After rejecting the idea of declaring a climate crisis in the spring, 91原创 Township council moved toward action at Monday鈥檚 meeting.

The council unanimously approved a motion by Councillor Petrina Arnason, acknowledging there is a 鈥渃limate emergency as evidenced by scientific studies and policy predictions that indicate dire consequences arising from the breakdown of a stable climate arising from unprecedented global warming.鈥�

There were several other measures in the motion, including a proposal that the Township create a draft 鈥渃arbon budget鈥� for both corporate and community CO2 emissions related to planning and land development.

Arnason鈥檚 motion also called for an annual report from staff on the carbon budget so council could make decisions on policy.

She acknowledged that some aspects of the plan may seem overwhelming at first.

But Arnason noted there are already initiatives started by municipal staff, either underway or in the planning stages, that could help reduce CO2 output in the Township.

Over the years, the Township has already made a number of moves towards sustainability and reducing emissions, including using some electric vehicles and creating more energy-efficient municipal buildings.

鈥淲e need political direction to move this forward,鈥� she said.

鈥淲e all agree, we do need to look into this,鈥� said Mayor Jack Froese.

READ MORE: Popularity of electric car chargers up 3,000% in 91原创 Township

The second part of Arnason鈥檚 motion, regarding the actual policy nuts and bolts of the matter, was referred to a meeting expected in the early fall.

The reconsideration followed an appearance by Cheryl Wiens of the B.C. Green Party, who urged council to take action.

鈥淎cting is a moral imperative,鈥� she said.

Wiens said she was thankful they voted in favour of the motion this time.

鈥淎cknowledging the reality of the climate crisis we鈥檙e in is a good first step,鈥� she said.

The next thing that鈥檚 needed are evidence-based emission targets and a carbon budget, she said.

Local Greens and environmentalists held small regular rallies outside of the Township hall over the last several months in the run-up to the vote.

Wiens pointed to issues such as increased forest fires and smoke, as well as droughts and powerful storms that have affected the Lower Mainland in recent years.

鈥淭hese things are only going to get worse,鈥� she said.

Council鈥檚 decision is in sharp contrast to their April reception of the same motion.

Back then, council voted to refer the climate emergency resolution and carbon budget talks to a September strategic planning meeting.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 see this as the type of emergency that we need to deal with today,鈥� said Coun. Blair Whitmarsh before the April vote.

A delegation of young environmental activists and Green Party members had arrived at the April meeting bearing signs calling for climate action.

A number of other communities around B.C. and across the country have already declared climate emergencies, and in June the federal government voted to declare a national climate emergency. Other communities, including Abbotsford, have declined to pass climate emergency declarations.

READ MORE: Climate emergency decision will wait until September in 91原创 Township