On April 22, 2010, Victoria City Council proudly announced the City's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions by 33 per cent by 2020 and to have carbon neutral municipal operations by 2012. Acting Mayor Geoff Young made the announcement because the Mayor, Dean Fortin, had jetted off to China the week before so was unavailable.
If Victoria's local politicians wanted to spew out less hot air, they could have talked to Chinese officials over a video link. But I guess attending the opening of the world expo in Shanghai is more exciting than mucking around with sewage treatment issues.
If politicians were really serious about reducing ghg's, they would put into place proven methods. For example, in 2004, the Capital Regional District (Victoria and environs) CO2 levels were 13% lower than in 1995, primarily due to lower landfill gas emissions from the installation of a methane gas recovery system at the Hartland Landfill.
If ghg reduction is the true goal, why isn't the government looking at cost effective solutions that produce large, immediate, and measureable results, instead of spending tax dollars on junkets, hot air gabfests and developing yet more plans?
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Franco Terrazzano
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