When the City helps residents add sustainable habits to their lifestyle, everyone wins. I’m fortunate to live in a neighbourhood where I can travel to the nearby grocery store, transit centre, or post office in under 15 minutes year-round, even without using a personal vehicle. I and many of my neighbours live in multi-generational households where taking children to school doesn’t require a car, commuting via public transit is feasible, and outdoor recreation spaces like Poplar Park are within walking distance. Unequal access to these kinds of neighbourhood amenities is what gives some Edmontonians more freedom to incorporate sustainable practices in their personal lives.
Because I live near multiple grocery stores, I can walk home with groceries, while someone who lives in a food desert might need to call a taxi. Because I have access to express transit service, I don’t need a personal vehicle as much as someone who lives or works in a transit desert does. My lifestyle can only align with Edmonton’s vision of a low-carbon, sustainable, healthy future when the City makes decisions around planning and maintenance that support my ability to make those sustainable choices. Extending that type of support to residents in all areas of the city — especially in underserved areas — is the climate change action that I want to see more of.