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Saskatoon Climate Plan: Net Zero by 2050, But Province Must Act
30 Jul
Summary
- Saskatoon aims for net-zero emissions by 2050.
- Provincial support is crucial for meeting city's climate goals.
- City's climate strategy groups older plans into one framework.
The City of Saskatoon has outlined a climate plan designed to reduce emissions over the next decade and achieve net-zero by 2050. City officials emphasized that provincial support is critical for meeting these ambitious targets. Without a commitment from the province, the city's hopes for net-zero could be jeopardized. This new strategy integrates two previous plans—the 2019 low emissions community plan and the corporate climate adaptation strategy—into a single, cohesive framework.
Key initiatives include exploring loans and incentives for energy efficiency, potentially expanding the home energy loan program, and implementing stricter regulations for building efficiency. The plan acknowledges that 19 percent of Saskatoon's electricity comes from renewables, with the remainder from coal and natural gas. It also projects the transition to a zero-emission transit fleet by 2050, though diesel buses will continue to be purchased until 2030.
Community emissions have already seen a reduction of approximately 16 percent, exceeding the goal of 15 percent. The strategy anticipates future challenges such as increased wildfire smoke, hotter days, flooding, and extreme weather. Experts note a societal shift away from climate discussions due to economic concerns, but express optimism about young people's engagement with future climate leadership.
