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55 LOCAL GROUPS, CHURCHES, UNIONS, AND BUSINESSES ASK LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON CLIMATE ACTION

(Duncan, BC; Monday August 17, 2020) Today 55 local organizations released a letter to the five local governments in the Cowichan-Ladysmith area asking them to follow through on climate action now that systems to address COVID-19 are in place. Last year local governments like Duncan, North Cowichan and the CVRD formally acknowledged the climate emergency. Then the virus hit, and attention shifted accordingly.

North Cowichan is about to engage the public on its latest climate and energy modelling and updated priorities on emissions reductions. You may remember this was also done back in 2013 as part of the municipality’s award-winning Climate Action and Energy Plan.

That plan failed to result in the actions needed to meet its goals. Meanwhile the climate crisis has accelerated to the point where scientists are now warning about the threat to civilization itself. Standing still in North Cowichan or anywhere else is not an option, so this time needs to be different. We must act with the same urgency we’ve done with COVID-19.

Did you know that the CVRD has a climate target? You’d be forgiven if not, since it’s not featured in many places. But there is one: to reduce emissions in the valley 33% below 2007 levels by 2020 and 80% below by 2050. (Science has since moved on to require cutting emissions in half by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2050).