Toronto ‘The Green’ Mid-term Environmental Report Card 2008 The Mid-term Environmental Report Card 2008 was prepared by the Toronto Environmental Alliance in March 2009 We greatly acknowledge the assistance of Alex Stoutley in the research and development of this report. For more information contact: Katrina Miller, Campaigns Director 30 Duncan Street, Suite 201 Toronto, ON M5V 2C3 Tel: 647-272-5024 or 416-596-0660 Email:
[email protected] Web: www.torontoenvironment.org Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Council Votes for the Environment 2 Council Vote Count Report 4 The Grades: Council Majority Gets Top Marks 6 Smog Report Card 2008 7 Successes 7 Endangered by Delay 8 Missing in Action 9 Smog & Climate Change Grade 10 The Cost of Delay 11 Record of Delays in Developing & Implementing Environmental Programs 12 Identifying the Challenges & Solutions of Delay 14 Best Practices from Other Municipalities 15 Recommendations 17 Appendix A In 2006, TEA predicted that Toronto would elect the greenest City Council since amalgamation. Council’s voting record over the last two years has proved us right. For the first time, we are awarding a majority of Councillors with “A” grades. On the smog and climate change front, Toronto has shown significant progress in 2008 by earning a "B+" grade (up from a C+ in 2007), matching its best ever performance in 2004. This term of Council also saw Mayor David Miller move the environmental agenda to center stage, hoping to place Toronto at the head of a global push by municipalities to take action on climate change. Sadly, there is a fly in the ointment.