There have been two major high water events in three years locally and Prince Edward County is another municipality stepping up to say they need to be more concerned about climate change.
Following a lengthy discussion at Shire Hall on Thursday afternoon, council is going to reinstate their environmental committee.
Councillor Kate MacNaughton brought forward the motion following similar actions by Kingston, Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal and says she is disappointed council didn’t use the harshest language possible in the motion.
Councillors removed the words ‘climate emergency’ in favour of ‘climate urgency’ in the motion.
Councillor MacNaughton says she is tired of seeing obstruction due to opposition. She said this needs to be something municipalities push from the bottom up because the provincial and federal governments aren’t doing enough.
Kate MacNaughton
She was happy there was some action taken but said she may not be done trying to make sure the motion makes the impact she wants it to.
Council heard from residents who agreed enough isn’t being done to reverse climate change.
One resident is trading in his tractor for oxen, one 27-year-old woman emotionally admitted she is choosing to not have children because of the carbon footprint it would bring.
MacNaughton says her 10-year-old daughter is scared about the environmental devastation we are seeing, hearing and reading about.
Mayor Steve Ferguson says a committee was struck between 2007 and 2010 to address these same issues prior to his time on council, but no actions were ever taken by the committee.
He says this is an important step forward.
Council will now see terms of reference established to help the committee establish their priorities going forward.
