In the past ten years, over 2,000 municipalities worldwide have declared a climate emergency. However, Calgary took a different stance on Wednesday by voting to revoke its climate emergency declaration, which was initially established more than four years ago. The decision came with a 10-5 vote from the city council, led by Ward 14 Coun. Landon Johnston, who emphasized the importance of prioritizing tangible actions over symbolic gestures.
Johnston highlighted that the existing climate action plan in Calgary, predating the emergency declaration, had already made significant progress in areas such as flood mitigation and implementing actionable measures. He emphasized the need to eliminate ineffective policies in favor of practical solutions.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas supported the move to rescind the declaration, labeling it as performative and advocating for a shift towards concrete actions rather than symbolic statements. Farkas stressed the importance of focusing on substantive measures to address climate challenges.
While the city council agreed to create a centralized online platform to track expenses and revenues related to climate initiatives, they rejected a proposal within Johnston’s motion to remove references to the “climate emergency” from official documents and communications.
The decision to rescind the climate emergency declaration received mixed reactions from council members. Coun. Raj Dhaliwal expressed disappointment, emphasizing the need for tangible alternatives to demonstrate the city’s commitment to climate action. He urged for innovative environmental policies to be introduced during budget discussions to uphold the city’s environmental objectives.
City administration assured council that rescinding the declaration would not impede funding or hinder Calgary’s climate strategy implementation. However, officials cautioned that the move could pose a reputational risk as it diverges from the global trend of municipalities acknowledging climate emergencies.
The decision to revoke the climate emergency declaration reflects a shift in Calgary’s approach to climate action, with some councilors advocating for a more practical and action-oriented strategy. The move signifies a departure from the previous council’s stance on the issue and highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the best course of action in addressing climate challenges.