Concerns about the City of Kelowna not hitting its 2030 climate action targets prompted a call for a mayoral task force on the issue at council香蕉视频直播檚 Monday (Sept.23) meeting.
Council adopted the Climate Resiliency Kelowna Strategy (CRKS) which includes dozens of recommendations to reduce greenhouse gases. But during a staff presentation, Councillor Gord Lovegrove had several questions about details in the plan.
香蕉视频直播淭he elephant in the room is we香蕉视频直播檙e going to keep kicking this down the road,香蕉视频直播 he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hese are 153 amazing actions, many of which we香蕉视频直播檝e started, but I香蕉视频直播檓 concerned we香蕉视频直播檙e not going to do enough in enough time to meet 2030.香蕉视频直播
Council declared a climate crisis during its Oct. 16, 2023, after a motion was brought forward by Lovegrove and Coun. Mohini Singh. At that meeting, several protesters shouted 香蕉视频直播榶ou香蕉视频直播檙e all fired香蕉视频直播, 香蕉视频直播榮hame on you香蕉视频直播, and 香蕉视频直播榙isgusting' at council.' They also held up signs that read 香蕉视频直播楽top the Climate Crisis Declaration香蕉视频直播 and 香蕉视频直播榃e Need A Public Hearing On This.香蕉视频直播
At that time, council directed staff to use community emissions reduction targets 40 per cent below 2007 levels by 2030, and to achieve net zero by 2050, in the development of the CRKS.
On Monday, Lovegrove said he liked the plan but could not support it, reiterating his concern that some climate targets could not be achieved in the next six years.
香蕉视频直播淥ur staff are the experts, they know what needs to be done,香蕉视频直播 he added. 香蕉视频直播淵our worship I香蕉视频直播檓 pleading with you, please start a task force香蕉视频直播lease consider aggressive action on this.香蕉视频直播
Lovegrove also asked Mayor Tom Dyas to initiate discussions with Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 regional partners and jurisdictions across the province and the country.
Dyas did not say no to a task force but noted that council established its priorities around climate action several months ago.
香蕉视频直播淚 believe staff has outlined a plan which is going to be established over the next four to five years香蕉视频直播nd as a council when we go into our next strategic planning sessions香蕉视频直播f items come out of that we need to advance we will look at advancing it.香蕉视频直播
The CRKS highlights 10 key drivers to cut emissions including reducing reliance on vehicles, transitioning to low-carbon vehicles, and supporting a low-carbon and resilient energy supply.
It calls for a 33 per cent reduction in transportation emissions by 2030 to address air quality and a 32 per cent reduction in building emissions to combat extreme heat and cold, and the potential for flooding and wildfires,
Lovegrove was the only councillor opposed to adopting the CRKS.