City’s greenhouse gas reduction plan is failing, miserably

When city council unanimously agreed to adopt a greenhouse gas emission plan in December of 2020, it appeared to be just talk, as the City has not only, not followed the plan but the numbers are on the rise.

In 2022, the City produced approximately 11,363.55 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) and cost the City approximately $7,960,092.30 in energy and fuel costs.

City buildings are producing 23 per cent more emissions now, as compared to 2017.

City fleet and equipment are producing 2 per cent more emissions, as compared to 2017.

City water and sewage systems are producing 11 per cent more emissions, as compared to 2017.

But the worst of all factors is City outdoor lighting, which is up 49 per cent as compared to 2017.

Last year’s attempt to look into a light pollution by-law was considered a joke to many and was not approved by council, but with this new evidence, city council may want to change their minds.

So instead of a yearly reduction, greenhouse emissions are rising about 2 per cent per year with City properties and equipment.

Retrofits that the City have done has only accounted for a 0.09 per cent reduction in emissions, which is far away from the 1 per cent reduction that the City agreed to.

On December 14, 2020, city council unanimously approved the Sault Ste. Mare GHG Reduction Plan and adopted a 10 per cent corporate and 5 per cent community emission reduction target by 2030.

Basically, if the City is serious about hitting the marks that it agreed to, the Environmental Sustainability Committee, who prepared these numbers, says the City needs a roadmap and plan.