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害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淭he elephant in the room is we害羞草研究所檙e going to keep kicking this down the road,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hese are 153 amazing actions, many of which we害羞草研究所檝e started, but I害羞草研究所檓 concerned we害羞草研究所檙e not going to do enough in enough time to meet 2030.害羞草研究所�
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 害羞草研究所榶ou害羞草研究所檙e all fired害羞草研究所�, 害羞草研究所榮hame on you害羞草研究所�, and 害羞草研究所榙isgusting' at council.' They also held up signs that read 害羞草研究所楽top the Climate Crisis Declaration害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所榃e Need A Public Hearing On This.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淥ur staff are the experts, they know what needs to be done,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淵our worship I害羞草研究所檓 pleading with you, please start a task force害羞草研究所lease consider aggressive action on this.害羞草研究所�
Lovegrove also asked Mayor Tom Dyas to initiate discussions with Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淚 believe staff has outlined a plan which is going to be established over the next four to five years害羞草研究所nd as a council when we go into our next strategic planning sessions害羞草研究所f items come out of that we need to advance we will look at advancing it.害羞草研究所�
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.
