Sherri Jackson, communication lead with the Collingwood Climate Action Team (CCAT) and Laurel Hood, the CCAT’s transportation lead, have developed a free program to keep climate action in the front of your mind, and in your daily life, each week for the next year.
Called 52 Weeks of Climate Action, the initiative encourages you to sign up at [email protected]. In return, each week for 52 weeks (starting the week of April 19) you’ll be e-mailed a tip that gives you a climate-related challenge, activity or something to think about for that week.
The program will also post a blog that goes into more detail on how that week’s challenge helps reduce carbon, and a monthly article will appear in local media that summarizes the upcoming month’s challenges. Participants will also be invited to send in notes on their progress, to educate and encourage others.
Although the two founders of the program are Collingwoodians, they stress that the program is not just for people from northwest Simcoe County. Given current interest in climate action in Bruce and Grey counties, folks from those counties – and beyond – are welcome to participate.
The initiative was inspired in part by the upcoming fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day, which takes place on April 22. Says Jackson:
“Earth Day’s theme this year is Climate Action. Predictions are that 50 per cent of climate action must happen from the top down – that’s government, legislators and corporations. But, the other 50 per cent can happen from the bottom up – grassroots movements, and people working together. That’s where we all come in.”
Jackson says that she and Hood want to help grow a grassroots movement that gets people feeling hopeful, empowered and positive – something to combat anxiety and pessimism about the future, something that shares practical ideas to reduce our carbon footprints, in positive and supportive ways (and hopefully have fun doing it).
Many of the challenges and tips will be rated good, better or best, so you can choose the option that fits your lifestyle. Hood and Jackson want to build awareness and give people viable options for changing habits and behaviors, but they don’t want it to be intimidating or complicated. It will be inspiring, not daunting, says Jackson.
So – sign up today at [email protected] as an individual, a family, or a social or work group. And even though the initiative is based on cooperation rather than competition, Jackson and Hood would love to see groups challenging each other to become the ultimate climate champion in this part of Ontario.
source: The Village Green newsletter. For information about The Village Green, or to subscribe to it (free), contact John Butler at 519 923-6335 or [email protected]
