Calgary city council is scheduled to debate dropping some of its policies designed to reduce the impact of services on the environment. The guiding policy, called the climate emergency declaration, was first passed in 2021 as the first motion by then-mayor Jyoti Gondek after her election win. It meant all city departments had to consider climate impacts and explore emissions reduction opportunities for most projects, with a goal to be net-zero by 2050. Now, the new council under Mayor Jeromy Farkas will consider a pair of motions to rescind the emergency declaration. “The declaration of a ‘climate emergency’ has been criticized as largely symbolic, while committing the city to significant long-term expenditures and organizational changes, without corresponding clarity on measurable benefits or alignment with core municipal responsibilities,” reads one motion, put forth by Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot. Chabot’s motion, if passed, would see administration move forward with an audit of all climate-related spending. According to Chabot, the city’s climate and environmental department had a $26 million operating budget and a $22.7 million in capital funding in 2025, but climate-related spending across all departments is expected to exceed $214 million this year. Ward 14 Coun. Landon Johnston’s motion calls the climate emergency declaration “symbolic” and if passed, would see the city scrap references to the climate emergency declaration from all plans, communications and websites. Both notices of motion passed a committee meeting earlier this month, but a full debate is expected in council chambers Tuesday.
