We Can't Stand Idle about Idling

Each year, vehicle emissions make up roughly 36% of Toronto's total emissions profile. Nationwide, the Federal government estimates that Canadian motorists idle their vehicles for approximately eight minutes per day, resulting in a combined national total of more than 75 million idling minutes. In total, over 2.2 million litres of fuel are wasted – enough to drive 1,100 vehicles for a year.

For this reason, tackling idling must be a cornerstone of the City's emissions reduction efforts and overall climate action strategy. Natural Resources Canada estimates that if Canadian drivers limited their idling time to three minutes per day, our annual CO2 emissions could be reduced by 1.4 million tonnes.

At City Council, I reignited the conversation about idling and initiated a public education campaign on the issue. My motion also directed the General Manager of Fleet Services to enhance training for employees who drive City of Toronto vehicles to reduce the amount of time the City's fleet spends idling. Addressing idling in our city will take time, but it's important that we get to work on this critical issue now and, wherever possible, lead by example.