CLIMATE ACTION: REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS

Toronto City Council has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040, and implementing its ambitious TransformTO climate plan to get there. This goal is only achievable with more funding, capacity, and action on a much bigger scale than we’re seeing now. Scaling up climate action also brings big improvements to people’s lives by creating jobs, improving transit, and building more affordable housing. We want to see the next Mayor of Toronto commit to the following actions:

• Find the money to back up their climate action promises at budget time through new funding sources like a commercial parking levy
• Take concrete steps to establish a world-class transit system in Toronto with an expanded, more reliable, more accessible, and more affordable TTC 
• Make deep investments in green building programs that increase the number of climate-safe and deeply affordable housing units
• Transition buildings off gas faster through electrification tools like heat pumps, district energy, and geothermal - and oppose expansion of natural gas plants in Toronto
• Deliver a low-carbon jobs strategy that grows Toronto’s green buildings workforce and enables more residents from equity-owed groups to participate in the local green economy

CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND GREEN SPACES

Toronto needs a strong plan to help communities prepare for and respond to the impacts of extreme weather, including flooding and heatwaves. More intense rainfall and storms leave many Toronto residents with flooded basements and expensive damage, and many of us experience potentially dangerous conditions during heat waves. We’re looking for candidates to commit to:

• Protect all Toronto residents during escalating heatwaves and floods, especially those most vulnerable to extreme weather 
• Support tenants with a maximum safe temperature for rental units
• Work with communities to expand access to parks, green spaces, ravines, and shade, prioritizing neighbourhoods where people have less access to tree canopy and green spaces
• Fund flood-proofing and stormwater reduction by fairly charging those most responsible for flooding, e.g. owners of large paved properties

REDUCING WASTE: BUILDING A CIRCULAR ECOMONY

Reducing waste means more than just dealing with overflowing garbage bins and picking up litter. Toronto’s Zero Waste and Circular Economy commitments will reduce waste, prevent pollution, create local jobs and avoid greenhouse gas emissions from extracting and wasting resources. This is critical to achieving the Net Zero climate plan. In order to protect communities, human health, and our shared environment, we call on the next Mayor to work with City Council to achieve the following actions.

• Take strong action to cut growing waste from single-use plastics and disposables: pass regulations to require a shift to reusable foodware in businesses and City facilities
• Ensure all residents in all building types have access to recycling and organics collection

READ MORE ABOUT THE PLATFORM AND THE ISSUES