Guest Blog by Morgan Murphy, Canada Summer Jobs Student and Conservation Biology student at Trent University
Sustainability
Our world is becoming more and more unstable each day as climate change continues to impact global weather patterns, food and water security, wildlife habitats, and sea levels. Greenhouse gas emissions are the number one driver of climate change, and they are released through actions such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. The more abundant these gases become, the less heat is able to escape back into space, effectively increasing the overall temperature of the planet. Global warming will only continue to amplify unless we majorly reduce human contributions.
Figure 2: The difference between the natural greenhouse effect and human enhanced greenhouse effect. Source: https://css.umich.edu/publications/factsheets/climate-change/climate-change-science-and-impacts-factsheet
Ontario’s largest contributor to carbon emissions is sprawl. Sprawl refers to urban development that spreads onto undeveloped land. Not only does sprawl destroy farmland, wetlands, and wildlife habitats, but it also creates longer commutes, ultimately leading to increased pollution from vehicle emissions. The greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario comes from transportation, which causes low density residential areas to have a higher carbon footprint than dense cities. The Government of Ontario has committed to a 45% reduction in carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2030. This goal cannot be achieved as long as sprawl continues to expand the distance between home and essential amenities.
Affordability
Climate change isn’t the only major issue that sprawl has been contributing to in Canada. One of the causes of housing unaffordability in Ontario is the fact that building on undeveloped land requires municipalities to invest in costly new road networks and expanded sewage systems. These expenses ultimately present as higher property taxes, and affording one of these low-density, multi-million-dollar homes is unachievable for most Ontarians. Even for households making the median income, the average price of a home in Canada is 141% more expensive than they can afford.
This affordable housing crisis has been affecting Ontarians for almost 50 years, with the last 5 years being exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 2021, one in six homeowners and one in three renters were living in unaffordable homes, meaning more than 30% of their income is needed for housing costs. Sprawl will continue to prolong both the climate crisis and the housing crisis unless Ontario makes changes to their current development strategies.
Two Birds, One Stone
A common solution to both issues is to promote and incentivize development on under-utilized land in existing urban spaces. This is known as infill development or intensification. The Institute on Municipal Finance & Governance (IMFG) released a report in May that studied the effects of different development patterns on greenhouse gas emissions in order to estimate the average emissions per household in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. This report found that cities with more infill development and walkability generated lower amounts of greenhouse gas emissions than areas with more sprawl, low-density developments, and a higher vehicle dependency.
Figure 3: Dissemination areas in the Greater Golden Horseshoe and their average household greenhouse gas emissions in 2021. Source: https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/138539/3/imfgpaper_no67_landuse_may_23_2024%20%282%29.pdf
Based on the findings of this report, the IMFG says that infill development has the greatest capacity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to other development patterns. This is because construction on undeveloped land releases stored carbon in the soil and prevents further carbon sequestration. As well, dense, multi-unit residential areas require less energy and support walkability and public transit better than sprawling, low-density neighbourhoods. The IMFG suggests that an aggressive intensification approach could reduce emissions by up to 26%.
Despite the benefits of infill development for the environment, it can be more challenging and costly for developers. They may have to remove existing structures, remove or work around current residents, upgrade dated infrastructure, and fight zoning regulations. These stakeholders often put pressure on politicians to oppose intensification, which is why financial incentives from the government are necessary to turn the tables. Some options include waiving development charges, offering low-interest loans, assisting the costs of infrastructure development, and providing tax abatements. If such rewards for infill development can be coordinated across all municipalities, Ontario can be one step closer to a sustainable future without sprawl and its consequences on the environment and housing costs.
Take Action
If you want to oppose sprawl, build affordable housing, and support liveable infill development, join The Alliance for a Liveable Ontario. They are a multi stakeholder group working towards an affordable and climate resilient future. You can also take the pledge with the Green Party of Ontario to join a climate movement that supports the reduction of sprawl and carbon emissions.
Sources:
https://www.torontoenvironment.org/high_housing_costs_linked_to_urban_sprawl_not_environmental_laws
https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/98-200-X/2021016/98-200-X2021016-eng.cfm
https://www.archistar.ai/blog/infill-development-pros-and-cons