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Forget about saving the world, let’s think
municipally
BART DANKO
Contributor
I’ve never cared much about whales, the coral
reef, or polar bears. I’m an environmentalist, don’t
get me wrong, and I know these are vital environmental issues, but I’m not engaging with them
in what I would consider to be a meaningful way.
Why? Because the goal of saving the entire planet
not only sounds corny, it’s too grand and ambiguous a goal for any measure of success. So, I propose another approach.
As an environmentalist, especially working with the law, there is one realization I have
made that is frustrating above all else: the very
global focus that we have adopted when addressing environmental issues. Since environmental
degradation seems like an inherently global problem (climate change refers to climates after all),
it is understandable that we get caught up in a
global perspective. But, what about small-scale
environmental policy? Granted, food has long
been focused on the idea of local, but why not
environmentalism in other contexts? In the world
of law and policy, “local” is hard to define. So,
when thinking small-scale, it is most productive
to think municipally. Now, it’s important to note
that in global cities, where many of us are from
or will end up, such as Toronto, municipal law
and policy are a different animal altogether, with
problems warranting provincial, federal, and even
global attention (thanks Rob). What I’m talking
about is small-scale policy, including but not limited to the “Greater Toronto Area”.
Likely for the same reasons that people are
hightailing out of small towns in the first place,
municipal policy does not garner the attention it
deserves (it’s not cool, there’s no money in it, blah
blah blah). But, if an environmentalist wants to
elicit actual change, there might not be a better
setting. In terms of impact, a collection of few, or
even one, can be a lot louder in a small town hall
than on the global scale. And, imagine, actual
change being done, actually influencing a political agenda, being the driving force that implements a green roof bylaw, a ban on plastic bags,
or a ban on shark fins (which is subsequently not
NE W S
overturned). Imagine, as everyone else is busy
with provincial and federal politics, you might
actually get something done.
The point is, perhaps environmentalists can
make a bigger difference if they pay attention
to these smaller issues and venues. This even
include impacts on a national scale, because if you
look at the ori