Peterborough residents will be challenged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in 2005
December 15, 2004 - Michelle Strutzenberger
Starting in the new year, Peterborough residents can expect to hear much about how they can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).

Peterborough is one of 41 communities across Canada piloting the One-Tonne Challenge, a new national energy program. The ultimate goal of the program is to get every Canadian to reduce home and vehicle emissions by at least one tonne. The average Canadian produces five tonnes of GHGs each year so one ton is a reduction of about 20 per cent. The One-Tonne Challenge is an initiative of the federal government to meet the Kyoto accord targets.

Ava Richardson at Peterborough Green-Up is the One-Tonne Challenge coordinator for the local area. She says Green-Up is already doing much that ties directly to the objective of the Challenge. The organization is actively involved in various projects to help residents reduce waste, conserve water, prevent pollution, clean up the air, and save energy.

One of Green-Up’s primary goals for the One-Tonne Challenge is to boost awareness among residents about these projects and how they can get involved, says Ava. This will happen through local media, sponsorships, and partnerships with various businesses.

Green-Up also plans to introduce several new projects to help residents meet the One-Tonne Challenge. One of these is the Anti-Idling Project, which is a call to cut down on the idling time of vehicles. The project could involve visiting local schools to educate students, teachers and staff-members about the effects of idling vehicles.

Idling a vehicle can have negative effects not only on the environment, but on a person’s health and pocketbook. According to one report, idling for about 10 minutes a day can produce a quarter tonne of CO2 emissions a year and cost about $70 in wasted fuel.

"Children are affected the worst by the ground smog and pollutants," says Ava. Since their lungs process air much more quickly than adults, children are much more susceptible to the negative effects of the toxins.

Green-Up is also looking at issuing a fleet challenge for the area. Businesses which include fleets, such as taxi services, will be challenged to introduce an anti-idling policy for their vehicles.

Another related Green-Up proejct will be an online ‘green’ shoppers guide. "People will be able to look up any product and source what is the ‘most green’," says Ava. The guide will be updated regularly and have a Peterborough focus.

Several other new projects are also in the works related to the One-Tonne Challenge. Green-Up is currently awaiting final approval for the projects from the federal government.

So far, local interest in the One-Tonne Challenge seems to be high, according to Ava. "You wouldn’t believe how many calls we’ve had from people, businesses, asking how they can get involved," she says.

The One-Tonne Challenge will be officially launched in January of 2005. It will continue for 18 months. Ava says that the hope is that it will develop into a long-term project.

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