A Report to Peterborough Council

Climate Change Action Plan 2.0 Update, Report PKLCLEI24-002. A report to provide Council with community feedback on the Climate Change Action Plan 2.0 – Pathway to Net Zero project.

Peterborough and Kawartha Local Council on Local Environmental Initiatives

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To: Mayor and Members Council of the City of Peterborough

From: Maggie Braun, Ecosystems Management Technologist, Representing the Peterborough and Kawartha` Local Council on Local Environmental Initiatives (PKLCLE)

Meeting Date: Date: April 10, 2024

Agenda Item: Climate Change Action Plan 2.0 Update,  Report IPGACP24-003. A report to provide Council with community feedback on the Climate Change Action Plan 2.0 – Pathway to Net Zero project.

A Report in Response to this Action Item:  Report PKLCLEI24-002 has been prepared. A report to provide Council with community feedback on the Climate Change Action Plan 2.0 – Pathway to Net Zero project.

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Background

In 2016, the City Council approved the Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) after developing it in partnership with Sustainable Peterborough and ICLEI-Canada. “The CCAP is Peterborough's foundational climate change strategy to mitigate corporate and community GHG emissions. The CCAP identified 21 strategies that would limit the growth of GHG emissions by 30% by 2031 from 2011 baseline levels."  According to Sustainable Peterborough's Strategic Plan this NGO is focused on "implementing and tracking progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals" in our community created the Climate Change Action Plan 2.0. 

The Peterborough and Kawarthas` Local Council on Local Environmental Initiatives

The Peterborough and Kawarthas` Local Council on Local Environmental Initiatives was created to ensure that any sustainable development policies proposed do not infringe or restrict Canadian way of life, such as property ownership, single-family homes, private car ownership, individual travel choices, and privately owned farms. This is necessary to protect and preserve the Canadian way of life from any potential infringement.

Community Feedback

According to Climate Change Action Plan 2.0 Update,  Report IPGACP24-003. A report to provide Council with community feedback on the Climate Change Action Plan 2.0 – Pathway to Net Zero project, the City of Peterborough recently collected community feedback on the CCAP 2.0 project page. A total of 381 individuals viewed the page and 55 of them provided feedback through a survey. The city also conducted a phone survey over five months, which resulted in 500 responses. The report should indicate whether the collected feedback was in favor of approving CCAP 2.0, and if so, what were the main reasons for their support.

PKLCLEI Community Feedback

In comparison, on April 8, 2024, the page for Gather 2030 PKGN Recommendations Opposed to CCAP 2.0 received 350 views in 6.5 hours. 101 poll responses, 45 signatories, 30 council meeting attendees, and 2 delegates were collected during this period. Clearly, a significant number of residents are opposed to net zero plans and policies being implemented and endorsed by the City of Peterborough Council.

Delegations to Peterborough Council April 10, 2024

Peterborough's Declaration of Climate Emergency

“City Council declared a climate emergency that expressed support for greatly accelerating timelines for introducing climate actions and to consider new actions and proposals to significantly lower GHG emissions. In the declaration, Council identified the need to achieve a target of 45% GHG emission reduction by 2030 below 2011 levels and net-zero by 2050. The enhanced targets and timelines are now aligned with the latest climate science that supports holding global temperatures to 2 degrees C or below.”

In the context of the United Nations' struggle to regain credibility, the council's decision to declare a climate emergency in Peterborough carries significant weight. The U.N.'s goal to 'rebuild trust' by 2024 is a challenging one, particularly when radical statements have exacerbated the situation. The council's approach must be measured and evidence-based to avoid further erosion of public trust.

The U.N. climate chief's alarmist statement on April 10, 2024, urging immediate action on climate change, has had a profound impact on public perception. Such statements, while intended to spur action, can also instill fear and anxiety, particularly among the younger generation already grappling with mental health issues. A more balanced, less fear-inducing approach is necessary to restore public trust.

It's essential to underline the detrimental effects of fear-mongering and emotional manipulation on public trust. These tactics do not contribute to instilling trust in the organization or addressing the loss of hope in humanity's future. A rational and evidence-based approach, the very approach we urge the council to adopt, is the way forward.

This is something the council should consider by declaring a state of climate emergency in Peterborough. The council should not use its powers to declare emergencies to galvanize public opinion. In doing so, the council will not win the people's trust.

Our strong recommendation to the council to revoke the Declaration of Climate Emergency for Peterborough is rooted in the importance of an evidence-based approach. This approach is not only crucial for restoring public trust but also for demonstrating the council's commitment to transparency and accountability. It is a step towards a more balanced and informed decision-making process. 

Tennessee Prohibits Agenda 21, Agenda 2030 and Net Zero  Implementation

It has been reported that Tennessee recently passed a bill, which can be found in the appendix, to prevent the state and its political subdivisions from adopting or implementing policy recommendations that can be traced back to Agenda 21. Agenda 21 was adopted by the United Nations in 1992 at its Conference on Environment and Development, and it includes the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN's proposal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Other local, state, and federal resolutions against Agenda 21/ICLEI can be found in this article. Two companion bills have been introduced into the U.S. House and Senate to remove the United States from the United Nations and World Health Organization. 

Saskatchewan Says No to Net Zero

In March 2024, the Saskatchewan Rural Council reported that 95% of rural municipalities in Saskatchewan passed a resolution officially stating that CO2 is not a pollutant. As a result, they will no longer endorse any Net Zero CO2 policies for 2050 since these policies have caused undue hardship for their communities and economy.

Following Science

The PKG Network has determined there needs to be more scientific evidence to justify the property tax increases and municipal expenditures of GHG reduction targets and action plans aimed at achieving near zero CO2 emissions by 2050. It's crucial to approach environmental policies with caution and skepticism, considering the lack of scientific evidence.

• Only 0.3% of published scientists state in their papers that recent warming is primarily man-made.

• CO2 makes up just 0.04% of the Earth's atmosphere.

• CO2 is not a pollutant; it's the basis of all life on Earth. 

• C02 is plant food, promoting growth in the global plant biomass and increasing the yields of crops worldwide.

• Canada is a carbon sink, with 60% of our geography covered by the Boreal forest, which absorbs more than double the CO2 as tropical forests per acre. 

• Despite the energy requirement of living in a large, cold country, Canada contributes only 1.6% to the total man-made CO2 emissions.

See the article on Climate 101 for more scientific facts and references.

Who is Responsible for Endorsing and Implementing GHG Reduction, Net Zero Programs

The PKG Network has determined that according to the Partners for Climate Protection GHG Reduction program, the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities accept no responsibility for this net zero program. Net zero policies may effect property ownership, single-family homes, private car ownership, individual travel choices, and privately owned farms and further cost:

• councils' time on lobbyists' aims, which may deprioritize local concerns

• staff hours, resources and fees

• public funds and assets 

• rural population growth

• mobility and privacy rights

• water and property rights, and

• threats to food and energy security.

Council is Responsible for Endorsing and Implementing GHG Reduction, Net Zero Programs

The PKG Network has determined that participation in sustainable development/net zero programs is voluntary, and at any time the Council of the Corporation of the City of Peterborough can leave, cancel and revoke the following:

• Partners for Climate Protection Program (PCP)

• Sustainable Peterborough 

• Climate Change Action Plan CCAP 2.0

• Greenup Peterborough partnership

• Declaration of Climate Emergency

THEREFORE WE RECOMMEND 

 The Council rescinded the Climate Emergency Declaration and presented a composed and practical environmental protection strategy emphasizing on local ventures and constructive community schemes to the public. 

The Council of the City of Peterborough should reconsider Report CSD16-031, Adoption of the Climate Change GHG Reduction Targets and Action Plans, December 12, 2016, and communicate to Sustainable Peterborough the cancellation of its partnership with its organization. This recommendation is based on the belief that the current targets and action plans are not feasible and may lead to unintended consequences, and that the Council's participation in sustainable development/net zero programs is not in the best interest of the city.

The Council of the City of Peterborough should reconsider its participation in the PCP program, which began in 2000. By doing so, the Council can redirect its resources and efforts towards more pressing local concerns, potentially improving the quality of life for its residents. The Council should also communicate to FCM and ICLEI Canada the cancellation of its membership in the PCP Program, thereby freeing up additional resources for local initiatives.  

Submitted by: Maggie Braun, Ecosystems Management Technologist, Representing the Peterborough and Kawartha` Local Council on Local Environmental Initiatives (PKLCLE)

Phone: **********

Email: gather2030@protonmail.com

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