Report on Toronto’s Parkette Initiative and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The city of Toronto, Canada, is implementing a successful urban greening strategy through the creation of “parkettes”—small green spaces of 0.5 hectares or less. By repurposing underutilized urban land, the city has established nearly 500 such spaces, significantly advancing several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report details the initiative’s impact on community well-being, urban climate resilience, and biodiversity, highlighting its alignment with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Advancing SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The parkette program is a direct implementation of the principles outlined in SDG 11, which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. By converting disused lots and former building sites into public green spaces, Toronto is enhancing the quality of urban life and ensuring access to green areas for all residents.

Key Contributions to SDG 11:

• Universal Access to Green Space: The initiative provides accessible public spaces for recreation, socialization, and relaxation, directly addressing SDG Target 11.7.
• Sustainable Urbanization: The repurposing of small, underutilized land parcels represents an efficient and sustainable approach to urban planning and land management.
• Community Resilience: These green spaces foster community interaction and a sense of local ownership, strengthening the social fabric of neighborhoods.

Promoting SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The creation of urban green spaces has a well-documented positive effect on the physical and mental health of city dwellers, a core objective of SDG 3. Toronto’s parkettes provide essential opportunities for residents to de-stress and connect with nature.

Health and Well-being Benefits:

1. Mental Health Improvement: Residents report using the parkettes for “mental health breaks” from work and city life, underscoring their role in reducing stress and improving psychological well-being.
2. Physical Activity: The spaces offer venues for light exercise and are frequently used by pet owners, promoting an active lifestyle.
3. Connection to Nature: The opportunity for “grounding”—placing one’s feet on grass—is cited by users as a significant benefit, contributing to a greater sense of well-being.

Supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land)

Beyond social benefits, the parkette network serves critical ecological functions that support climate action and protect terrestrial ecosystems within the urban environment.

Ecological and Climate Impact:

• Climate Change Mitigation (SDG 13): Urban greenery acts as a natural heat sink, mitigating the urban heat island effect. Research confirms that parks can lower temperatures in the immediate vicinity by 1-2°C, enhancing the city’s climate resilience. The vegetation also contributes to improved air quality.
• Biodiversity Conservation (SDG 15): These green pockets serve as vital habitats for urban wildlife and support urban rewilding efforts. They contribute to restoring and maintaining biodiversity within the city, a key target of SDG 15.

Future Strategic Development: The Parkland Strategy

The City of Toronto has formalized its commitment to this model through its long-term Parkland Strategy. A key component of this strategy is the “Green Line” project, a decade-long plan to develop and connect parkettes and other green spaces. This strategic vision ensures that the city will continue to leverage small-scale interventions to achieve large-scale sustainability impacts, further embedding the principles of the SDGs into its urban development framework.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The article highlights how parkettes provide a “good mental health break” and improve the “quality of life” for residents, directly contributing to their well-being.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The core topic is the creation of accessible green public spaces (parkettes) within a city, which enhances the urban environment and makes it more inclusive and sustainable.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – The article mentions that urban greenery helps in “lowering temperatures” and serves as a “crucial heat trap,” which are measures to combat the effects of climate change, such as the urban heat island effect.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – The text states that green spaces “provide critical habitats for wildlife” and contribute to “restoring badly needed biodiversity to cities,” which relates to protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
   • Explanation: The entire article focuses on Toronto’s initiative to create and increase the number of parkettes, which are defined as “tiny green space[s]” for public use. The city’s “Parkland Strategy” aims to improve and connect these spaces, directly aligning with the goal of providing universal access to green public areas.
2. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • Explanation: The article explicitly mentions the mental health benefits of these parkettes. A resident is quoted saying it’s a “good mental health break from working,” and another mentions the benefits of “grounding.” This directly supports the promotion of mental health and well-being.
3. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Explanation: The article states that urban greenery helps in “lowering temperatures” by 1 to 2°C. This is a direct measure to adapt to and build resilience against the climate-related hazard of extreme heat in urban environments (urban heat island effect).
4. Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
   • Explanation: The article notes that parkettes “provide critical habitats for wildlife living in cities” and mentions that “urban rewilding projects are proving effective in restoring badly needed biodiversity to cities.” This shows a direct effort to combat habitat loss and restore biodiversity within an urban ecosystem.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 11.7: The proportion of land allocated to public green spaces.
   • Explanation: The article provides specific data points that can be used as indicators. It mentions that Toronto has “almost 500 parkettes” and defines a parkette as a space of “0.5 hectares or less.” The city’s “Parkland Strategy” and the “Green Line” project imply an ongoing effort to increase this number and the total area of connected green space, which can be measured to track progress. This relates to the official indicator 11.7.1 (Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all).
2. Indicator for Target 13.1: Reduction in temperature in urban areas.
   • Explanation: The article explicitly states that a park or parkette can “reduce the surrounding area’s temperature by 1 to 2°C.” This is a quantifiable indicator that can be used to measure the effectiveness of green spaces in mitigating urban heat, a key aspect of climate adaptation.
3. Indicator for Target 15.5: Increase in urban biodiversity and habitat creation.
   • Explanation: While the article does not provide specific numbers, it implies that progress can be measured by tracking the creation of habitats and the restoration of biodiversity. The mention of “urban rewilding projects” suggests that the success of these initiatives in increasing wildlife populations could serve as an indicator.
4. Indicator for Target 3.4: Self-reported improvements in mental well-being.
   • Explanation: The article includes qualitative evidence through quotes from residents who describe the parkettes as a “good mental health break” and a way to improve their quality of life. While not a quantitative metric, surveys or studies on the perceived well-being of residents who use these spaces could serve as an indicator of progress toward promoting mental health.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thecooldown.com