GCoM Cities Edmonton and Toronto awarded for climate actions
On May 3, the American Planning Association’s Sustainable Communities Division (APA SCD) announced the winners of the ninth annual Awards for Excellence in Sustainability. The awards honor projects, plans, policies, individuals, and organizations whose work is dedicated to supporting sustainable communities.
The cities of Edmonton and Toronto, members of Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in Canada (GCoM), were amongst the awarded cities.
The GCoM Americas Project Coordinator, Jordan Harris, congratulated the cities for the recognition of their climate action plans: “This award reinforces the well-established fact that Canadian cities are dedicated to the fight against climate change, and are helping to build and shape a more sustainable, just and equitable future, which is what the GCoM envisions and supports.”
Edmonton won the Policy, Law, or Tool Award with the ‘Edmonton Carbon Budget’, developed by the City of Edmonton and Sustainability Solutions Group. As part of the update to Edmonton’s Community Energy Transition Strategy, the City Council has directed the administration to advance on a strategy that aligns Edmonton’s emissions targets and actions with the local carbon budget for the City Council’s approval. This includes implementation of a carbon accounting system for municipal operating and capital budgeting decisions and priorities.
Toronto, in turn, won in the Environment, Climate, & Energy Award with the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy, developed by the City of Toronto and Sustainability Solutions Group. Toronto City Council has adopted an ambitious strategy to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net-zero by 2040 – 10 years earlier than initially proposed. The City’s 2040 target is one of the most ambitious in North America. The Net Zero Strategy triggers new and accelerated implementation actions to drive down community-wide emissions, particularly in the short term, and establishes the trajectory needed to reach net zero by 2040.
