Delegation today on Both Climate and Equity Lens

Good afternoon!

We have a really impressive list of speakers today, as always on these occasions so I do not wish to reiterate details of what they say much more eloquently. 

I am here to remind of Hamilton's Climate Emergency. It is only a few weeks away from being a year now since it was called in March 2019. 

At the same time, Hamilton's council has committed to using an equity lens as it makes its decisions. 

I believe both an equity and a climate lens are necessary. One is not more or less important than the other. Both are crucial at a time when the decisions made worldwide will decide whether or not global warming will exceed the level where there will no longer be human and animal life on earth. 

Both are crucial because climate change hurts the less privileged more immediately and harshly than the privileged. When it gets extremely hot 40, 50, or 60 days a year, will we have all the cooling stations necessary in place so that people do not die in the streets of the heat? Will landlords be required to install proper cooling in apartments, which will be as necessary for basic quality of life as proper heating in the winter? Will all sidewalks be cleared by the city in harsh winter weeks or will those with mobility issues be forced to remain housebound or risk their health by using unsafe sidewalks? Will everyone have access to shelter if they need it or will the homeless simply be the sacrifice to the changing climate?

We always have choices at every level of government. We can choose as if nothing matters but money and industry, the concerns of the privileged. Or we can choose in a way that makes it clear we are truly prioritizing tackling the climate emergency and in every way possible addressing the countless inequities faced by Hamiltonians every day. 

I hope we choose the latter. In the words of Kai Cheng Thom, the title of her book: "I hope we choose love."

Thank you for your time.