FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 4, 2017 TORONTO’S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AT RISK
Members of Toronto’s climate action community will be at Toronto City Hall at 9:30 am Tuesday morning to press City Council for a target of 80% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050. Council is expected to vote on the City’s Climate Action Plan: TransformTO 2050 Pathway to a Low Carbon Toronto. Children from Thornecliffe Park Public School Gr. 3 classroom who deputed at the Parks and Environment Committee in May with their poem ‘Think of Me’ will also be present.
“We are concerned that the mayor and some councillors intend to strip away elements of TransformTO on the council floor rather than approve the plan in its entirety. Because of its comprehensive, integrated nature, any such political meddling will result in a water downed plan incapable of producing the emission reduction targets that are in keeping with Toronto's international commitments. “ said Rosemary Boissonneau, Vice-Chair of ClimateFast.
Rosemary Boissonneau and Sharon Howarth of ClimateFast will present a total of 2000 signatures in support of the plan. ‘What’s not to love about this plan? It will bring thousands of jobs into the city and do our part for a livable climate for the future.” said Howarth. ‘Many cities have already committed to completely de-carbonize by 2050. Yet our Mayor has not committed even to 80% reduction in GHGs by 2050 which is the absolute minimum we must achieve.’
“The time to act is now” said Boissonneau citing rapidly rising temperatures: “Canada is 1.7 C warmer than in 1948 and we only have Three years to safeguard our Climate according to a recently released study.”
Also present will be Catherine Abreu, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada.
“Cities are where future possibilities are made tangible realities. Urban areas represent 70% of energy-related global emissions - for this reason and so many more, they’re at the centre of converging global frameworks like the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the New urban Agenda.
Toronto is a global leader on a variety of fronts; it’s time Canada’s largest city join New York, Stockholm, Vancouver, and others by committing to precedent-setting climate action.” - Catherine Abreu, Executive Director, Climate Action Network Canada
On February 13th the Thorncliffe Park students delivered Valentine's for Climate Action to the Mayor and to Councillor Burnside (to their offices at City Hall). Some of their Valentines can be seen at: www.climatefast.ca/carbonfreeTO. This will be their third visit to City Hall for climate action. Students say: ‘Think of us – stop changing the climate!’
Rosemary Boissonneau, 416-436-0482 Vice-Chair ClimateFast, climatefast.ca/carbonfreeTO
Catherine Abreu +1 902 412 8953 Executive Director, Climate Action Network Canada: climateactionnetwork.ca
Teacher James Snetsinger: 647-280-0807
For more information:
www.climatefast.ca/carbonfreeTO
CHILDREN’S ACTIONS: www.climatefast.ca/valentines-tea-mayor (video) Children Join Growing Call to Fund TransformTO! http://www.climatefast.ca/sites/default/files/files/Children%20Call%20Out.mp4
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