City unveils Part 2 of green plan
Aims to cut emissions by 20 per cent


Published: Wednesday, March 28, 2007

The city of Montreal yesterday reconfirmed its commitment to sustainable urban development by unveiling a second phase of its environmental plan.

The Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development, 2007-09 Phase, is designed to help Montreal continue to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.

"We're sharing our best practices," Alan DeSousa, the city executive committee member responsible for sustainable development, said proudly of the effort.

The city launched the first phase of its sustainable development plan in 2005.

Montreal's green plan commits the city to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by the year 2012.

The second phase of the city's environmental plan will keep Montreal on track to achieve that goal, DeSousa said. Among the initiatives featured in the second phase:
- Promote development of car sharing.
- Join a compensation program for business air travel.
- Minimize automobile traffic through Mount Royal Park.
- Bolster bicycling infrastructure.
- Encourage sustainable public transport.

At a news conference yesterday, DeSousa congratulated "partners" who agreed to participate in the second stage of the green initiative.

A total of 76 businesses, community groups, CEGEPs, universities, government agencies and municipalities promised to undertake at least five of the city plan's 36 actions. The idea is that partners come up with approaches to fulfilling the broad-based initiatives, which fall into four categories:
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Ensuring quality residential environments.
- Practising responsible resource management.
- Encouraging others to adopt sustainable development practices.

Once a year, partners will gather to share how they achieved their goals.

Dida Berku, a Cote St. Luc municipal councillor, said she was excited by Montreal's green plan and the 20 initiatives for which her city has signed on. "It's an opportunity to share our best practices and to promote local initiatives," she said.

Not everyone was as effusive, however. Noushig Eloyan, leader of the opposition on Montreal city council, said the plan offers nothing new.

Eloyan dismissed as inconsequential several initiatives undertaken by the city, including the addition of 20 kilometres of bike paths. She also said Montreal continues to lag behind in recycling.

For more information on the city of Montreal's sustainable development plan, go to
www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/developpementdurable

© The Gazette 2007