Londoners are getting a better idea of how municipal politicians could address a climate change emergency declared by the city earlier this year.
A report heading to the strategic priorities and policy committee next week calls for the city to establish a goal of achieving net-zero community greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It also contains tangible actions to be taken immediately, within 4 months, and within one year to reach that target.
"This should be important to all Londoners," said City Planner John Fleming. "There is no opportunity to take a life-as-usual approach and expect climate change won't effect you."
The report warns London residents will be faced with warmer, wetter weather with increased likelihood and intensity of severe weather events, an increase of lyme and vector borne diseases, and rising food prices.
Staff recommend the city respond to the climate change emergency by mitigating future impacts and adapting infrastructure to withstand future weather events.
The list of immediate actions includes the development of a new climate emergency action plan, getting all service areas of the city to identify immediate and incremental actions to be implemented with existing resources, development of an interim screening climate emergency evaluation tool, and lobbying the federal and provincial governments for climate change action.
Four month actions include expediting active transport within the city, screening transportation projects using the climate emergency evaluation tool, and seeking out new funding for climate emergency initiatives.
Among the actions to be taken within one year are a review of all major city projects using the climate emergency evaluation tool, advancing urban forestry strategy and tree planting, encouraging green roofs and rooftop solar energy systems by private developers, and publishing a new climate emergency action plan.
"By the end of the 12 month period we want to have a good plan, a good idea, good strategies, and good actions to get us to our goal," said Mike Fabro, the city's manager of sustainability and resiliency. "No one should expect that in 12 months all of these solutions will be in place and we will be at net zero. This is going to be a process that we have to embark on."
The report makes mention of the need to get Londoners out of their personal vehicles by having them walk, cycle, and use public transit more frequently.
"Fundamentally, Londoners have to ask themselves why is it that they are so attached to their car. Part of that comes from the city's actions over the last number of years and how we develop our city," said Fabro. "If you live in a walkable city you don't need a car, if you live in a city that is safe for cycling you don't need a car. There are a number of different things that we would like to explore and help along this educational journey with the community to identify strategies and things we can do collectively and with their support to reduce their vehicle use."
Staff also recommend businesses invest in green fleet vehicles and reduce business travel by utilizing webinars and video conferences.
The top three sources for greenhouse gas emissions within the city in 2018 were personal vehicles, single-family homes, and local industry, according to the staff report.
City council declared a climate change emergency in April, joining roughly 1,200 cities around the world in doing so.