Brampton council joined a growing list of communities across the province and country in declaring a climate emergency during its June 5 meeting.

Council voted unanimously in favour of a motion tabled by Wards 1 and 5 Coun. Rowena Santos to declare the emergency, while aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated in the city by 80 per cent by 2050.

“The (motion) makes a commitment that the City of Brampton declares a climate emergency in the city and take action,” said Santos, adding the lengthy motion took a week to prepare with input from city staff and community stakeholders.

“Addressing climate change requires us to think globally but act locally,” she added.

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In addition to the official declaration and setting long-term targets for the city, the motion also acknowledges existing and ongoing efforts by the city and previous councils to tackle the climate change file.

According to Santos, at least 35 other Canadian cities including Ottawa, Kingston, Vancouver, Burlington, London, St. Catharines and Hamilton have also declared climate emergencies.

Council debated and tweaked the motion for the better part of an hour, placing more emphasis on education and including community partners like Sheridan College, school boards and the business community in planning and implementing better green policies and technologies.

“I think there is a broad consensus across this table that we take climate change seriously,” said Mayor Patrick Brown. “How can we say climate change is a threat and not offer a response?”

Members of council will receive a staff report with recommendations in 2020 on how the city can best move forward to achieve its new emissions targets.

Prior to its vote on the matter, council heard a presentation from Shailly Prajapati, a student from Harold M. Brathwaite Secondary School in Brampton urging council to act on behalf of the next generation.