WHEREAS the long-term warming of the planet since the early 20th century, most notably since the late 1970s, has been rapidly elevating due to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions from human activity and is a significant contributing factor to changing global climate patterns;
AND WHEREAS climate change is currently contributing to property and infrastructure damage worldwide, stressing local and international economies;
AND WHEREAS climate change is currently jeopardizing the health and survival of many species and natural environments worldwide, stressing local and international eco systems;
AND WHEREAS climate change is currently harming human populations globally through rising sea levels and other extraordinary phenomena like intense wildfires, droughts, floods and storms worldwide, stressing local and international communities;
AND WHEREAS the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has indicated a need for massive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in the next 11 years to avoid further and devastating economic, ecological, and societal loss;
AND WHEREAS the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change finds that limiting global warming to 1.5ºC with no or limited overshoot would require global net CO2 emissions dropping to between 50% and 58% below 2010 levels by 2030, and between 94% and 107% below 2010 levels by 2050;
AND WHEREAS the world is currently on track for more than 3ºC of warming by 2100 based on policies currently in place, and those policies will need to be strengthened significantly to limit warming to 1.5ºC;
AND WHEREAS an emergency can be defined as "an often dangerous situation requiring immediate action" and greenhouse gas emission reductions can be achieved through effective and efficient land use, transportation options, and building construction, which are within local government’s jurisdiction;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
- THAT the Regional District of the Central Okanagan officially declare a climate emergency for the purposes of identifying and deepening our commitment to protecting our economy, our eco systems, and our community from global warming.
- AND THAT the Regional District of Central Okanagan develop a Regional Emissions Reduction Reserve Fund for the purpose of supporting projects, plans and initiatives that reduce the Regional District’s community wide CO2 emissions to between 50% to 58% below 2010 levels by 2030, and between 94% and 107% below 2010 levels by 2050.
- AND THAT the framework, strategies and actions, and implementation of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan Community Sustainability Action Plan be updated to reflect the target goal, based on the information contained in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, of limiting global warming to 1.5ºC.
- AND THAT media attention is focused on the emergency and offer help and advice to residents and merchants as to how to reduce reuse and recycle and to implement an immediate voluntary ban on single use plastics within the Regional District.
- AND FURTHER THAT correspondence be sent to the Honourable George Heyman, Provincial Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, requesting that the Province reinstate the production of the Community Energy and Emissions Inventory Reports or dedicate grant funding to be used for their creation.