City not doing enough to combat climate change: Ecology Ottawa

By Alex Goudge

Non-profit organization Ecology Ottawa feels the City of Ottawa's plans to help fight climate change in the capital don't go far enough.

This comes as the City of Ottawa released new data on emissions, ahead of its Standing Committee of Environmental Protection, Water and Waste Management meeting on December 15.

Ecology Ottawa Executive Director Robb Barnes says the new data, which shows community greenhouse gas emissions from 2019, demonstrates emissions are continuing to rise in Ottawa, and adds, he hasn't seen levels this high since before the provincial phase-out of coal.

Barnes blames a lack of municipal leadership.

“When the province has moved in the direction, the City of Ottawa has benefited but of its own accord, [but] the City of Ottawa hasn't done much in terms of reducing emission,” he explains.

Barnes says the two main sources of emissions in the capital, heating and transportation, often go unchecked. 

He feels the city is good with creating ambitious plans and policy language, but end up falling short on implementing climate change-related initiatives.

The executive director is suggesting Ottawa copy notable green cities such as Vancouver and Copenhagen for ideas on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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