In a previous blog post we discussed some of the challenges and opportunities of fleet electrification. Together with fleet managers from over 30 municipalities, we identified two priority recommendations: the development of electric vehicle business cases and electric vehicle employee policies. Acting on these recommendations, as part of our Federation of Canadian Municipalities funded Climate Action Support Centre project,… Read More
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Markham Cycle’s 2020 Season a Success
How do you increase cycling in places where very few people bike? Since 2014, The Centre for Active Transportation, a project of Clean Air Partnership, has been removing barriers and sparking cycling adoption in suburban communities through a community bike hubs approach. Despite COVID, their current project in Markham reached nearly 2,000 people this summer… Read More
Applying a Climate Lens to COVID Response and Recovery Plans
At Clean Air Partnership we have created a climate lens for use in municipal decision making. The climate lens asks, ‘how will a municipal decision affect climate (through creation of greenhouse gas emissions) and, ‘how could it be affected by climate (ex. extreme weather, flooding risk)?’ In building our understanding of how to respond to… Read More
Fleet electrification – challenges and opportunities
Transportation is a significant source of GHG emissions in most municipalities. Therefore, a transition towards a low carbon fleet is needed. Clean Air Partnership works collectively with fleet managers across more than 30 municipalities in Ontario. Here are some of the challenges and opportunities for fleet electrification. Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure Significant resources are… Read More
TCAT Releases New Report on Health, Equity and Active Transportation in Markham
Neighbourhoods in Markham with more low-income residents have higher rates of pedestrian and cyclist collisions, finds a new research report by The Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT) at Clean Air Partnership. While studies across Canada have found similar results, this finding about York Region’s largest municipality is surprising because the research also found that cycling, sidewalk and… Read More
Celebrating Ten Years of Co-Designing Active Cities
In April 2020, the Active Neighbourhoods Canada [ANC] network celebrated ten years of co-designing active communities across Canada. The Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT) at Clean Air Partnership was a key partner in the network since 2013, and we are proud of all that we have accomplished alongside our partners the Montreal Urban Ecology Centre,… Read More
Why Standards for Green Development Should be a Standard Part of Municipal Climate Action
Housing development in Ontario seems to be proceeding frantically. In Toronto, there are no shortage of towering condo developments appearing as if by magic. Across Southern Ontario, developments of single-family homes have created sprawling communities almost overnight. Population projections for the province show an estimated 193,000 more people per year, and in 2018, more than… Read More
Climate Action in Small Communities
There are 444 municipalities in Ontario. Approximately 90% of these communities are populations of less than 25,000. Tacking climate change poses specific challenges for communities of this size. Smaller municipalities have fewer staff generally, never mind staff dedicated to climate and energy. They have less discretionary funds available due to a smaller residential and commercial… Read More
Needed During Covid: Space & So Much More
“I haven’t been on a bike in years, and this will help so much!” These were the words of Jessica, an addiction services worker, who recently received a refurbished bicycle as part of the Big Bike Giveaway initiative in London, Ontario. This program, which usually provides residents in need with bicycles at a fall event, has switched gears… Read More
Incubating cycling in suburban communities
Cycling offers communities a wide range of potential benefits, including improved health, friendlier streets, reduced traffic congestion, reductions in GHG emissions, and improvements in air quality. However, the nature of suburban communities creates an environment which is not particularly conducive to cycling. These neighbourhoods were often built during the 1950’s post-war housing boom and were… Read More