EnviroCollective group cheers city decision to drop climate crisis skeptic

A small group of Regina environmental activists is cheering the city’s decision to drop a controversial climate crisis skeptic as a keynote speaker for a conference on sustainability.

Laura Stewart is part of the EnviroCollective group in Regina and was happy to hear the news Friday that Patrick Moore will not be a keynote speaker at the Reimagine Sustainability Conference in May.

“I’m very encouraged because this debate should be about how we move forward, not about whether we need to,” she said Monday.

When asked about the idea of free speech being compromised by the city bowing to public criticism about Moore, Stewart said it’s not the same thing.

“This is not about free speech. Patrick Moore was not coming for free and he was not coming as a Regina citizen wanting to raise opinions from this community. He was selected to come and speak at this community about one particular perspective,” Stewart commented.

She said her group welcomes debate and dialogue from people with different perspectives on climate change, especially including people who earn a living from the oil and gas industry.

“I would like them to talk to us and tell us about their concerns, because we can’t effectively address those concerns unless we understand them,” Stewart said.

She has a background in biology and is behind a new proposal being pitched by the EnviroCollective group in Regina. Speaking to 14 people gathered outside city hall on Monday, she said the hope is to hold the city to moving to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2050.

“(The hope is) to make sure that we hold to that goal without getting distracted or dismayed by any of the challenges along the way,” Stewart said.

While the group is still in the early phase of developing its own strategies and ideas, its members hope to eventually pitch a plan to city officials. The group also raised concerns about the focus on city facilities being more sustainable rather than broader-scale ideas to support individuals and businesses moving in that direction.

“Are we really focusing on 100 per cent renewable, or are we trying to redefine that to limit the ambition?” Stewart said, questioning the point of the sustainability conference.

The small group outside city hall included a couple of students who spoke about the Climate Fridays movement and the importance of people in power listening to youth who are concerned about the environment.