Faculty of Environmental Studies - Urban Planning

In December 2015 at the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, 195 countries signed to the world’s first comprehensive climate change agreement; The Paris Agreement. Subsequently 155 of these countries have ratified the agreement. This is makes apparent the global consensus that global climate change is fast becoming the most important issue facing our world today. Being the largest contributor to global emission, China is a significant player in this agreement and therefore their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions merit a closer examination. Under the SWOT framework, China’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions have been subjected to a critical policy analysis, a comparative analysis, and a feasibility study. From this, there is a determination of the likelihood of implementation. While it is determined that the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions are relatively feasible for China, there are complications in relation to the domestic enforceability of the policies that would result from changes made to current policy. The National Government recognizes the need for more enforceability of policies, however, it remains questionable as to whether coherent and cooperative enforcement will be achievable.

In December 2015 at the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, 195 countries signed to the world's first comprehensive climate change agreement; The Paris Agreement. Subsequently 155 of these countries have ratified the agreement. This is makes apparent the global consensus that global climate change is fast becoming the most important issue facing our world today. Being the largest contributor to global emission, China is a significant player in this agreement and therefore their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions merit a closer examination. Under the SWOT framework, China's Intended Nationally Determined Contributions have been subjected to a critical policy analysis, a comparative analysis, and a feasibility study. From this, there is a determination of the likelihood of implementation. While it is determined that the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions are relatively feasible for China, the...

This paper discusses the findings of quantitative and qualitative research on the initial impact of a controversial transit pilot project which involved the redesign of a 2.6 kilometre stretch of King Street in downtown Toronto. The project strictly regulated use of the area by private cars and involved a number of design initiatives to enhance the public realm for non-automobile users. Impacts on four stakeholder groups—transit riders, drivers, pedestrians, and business owners—were analyzed using quantitative data from the City of Toronto, and qualitative data obtained through more than 40 interviews with various stakeholders and professionals in Toronto’s urban planning community. This research finds that the initial impact of the King Street Transit Pilot has had a positive impact on transit riders and pedestrians. In terms of the impact on drivers and local businesses, the quantitative data shows that trends in average car travel times and consumer spending have remained consist...

Utilizing the principles of critical discourse analysis (CDA), I decode the power relations embedded in the 2015 City of Toronto’s Youth Engagement Strategy report to allow for a solid understanding of the framework used by planners in their proposed “engagement” with youth and in (dis)locating “transportation” in their planning (or non-planning) for youth. With the report stating transit and transportation as the leading issue the youth care about, I argue the misconception that the youth of today are not concerned with transportation planning. The traditional adult-oriented approach to transportation planning has served the youth by default, and this is very concerning. The youth deserve to be invited into the decision-making process as well as informed as to the impact of their participation. We cannot call for youth participation if that participation does not have meaning. The City of Toronto’s Planning Division needs to invite youth voices if they are prepared to listen to them. Youth participation is a promise we make to young people. Their idealism, strength, and creativity are a gift to us, and we need to treat it as such.