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Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation Workshop

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Our aim is to bring together citizens to build resilience and sustainability within our community in the face of the oncoming crises of peak oil and climate change by working together.

3The Power of Just Doing stuff

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Purpose of Workshop

1. Understand how climate change may impact you

2. Share stories and suggestions

3. Transfer skills to Grand River Unitarian Congregation members

4. Take action

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Get to know youWho are you and what brought you here?

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ImpactsAn introduction to climate change

Scientists have warned us about the consequences.

Climate change is a widely accepted reality.

What exactly does it mean for this region?

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CO2 EmissionsMethane Nitrous Oxide

Global Warming

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2003 blackout from heatwave

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2012 summer drought

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2012 apple blossom damage

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2011 Tornado in Goderich

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2013 Southern Ontario flooding

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2013/2014 ice storm

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2014 toxic algae in Lake Erie

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Break

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AdaptationIntroduction to our toolkit

and how to use it

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The essential purpose of the toolkit is to inspire change and get people connected with each other and the resources available in this region.

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Your HomePrepare for extreme weather events

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❑ Assemble a “Household Emergency Kit”Cost: $$$ | Time: >>>

❑ Make a plan in case of fires, floods, snow storms, and other extreme events. Be sure to include hydration, food, shelter, and evacuation plans (if necessary) for all members of the household, including pets (see Resources under Emergency Kits).

❑ Be prepared with essentials in case of extreme weather events and extended time periods when water and electricity are not available.

❑ Compile an “Emergency Resource List”Cost: 0 | Time: >>>

❑ Create a list of supplies that would be useful in different types of emergencies and where they can be found in your house or neighbourhood (e.g. extra batteries, chainsaw).

❑ Be sure to tell neighbours of resources you are willing to share in an emergency.

❑ Learn how to sterilize your water Cost: $ | Time: >>

❑ Buy purification tablets or a filter (see Resources under Red Cross or Get Prepared).

Here are some actions you can take to reduce these risks of damage to your house and ensure your own safety:

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Around Your HomeProtect your home and property from flash flooding

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Here are some actions to take to reduce these risks:

❑ Keep nearby storm water drains clearCost: $ | Time: >>

❑ Blocked storm water drains can contribute to flooding during a storm.

❑ Use a rake or other tool to clear leaves, branches, and debris from the storm drain/catch basin.

❑ Install a cistern or a rain barrel

Cistern - Cost: $$$$ Time: >>> Rain Barrel - Cost: $$ | Time: >>

❑ Cisterns and rain barrels collect and store rainwater from rooftops to reduce storm water runoff (see Resources under REEP).

❑ Build a rain gardenCost: $$$$ | Time: >>>>

❑ Rain gardens are designed to let water soak into the ground, thus reducing storm water runoff.

❑ They are also a form of landscaping that can beautify your yard.

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Getting Around – Transportation and InfrastructureIncrease your use of public/share transportation

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❑Share your carCost: $$ | Time: >>

❑Carpool with friends for entertainment and shopping trips.

❑Use your local community centres’ resources to go on bus trips or participate in other shared transportation activities.

❑Stay active

Cost: $ Time: >>

❑Choose to incorporate more active transit into your regular routine.

❑Obtain local trail maps to have the latest information on how to get around on community trails and which roads are bicycle friendly (see Resources).

❑Join a walking group (see Resources under GRTA, YMCA Walking and Talking).

❑Help children to walk/bike to school — rather than drive them thereCost: $ | Time: >>>

❑Join a walking school bus if one exists in your neighbourhood.

❑Promote “every child can ride a bike” initiatives in your family/neighbourhood.

Reduce these risks and increase your transportation options by taking the following actions:

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In Your CommunityTake part in building the strength of your community

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Adapt to climate change impacts together with your community group:

❑ Plant food for pollinatorsCost: $$ | Time: >>>

❑ Plant in your community garden, front garden, or park/neighbourhood garden!

❑ Native pollinators are under stress from a number of factors, potentially including climate change. Help them out by having wildflowers that bloom in the early spring, late spring, summer and fall, so that they have food whenever¸ they’re not hibernating!

❑ Create a neighbourhood plan in case of evacuation due to flood or fire

Cost: 0 Time: >>>

❑ Identify which routes to take, which neighbours need assistance, and who to call (see Resources under Waterloo Region Emergency Management).

❑ Share resourcesCost: $$ | Time: >>>>

❑ Start a bartering system, so that more of your everyday needs are supplied locally, in case of disruptions to supply.

❑ Have a centralized shed with shared gardening tools, to make it easier for all neighbours to grow food locally.

❑ Start a community-owned co-operative for a renewable energy supply, either for when the power goes out, or to selling back to the grid.

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Brainstorm ActionsTo address local impacts

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Actions Recap

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The world has agreed to limitglobal warming to 2˚C2˚C

This is not a safe level!

It’s a political compromise.How can we achieve this limit?

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Our Carbon Budget

To limit global warming to 2˚, we can emit only 600 to 900 billion tons of CO2 (total)between now and 2100.

We now emit about 30 billion tons/year, and this rate is rising.

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Our Carbon Budget

To limit global warming to 2˚, we can emit only 600 to 900 billion tons of CO2 (total) between now and 2100.

We now emit about 30 billion tons/year, and this rate is rising.

We’re on track to burn through this budget in about 20-25 years.

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We have to act fast45 Billion

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25

15

0

1850 2013 2100

No slow down in last decade

Oil crises

Post-war boom

Great depression

2020

20%

We need to get to 0 with 80% left in the ground

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Global fossil fuel reserves are much larger than the budget

Coal

Oil

Gas

AVAILABLEBUDGETED

GlobalCO2 budget2012 - 2100

Global fossil fuel reserves

Gigatons CO2

3000

2500

2000

1500

0

Global carbon budget to limit

warming to

2oC

1000

500

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Used to expand fossil society

Remaining budget for rest of mankind

Twitter: @LarsBoelenBlog: LarlenBoelen.nl

How will we share this budget?

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Unburnable Carbon

To limit global warming to 2˚C most (60-80%) known fossil fuel reserves need to stay in the ground.

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Unburnable Carbon

To limit global warming to 2˚C most (60-80%) known fossil fuel reserves need to stay in the ground.

Financial implications: this unburnable carbon is a stranded asset.

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Financial risk due to climate change is widely recognized

40-60% of the market capitalisation of oil and gas companies [is] at risk from the carbon bubble – HSBC, reported in The Guardian.

The “vast majority of [fossil fuel] reserves are unburnable” - Mark Carney, former Governor of Bank of Canada.

“Bank of England warns of huge financial risk from fossil fuel investments” – The Guardian, March 3, 2015.

Hundreds of organisations have divested: universities (incl. Stanford); pension funds; churches; cities; foundations (incl. Rockefeller family).

37Guardian Divestment Video

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We want oil companies to:

Stop lobbying to slow regulation/policy

Stop exploring

Keep 80% of reserves in the ground

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Discussion

Unless there is political pressure to change, nothing will change

Divestment provides a powerful moral framework

Parallels between the oil & tobacco industries

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Next Steps: Mitigation

Personal Pension Faith University Political

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Next Steps: Adaptation

Short term actions Long term goals Pie in the sky ideas

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What we are convinced of is this, if we wait for the governments, it'll be too little, too late, if we act as individuals, it'll be too little but if we act as communities, it might just be enough, just in time.

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Thank you so much for coming