Community Action on Climate Change
Widespread concern about climate change makes the efforts of environmentalists over the past three decades on issues of waste, water, energy conservation, and consumerism all the more pressing.
Steps that individuals can take to reduce climate change are readily available. But what can we do together as a community?
A group of of people from the community formed the Climate Change Action Team (CCAT) to address these issues.
Workshops
CCAT has organized public workshops to increase local awareness about climate change, reducing our impact and adapting to the new climate.
- "Preparing Your Household for Climate Change" with Jeff Kohl of the Ontario Healthy Communities on January 10, 2008
- Homes, the Environment and Renewable Energy" with Chris Weissflog of EcoGen Energy Inc. on February 21, 2008 . See workshop notes and links.
- An "Adapting to a Changing Climate" Workshop was held on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at the Comfort Inn in Smiths Fallss, with presentations by the Ontario Centre for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources, OCCIAR.
- A Solar Hot Water information session March 31, 2009 at the Rideau Canal Museum to explain the technology and the many financial incentives available. Similar sessions were hosted by the Rideau Roundtable in Merrickville and by ecoPerth in Perth.
- "Get Fit, Go Green and Make Money" workshops. March 10, 2010 presentation by Switch on FIT and MicroFIT, and March 23, 2010 presentation by ecoPerth on "Is Microfit for You?
Other Climate Change Action Team (CCAT) Projects
Municipal - Group surveyed area municipalities to see what they are doing and would like to do to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Active transportation
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Organized local participation in the World Record Walk on October 3, 2007.
- Community Bike Carts. Group built several carts together from recycled materials with the intention of making them available for bikers to borrow.
- Cycling Routes. Produced a map of bike routes surrounding Smiths Falls, available on our website, or in print in conjunction with a Smiths Falls map of in-town routes.
- Walk 'n Roll Week, May 11 - 15, 2009, organized by the Health Unit, Smiths Falls Chamber of Commerce, Sport X and REAL. Residents were encouraged to walk, cycle (or use any kind of active transporation) to get to work or school, or for errands or fun.
Media - providing information on climate change. Have provided tips on climate change to local media, which are currently appearing in the EMC and Smiths Falls This Week.
Laundry Line - group produced a brochure and hung t-shirts with slogans outside the REAL Deal to promote the use of clotheslines as a way to reduce greenhouse gases, spring 2008.
Idle Free - CCAT members spent a day as the Idle Free Team at the Abbot Street lock crossing, speaking to motorists about not idling their vehicles while waiting for the bridge to turn.
What would the electoral candidates do? Four area groups with an interest in the environment, including REAL, asked local federal electoral candidates to respond to six questions on climate change. Read what they said.
Climate Change Action Team (CCAT) - Background
The CCAT was formed in early 2007 in reaction to screenings of the documentary "An Inconvenient Truth", as well as a public forum. The group encourages community-wide action on climate change. Many project suggestions were generated at their first meeting in April. A subcommittee narrowed down the possibilities and came up with a Concept Paper. In June the group selected a few projects to work on.
See REAL and Climate Change, a PDF document listing REAL's projects that relate to climate change, and government programs available to residents of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville.
For more information contact Peter Au at (613) 284-8338 or Barb Hicks at (613) 283-9966.
"An Inconvenient Truth" and Our Community
During January and February 2007, REAL planned a series of events to stimulate community interest and action on climate change using the Al Gore documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth”. In collaboration with local churches and youth groups, citizens were given the opportunity to view and discuss the film.
The first screening was to community leaders at the Rideau Canal Museum on January 16. That was followed by four public showings of “An Inconvenient Truth” documentary to 150 people, and private showings and discussion to another 110 people.
A public forum on February 28 featured four panelists and small group discussion. Dawn Quinn, Councillor for the Town of Smiths Falls, Jeff Kohl, of ecoPerth and Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition, Rev. Peter Woods of Trinity United Church and Susan Brandum, of REAL and LLGreen each gave brief presentations. Then the attendees broke into smaller groups to discuss potential solutions for our community in the areas of Transportation, Waste & Consumerism, Green Spaces & Natural Areas, and Food.
General Information
Go Green Ontario - basic info on climate change, tips for home, community and work. Maintained by Government of Ontario.
David Suzuki Foundation - climate change impacts and solutions
OCCIAR (Ontario Centre for for Climate Impacts and Adaptations Resources)
Tips for Individuals
The Alliance for Climate Protection - Comprehensive list of short articles and tips.
Daily Home Reno Tips - one homeowner's experience with the ecoENERGY program.
US Department of Energy PDF of booklet "Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home"
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