The City of Saskatoon has revealed a new climate plan aiming to reduce emissions over the next decade and achieve net zero by 2050. The city acknowledges that achieving these targets will require support from the province. Jeanna South, the city’s sustainability director, emphasized the importance of provincial commitment to reaching their goals.
SaskPower has committed to achieving net-zero electricity generation by 2050 and has extended the lifespan of coal-powered plants until they transition to nuclear power generation. Saskatoon’s climate action strategy, which consolidates previous plans, is set to be reviewed by the standing policy committee on environment, utilities, and corporate services before going to the city council.
South clarified that the plan builds on previous initiatives, aiming to expand programs like the home energy loan program with council approval. The city plans to explore various approaches, including incentives and regulations, to enhance energy efficiency in buildings for long-term sustainability.
Regarding energy sources, South highlighted that 19% of the electricity supplied to Saskatoon by SaskPower is from renewables, with the remainder coming from coal and natural gas. The city anticipates a transition to a zero-emission transit fleet by 2050, with a plan to continue purchasing diesel buses until 2030 as part of the transition.
The report indicates that community emissions have already decreased by about 16%, surpassing the initial 15% reduction goal. The city looks forward to further progress and plans to release a progress report covering activities up to the end of 2025 in December.
Despite the focus on climate change, there has been a shift in public discourse towards other pressing issues such as housing and employment. Greg Poelzer, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan, attributes this shift to factors like the economic impact of COVID-19 and geopolitical concerns. He emphasized the significant increase in forest fires in Canada due to climate change and expressed optimism in the leadership of young people in addressing these challenges.