Updated 'Air Quality in Kitchener' report receives top marks from development and technical services committee

KITCHENER – Local air quality was put on the front burner August 23, 2010, as the development and technical services committee endorsed a report entitled Air Quality in Kitchener - 2010 - a continuation of the first comprehensive plan on air quality that was created four years ago.

Presented by city staff, in partnership with the environment committee, and building on a series of more than 50 recommended actions that were included in the 2006 report, the updated plan contains more recommended actions -- also known as potential best bets -- to help improve local air quality.

The plan proposes both short-term and long-term recommended actions. Some actions can be undertaken now, such as continuing to encourage energy and water conservation, improving public awareness and knowledge of air quality issues and providing businesses with the tools and incentives to make more energy-efficient decisions. Other initiatives require effort over a number of years, such as investing in more energy-efficient technologies.

The Air Quality in Kitchener – 2010:

* is intended to provide a vision of a responsible, innovative, healthy and energy-efficient community.
* strikes the balance needed to enable our local economy to flourish even as we reduce our polluting emissions.
* aims to advance these goals without placing an unreasonable burden on the city in an attempt to make the successful transition to a less polluting, healthy community.

“Overall the content of the Air Quality in Kitchener report from 2006 was relevant and required only minor revisions,” said Carrie Musselman, senior environmental planner.

“Air quality remains one of the pressing problems of modern cities -- and Kitchener is no exception. These problems continue to take a toll on climate change and human health, and need to be addressed both locally and globally.”

The new list of recommended actions will be categorized under the seven functional areas outlined in the City of Kitchener Strategic Plan for the Environment as listed below:

* Natural heritage system and recreational amenity areas
* Water resources
* Air quality
* Land resource and growth management
* Energy systems
* Resources consumption and waste management
* Environmental education and public awareness