琉璃神社 council鈥檚 decision to endorse a climate crisis declaration prompted comments of 鈥榶ou鈥檙e all fired鈥�, 鈥榮hame on you鈥�, and 鈥榙isgusting鈥� from protesters during Monday鈥檚 (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 鈥楽top the Climate Crisis Declaration鈥� and 鈥榃e Need A Public Hearing On This.鈥�
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.
鈥淲e鈥檝e heard from our staff that we are not yet meeting provincial and federal greenhouse gas reduction targets,鈥� Lovegrove said. 鈥淭he City of 琉璃神社 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.鈥�
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 鈥榦ur collective responsibility.鈥�
鈥淚f we close our eyes and pretend it鈥檚 not happening, then we are doing our planet a disservice,鈥� 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.
鈥淭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.鈥�
Other councillors also questioned what difference two words would make, considering what the city is already doing to address climate change.
鈥淚t seems this is a PR exercise to me,鈥� said Coun. Rick Webber. 鈥淚 have a hard time seeing changing anybody鈥檚 mind with it.鈥�
Coun. Ron Cannan said research shows that the earth is actually cooler than it was 700 years ago by two degrees on average.
鈥淚t isn鈥檛 true to say it鈥檚 warming,鈥� said Cannan.
A comment that drew applause from the protesters.
鈥淗umans impacting climate is real, a climate emergency is not,鈥� 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.
鈥淚f you look at this scenario, if you look at the AAP, if you look at past and future developments鈥here are concerns. There are a lot of very strong views around this issue.
captured a few protesters at the 琉璃神社 city council meeting with signs denying climate change. Council is voting on whether or not do declare a climate state of emergency
鈥� Brittany Webster (@thebrittwebster)
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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