Greening of the United Nations Climate Change Conference: Jump on the Bus!
Did you know? It takes 130 trees to produce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) needed to absorb the CO2 produced by a single car in a year. This is why the Government of Canada has made a commitment to ensure local transportation used at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change will be as sustainable as possible. Officials involved in organizing the transportation have taken many measures to offer sustainable transportation options to both delegates and volunteers involved in the event.
You may have already seen one of the twelve blue Chevrolet Impalas labeled with Ethanol decals driving around Montreal and wondered what this was about? Well, these flex fuel vehicles, which were donated by General Motors Canada, are being fueled with a blend of 15% gasoline and 85% cellulose-based ethanol – referred to as E85. C ellulose ethanol is a liquid fuel made from the fibrous portion of straw, corn stalks and wood chips. Using enzymes, this fibre is converted to sugars that are then fermented and distilled to make ethanol. Greenhouse gas emissions from these vehicles are up to 75% less than conventional gasoline. Canadian-based Iogen Corporation is providing 4,000 litres of it cellulose ethanol to be used in the Impalas during the Conference.
The Government of Canada has also leased a number of gas-electric hybrid vehicles for official use during the Conference, including nine Toyota Priuses and two Ford Escape Hybrids. All of the gasoline vehicles used during CoP11/MoP1 will be fuelled with low-level ethanol, a mixture of 5% ethanol and 95% gasoline, which can be safely used in any gasoline vehicle. As well, all drivers have attended a green defensive driving course, which included tips on green driving such as anti-idling and proper tire inflation.
If that wasn’t enough, all buses and shuttles used during the conference will be fuelled with a combination of diesel mixed with locally produced biodiesel. Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel produced from a variety of renewable agricultural resources, such as soybeans, canola, animal fats and recycled cooking oils. If you happen to smell the faint odor of french fries when a bus or shuttle passes by this probably why.
As well, when delegates arrive at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, they are being offered a free one week transit pass that they can use to access local transportation while they are in Montreal. This pass will allow delegates free access to the metro and all city buses. All on-site volunteers at Complex Guy Favreau, where the parallel event are being held, also have access to these free transit passes in order to help make their commute more sustainable.
The Government of Canada in collaboration with many organizations within the City of Montreal and throughout Canada are working to ensure that local transportation for delegates during their stay in Montreal is done in the most sustainable manner possible. We also encourage delegates to get around by foot, as Montreal is a very interesting city to explore.
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