Taking a look at Project Drawdown’s solutions to climate change
This edition of the Climate Count-Up series will focus specifically on potential solutions for the city of Toronto, as proposed by panellists at the Toronto Drawdown Event on September 28, 2019.
If there is one thing that the GTA’s diverse population will readily agree upon, it is that daily commutes can be a real pain. In fact, in 2018, Toronto was ranked as the “worst city in North America for commuting” with an average daily commute time of 96 minutes for those using public transit, according to a study surveying commute times in cities all over the globe.
This isn’t too surprising given that Toronto has significantly grown over the past decade, both economically and in terms of population—which means that streets and avenues downtown have become a lot more crowded. The overflow of cars pouring into and out of the city via the Gardiner Express or the Don Valley Parkway inevitably creates congestion during peak hours.
But the consequences of dense traffic do not end with frustrated commuters; according to Project Drawdown, “Urban transport is the single largest source of transportation-related [carbon dioxide] emissions.”
So how can we mitigate greenhouse gas emissions while also relieving road congestion? Often, the issue of traffic is tightly linked to a sub-optimal public transportation system. Globally speaking, an estimated 37 percent of all urban transport is done via mass transit (i.e. buses, subways, streetcars). If governments were to invest in public transportation and raise this number to 40 percent by 2050, we could prevent about 6.6 gigatons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere! This would not only help curb climate change and improve air quality but would also relieve traffic and shorten commute times.
Although the percentage of Torontonians taking public transit to work has risen to 37 percent (as of 2016), there is still significant room for improvement. In other major cities all across the world—such as Stockholm, Paris, Tokyo, and New York City—public transit is currently the number one choice for getting around. What are the incentives for commuters? Public transport done best is more punctual, affordable, and accessible than driving.
Public transportation infrastructure is improving in Canada’s largest metropolis: the TTC is currently building its first light line—an electricity-powered vehicle that resembles a hybrid between streetcars and subways. This project is part of The Big Move, the city’s 25-year, $50 billion plan to build a greener and more effective transit system across the GTA.
In the meantime, why not pick up a copy of The Strand to enjoy during those long commutes?
