Fiscal Responsibility

Last night I volunteered at Toronto Environmental Alliance's phone bank to encourage people to contact their councillor if they oppose cuts to environmental programmes. The majority of people I spoke to were opposed to cuts to programmes that sustain our environment, economy and health! I wasn't sure if I would get through my whole list, but everytime I reached someone who offered to phone their councillor before I even finished my pitch, I felt re-energized.

But I also encountered a few people who insisted that cuts are necessary, and while sad to see them happen, were resigned to it. And this morning, I listened to executive committee member councillor Jaye Robinson on CBC talking of fiscal responsibility. (But she also spoke against the new plan for the waterfront! Hooray!) The more I read and think about the systems that connect the local and national economy with the local and national environments, the more I wonder whether calling for cuts to city services reflects an understanding of true fiscal responsibility.

As much as we like to imagine otherwise, everything, including all things fiscal, depends on the environment. To make this connection obvious to people, sometimes environmental economists look at ecosystem services - a way of quantifying the economic benefit (to say nothing of more ephemeral benefits) of the environment.

In Toronto, our green canopy of trees, managed by Parks and Recreation with specific support and planning from Toronto Environment Office, provides ecosystem services that keep our air clean and that sequester carbon. Without continued planting, pruning, and monitoring of pests, the green canopy is at risk. Toronto Parks and Recreation's goal is to double the green cover from 17% to at least 30% in the coming years. This is a significantly investment in climate change mitigation, reduction of water runoff, and promotion of health.

The GTA's Green Belt provides tremendous ecosystem services through its undeveloped wetlands and forests and agricultural lands. In fact, just the agricultural lands, mainly family owned farms, contribute $326 million per year in climate regulation through carbon storage, habitat for pollinators, control of soil erosion, etc. These family farms depend on a local market, and that means that city programmes like Live Green that promote local food consumption, and affordable farmers' market fees, are essential to maintaining these farms.

Although it might not be immediately visible, spending money on City programmes and services that support ecosystem services is part of fiscal responsibility.