive areas over the next 10 years. It’s important that we take the threat of climate change seriously, and begin to make changes in our lives that help reduce our carbon footprint. Use less water, recycle, compost, plant a tree – there is much we can all do to help address this crisis. Visit www.toronto.ca/livegreen to learn more.
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MARK GRIMES
Toronto City Councillor- Ward 3 Etobicoke-Lakeshore councillor_grimes@toronto.ca
