Smart Cities in Canada for Sustainability
As the world’s population grows the number of people living in cities is dramatically increasing—in fact over 50% of people now live in established towns or cities. We can use this to our advantage by using modern tools to create sustainable communities, improving the lives of the people living in these communities and in turn creating a better world for everyone.
With no cities in the top 20 of Arcadis’ 2018 Sustainable Cities Index (Ottawa sits at 25, Vancouver at 26, Toronto at 30 and Montreal at 31) we obviously have work to do if we want Canada to be seen as a leader in the sustainability field.
Here’s what Canada should be doing:
One area in which Canada really needs to step up its game is sustainable transportation. With cars holding the responsibility for one-fifth of the pollution we produce and dramatically increasing the greenhouse gases in our atmosphere we need to get people to embrace the alternatives.
The 2016 federal budget set up a $25.3 billion plan to expand Canada’s transit. History has shown that transit expansion in this country runs a high risk of delay because of inner squabbling and abrupt cancellations. This is something we need to fight to minimize as we need better transit and every cancellation puts us further behind and deeper in the fiscal hole.
We also need to take a good look at our biking infrastructure. As it stands we had only one city in the latest Copenhagenize Index (Montreal) and many of our biggest cities are moving backwards in terms of bike lane availability.
Vancouver’s Transportation 2040 plan is trying to remedy this and seeks to have two-thirds of the trips in Vancouver made by walking, biking or transit by 2040. It is making steady progress, with more people choosing to walk or cycle to work. Other major cities should be following Vancouver’s lead as we need better and cleaner transit options.
Another area that needs a sustainable upgrade is housing.
The federal government knows the potential and need that exists in this sector and has been designing a “net-zero energy ready” system with the aim of a full adoption by 2030. As for older buildings, retrofitting can easily be used to bring them up to code.
There are also innovative communities coming forth to show what Canada can and should do. Look at EcoHaven in Calgary, for example. This sustainable community includes both solar panels and rainwater collection, offering residents the opportunity to live in a more eco-friendly way.
Toronto is also a leader when it comes to green roofs, in large part thanks to its Green Roof Strategy. By taking the lead to green the city buildings’ roofs and providing incentive to businesses to do the same Toronto now stands as one of North America’s strongest adopters of this needed sustainable upgrade.
These communities show that it can be done. We just need to push to make the upgrade nationwide.
The final area we’ll look at is urban planning. We need to ensure that our major cities are true eco-cities, ecologically healthy and self-sustaining.
Part of this will be setting up sustainable transit and housing but if we want our cities to be truly sustainable we have to go beyond that. We need more greenspace and more gardening opportunities, stronger community links and a city body ready to make a change.
To create a truly sustainable city all decision makers have to do what’s right for today and the future. Infrastructure and development plans cannot be made without a real investigation into the full effects of their impact and the right choice should be a green choice.
Sustainable urban development is possible. Are you ready to make it so?
Most Canadians feel a great sense of pride when it comes to being Canadian and, to be fair, this country has done many amazing things.
As proud as we are we should still be fighting to be better. We have the tools and the opportunity to create an amazing and sustainable country. Let’s show the world Canada is up to the challenge and work together to turn our cities into great examples of sustainability.