Thread by @klaszus

Thread on urban sprawl and climate in Calgary. Right now #yyccc is looking at 8 potential new communities on city outskirts. Also looking at approving a new climate strategy next Tues. How do these intersect? Let's look at some of the fine print. 1/

Calgary's climate strategy actually downplays the most powerful tool city hall has: regulation. It's at the bottom of the list. Why? Because it's politically unpalatable. The strategy favours education, "capacity building" and softer approaches instead.

From strategy: "Typically, regulations are the most direct way to reduce emissions, but can be politically sensitive to implement quickly. Therefore, The City can use the other approaches to help build support, capacity, buy-in & increased adoption before introducing regulation"

Meanwhile admin is recommending 5 new communities + 3 more if certain risks (cost etc) can be addressed. This is out of 19 that developers are seeking. In the past #yyccc, lobbied by developers, has green-lit more communities than what admin recommended.

Restricting suburban development is one of the most powerful ways city hall can cut emissions in long run. This isn't news, but now city admin states it clearly: new comms "lock in generations of high-energy intensity land use and transportation patterns." No ignoring it anymore.

If #yyccc goes ahead with these eight new communities, it would increase citywide GHGs by 1%, according to admin. Would "make it more difficult to achieve The City’s 2050 net zero emissions goal." (This is from new city report on climate impacts of these 8 new communities)

When #yyccc declared climate emergency in Nov, supportive council members emphasized its marketing value. Sends good signal globally. Will attract investment etc. "This is telling the narrative" of Calgary's oil & gas sector, said Mayor Gondek. (Industry has set net zero targets)

But will #yyccc take climate action when it counts? As I write this @noelkeough of Sustainable Calgary is at podium urging #yyccc to reject car-dependent, "morally indefensible" new communities. Firefighters also warning they're stretched too thin. Will this be same old?

Most of the reporting in this thread comes from two of my recent @sprawlcalgary stories. The first is a Sprawlcast on the climate strategy (includes full transcript). Worth your time, I think. sprawlcalgary.com/sprawlcast-ins…

Also, check out this story from the weekend. Tried to pack lots of good info in here about what's being proposed by developers and admin—and the contradictions at play. sprawlcalgary.com/calgary-consid…

Finally: support @sprawlcalgary, dammit!

Case in point. After @noelkeough warns of climate costs of car-dependent new communities, Councillor @RajDhaliwal_YYC, an enthusiastic proponent of the climate emergency declaration, pushes back. "I'm going to call you out... You're just being a fearmonger." #yyccc

The question for #yyccc seems to be (and I'm not exaggerating, Councillor Chabot just said this in slightly different language): Can we keep sprawling, but more sustainably?

Quick update: @RajDhaliwal_YYC has apologized to @noelkeough for calling him a fearmonger. Keough talks about how he's been involved with this work for 25 years (imagineCALGARY etc) with very little change—says citizens are ready to get behind real change.

Re: new communities, Councillor @SonyaSharpYYC says city hall is getting in the way of business. Sounds like she'll be asking for decisions on new communities to be moved up from Nov (when #yyccc sets 4 year budget) to Sept.

Walcott asks city climate team how these new communities square w pending climate strategy. Climate director Carolyn Bowen reiterates her team's report: growth in established neighbourhoods has lowest climate impact. But transition isn't flipping a light switch, she says. #yyccc

Haven't been tweeting but both Councillors Demong and Walcott have been asking good questions tonight. Demong was grilling admin on why they're expanding BRT while cutting residential bus service. Said Demong: You want people to ride buses, then give 'em bus service! #yyccc

Mayor Gondek asking why admin didn't include more details of adjacent communities. Density etc. Suggests we need to look at holistic picture. (Has echoes of her argument after #yyccc approved 14 comms in 2018: new communities is misnomer, they're completing what's already there.)

We have traditionally front-ended water and wastewater costs, notes Gondek. Then get it back through levies. Is there an appetite for industry to just pay for it right away so city isn't carrying costs? Admin says alternative financing for growth is under consideration. #yyccc

Some very interesting convo right now. Don't want to get this wrong, but gist is Gondek basically saying this process is broken. Why is it put on politicians to make growth decisions. She says council has already given direction to admin through Municipal Devt Plan etc. #yyccc