Kelowna council害羞草研究所檚 decision to endorse a climate crisis declaration prompted comments of 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害羞草研究所� from protesters during Monday害羞草研究所檚 (Oct. 16) regular meeting.

As council started to speak to a draft resolution on the issue, about 12 people stood up with 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�

However, it was at the end of the debate, after council adopted the declaration, that protesters made their comments and filmed council members.

Councillors Mohini Singh and Gord Lovegrove sponsored the declaration, which was first discussed in April.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e heard from our staff that we are not yet meeting provincial and federal greenhouse gas reduction targets,害羞草研究所� Lovegrove said. 害羞草研究所淭he City of Kelowna must declare a climate emergency and acknowledge that this is an emergency with no foreseeable conclusion that requires immediate and drastic action away from our business-as-usual approach.害羞草研究所�

Several of the protesters are well-known for taking part in anti-lockdown demonstrations in the Okanagan.

In supporting Lovegrove, Coun. Mohini Singh said protecting the planet is 害羞草研究所榦ur collective responsibility.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚f we close our eyes and pretend it害羞草研究所檚 not happening, then we are doing our planet a disservice,害羞草研究所� she added.

Mayor Tom Dyas noted that one of council top priorities is climate and environment and read an extensive list of actions the city has implemented to address climate change.

He would have preferred to see deliverables as part of the declaration.

害羞草研究所淭he onus will now be put upon the individuals who looked at bringing that motion forward to assist us with a greater understanding of what that truly means because of all of the initiatives that we are doing at this point in time.害羞草研究所�

Other councillors also questioned what difference two words would make, considering what the city is already doing to address climate change.

害羞草研究所淚t seems this is a PR exercise to me,害羞草研究所� said Coun. Rick Webber. 害羞草研究所淚 have a hard time seeing changing anybody害羞草研究所檚 mind with it.害羞草研究所�

Coun. Ron Cannan said research shows that the earth is actually cooler than it was 700 years ago by two degrees on average.

害羞草研究所淚t isn害羞草研究所檛 true to say it害羞草研究所檚 warming,害羞草研究所� said Cannan.

A comment that drew applause from the protesters.

害羞草研究所淗umans impacting climate is real, a climate emergency is not,害羞草研究所� Cannan added.

He put forward a motion that the declaration be deferred so that further community input and information on other action items the city could implement be investigated.

That motion was defeated 5-4.

Regarding the protesters, Dyas said they were citizens voicing their concerns.

害羞草研究所淚f you look at this scenario, if you look at the AAP, if you look at past and future developments害羞草研究所�there are concerns. There are a lot of very strong views around this issue.

captured a few protesters at the Kelowna city council meeting with signs denying climate change. Council is voting on whether or not do declare a climate state of emergency

害羞草研究所� Brittany Webster (@thebrittwebster)

gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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