Saskatoon’s greenhouse gas emissions are on the rise, according to a report received by the standing policy committee on environment, utilities and corporate services.
Between 2003-14, overall emissions in Saskatoon climbed, according to the report. Emissions in the community increased by about 12 per cent.
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In delivering services to citizens, the City of Saskatoon’s emissions were up 39 per cent as a corporation.
“We’ve been hearing this story for some time that as we’ve grown and expanded that we have not made as much progress in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions as other cities,” Mayor Charlie Clark said.
Energy consumed by businesses and homes was the largest factor in the increase, followed by transportation, waste, industrial processing and agricultural along with urban forestry.
“If you just look at graphs and charts and all of these things, it can make citizens and the city feel a little bit helpless in making progress,” Clark said. He also noted that the city’s landfill gas collection & power generation system is an example of an successful greenhouse gas reducing initiative.
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An impending federal carbon tax “has the potential to affect emissions, exports and the corporation’s tax obligations,” the administration report reads.
But there are words of caution from Chris Berg, a senior fellow with Australia’s Institute of Public Affairs, which repealed its country’s short-lived carbon tax.
“The idea that Canada would harm itself in order to futilely convince Donald Trump to introduce their own carbon tax is obvious nonsense,” Berg said during a visit to Saskatoon.
The report has three recommendations, which received unanimous support by committee members:
- That the Saskatoon environmental advisory committee be asked to assist in developing a community greenhouse gas reduction target;
- That the administration bring forward a report on an inclusive strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the community; and
- That the City of Saskatoon apply for membership in the international council for local environmental initiatives, including appointing a sponsor from city council.