When it comes to climate change pollutants, Toronto residents are among the greenest in Canada, says a new study.
The report, published in the April issue of the journal Environment and Urbanization, says metropolises, commonly denigrated as big, dirty places, are, in fact, spewing fewer greenhouse gases per capita than the rest of their countries.
“Blaming cities for climate change is far too simplistic,” said author David Dodman, a researcher at the International Institute for Environment and Development in London, England. “There are a lot of economies of scale associated with energy use in cities. If you’re an urban dweller, particularly in an affluent country like Canada or the U.K., you’re likely to be more efficient in your use of heating fuel and in your use of energy for transportation.”
Dodman found that the average Canadian is responsible for 24 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year, while Torontonians just 8.2 tonnes.
But it’s not all good news for the GTA. The study, based on data from 12 international cities, ranked Toronto as the third worst for per capita greenhouse gas emissions, behind Glasgow (8.4 tonnes) and Washington, D.C. (19.7 tonnes).
