In partnership with Climate Change Newmarket-Aurora, NewmarketToday brings you a regular series of columns aimed at creating awareness and engaging our community to take action on climate change.
From a global perspective, Canadians have a privileged lifestyle. Generally speaking, we have relative safety, food security, low unemployment, universal health care and education, and political stability. Many have the means for luxury items, travel and new technology. Some say we work hard for this lifestyle and many come to Canada in search of it.
A lot of us would like to believe that everything is fine and under control (as many big polluters and some provinces hasten to tell us), but given what we know about what is required to mitigate the effects of climate change, we are obligated to take a critical look at the impact our lifestyles have on the rest of the world as well as the impact on our children's future.
Change doesn’t seem to be easy. The overwhelming majority of Canadians know that we must get drastically serious about it but aren't sure how so that’s why Climate Action Newmarket Aurora wanted a community conversation about climate action.
At the recent town hall Climate Action - Can I Really Make a Difference, 100 York Region community members joined to discuss key topics proven to make a difference in drawing down emissions: conscious consumption, smart energy choices, and political activism.
For many people who came out, they wanted to be around like minds, to hear successes, and have a jolt of positivity and optimism. Some wanted affirmation, some wanted misinformation dispelled, and others wanted strategies in speaking with naysayers. People gathered to talk about an issue that impacts us all and figure out a way forward. That’s how a community works, isn’t it?
It was phenomenal to hear the conscious consumption choices starting to happen. Actions beyond composting and recycling like: meal planning for leftovers to reduce waste, buying locally, eating seasonally and less meat (thanks, The Plant Based Treaty), measuring excess packaging, circular economy purchases (thanks, Earth Market), and monitoring cost savings to see how our wallet is helped as well as climate and environment.
We ask ourselves if we really need more clothing and if we do, what is its carbon footprint or social justice connected to it going to our closet, and what will we do with the old one? Do we really need to upgrade our tech, appliances, vehicles, homes and before we do, can it be reasonably repaired, renovated or retrofitted? Is the upgrade more energy efficient and what is the impact on landfill, green spaces and water systems for our choices?
Folks shared smart energy actions such as: switching to an emissions-reducing air heat pump when replacing their old furnace; solar panels; looking for net-zero down-sized homes and homes with these efficiencies already done; opening windows, using blinds or tree landscaping to address temperature fluctuations; unplugging things not in use; reducing/removing dryer use and using appliances when off-peak energy savings are the best.
Walking, cycling, hopping on public transit (we hear it will be better soon), planning ‘circular’ routes or ‘bundled’ activities to save on repeated travel are also happening.
While the big polluters with the lion’s share of emissions still need to be held accountable, CANA’s goal was to have meaningful conversations about realistic and ‘doable’ individual and family actions while also hoping folks left energized, inspired and with next steps. Check out Every Action Counts, Take Action | climateactionNA.
After one two-hour gathering, post-survey results noted that approximately 43 to 44 per cent of respondents said they would likely change their shopping habits and/or change how/what to cook, 34 per cent said they would be looking more into home energy efficiency upgrades, and 32 per cent said they would now be more likely to write to a government official.
It’s incredible what minds can do when put together. We can support, nurture, empathize, sustain and inspire resilience. Now, just imagine if those 100 people talked to three other people about their next steps...and so on...and so on.
People tend to believe their friends and neighbours more when it comes to change (thanks, Green Neighbour). The ripple effect of word of mouth is very powerful, the power of yes. Let’s make sure it's for positive climate action.
The next column will report on what community members shared about climate activism but if you want a jump start, join Climate Action Newmarket Aurora and Mothers Marching on July 13 from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. at Mulock and Yonge in Newmarket: Greenbelt Not Moneybelt!
Say yes to better public transit and subsidized trucks on the 407 instead of the 413, and Repeal components of Cutting Red Tape Act that will take more of our agricultural land and greenspaces.
Inspired by the international organization Project Drawdown, Climate Action Newmarket-Aurora seeks to engage citizens, institutions, and policymakers in actionable and measurable solutions to stop catastrophic climate change as quickly, safely and equitably as possible. You can contact them at [email protected], and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
