Ottawa 2020

Environmental Strategy

3.1.2 A Corporate Environmental Commitment

As a corporation, the City of Ottawa can make a significant contribution to achieving a sustainable community through effective resource management, reduction of emissions to our air, land and water, and protection of the resources we have within our city. This section proposes environmental commitments for the City of Ottawa and the key initial actions required to incorporate those commitments into City business.

This contribution can be achieved through actions that are aimed at our City operations and that influence the actions of other organizations and individuals within the community. In its operations, the City chooses the materials and services it will use to conduct its business and determines how it will use those services and materials in fulfilling its mandate. Examples include determining the number and type of vehicles in the City fleet, or specifying standards for facility design and construction of parks, sportsfields, fire stations, pumping stations, etc. and determining how those facilities will be operated and maintained.

To influence adoption of sound environmental management practices within the community, the City has the ability to direct certain activities. For example, policies in the Official Plan, standards in the zoning by-law, and development charges influence how and where development occurs within the city. Similarly, public awareness can be raised in areas such as the amount of water consumed or the amount of waste generated and can be influenced by associated policies and the level of information and service that the City provides to the public.

The City's proposed environmental strategic commitments represent a focus in six key areas that, when followed, will enable the City to meet these four goals for a green and environmentally sensitive City. These commitments also encompass the approaches needed to achieve an environmentally responsible and sustainable community, as identified by a wide range of other jurisdictions and scientists. A broad range of activities will be required to implement the following strategic commitments. The City already delivers many initiatives that support these commitments and now needs to identify the priorities for future action through this strategy.

It is important to note that the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can be viewed as a part of the first commitment, to manage material, human and natural resources as efficiently and effectively as possible. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions result from resource consumption. A separate commitment is established for GHG reductions because of the recent North American trend in an ever increasing per capita energy use and the significant environmental impact that results from our energy consumption.

The City commits to:

  1. Manage material, human and natural resources as efficiently and effectively as possible. The City will practice this approach in its own operations, developing the tools, policies and information to accomplish efficient and effective resource use. The City will also provide information and policies to assist the community in managing its resources efficiently. The greatest gains are expected for those resources that are used in the largest quantities - energy, land and water. However, this commitment targets all resource use. This commitment also means that the City will employ its own authority wisely and in accordance with our mandated responsibilities, that we will establish priorities and then follow these to make the best use of our available human and financial resources, that we will use the best available technology whenever possible and that we will engage other agencies, organizations and residents in the development and delivery of programs.
  2. Manage greenhouse gas emissions to reduce to targets identified as a Partner for Climate Protection. Proposed targets include a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions within the City's own operations by 2005 and a 20% reduction in the community by 2012.
  3. Incorporate environmental factors and costs into the City's decision-making on policies, programs and initiatives, both in its own business and in the community. This includes incorporating environmental principles into our policies, programs and initiatives that help reduce the environmental impact of our activities. Examples include pollution prevention, consideration of product and facility lifecycle management, use of accumulated knowledge on environmental impacts, sustainable agricultural and forestry practices and the promotion of local goods and services. Simple and understandable tools will be required to assist people in choosing the most environmentally sensitive approach. Implementation of this commitment will facilitate environmentally responsible choices and will ensure that we achieve integrated decision-making that leads to increasingly sustainable practices - ones that adequately balance economic, social and environmental factors - throughout the City as a corporation and as a community.
  4. Demonstrate and promote leadership in environmental stewardship through application of innovative methods and practices. Recognize corporate and community leaders who take innovative and sustainable approaches and projects. Methods could include awards, showcases and documentation of best practices. City facilities will be showcases for emerging best practices for the use of greenspace and resource use efficiency.
  5. Take an ecosystem management approach in the protection of our natural resource features. This includes land use policy, planning, incentives and education to increase tree cover, protect wetlands, create and preserve natural terrestrial and aquatic habitats and corridors, manage stormwater and protect groundwater and surface water resources. An achievement of ecosystem health for all of the species within and beyond our City boundaries will also ensure the health of our residents and of those in neighbouring communities. This approach will apply to both new and existing land development.
  6. Measure, assess, and report on progress of the City on these commitments, using a meaningful, simple and consultative process.

These strategic commitments set an environmental direction for the City of Ottawa. Setting specific priorities and targets and assessing their implications would be the key next step. To meet many of these commitments, the City can build on the existing policies, legal and fiscal tools, and programs that implement and encourage sound environmental management. Adopting and acting upon these environmental commitments will still result in significant changes to how the City conducts its business. Over the longer term, with a commitment to continually improving upon our environmental performance and adopting new approaches, the City will become a more sustainable community.

Next: 3.2 Strategic and Program Planning