There remain many unanswered questions for the City of Charlottetown counsellors in regards to their recent decision to not immediately support electric buses.
We feel it was a missed opportunity, potentially reflecting lack of knowledge or care surrounding emergency climate action. Or it could be they are confused from high blood levels of carbon dioxide causing mental disorientation.
Leadership, knowing that we are in a climate emergency, is called to immediate action. We have no time to wait and we are expecting them to act accordingly.
While celebrating and organizing for the increase public transport ridership, we must remember that source of bus energy is from diesel, another fossil fuel accelerating global climate change. This is causing a collapse of our ecosystems — planetary mechanisms that supply all the requirements for life. It must be noted that the overwhelming majority of planet, environmental and climate scientists tell us that we have a very tight timeline to solve this before an irreversible runaway global ecologic collapse occurs.
The local private-public transport provider needs a fleet expansion. Great, part of the climate emergency solution. However, we are at a loss as to why electric buses were not purchased now as opposed to later. Procrastination is a morbid system when any emergency action is needed. Were provincial and federal sources of funding explored? What was the nature of engagement with the transport provider and what was the consideration of paying it forward in view of the profitable growth in Charlottetown?
Until I can get a handle on some of these questions, not believing they don’t care, I remain puzzled and anxious.
Douglas Carmody MD
Summerside, PE
Member, CAPE and Fridays for Future-F4F/Extinction Rebellion
