"World's most cherished belongings reside in my legs"

"World's most cherished belongings reside in my legs"

Revamped and Rewritten:

In the final stretch of her term, Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante maintains that her greatest impact will be in the realm of environmental protection. Warns her successor not to underestimate the ongoing climate crisis, urging them to keep Montreal on the eco-friendly path.

According to Henri Ouellette-Vezina of our site, during a crisis that affects our identity, we tend to concentrate on immediate needs. The upcoming administration, however, should serve as a reminder that the climate crisis doesn't stop, and time is running out. Plante shared these sentiments with La Presse.

The warning came on the cusp of the fourth Montreal Climate Summit, an event orchestrated by Plante's administration since its inception in 2022. Each gathering has brought forth commitments to reduce emissions and build a greener Montreal. Notable examples include transforming Old Montreal into a pedestrian haven in 2023 and making new constructions "zero emission" by 2025, an accomplishment resulting from the summit.

In pride of her achievements, Plante highlighted the tripling of land acquisitions for ecological protection during her tenure. "We seized every opportunity available, and today, we're really making progress, with the equivalent of 352 soccer fields protected, compared to around 100 when I took office," she stated.

Though bike paths often grab headlines, Plante emphasized that her efforts against climate change are far more substantial. "My most profound legacy as mayor is the environment," Plante asserted.

Peering into the future, Plante issued a cautionary message to her successor. "An administration that chooses to reverse our environmental gains, be it decarbonization, active transportation, greening, or biodiversity protection, for political reasons would set Montreal back and would face accountability," she advised.

Making a splash in the electric vehicle (EV) sphere, the Plante administration is slated to announce a new objective on Tuesday: the installation of 11,000 EV charging stations on Montreal Island by 2030. Currently, there are about 3,300 publicly accessible charging points; the city aims to more than triple that number in five years.

To achieve this, the city will prioritize installing additional municipal charging stations without relying on Quebec funding and will establish a program to aid businesses in electrifying their vehicle fleets.

Should the city meet the goal, it would serve as a consolation prize for Plante, who admits to feeling disappoined with the progress of public transit during her term, particularly after the cancellation of the Lachine-Center Ville tramway project.

"The setback is disappointing since it often feels like taking from one project to fund another. The unfortunate truth is that the number of cars in the metropolitan region has increased. However, we cannot lose hope," Plante said.

She detects "positive signs" with the emergence of the Quebec Mobility Infrastructure Agency, which is expected to streamline costs and delay reductions for projects.

Beyond transportation, the city will also reveal the implementation of the "net zero artificialization" principle by 2030. Originating in France in 2018, this principle proposes preserving the ratio of a city's developed and protected surfaces to ensure continued harmony with nature.

In Montreal, approximately 38% of surfaces are vegetal and permeable, while 62% are mineral and impermeable. The implementation of this principle asserts a commitment to preserve this balance.

Anticipated at the Climate Summit, Minister of the Environment Benoit Charette will announce that the government is allocating $25.4 million to 12 municipal organizations for ecological projects. Montreal will receive the bulk of the allocation, $21.9 million, to promote the development of eco-friendly parking lots and green infrastructure for managing rainwater. Quebec desires to aid Montreal in combating the effects of heatwaves and torrential rains.

One of the supported projects will manifest on the site of the former Rue Larivière in the Ville-Marie borough, which is poised to become a linear park complete with a cluster of retention basins, marking the first "sponge street" in the metropolis.

Other actors will capitalize on the Climate Summit to expose their ecological advancements. For instance, Concordia University will declare a partnership with Hydro-Québec and Énergir to erect a sustainable energy network on the Loyola campus, a move aimed at furnishing heating and air conditioning to about thirty buildings.

Environmental Progress in Montreal:- A significant expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations by 2030 aims to combat greenhouse gas emissions from road transport and bolster electrification [2].- Investment in eco-friendly parking lots and green infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of heatwaves and torrential rains, for example, through the creation of "green shields" around industrial areas [5].- A commitment to achieving zero net loss of biodiversity by 2030 through urban planning strategies like densification, green space restoration, and habitat protection [1].- Integration of environmental goals into urban planning and a focus on acquiring and expanding natural parks and green corridors to maintain eco-friendly initiatives and foster a low-carbon city [1].

These efforts encapsulate Montreal's comprehensive approach to sustainable urban development, emphasizing decarbonization, biodiversity, and enhancing the city's quality of life through environmental stewardship.

1. As Montreal's EV initiative progresses, the installation of 11,000 EV charging stations by 2030 is planned to promote renewable energy and combat greenhouse gas emissions from road transport.
2. Recognizing the urgency of climate change, the city is investing in eco-friendly parking lots and green infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of heatwaves and torrential rains, such as the creation of "green shields" around industrial areas.
3. In line with global environmental science, Montreal aims to achieve zero net loss of biodiversity by 2030 through urban planning strategies like densification, green space restoration, and habitat protection.
4. To ensure Montreal maintains its eco-friendly initiatives and thrives as a low-carbon city, the focus lies on integrating environmental goals into urban planning and acquiring and expanding natural parks and green corridors.

Read also: