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CEA in the News |
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'This is the time for Windsor to act.' Climate change emergency declared Brian Cross - Windsor Star / November 19, 2019 Windsor city council has declared a climate change emergency, acknowledging the dramatic degradations already happening and a worsening future if things aren’t improved. In a unanimous vote, councillors passed a motion Monday that starts off with the daunting statement that globally, carbon emissions must be reduced by 45 per cent over the next 12 years (keeping the rise in average global temperature at 1.5C) in order to “maintain a climate compatible with human civilization.” Climate change, the motion says, will harm the local economy, damage infrastructure and property, and put a “significant” economic and health burden on all people in Windsor-Essex County, particularly the most vulnerable. The standard definition of an emergency is a situation where people or property are put in a danger of major proportions that could result in serious harm, said Derek Coronado, co-ordinator of Citizens Environment Alliance, one of several delegates speaking Monday night. The City of Windsor already has many good plans and policies dealing with climate change, including its community emergency plan, climate change adaptation plan and active transportation plan, he said. “But Windsor needs to go further and faster in its efforts to mitigate emissions and build resilience.” The motion directs city administrators to quickly prepare reports with recommendations for priority actions to combat climate change, along with implementation measures and cost estimates “to accelerate and urgently work towards the reduction of emissions and preparing for our climate future.” About 468 Canadian jurisdictions have already made declarations. In Windsor, the effect of climate change is being felt already, according to the motion, which comes from the Windsor Essex County Environment Committee. It has already been approved by the Essex Region Conservation Authority and goes to Essex County Council on Wednesday. Locally, there’s been: overland flooding; heavy rain events including three major one-in-100-year storms in 2010, 2016 and 2017 that caused an estimated $400 million damage; emergence of invasive species; an increasing number of high heat days; a rising number of vector-borne diseases and harmful algae blue-green algae blooms in our lakes. ERCA has issued flood watch notices for 175 days so far this year, and had to delay planting 20,000 trees due to wet conditions, noted Claire Sanders, ERCA’s climate change specialist. “The declaration speaks to the urgent action as well as the partnership and leadership needed to ensure our region continues to be a place for life, for us, for our children and our grandchildren.” “This is the time for Windsor to act,” said Adrian Halpert from Windsor Law Cities and Climate Action Forum. His colleague Sharath Voleti said: “The declaration is the next step in addressing the climate emergency, improving the quality of life for Windsor residents and making sure Windsor is a desirable market in the decades to come.” They cited a poll that showed 77 per cent of Canadians want to see action on climate change in their community. Mayor Drew Dilkens said when he looked at the two-page declaration, he was reminded of the many efforts the city is already making, including a sewer master plan that will end up costing $500 million to fully implement in the coming decades to prevent the catastrophic flooding that occurred in 2016 and 2017. The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy recently gave Windsor an A grade for its climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, the mayor noted. “I think (the declaration) will just cement in the minds of folks that we are committed to it and will continue moving forward finding ways for the City of Windsor to be more resilient.” Councillors Fred Francis and Jo-Anne Gignac both stated that when it comes to climate change, Windsor needs neighbouring communities — especially Detroit — to do their part too. Gignac said Windsor has taken important steps over the last several years. “I think it’s important that we very clearly state we want to be responsible, that we want to make choices that are healthy for our community,” she said, adding that we also must recognize that we live across the river from Zug Island and other major manufacturing centres. She recalled that as a child she used to swim in the Detroit River in the summer and skated on it in winter. Pollution has made both those activities impossible, she said. “Until we can get the co-operation of our neighbours across the river … that is a critical goal we have to work towards.” © Copyright (c) Windsor Star |