How can Green Development Standards be implemented equitably and inclusively in Hamilton to promote sustainable development?
Project Description: Green Development Standards (GDS) are measures that guide, incentivize or mandate developers to build sustainable developments. GDS can help decrease greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), protect the environment, and create climate-resilient neighborhoods. In particular, GDS can encourage energy-efficient developments by promoting the inclusion of green spaces, tree canopies, and stormwater management mechanisms, and more, in city infrastructure. In fact, buildings that comply with GDS are more resistant to extreme weather, temperatures, and flooding. Unlike several municipalities in Ontario, Hamilton does not currently have a GDS policy. With the continued urbanization of Hamilton, GDS can help curb climate-change-induced impacts, and aid Hamilton’s goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Challenge Summary: There is societal momentum towards fighting climate change, and we want to channel this momentum locally towards GDS. Our priority challenges are: to raise public awareness of Green Development Standards (GDS) and its benefits to all Hamiltonians and to inform better GDS policy by providing recommendations that the City of Hamilton can use to formulate a GDS policy that is equitable, diverse, and inclusive.
Community Partners: Lynda Lukasik, Executive Director, Environment Hamilton; Brody Robinmeyer, Project Manager, Friendly Streets for Black, Indigenous & Racialized Communities, Environment Hamilton
Faculty, Course & Students: Semester In Residence 2021, Sahra Siyad, Kazza Topp-Nguyen, Mehak Kapur, Jasmine Devine, Maleka El Naghi
