Calling global warming an 鈥榚xistential crisis,鈥� 91原创 City council has unanimously voted to declare a climate emergency.

Coun. Rosemary Wallace, chair of the 91原创 City Environmental Task Group, presented the proposal at the Monday, Jan. 11 meeting of council.

While the city is already taking steps to reduce emissions that cause climate change, the motion will 鈥渟et the stage鈥� for future decisions, Wallace told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淚t should have that lens of looking at how we tackle climate change [going forward],鈥� Wallace remarked.

Among other things, the resolution declaring a climate emergency will guide the redevelopment of the Nicomekl River area in the city, Wallace anticipated.

There was no resistance to the proposal from other council members, only a few friendly amendments to add specifics like having staff investigate what 鈥渞esources, funding and timelines鈥� will be needed to meet the goal of achieving 鈥渘et zero carbon emissions before 2050 and net negative carbon emissions in the second half of the century.鈥�

READ ALSO: Federal funds for new SFU centre to help Metro Vancouver cut carbon emissions

Coun. Paul Albrecht, the vice chair of Environmental Task Group, who proposed the amendments, called the resolution 鈥渁 really important issue that needs to come forward.鈥�

During the discussion, Coun. Rudy Storteboom said the resolution wasn鈥檛 鈥渨indow dressing.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 not a political ploy to favour some kind of political position, it鈥檚 real,鈥� Storteboom commented, adding City staff have been working for the last dozen years to make 91原创 City 鈥渃arbon neutral.鈥�

Coun. Nathan Pachal had no doubts about the situation.

鈥淚 believe climate change is real,鈥� Pachal said.

鈥淐limate change is caused by humans and it鈥檚 getting worse.鈥�

Wallace was pleased by the response.

鈥淚 wanted everyone to be on board,鈥� she told the 91原创 Advance Times.

While the COVID-19 crisis has dominated attention lately, the issue of climate change cannot be overlooked, Wallace believes.

鈥淭his is valid, it鈥檚 important,鈥� Wallace said.

Wallace explained the resolution was inspired in part by a presentation from Sustainabiliteens, a group of young who came as a delegation to 91原创 City Council back in April of 2019.

As adopted by City council, the motion noted that the earth is currently on track to warm by more than three degrees Celsius and limiting it 鈥渨ould require rapid, far reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.鈥�

Wallace said the resolution also 鈥渁ligns us with a lot of other municipalities.鈥�

READ ALSO: 91原创 Township council acknowledges climate emergency

In July, 91原创 Township 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 Township motion, including a proposal that the municipality 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.

dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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