Do more to fight climate change: Alliance
The Peterborough Alliance for Climate Action is protesting the new federal plan to reduce emissions by 45 per cent, saying that it’s not enough, and has left a letter at MP Maryam Monsef’s office hoping to meet with her.
The alliance has been trying to meet with Monsef since Feb. 19 to discuss why the government should increase rebates on electric vehicles and how that may help them reach their targets, but it wasn’t able to secure a meeting. On Thursday, members gathered outside Monsef’s Bethune Street office, despite the provincial ban on organized outside gatherings, to deliver the letter.
Tricia Clarkson, the alliance’s co-chair, had hoped to get the information in front of Monsef before the federal budget came out so she would be able to take it to Ottawa with her as she had done in the past.
“Because we didn’t get the meeting, it didn’t get in,” said Clarkson. “Time is of the essence when it comes to climate change, every year they miss opportunities, deadlines and targets, it’s a year wasted.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada would be looking to reduce emissions 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 in an international climate summit on Earth Day, falling short of U.S. President Joe Biden’s pledge to reduce it by 50 per cent.
Clarkson says that Trudeau’s plan isn’t enough and that even reducing emissions by 50 per cent only gives them a 50 per
cent chance at reaching their targets, citing climate activist Greta Thunberg’s UN speech from 2019.
“I think the reason can’t do they can’t do it is because (Canada’ government) is still so heavily invested in oil,” said Clarkson. “The absolute minimum is 50 per cent.”
The City of Peterborough declared a climate emergency on Sept. 23, 2019.
Clarkson hopes residents will begin emailing representatives for a stronger plan for electric buses and other modes of transportation as well as making buses smaller and turning them into an on-demand service to cut down on unnecessary travel. She’s also looking for the city to start an anti-idling campaign to draw attention to the twominute idling bylaw that came into effect in 2008.
“Ask each level of government what they did last year and what they plan to do next year annually to reduce their targets and provide a plan on how they’ll do it,” said Clarkson. “That’s what a lot people don’t know.”