Capital Coun. David Chernushenko and Vancouver deputy mayor Andrea Reimer explored the latest ideas in urban environmentalism and making the capital a greener city during a public symposium on Sept. 16.
Chernushenko, chair of the city’s environment committee and a longtime author and consultant on environmental issues, shared the stage with Reimer, who has been credited with leading Vancouver’s municipal greening efforts.
The two discussed ways that Vancouver’s cutting-edge environmental strategies might serve as models for Ottawa.
Chernushenko said he appreciated the efforts of Reimer made in urban environmentalism in Vancouver in the past few years, and was inspired to follow Vancouver to do whatever Ottawa’s municipal government could do to make this city greener.
“Nothing we couldn’t do,” said Chernushenko, after Reimer introduced the progress that Vancouver achieved by taking actions in 10 different areas.
Chernushenko has been working actively on promoting sustainable and renewable practices and is now driving the City of Ottawa to achieve the goal of a 100-per-cent renewable economy by 2050, a goal similar to Vancouver’s “Greenest City Plan” — which Reimer was instrumental in launching in 2011 as a city councillor.
Since 2011, Vancouver has been pushed forward by the local government to not only be a national pioneer in urban environmentalism, but also to earn global leadership status in environmental action through various projects aimed at increasing the use of renewable energy. Last year, Vancouver was ranked the fourth greenest city in the world, according to the 2014 Global Green Economy Index.
Rather than shout out slogans, Reimer called for solid actions as well as collective participation by community residents, both of which she thought were essential to Vancouver’s achievements so far.
The symposium was organized by Ecology Ottawa, a local non-profit environment organization working to make Ottawa a “green capital” through various campaigns. Recognizing the progress Vancouver has made so far, Ecology Ottawa and its co-hosts for the event — Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-op — say they want Ottawa to benefit from Vancouver’s inspiring example.
“The City of Ottawa can learn to act boldly now, instead of being left behind,” says Aija Auzina, outreach organizer for Ecology Ottawa’s Complete Streets Campaign, an initiative designed to create more livable downtown neighbourhoods. “Ottawa can lead in addressing climate change.”
Ecology Ottawa hails Vancouver for its leadership among municipalities in addressing climate change and is urging adoption of the B.C. city’s progressive actions as a template for Ottawa.
“Vancouver shows that municipalities have the responsibilities and the power to address climate change,” says Aija. “Ottawa can learn that morally strong political leadership on a municipal level can have real results in shaping the future.”
OREC, a local environmental organization working to increase green energy production in Ottawa, is also calling for the City of Ottawa to fill a strong leadership role in areas of renewable energy strategy, greenhouse gas reduction and climate change adaptation, especially at the community level.
“Vancouver has a lot of leadership (at) the political level from the City of Vancouver,” says Janice Ashworth, operations manager at OREC. “The City of Ottawa would be well encouraged to look at that example to reinvent, but not just follow, what has been working in Vancouver.”
Recognizing the progress that the City of the Ottawa has made, including the creation of cycling lanes and various clean energy projects, the Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-op is confident that Ottawa could achieve the goal of becoming a 100-per-cent renewable city by 2050.
“Ottawa’s target … is completely possible,” and could even be fast-tracked, says Ashworth.
Ottawa Centre EcoDistrict, an organization focused on making the city’s downtown core more sustainable, also co-hosted the event. For the EcoDistrict, cooperation between environmental organizations is important for achieving the goal of a greener city.
“Organizations that are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions should work together to promote activities and to support work being done by others,” says executive director Don Grant.
Jody Williams, the American anti-landmines campaigner and political activist, was also invited to the event, but was unable to attend for personal reasons.