Climate protesters added a little heat to a Kelowna city council meeting on Tuesday, donning signs calling for the city to declare a climate emergency.

The eight protesters, affiliated with both Climate Save Kelowna and Extinction Rebellion, stood in silence for about 20 minutes as city council continued its meeting as scheduled.

害羞草研究所�(The city has) set unambitious targets, fails to meet the targets from previous plans and lies about meeting those targets,害羞草研究所� said Extinction Rebellion害羞草研究所檚 Anna Ciocoiu. 害羞草研究所淚t seems like nobody is listening. We害羞草研究所檝e decided to peacefully come here and crash these meetings and start escalating the situation if they keep ignoring it.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 so much we can do to be climate leaders and I害羞草研究所檓 just not seeing that.害羞草研究所�

Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran said the city is doing a number of things to help mitigate the impact of climate change.

害羞草研究所淲e are undertaking some major planning initiatives right now 害羞草研究所� our Official Community Plan being the main one, as well as our Transportation Master Plan 害羞草研究所� that will definitely be forward-looking,害羞草研究所� said Basran after the meeting had adjourned. 害羞草研究所淚 hear their concerns; I share them. And I certainly welcome their right to share their opinion.害羞草研究所�

As far as declaring a climate emergency goes, Basran said he believes actions are better than words.

害羞草研究所淢y personal opinion is we could declare a climate emergency but it害羞草研究所檚 not going to change any of the things we害羞草研究所檙e doing,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭he question I would put back on them is: what do they think would happen as a result of declaring a climate emergency?

害羞草研究所淚t would be words on paper and I害羞草研究所檇 rather take action.害羞草研究所�

Both Climate Save Kelowna and Extinction Rebellion hold small protests outside city hall every Friday since the fall as part of their efforts to push elected officials to do more to fight climate change.

In the fall, hundreds of people turned up for a series of large protests in Kelowna and across B.C. as part of a series of global protests. Students at the University of British Columbia Okanagan also held a protest and portions of Water Street were temporarily shut down during another protest.

READ MORE: Environmental rally held in front of Kelowna City Hall

READ MORE: Climate protesters stage protest near William Bennett Bridge

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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