Winnipeg councillors approve environmental strategies

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/09/2009 (5891 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — City council has approved a plan to cut Winnipeg’s corporate greenhouse-gas emissions and also launch a community-wide climate-change plan.

Council voted unanimously to cut the emissions from city buildings, vehicles and other facilities by 20 per cent over the next decade and begin consultations to get all Winnipeg homeowners, businesses and other institutions to reduce their emissions as well.

Fort Rouge Coun. Jenny Gerbasi tried to amend the community plan to add a hard target of a six per cent emission reduction from 1990 levels by 2012. Her motion was defeated 10-6, as Mayor Sam Katz and several councillors said community consultation is required to set a realistic timeline.

On paper, the city cut its corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent between 1998 and 2007, but a large chunk of that cut was achieved by selling Winnipeg Hydro and wiping its emissions off the city’s books.