This text is part of the special Greater Montreal booklet
Several targets of the Metropolitan Land Use and Development Plan (PMAD) have been achieved, but the challenges remain significant to curb urban sprawl and develop public transit.
“The foundations of the PMAD to ensure sustainable development on the territory of the 82 municipalities of Greater Montreal are still good. Our results are very positive and we must continue,” said Massimo Iezzoni, Director General of the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM). The revision of the Plan will make it possible to update certain elements and to maintain the course on the objectives.
The progress already made is also welcomed by Jeanne Robin, senior director of the public interest organization Vivre en ville, which contributes to the development of viable communities in Quebec. “The PMAD is an excellent tool for reducing the carbon footprint and therefore fighting against climate change, but also for adapting to it, through the choices we make for the occupation and use of the territory of Greater Montreal and the organization of activities on the latter”, she believes.
Urban sprawl curbed
The urban form has a direct effect on the way of life of the citizens. “Urban sprawl is one of the main environmental problems, because it increases the distances to be traveled and therefore increases our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and our energy balance,” says Ms.me Robin, while adding that for 30 years, our occupation of the territory has increased about three times faster than the growth of our population.
The PMAD’s objectives to reverse this trend have borne fruit. “Greater densification has been achieved and we are seeing a significant drop in single-family homes. The current stock does not need to be replenished, as it is sufficient for the next cohort of young households,” rejoices Mr. Iezzoni. The CMM will therefore be able to concentrate on other denser dwellings. “Unlike many North American cities, we already have an average density,” notes the general manager.
transportation challenges
With 29 million tonnes of CO equivalent2 in 2019, road transport is the largest emitter of GHGs in Quebec, 62% of emissions being generated by the transport of people, notes the 2023 report of the PMAD. A kilometer traveled by a resident of the northern or southern crowns globally emits 12% more GHGs than the same kilometer traveled by a resident of more central sectors, according to this document.
Jeanne Robin regrets that the good densification results obtained thanks to the PMAD had no effect in transport. It recommends setting higher consolidation targets to do more than curb sprawl, and to offer a more extensive offer of sustainable transport. “Major public transit projects, such as the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) or the extension of the blue metro line, should make it possible to achieve success in the future. We need to multiply them,” she says, pointing out the importance of localizing jobs. “The PMAD insists a lot on the location of homes. This is important, but it will also mean ensuring that places of employment and important outreach activities are as accessible as possible,” she says. Travel to work is the one that generates the most GHG emissions, according to a study carried out by Vivre en ville.
Reducing the solo car is also a major objective for Massimo Iezzoni. “Since the pandemic, we have been catching up, because we have to adjust to new models of teleworking”, explains the man who wishes to create denser living environments, favoring local services and public transport. These environments, which will no longer be “everything car-driven”, will be all the more suited to an aging population, as the proportion of people living alone increases.
Increasing the canopy and reducing mineralization are also important levers of the PMAD to accelerate the ecological transition and improve living environments. “Among our efforts to ensure that the population will have access to green spaces and reduce heat islands, we plan to create ten metropolitan parks of around 15,000 hectares”, announces Massimo Iezzoni, summarizing the CMM’s approach in three figures for each household in the region: three trees next to the house, 30% protection of natural environments and a green space 300 meters from the house.
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.