MEDIA RELEASE

June 24, 2016 (Ottawa, ON) — The Ottawa Community Foundation released its latest Ottawa Insights theme at a public event this afternoon, in partnership with Ecology Ottawa and Sustainable Eastern Ontario. Providing indicators in the areas of Energy & Climate; Land Use & Ecology; Water, Waste & Sewage; and Transportation, the newly released theme offers fresh insights into how well the city is performing in relation to its Environment & Sustainability.

A small sampling of facts from the indicators released today:

  • Ottawa is getting steadily warmer. Between 1890 and 2010 the city experienced an overall mean temperature increase of 1.7 degrees Celsius.
  • Only 1% of waterways in Ottawa’s agricultural areas meet the recommended vegetative buffer to protect water quality and habitat.
  • Local household water consumption has declined continuously and significantly since 2007.
  • Discharges of untreated sewage to the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers have also dropped significantly.
  • In a comparison of cities in 17 countries between 2010 and 2015, Ottawa had the third highest growth rate in cycling.
  • Ottawa has made little direct progress, however, in reducing its Greenhouse Gas emissions – 40% of which are associated with transportation.

“These indicators demonstrate both progress in some areas, along with a number of areas that require serious attention and action,” said Marco Pagani, President & CEO of the Ottawa Community Foundation. “By identifying both the problem areas and those that deserve celebration, we hope to contribute to informed discourse among decision-makers, influencers and the general public in order to support strategic action for the long-term good and sustainability of our environment.”

The Ottawa Insights community knowledge centre is the Foundation’s most recent public initiative designed to empower Ottawa citizens to take informed action to create positive, systemic and sustainable change in our community. It is a dynamic, web-based knowledge centre that brings together and connects key information and intelligence on local status, trends and conditions affecting quality of life in Ottawa.

Since its initial launch in April, Ottawa Insights has presented a suite of over 60 indicators related to the themes of Basic Needs & Standard of Living, Economy & Employment, Health & Wellness and, now, Environment & Sustainability. The Ottawa Community Foundation will continue to present comprehensive information and data over the coming months in the areas of Arts and Culture; Education and Learning; and Community and Belonging. Visit www.ottawainsights.ca.

Established in 1987, the Ottawa Community Foundation is a public, non-profit organization created by and for the people of Ottawa. Working directly with its community of donors, partners and stakeholders, the Foundation is committed to acting as a catalyst for positive, systemic and sustainable change in Ottawa and beyond. Priding itself on enabling generous citizens to enhance the quality of life in their community while achieving their own charitable objectives, the Community Foundation currently manages assets worth almost $120-million, and has provided close to $100-million in grants to the community since its inception. For more information about the Ottawa Community Foundation, visit www.cfo-fco.ca.

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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Iona Green
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Ottawa Community Foundation
(B) 613-236-1616 X 232
(C) 613-408-1616
igreen@cfo-fco.ca