Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Air Quality

Mayor Says Toronto Will be North America’s Greenest City

toronto_bike_rack.jpg

Toronto Mayor David Miller vowed last week to make Toronto "the leading environmental city in North America." The Toronto Star reports:

Mayor David Miller is pledging to slash the city's greenhouse gas emissionsby 30 per cent by 2020 and a whopping 80 per cent by 2050.

Millerand city council will unveil a plan today that sets ambitious targetsfor reducing emissions that lead to climate change, increasingso-called green energy usage and encouraging retrofitting of city homesand businesses to make them more energy efficient.

Miller said the city could levy higher taxes against SUV owners than owners of hybrid vehicles. He has also talked about taxes on parking lots in areas that are well served by public transit, including the downtown core. "You need to make simple changes that encourage people to change their behaviour," he said. "We will be creative, and we will offer creative suggestions to Torontonians. Some will be radical."

Photo: William Self/Flickr

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Opinion: Cars Have Fucked Up This Country Bad

Fact: The car-centric age of development is one long mistake.

September 10, 2024

Tuesday’s Headlines Let There Be Light

Lack of adequate lighting is the No. 1 reason women cite for being afraid to walk or take transit at night.

September 10, 2024

Monday’s Headlines Are Behind the Eight Ball

A recently awarded round of federal street safety grants have won some praise — but it's still just a drop in the bucket as pedestrian deaths remain high.

September 9, 2024

Car Dependency is a Public Health Threat — But Americans are Too ‘Car Brained’ To See It

Whether you call it "windshield bias" or "motonormativity," Americans have a serious bias towards automobiles — and they're all too willing to accept car dependency's many downsides.

September 9, 2024

Where Can a Body Safely Park a Bike?

This group wants to map, rate, and review bike parking everywhere — with your help.

September 6, 2024
See all posts