Climate Change

At the February 10, 2020 Regular meeting of Council, Stratford City Council adopted the following Climate Emergency Declaration:

Whereas climate change is currently contributing to billions of dollars in property and infrastructure damage worldwide, stressing local and international economies;

Whereas climate change is currently jeopardizing the health and survival of many species and other natural environments worldwide, stressing local and international eco systems;

Whereas climate change is currently harming human populations through rising sea levels and other extraordinary phenomena like intense wildfires worldwide, stressing local and international communities;

Whereas recent international research has indicated a need for massive reduction in carbon emissions in the next 10 years to avoid further and devastating economic, ecological, and societal loss;

Whereas the climate in Canada is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world, as per Canada’s Changing Climate report;

Whereas an emergency can be defined as "an often dangerous situation requiring immediate action";

Whereas municipalities such as Kingston, Vancouver, London and Hamilton have already declared climate emergencies;

Therefore, a climate emergency be declared by the City of Stratford for the purposes of naming, framing, and deepening our commitment to protecting our economy, our eco systems, and our community from climate change.”

• it being noted that the above-noted Declaration is not intended to invoke the City of Stratford’s Emergency Response Plan or to interfere with the responsibilities and  power delegated to the Mayor to declare or to terminate a local emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, 1990;

it being further noted that a climate emergency is distinct from the kinds of emergencies contemplated under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, 1990, as it is a global emergency with impacts extending beyond Stratford.