Tell the City that 2.2% for Climate Action is a dismal failure.
While in a climate emergency, the City committed to establish interim climate targets for the entire community in 2021. To date, only 2.2% of emissions have been addressed. And nothing has been brought to the public or council to complete this critical part of our Community Energy Initiative (CEI).
Other communities are way ahead of us and our City is ignoring over 97% of our emissions. This is a dismal failure.
Eleven of the 13 council members said “yes” to the following asked during the municipal election:
“Will you as a (Councillor or Mayor) commit to implementing interim climate change targets for greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reductions that:
- Include all of the GHG pollution throughout the city – not just the corporation of the City of Guelph
- Establish the targets to land in the 3rd year of each 4 year term of city council?”
To date, neither City staff or Council have come forward with a plan to get this done.
Tell the City that 2.2% for Climate Action is a dismal failure.
Background:
In 2021 Guelph City Council committed to establish interim climate change targets by June of 2022. When the targets were released in the report (Cities Race-to-Zero Four-Year Interim Targets) it ignored 97% of the GHG pollution in the city.
Instead, the report set targets for only 2.2% of all ghg emissions in the city.
Guelph is now falling behind municipalities across the country that are effectively working with all sectors of their communities to fight climate change aggressively while increasing local economic activity.
Many pieces of the report remain unclear.
The City did well to clarify the responsibility of the Corporation of the City of Guelph (corporate) in climate action. However, failed to include the rest of the community (community) that makes up more than 97% of city-wide GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions. (Note: 2020 Total Community GHG emissions = 775,887 tonnes CO2 equivalent. “Corporate” refers only to the “Corporation of the City of Guelph”)
Moreover, the city did not show how the money will be allocated to reach net-zero by 2050 (or sooner). The report itself stated that capital and operating budgets are required to reduce corporate and community GHG emissions. However, specific mention of climate change mitigation (prevention) and budgeting was not discussed.
Also missing was any discussion of equity, diversity, and inclusion, which they also pledged to do under the Cities Race to Zero decision.
The language used within the report suggests that community GHG reduction is the responsibility of “broader community stakeholders.” And yet, according to the Guelph Community Energy Initiative:
“The responsibility of public authorities to be fully engaged with the goals of the community cannot be overestimated.”
Managing the community’s energy future and addressing climate change are foundational to the day-to-day work of the municipality.
The City has also acknowledged that we are in a climate emergency.
A recent update to the Cities Race to Zero criteria stated that cities committing to net-zero must include “all scopes of emissions” within their interim and long-term targets.
Why should targets fall in the 3rd year of the 4 year City Council terms?
By placing target dates in the 3rd year of council terms, they have had enough time to understand the targets, make changes to accelerate GHG emission reductions and still have a 4th year in which to also impact climate change in their term of office.
Other Background:
City of Guelph 2021 Sustainability Report.
______________
Take Action Now!
Tell the City that 2.2% for Climate Action is a dismal failure.
Consider making these points to City Council
- since making a commitment in 2021 the City has established interim targets for 2.2% of climate emissions. That’s a dismal failure by any measure.
- Council has acknowledged that we are in a climate emergency and yet critical policy like interim targets for the other 97% emissions are still nowhere to be seen.
- they must report annually on how we are progressing on all aspects of climate change not just the 2.2% of emsions
- urge Council to establish interim climate targets imediately
Note: Ward boundaries changed in October 2022. If you need to confirm the Ward that you live in enter your address in the upper left corner of this map
