Work ranging from flood protection infrastructure to green building projects aims to enhance the "prosperity, sustainability and resiliency" of the city
Waterfront Toronto has published an update to its 2015 Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability report. This is third instalment of the report (previous reports were issued in 2012 and 2015).
The latest report highlights the progress the revitalisation organisation has made in achieving economic, social and environmental goals, along with many of its future targets ranging from flood protection infrastructure to leading-edge green building projects.
It sets out to demonstrate how it is working to lay strong foundations for the area’s “long-term well-being”, with positive impacts extending far beyond waterfront neighbourhoods where new buildings, parks and amenities are being developed.
“As a tri-government organisation tasked with the revitalisation of Toronto’s waterfront, we have a unique role to play in moving beyond standard real estate development practices, and instead creating sustainable, livable and beautiful communities,” said Emma Loewen, sustainability and innovation analyst at Waterfront Toronto, writing in a blog post.
“As a tri-government organisation tasked with the revitalisation of Toronto’s waterfront, we have a unique role to play in moving beyond standard real estate development practices"
“In addition to master planning undeveloped and underutilised waterfront lands, we believe we have a responsibility to support social and environmental objectives in the communities we build.”
She continued: “Mandating affordable housing requirements, rethinking road design to benefit all users, and committing to build neighbourhoods that have zero carbon impact are just some of the ways that we strive to support inclusive and accessible neighborhoods for all.”
Some of the organisation’s accomplishments which are outlined in the report include:
“Reporting transparently on our social responsibility and sustainability outcomes is important to us,” added Loewen. “While it is not mandatory for our organisation, we believe that it’s important to be accountable to our government partners, community members and other stakeholders, and to highlight our successes in an effort to set new global best practices.”
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