Kelowna council含羞草研究社檚 decision to endorse a climate crisis declaration prompted comments of 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含羞草研究社� from protesters during Monday含羞草研究社檚 (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 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�

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.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檝e heard from our staff that we are not yet meeting provincial and federal greenhouse gas reduction targets,含羞草研究社� Lovegrove said. 含羞草研究社淭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.含羞草研究社�

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 含羞草研究社榦ur collective responsibility.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淚f we close our eyes and pretend it含羞草研究社檚 not happening, then we are doing our planet a disservice,含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淭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.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淚t seems this is a PR exercise to me,含羞草研究社� said Coun. Rick Webber. 含羞草研究社淚 have a hard time seeing changing anybody含羞草研究社檚 mind with it.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淚t isn含羞草研究社檛 true to say it含羞草研究社檚 warming,含羞草研究社� said Cannan.

A comment that drew applause from the protesters.

含羞草研究社淗umans impacting climate is real, a climate emergency is not,含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淚f you look at this scenario, if you look at the AAP, if you look at past and future developments含羞草研究社�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

含羞草研究社� Brittany Webster (@thebrittwebster)

gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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