Thunder Bay council gives the thumbs up to the Race to Zero campaign.
The motion brought forward Monday by Current River councillor Andrew Foulds includes a pledge to reduce emissions by 55 per cent based off of 2016 levels by 2030 by following the pathway outlined in the Net Zero Strategy
“It’s going to cost us a little bit up front, but what will it save us down the road,” Foulds asked rhetorically. “As we insulate our buildings more, we’re saving money on heating and electricity, so there is economic benefit as well.”
The plan also aims to pilot test and procure zero emissions buses by 2025, as well as:
- Publicly endorse the recognition of the global climate emergency
- Keep global heating below the 1.5° Celsius goal of the Paris Agreement
- Put inclusive climate action at the center of all urban decision-making
- A pledge to reach net-zero by mid-century at the latest
- Develop a roadmap to achieve net-zero carbon municipal buildings and policy approval by 2025 to deliver a commitment to own, occupy, and develop net zero carbon municipal assets by 2030
Council was presented with the Net Zero Strategy on June 7th.
The strategy had a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050.
