Saskatoon won't meet greenhouse gases target: report

A report on Saskatoon's greenhouse gas emissions says the city isn't meeting its targets.

In 2017, the city set a goal to reduce it's 2014 CO2 levels by 40 per cent by 2023 and 80 per cent by 2050.

An audit of its progress, completed by PricewaterhouseCoopers, was presented at the finance council meeting on Monday night.

Saskatoon set targets that aligned with the commitments of other citiesbut the report says achievingthese targets is "doubtful."

"We suggest either changing the targets and/or increasing the emphasis on greenhouse gasmitigation measures," the report says.

'Realistic strategy' needed

According to the report, the city lacks management when it comes to planning, checking and acting on greenhouse gas targets, and "implementing actions required to achieve deep decarbonization."

To achieve significant emission reductions, the report says, the city needs to focus on items such as street light replacements.

"Applying the strategy of 'choosing the least GHG emitting technology when faced with two equal cost but competing technologies' will not produce significant emission reductions," the report says.

The report suggests that a "realistic strategy with reasonable targets" be designed, reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis.

9 full-time employees recommended

In November 2015, the city committed to the Global Covenant of Mayors, which requires the city to address both climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation.

The report compared Saskatoon's progress with other cities including Calgary, Edmontonand London, Ont. It noted that Calgary and Edmonton have implemented environmental management systems to support their greenhouse gas reduction efforts, while Saskatoon has not.

The report recommends the addition of 9.3 full-time employees to take over planning of emission reduction initiatives. This would cost $1 million a year.

Currently, 1.5 full time employees are in charge of the project, at a cost of about $150,000.

According to the city, the 2019 budget plan requests that the current level of service for climate change mitigation planning be supported on a permanent basis.