Bolder municipal climate change targets approved by Ottawa committee

The city's environment committee today voted to setstiffer greenhouse gas emission targets, a move the committee chair said is supported by federal environment minister, Catherine McKenna.

Members also signaledthat a name change tothe "Environment and Climate Protection Committee" should be considered during an upcomingcitygovernance review.

Moreover, approval of his motion is meant to send a message to the public that the city takes tackling climate change veryseriously, saidCoun. DavidChernushenko.

"We care. We are acting. We have adopted a very audacious goal because that is what we need to do and because we're hearing that from so many voters and people we represent," saidChernushenko.

Until now, the city's approachhad been lukewarm, he said.

Most councillors willing to aim high for climate change targets

ScottMoffattwas the solecouncillorat environment committee to vote againstChernushenko'smotion, because he said he wanted goals set to beachievable. The others said they were willing to set loftygoals or "fail trying" asCoun. CatherineMcKenneyput it.

Chernushenko'smotion aims to lower greenhouse gas emissionsproduced within city limitsto80 per cent below 2012 levels by 2050.

The city's air quality management strategy, passed in 2014, set a target of reducing emissions by 20% below2012 levelsby 2024.

"There is no question that no matter how ambitious and bold thetarget we set,we have to then have the process to follow up and do it," said Chernushenko.

Public presenters strongly supportclimate change action

A dozen people told the committee they supported the motion.

For Ecology Ottawa, leadership on climate change matters more thanemissions targets.

"I think this represents a new phase. The stars are aligning to somedegree," said GrahamSaulof Ecology Ottawa.

"If you live in Ottawa, your citygovernment, your provincial governmentand yourfederal government all say that they care about taking action on climate change, which means now is the moment for peoplewho care about this issue to demandthey follow through on that."

Saulcredited leadership on the environment committeeand said Mayor Jim Watson has also shown he cares about the issue.

The city can help needkeep global temperatures from rising by buildingcompact communities connected by transit, he said.

It should also insistthat buildings be built to higher standards, and enableexisting buildings to be retrofitted so they're more energy efficient, Saul added.

The climate change motion passed by the environment committee is expected to go to full city council next week.