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A coalition of Winnipeg environmental and community organizations is calling on municipal election candidates to commit to a 10-point platform aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for the effects of climate change.
The coalition, led by the Climate Reality Project Canada, released what it called the “people’s climate mandate” Wednesday.
Priorities include funding the city’s climate action plan, making buildings more energy efficient and protecting people from extreme heat.
The group says the platform was developed through a town hall, an online survey and consultations involving more than 200 people and 24 organizations.
The city’s carbon emissions have continued to rise year over year despite a commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Hannah Muhajarine, campaign manager with Climate Reality Project Canada, said the group wants to make climate change part of the conversation in the Oct. 28 election.
“We’re here today as Winnipeg approaches another municipal election, one that will take us until 2030, a crucial climate deadline by which we must cut emissions in half to avoid the worst climate impacts,” she said during a media event.
WATCH | Coalition unveils election climate mandate:
Winnipeg climate groups unveil 10-point election platform
A coalition of Winnipeg community and environmental groups is calling on city election candidates to commit to 10 priorities aimed at reducing emissions and preparing for the effects of climate change.
Muhajarine says many of the recommendations come from city plans that the coalition wants the next council to fund and implement.
The coalition sent a survey to registered candidates asking where they stand on each of its 10 priorities. It plans to publish the first round of responses later this month.
Reducing emissions, adapting
One of the recommendations is for Winnipeg to consider a maximum indoor temperature bylaw, similar to existing requirements for minimum indoor temperatures during cold weather.
Family doctor Ann Loewen of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment said extreme heat is already having consequences for people’s health.
Dr. Ann Loewen, a family doctor and member of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, says Winnipeg needs to adopt a maximum internal temperature bylaw to protect people from extreme heat. (Cameron MacLean/CBC)
“With our current circumstances, heat is far more deadly than cold,” Loewen said.
The plan calls for more cooling centres, expanded library hours, and investments in public pools and spray pads.
Another major focus is keeping organic waste out of the Brady Road landfill.
The city has been working on a plan to turn methane captured at the landfill into renewable natural gas through a partnership with Integrated Gas Recovery Services.
Michael Gordichuk, solid waste manager for the City of Winnipeg, says a plan to capture and sell landfill methane as renewable natural gas has stalled, partly due to trouble finding a buyer.
Renewable natural gas can cost significantly more than conventional natural gas, and producers in the United States benefit from government subsidies not available in Canada, he said.
“The U.S. ramped up their game…. So, for producers of RNG gas down in the U.S., they’re being heavily incentivized to produce the gas at a much cheaper cost than what we can in Canada.”
While Gordichuk says the city is still working with Integrated Gas Recovery Services to find potential buyers, Muhajarine says the coalition instead wants Winnipeg to move ahead with its residential composting program and expand it beyond single-family homes to include multi-unit buildings.
Mayoral candidates respond
Mayoral candidate Don Woodstock said he supports environmental action but questioned why the coalition needs candidates to commit to its platform, pointing to his past environmental advocacy.
He says he would prioritize electrifying Winnipeg Transit’s bus fleet.
Scott Gillingham, the incumbent mayoral candidate, said his administration has already taken steps on climate change and the environment, including beginning construction on the North End sewage treatment plant upgrades, increasing tree planting, expanding walking and cycling infrastructure, and adding zero-emission buses to the transit fleet.
A spokesperson for Kevin Klein, a former city councillor and Manitoba environment and climate minister who has announced he’s running for mayor, said his campaign is currently developing its climate change platform. Its approach will balance environmental action and economic goals, the spokesperson said.
CBC News asked for comment from Mike Vogiatzakis’s campaign but did not receive a response.