West Nipissing council wants to adopt a Climate Change Emergency Declaration resolution.
Councillor Chris Fisher says if it happens soon, the municipality could be the first community in Northern Ontario to have such a resolution in place.
Fisher explained to his council colleague that climate change is a very serious matter and if nothing is done it will kill everyone on the planet.
He says many Quebec communities have adopted the Emergency Declaration and in Ontario, both Hamilton and Kingston also have the resolution.
Fisher adds Sudbury is currently working on its resolution.
Fisher says experts warn that Northern Ontario will feel the effects of climate change much more than Southern Ontario will.
He says emissions have to be cut by half by 2030 and down to zero emissions by 2050 but adds many countries aren’t even close to this target.
Fisher says everyone faces this emergency and West Nipissing has a chance to stand up and be counted by creating its resolution.
He also says the resolution is not intended to hurt industry.
Everyone on council was on board with the idea and suggestions were made on what the resolution could include.
Mayor Joanne Savage said if council adopted the resolution, the goals would have to be measurable.
Suggestions included expanding the recycling program, planting more trees and encouraging more use of renewable energy.
There was also a suggestion that when council attends the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa in August, Fisher should speak to the Minister of the Environment about what West Nipissing is trying to do and to encourage other communities to follow suit.
Staff will examine the resolutions of other municipalities and come back to council with a climate change resolution that can work for the municipality.
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