An Environmental Plan for the New City of Toronto: How to Make It ...

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the community – including the small businesses and the unconverted resident and politician (Thompson, pers. com). Getting these groups at the table early in the process is crucial. Hamilton-Wentworth has developed some innovative approaches to raise awareness as described earlier, and the community, with financial assistance from the region, has launched a mobile exhibit to raise funds and awareness of what sustainability means in Hamilton-Wentworth (Thompson, pers.com.). Despite a real and documented move towards achieving sustainability goals, not all decisions of Council have truly embraced sustainability. In the opinion of the community representative, Council did not follow through on its commitment to sustainability in its approval of the Red Hill Creek Expressway through the natural environment of the Niagara Escarpment (Thompson, pers. com.) 2.2.4 Key elements of success Hamilton-Wentworth’s Vision 2020 Sustainable Community initiative has succeded as it has been able to depend on or a number of reasons; primarily Hamilton –Wentworth Vision 2020 initiative has been successful primary reason – the successful engagement/partnering with the community from the start has garnered considerable support on Council. Community ownership: many years of extensive community consultation and established community partnerships (the Chairman’s Task Force on Sustainable Development; Progress Team Review); annual events; report cards on progress; and development of a vision. Membership in Local Agenda 21 provides an international profile and opportunity to exchange of ideas with the international community of cities addressing sustainability. Corporate ownership: the establishment of an interdepartmental staff working group chaired by the Chief Administrative Officer. Implementation mechanisms: all regional decisions, including reports to Council, are to address sustainable community implications; Vision 2020 strategies were incorporated into the Official Plan, Economic Plan and Transportation Plan; area municipalities are also required to address sustainability Review process: Vision 2020 strategies were reviewed and revised in 1996 13
Political commitment is everything also allows \ supports the implementation Becomes accepted idea and part of corporate culture [Vision 2020 was developed in partnership with 2 nd is degree of corporate commitment , which is driven by and supported by committed staff would not work without support of Council tools include interdepartmental working group Membership as a Local Agenda 21 community – as much for the international profile membership has given Hamilton_wentworth 2.3 Environmental Agenda, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, 1997 The City of Vancouver, as a large Canadian city rich in natural resources, shares many similar environmental concerns and issues with Toronto. The Environmental Agenda is part of a number of Vancouver’s initiatives designed to protect and improve its natural environment, including the 1990 Clouds of Change report, a State of Environment Report, a new Environmental Policy adopted by City Council in 1996, and an Environmental Trends document which reports on indicators. The City is pursuing registration under Local Agenda 21. 2.3.1 Framework/Structure The Environmental Agenda document is an action plan of Council (similar to the Environmental Plan) intended to address conditions and concerns for the natural environment discovered in the 1995 State of Environment (SOE) report. The Plan deals mainly with environmental issues (air quality; drinking water quality; water conservation; receiving water quality; land; solid waste management; dangerous goods and hazardous wastes; and city hall as community). Each section outlines the grade and trend (important in preparing the action plan) of each topic as reported in the SOE; describes the current status; identifies existing Council policy, goals and objectives; and identifies actions to be taken including priorities and which agnecy is responsible. The Agenda was prepared by a multi-department group, coordinated by the Office of the Environment. The SOE is intended to be reviewed every 3 years, with a new SOE produced every 6 years. 14
Page 1 and 2: An Environmental Plan for the New C
Page 3 and 4: Executive Summary The new Environme
Page 5 and 6: address implications for applicatio
Page 7 and 8: The United Nations defines sustaina
Page 9 and 10: the principles of the Natural Step
Page 11 and 12: to engage people in a discussion of
Page 13: commitment to “follow the princip
Page 17 and 18: 2.3.4 Key elements of Success Poli
Page 19 and 20: 2.4.3 Implementation The Comprehens
Page 21 and 22: 2.5.2 Process: Plan Development The
Page 23 and 24: 2.5.4 Key elements of Success Poli
Page 25 and 26: how developing/implementing long te
Page 27 and 28: The Environmental Policy is to appl
Page 29 and 30: criteria were identification of a p
Page 31 and 32: towards sustainability. As actions
Page 33 and 34: is not legally binding, but is an i
Page 35 and 36: 4 CONCLUSIONS 34
Page 37 and 38: 17. Ravetz, Joe, City-Region 2020:
Page 39 and 40: Appendix 1 Interview Questions 1. W

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