News

GTHA carbon emissions on track to return to pre-pandemic levels, report warns

11/2022 - CBC NEWS - Carbon Emissions Inventory for the GTHA found there has been little progress made in the GTHA since 2015. An eight per cent year-over-year decrease is necessary to hit most cities' 2030 emission targets. It is challenging, but it is possible.

Report shows GTHA carbon emissions rising — but data points to shift to lower-carbon lifestyles

11/2022 - TORONTO STAR - The rebound in emissions in 2021 was substantially smaller than the pandemic-induced drop in 2020.

Carbon emissions increased in all regions of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area

11/2022 - Carbon emissions in the GTHA increased by 2.2 million tonnes, or 4.5% in 2021, climbing swiftly towards pre-pandemic levels. The overall flatlining trend reflects little progress since 2015.

The progress and pitfalls of decarbonizing a megaregion

11/2022 - The latest edition of the carbon emissions inventory for the GTHA shows that action is picking up speed but still nowhere near the critical pace needed for lift-off, and we are rapidly running out of runway.

Local Green Building Laws at Risk as Ontario Fast-Tracks New Housing Bill

11/2022 - THE ENERGY MIX - Municipal climate and energy leaders in Ontario are scrambling to protect energy-efficient building standards that may be at risk in the provincial government’s rush to push through its More Homes Built Faster Act, Bill 23.

TAF News: November 2022

11/2022 - Protect energy efficiency and affordability in Bill-23

Addressing climate change through advocacy, policy and planning

11/2022 - CANADIAN ARCHITECT - The symbiotic relationship between municipalities, advocacy groups, and the real estate development community is a complex ecosystem critical for the design community to understand when addressing climate change through advocacy, policy and planning.

Doug Ford’s new housing bill guts green building law he voted for as Toronto councillor, say critics

11/2022 - TORONTO STAR - "The Building More Homes Faster Act includes clauses that will inadvertently make future homes more unaffordable and less efficient for Ontarians," says Bryan Purcell.

Ontario gambling that feds will allow new gas plants despite net-zero targets

10/2022 - POLITICS TODAY - The upcoming Clean Electricity Standard would make the business case for new gas plants impossible in Ontario.

Ontario’s next gas plant scandal

10/2022 - On October 7th, Ontario’s Minister of Energy directed the IESO to procure 1,500 megawatts of new natural gas plants to generate electricity. This decision was taken without any public consultation, based on a short IESO report with no financial analysis or comparison of other pathways. Amidst increasing fossil fuel prices and plummeting costs of readily available clean solutions, investing in new gas plants would be environmentally and fiscally reckless. But it’s not a done deal.

TAF News: October 2022

10/2022 - Dear candidates: Climate action means working across issues and city boundaries.

Dear election candidates: Climate action means working across issues and regional lines

10/2022 - To handle the complex and intersectional issues that face our region, hopeful new leaders will need to follow the carbon and collaborate.