Edmundston council adopts declaration of climate emergency

A northwestern New Brunswick city council has declared a climate emergency, a move the mayor says is a call to action.

Edmundstoncouncil on Tuesdayjoined Halifax and Vancouver in making a declarationto fight climate change.

MayorCyrilleSimard said the declaration, which calls for accelerating the shift to greener forms of energy, reflects the impact climate change is already having on the community.

"We see the impact on the ground, we see the cost of that," he said, pointing totorrential rains,flooding that's worse and more frequent, andinvasive species.

He pointed to rain in the winter that results in more ice, which the mayor said has led to increased maintenance costs.

Simardsaid thethe declaration won't bejust symbolic. He said itwill be reflected in things like city policies, long-term planning and purchases.

"We can adapt to it so much, but it's getting to a critical stage right now," he said, referring to a recent UN report that warned of dire consequences from an increase of half a degree in temperature.

The move is one he hopes other municipalities follow to bring more attention to the issue. The declaration follows a campaign from Australia that calls on people to reach out to their councillorsin support of a Citizens' Universal Declaration of Climate Emergency.

Simard said he's not aware of any other New Brunswick municipalities that have passed such a declaration.

A group of schoolchildren inQuispamsis called on that town's council earlier this month to make a similar declaration.

Declaration requested in Quispamsis

Quispamsis Coun.Emil Olsensaid the town doesn't sign onto such declarations, but he pointed to a number of steps the community has already taken.

"I'd like to think we're one of the progressive ones," he said.

Olsen pointed to theqplexas an example of the town's efforts. The arena and pool complex uses a geothermal system for heating pool water, collects grey water for use on the rink and has waterless urinals in washrooms.

Other moves include purchasing hybrid vehicles instead of those using gasoline.He said the town purchased an electricZamboniinstead of one that uses propane. While better for the environment, he said it wasalso more expensive.

Olsen, chair of the town's climate change committee, says the town has spent millions in various ways on its climate-change efforts.

Simard said communities must strike a balance between the cost of taking steps to reduce or adapt to climate changeand the long-term impact of climate change.