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(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

Environmental lobby groups from Nelson want to know which candidate running in the South Okanagan-West Kootenay cares most about the planet.

The Nelson-West Kootenay chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, together with Fridays For Future West Kootenay, is hosting an all-candidates forum called Election 2021 and the Climate Emergency.

“Candidates from the major parties will be asked questions about meeting emission reduction targets, mitigating climate impacts, protecting the environment, and maintaining a healthy economy,” the two organizations said in a joint press release issued today, Aug. 31.

“Climate warming has moved our world to the edge of a dangerous precipice and our governments are the only agencies that have the broad capacity to build our defensive wall. We must choose leaders who have the will to act now,” said Jim Beattie of Chair of First Things First Okanagan, whose group will be coming up with the questions for the forum.

The groups say climate change is also predicted to increase the intensity and duration of forest fire season, and that overall, Canada is warming twice as fast as the global average.

"Our governments call the climate situation an emergency, but consistently are slow to act. We saw with Covid-19 how rapidly governments can respond to a crisis when they want to. We will be looking to our candidates to show similar leadership on the climate front," said youth organizer Linn Murray with Fridays For Future West Kootenay.

The forum, which takes place Sept. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m., will be online so voters don’t have to burn any fossil fuel to attend. Tune in by live-streaming the event on Fridays For Future West Kootenay Facebook page, or on the Fridays For Future Nelson YouTube channel.

READ MORE: Election 2019: South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding is anyone's call

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