Planet Ark

Beijing has spent 140 billion yuan (US$20.34 billion) towards environmental cleanup in preparation for the Olympics. Some of the “green moves” include: switching from coal to gas; closing or relocating heavy polluters; targeting private cars; greening the transport system; covering dust from construction; recycling water; and controlling sandstorms.

BBC News

Stirling is aiming to become the UK’s first carbon neutral city.

Ottawa City Council has passed a multibillion-dollar transit plan that will build a downtown tunnel and electric light rail lines that run north-south and east-west directions despite many important unanswered questions including who would pay for it, and how long environmental assessments would take.

The New York Times

A report by researchers at the Brookings Institution states that city residents in the United States produce less carbon dioxide from energy consumption than their country counterparts.

City of Toronto officials are already engaged in “ambitious work” to address environmental issues and to reduce their environmental impact. Some additional ideas include a “deposit-return system for disposable batteries, compact fluorescent bulbs and paint cans that would divert them from landfill.”

A Toronto city report looks into ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 6 percent within five years; 30 percent by 2020; and 80 percent by 2050. Tolls on highways, bans on gas-powered lawnmowers and leaf blowers, hybrid taxis and retrofits to buildings are all discussed.

Toronto Mayor David Miller states that Torontonians are ready to give up their leaf blowers and gas-powered lawn mowers in an effort to combat climate change. This potential ban could take effect by 2010.

Ottawa Sun

The environment will take centre stage this week during a series of events in the city marking Environment Week, June 1 to 7. Environment Week kicks off with the launch of Zerofootprint Ottawa today.

In a news conference in Michigan, Mayor David Miller states that Toronto has not yet reached its water conservation goals and urges other mayors to pursue tighter regulations. However, Miller has been misinformed and Toronto is in fact doing better than expected.

The city set out in 2003 to reduce average water use to 1.18 billion litres a day by 2011. Turns out the rate was down to 1.17 billion litres by the end of 2006.

“China’s top coal producing province has offered rewards of up to 2 million yuan ($263,800) to cities dropping off a list of the country’s 10 worst polluters, the official Xinhua news agency said on Monday.”