Environmental advocates urge city council to increase Kingston’s greenhouse gas reduction goal from 30% to 50%

Story by Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist, for the Local Journalism Initiative.

At tonight’s city council meeting, councilors will be deciding whether the city will be moving forward with more aggressive greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, or delaying the decision for another year.

The current goal is a reduction of 30% below levels from 2018 by 2030, but tonight’s meeting could see that target raised to 50% by 2030. 

City staff have suggested that councilors choose to delay the decision in order to allow more time to gather information to more effectively assess the situation in 2025.

This decision also comes after the announcement at the last regularly scheduled meeting that Kingston fell short of its 15% reduction target from the 2018 base year.

In the report presented to council, it was stated, “This shortfall underscores the substantial efforts and challenges that lie ahead to meet the City’s GHG reduction goals from 2022 to 2040.”

However, citizens are urging councilors to reject the call for delay.

Leading up to the meeting, Seniors for Climate Action Now! and 350 Kingston submitted an open letter addressing the topic, co-signed by 10 other organizations and businesses, as well as over 170 individuals. 

In the letter, they state, “It is clear that the city must redouble its efforts, and allocate the necessary funds and resources to contribute our fair share towards a safe climate future. There is no time to delay.”

Included in this evening's delegations will be citizens sharing their concerns and urging councilors to pass a motion directing staff to immediately adopt a stronger corporate GHG reduction target of 50% below 2018 levels by 2030.

Supporters in attendance at the meeting plan to wear face masks with the phrase “later is too late” printed on them, in reference to the wildfires that left Kingston in a haze throughout the summer of 2023.