ECan CEO advocates for declaration of climate emergency
Environment Canterbury CEO Bill Bayfield has promised to ask ECan councillors to declare a climate emergency at their
next meeting on May 16. Bayfield's promise was in response to a theatrical protest held by Extinction Rebellion (XR)
Ōtautahi.
When pressed for assurance that it would be on the meeting agenda Bill Bayfield said “16th of May, yes, I can do that...
I will do” speaking outside ECan this afternoon [1].
Spokesperson Grace Stainthorpe said “Bayfield’s assurance shows us that ECan is beginning to acknowledge the existential
threat of the climate emergency.”
“We need more than promises though. XR will keep pressure on ECan in the coming month and ensure the council acts as the
courageous leaders we need” Stainthorpe continued.
During the protest six members of XR Ōtautahi were invited inside to talk with ECan CEO Bill Bayfield, Chair Steve
Lowndes, and councillor John Sunckell. This resulted in Bayfield's offer to put declaring a climate emergency onto
ECan’s agenda. He later came outside to on request of XR Ōtautahi to confirm this would happen at the next ECan meeting.
Today's action was part of an international week of rebellion that includes 23 events in eight centres across Aotearoa
New Zealand.
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