61 new measures to boost the Toulouse Métropole Climate Plan
After a disappointing mid-term report, the Toulouse Métropole Climate Plan, which must implement the ecological transition, has been reinforced with 61 new measures which must be voted on Thursday. But these are not everything: an appeal is made to civil society.
Inauguration of the cable car in May, commissioning of a new Linéo bus line to serve the north of the agglomeration, “success” of the bicycle bonus, “ambitious” bicycle plan, start of the ZFE… For Jean-Luc Moudenc , the ecological transition in Toulouse and on the territory of the Metropolis has just known this year “a considerable acceleration”. “The dynamic is there”, assures the mayor LR of the Pink City and president of the Metropolis. And it will be accelerated.
Because the Metropolis is not up to the objectives of its Climate Plan on two key indicators: the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and that of energy consumption on its territory. On January 20, presented at a public conference, the mid-term review of this plan, which is the roadmap for the ecological transition of the Metropolis, revealed bad figures. While the target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions is 40% for 2030 (compared to 2008), the trend indicated that the result would only be -9%. And while energy consumption must be reduced by 20% (compared to 2016), a 4% reduction seems achievable. Jean-Luc Moudenc had thus promised to “boost” the Climate Plan.
This Thursday, before the elected officials of the Metropolis, François Chollet, vice-president in charge of the environment, presented “act II” of the Climate Plan which now includes 61 new measures and 23 old “amplified”.
Neighborhood concierges
Road transport and the building sector (for individuals and businesses) are the two sectors targeted to reduce both greenhouse gas emissions (vehicle pollution and heating) and energy consumption (fuel, gas, electricity) . This is what guided the development of the new document, indicates the deliberation of the Metropolitan Council. For travel, the plan is based primarily on Tisséo’s mobility project with its new bus and metro lines. But also on the carpooling master plan, the bicycle plan… Or even the deployment of 600 new charging points for electric vehicles. This is one of the two actions taken by Jean-Luc Moudenc with the creation of a €10 million fund to finance municipal projects. Projects which essentially relate to the energy renovation of buildings, indicates Romain Vaillant, PS vice-president in charge of the declination of the plan in the municipalities.
The long list of actions includes the study of soil dewatering, the development of a master plan for rainwater management, a plan for the delivery of goods in town, the fight against food waste… Concierges “zone”, to “pool services for companies”, are also planned, such as a zero waste plan for voluntary restaurateurs.
However, these new actions do not do everything. They should enable a 25% reduction in greenhouse gases (for a target of 40%), and 14% in energy consumption (and not 20%). The difference “is in the hands of the citizens”, indicates Jean-Luc Moudenc who appeals “to civil society” to go the rest of the way.
Ecologists “beside the plate”
With these 61 actions, Jean-Luc Moudenc defended “measures which allow us to make concrete progress”, he declared yesterday during a presentation of the Climate Plan to the press. The mayor has targeted environmentalists “beside the plate” when they criticize Tisséo’s economy measures, that is to say the reduction in the frequency of the metro during off-peak hours. “The real subject is the explosion of the electricity bill for the metro: from 6 to 30 M€. The decrease in frequencies means a few more seconds of waiting. It’s common sense. The real problem of my opponents is that they are unable to make a proposal that holds water. Jean-Luc Moudenc said he was “afflicted by the poverty of the debate on ecological transition”, citing the example of the RER “which would only serve a few thousand people”, and mocking “the happenings which bring nothing “.