The City of Burnaby has joined several other Metro Vancouver municipalities in declaring a climate emergency.

In a statement, the city said it will be directing staff to develop a plan with the goal of reaching carbon-neutrality by 2050.

The city has also committed to new targets for reducing emissions: a 45 per cent reduction by 2030 and 75 per cent reduction by 2040.

"Transitioning to carbon neutrality will enhance our environmental health, resilience and sustainability," said Mayor Mike Hurley in a statement Monday.

<a href="https://twitter.com/CityofBurnaby?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CityofBurnaby</a> council joins more than 250 local governments across the nation in declaring Climate Emergency and commits to being carbon neutral by 2050. <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorofBurnaby?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MayorofBurnaby</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jameswangbcndp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jameswangbcndp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/burnabypietro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@burnabypietro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ColleenEJordan1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ColleenEJordan1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MetroVancouver?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MetroVancouver</a> —@BurnabySav

A group of Burnaby residents and activists calling themselves the Force of Nature alliance gathered at city hall to celebrate the decision.

In a statement, they urged the city to adopt initiatives such as better walking and cycling infrastructure, encouraging more frequent public transit and more energy-efficient homes.

Since the beginning of 2019, the municipalities of Vancouver, Richmond, New Westminster, Port Moody, West Vancouver and both the city and district of North Vancouver have also declared climate emergencies.