Between forests and urban farms
Toronto nurtures its green spaces. In 2018, the urban forest numbered some 11.5 million trees according to the Tree Canopy Study commissioned by the City of Toronto. This greening promotes the health of residents. It also helps maintain biodiversity, filter pollution, but also limits temperature increase, absorbs some rainwater and trapsCO2. Some natural spaces worth mentioning:
High Park the Toronto Park is one of the largest parks in the city, covering 161 hectares. It is home to natural areas and sports and cultural facilities.
Toronto Island Park is a recreational area located on the islands opposite the Harbourfront. The ferry crossing takes about ten minutes and you can go for nice walks or bike rides, not to mention the beaches and water sports.
Rouge National Urban Park: located in Scarborough and accessible by bicycle or public transit, it is the largest urban park in North America. Nothing less.
New building construction must be accompanied by a green roof, as of 2010. These devices provide the same ecosystem services as parks and also limit the use of air conditioning in buildings. Some of these roofs are home to vegetable gardens, like the one at Ryerson University, which is both an educational space and a food source for students. Toronto's urban farms, which grew out of the urban agriculture movement and community gardens, are being developed under the Get Growing Toronto program. They now flourish on rooftops, gardens and brownfields.
Residual materials and drinking water management
The sobriquet "capital of waste" is used to highlight the exemplary nature of the city in terms of waste. Indeed, the city council has introduced a selective collection system that includes bio-waste. This waste can be sent to a recycling center or kept for composting in the garden. The efficiency of the system is based on the pricing system when the authorized volumes are exceeded. This system has significantly reduced the volume of city waste generated and reduced landfill shipments.
Toronto is also concerned about protecting the waters of Lake Ontario. The city's drinking water is pumped into Lake Ontario via pump and treat stations. It is also where wastewater is discharged after treatment. The lake water also contributes to the reduction of the city's greenhouse gases, thanks to an air conditioning system that uses this resource instead of fossil energy.
Efforts to combat global warming
Toronto is experiencing the effects of climate change with an increase in the frequency of extreme events such as floods and heat waves. The city is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2050 through a variety of actions. For example, the Green Will aims to reduce emissions from public and private buildings (increasing energy efficiency to reduce heating and cooling). There are still other areas of work, including transport-related emissions. Car traffic is still very prevalent and the modal shift towards public transport and active mobility is still insufficient.
A bicycle "system" to be put in place
The city of Toronto is equipped with cycling facilities - hundreds of kilometers of bike lanes, shared lanes, and off-road trails - but they are poorly maintained. Following accidents and protests by cyclists, in 2017 the city committed to a $13 million plan, "The Vision Zero Road Safety," to make practices safer (improved trails, intersection markings). Visitors will be able to take advantage of these improvements, with the most pleasant places to pedal being along the lakefront(Waterfront Trail). Toronto also has a bike share system with 630 stations(Bike Share Toronto). Associations such as Cycle Toronto are working to promote measures for a true bicycle "system" (facilities, reduction of car use, speed limits, bicycle services, etc.). Initiatives such asBike Month andBike to Work Day help raise awareness of cycling. The Toronto Center for Active Transportation (TCAT) has opened participatory bicycle repair workshops.
An alternative ecological space
Evergreen Brick Works is what one might call a "third place". This former brick factory now hosts participatory ecological experiments, lectures and events, as well as an Ontario Native Flower Market, an art program (installations, performing arts, artists-in-residence, etc.) and a Saturday Farmers' Market (outdoors from May to the end of October, in the CHR Gallery the rest of the year).
Quayside: a development project to watch
After the resounding failure of the Sidewalk Labs Smart Neighborhood in 2020, a new project is emerging for the Quayside waterfront. This waterfront represents an extraordinary opportunity to create one of the most sustainable low-carbon communities in the country, serving people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities and incomes. An inviting and vibrant year-round place, offering shopping, dining, entertainment, and cultural experiences (much in the same vein as the Distillery Historic District), not to mention housing, green space, and a large rooftop community garden available to residents. Quayside will be the largest all-electric, zero-carbon community planned in Canada, with approximately 7,500 residents and 1,600 jobs.
