5.0 Conclusion Many of our resource consumption patterns have developed into habits that we see as "normal", even necessary, parts of our lives. Daily single-vehicle commutes to work, uniform green lawns and individually wrapped food servings are part of everyday life for many of us. They become activities that we rarely question. The health of the resources that support our consumption - such as water, land, air, trees, minerals, oil and gas - are not generally incorporated into decision-making processes. Similarly, the wastes generated by the consumption of resources - such as emissions to air, water and land or the generation of solid waste which is generally sent to landfill - are not considered when we decide to consume products. Individuals and communities worldwide are acknowledging that altered patterns of resource use are essential to maintaining our quality of life. A sense of urgency, however, is not shared by all of us. Usually environmental changes appear subtle because they occur over long periods of time and we need the information at our fingertips to be able to recognize the extent of our impacts. Recent events such as the August 14, 2003 power outage across southern Ontario and the northeastern United States and extensive forest fires and drought in British Columbia and Europe have awakened our environmental concerns, for now. Maintaining a heightened level of awareness, without overwhelming, will help us reach our community environmental goals. The City of Ottawa developed the Environmental Strategy through a combination of public contributions through the Ottawa 20/20 process, through application of knowledge of the City's business and existing environmental conditions, and through a review of emerging best practices in achieving responsible environmental management and a sustainable community. Implementing the City's approach to responsibly managing our activities and their impact on our environment will be through a collaborative process that involves all of us as required participants. Together we will identify targets and initiatives to which all of us must contribute. This Environmental Strategy outlines strategic directions and an approach to systematically improve our adoption of increasingly more sustainable practices over the next twenty years. We will aim to keep information simple and engage all of our community in practicing sustainability. A sustainable community with the high quality of life envisioned by its citizens depends upon contributions from all of us. Our participation rate will be the most important measure of success. When we accomplish the goals, commitments and targets set out in this strategy, the City of Ottawa as a community will be balancing environmental needs with the its social and economic requirements. The benefits will become countless - healthier people, species diversity, continued availability of resources and cleaner air, water and earth. In addition, the "cost" of doing business and of our lifestyles will decrease while providing an improved quality of life. We will be able to pass on a healthy and resource-rich community, a green and environmentally sensitive city, for future generations. Next: Annex 1: Summary of Environmental Management Best Practices |
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