‘If not now, when?’: N.B. capital city declares climate emergency

The City of Fredericton has made a climate emergency declaration, signalling the seriousness of the climate crisis, as part of an ongoing effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The City of Fredericton has made a climate emergency declaration.

It was approved at the council’s regular Monday meeting after a small group presented it with a petition signed by 500 people and 12 civil organizations, businesses and faith organizations.

Fredericton is the fourth and final capital city in Atlantic Canada to adopt the declaration.

“It’s just a way for the community to be aware that we are in tune with things that need to change in order to lower greenhouse gas emissions and basically become a better stewardship for the community,” said Kevin Darrah, chair of the environment committee and councillor for Ward 7.

The declaration, according to the wording, “carries with it significant meaning, signalling to the public the city’s acknowledgement of the seriousness and urgency of the climate crisis and a deep commitment to urgently eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by empowering residents and city staff to dramatically lower their carbon footprints by increasing funding and mobilizing resources towards addressing the crisis.”

It was supported by a presentation that began: “If not now, when?”

Darrah agrees and said there is work to be done to help mitigate the risk communities, especially in Atlantic Canada face with respect to climate change.

The federal government made a similar declaration in 2019, but none from the provincial government, as it looks to renew efforts to extract shale gas and invest in small modular reactors research.