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