Kelowna councilsa国际传媒檚 decision to endorse a climate crisis declaration prompted comments of sa国际传媒榶ousa国际传媒檙e all firedsa国际传媒�, sa国际传媒榮hame on yousa国际传媒�, and sa国际传媒榙isgustingsa国际传媒� from protesters during Mondaysa国际传媒檚 (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 sa国际传媒楽top the Climate Crisis Declarationsa国际传媒� and sa国际传媒榃e Need A Public Hearing On This.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檝e heard from our staff that we are not yet meeting provincial and federal greenhouse gas reduction targets,sa国际传媒� Lovegrove said. sa国际传媒淭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.sa国际传媒�

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 sa国际传媒榦ur collective responsibility.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚f we close our eyes and pretend itsa国际传媒檚 not happening, then we are doing our planet a disservice,sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淭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.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淚t seems this is a PR exercise to me,sa国际传媒� said Coun. Rick Webber. sa国际传媒淚 have a hard time seeing changing anybodysa国际传媒檚 mind with it.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淚t isnsa国际传媒檛 true to say itsa国际传媒檚 warming,sa国际传媒� said Cannan.

A comment that drew applause from the protesters.

sa国际传媒淗umans impacting climate is real, a climate emergency is not,sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淚f you look at this scenario, if you look at the AAP, if you look at past and future developmentssa国际传媒�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

sa国际传媒� Brittany Webster (@thebrittwebster)

gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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