Canada is a highly urbanized country with ambitious climate mitigation targets, and yet an ever-growing population will require increased housing – typically through urban infill land intensification or expansion into greenfields for residential developments that results in the loss of green infrastructure.
Urban greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions make up 42% of Canada’s total emissions. What is poorly understood, however, are the contributions from urban green infrastructure – trees, vegetation, wetlands, water bodies and aquatic systems – to mitigating the impacts of climate change.
The RISE project aims to better understand the longer-term impacts of urban residential developments on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and seeks to measure the effectiveness of GHG mitigation efforts of green infrastructure.
Working with our partners, including municipalities and land developers, our hope is to create positive change within the residential planning and development sector that will lead to increased green infrastructure for more sustainable urban development.
News
RISE team visits Vineland Research & Innovation Centre and Mohawk College’s IDEAWORKS for knowledge exchange
The groups spent time learning about each other’s initiatives and touring facilities to understand research priorities and opportunities.
Michael Drescher, RISE Principal Investigator, talks with CBC about Ontario’s plan to consolidate conservation authorities
The province is planning to introduce legislation to consolidate the number of agencies from 36 to seven.
New publication on the role of landscape architects and non-profits in shaping green infrastructure in residential developments
RISE team member and PhD candidate Hazem Ahmed co-authors paper with Principal Investigator Michael Drescher and co-Principal Investigator Dawn Parker published in Urban Forestry & Urban Greening.