A Good News Story: HalifACT: Acting on Climate Together

My first blog about Halifax, the Region and my campaign, is a good news story.

I struggle to keep my usual optimistic outlook in the face of the climate disasters everywhere. Learning about HalifACT restored my optimism.  On June 10 at our monthly Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) meeting, Kate Brooks of Ecology Action Centre and Megan Fong, Junior Environmental Professional at HRM inspired us with their innovative work and partnership under HalifACT.

Kate and Megan work from a positive, personal and community-based position. They focus on a just transition, Indigenous principles and equity. A just transition means everyone is included as we transition to greener ways of living and working.  I enjoyed every minute and felt calmer and more optimistic during and after the presentation. One statement by Kate stood out: “We advance climate action and aim to avoid shame attached to people’s ability to make changes”  Kate also recognized that effective actions such as following a vegan diet, retrofitting our homes and giving up our cars are often most accessible by privileged, relatively wealthy people  who own their own homes, live in urban areas, close to work and can afford plant based food.

However, we all can take small, feasible climate actions, talk to others about our deep feelings, anxiety, hope, despair, and in that process strengthen community and act together. Buy local when we can, have one meatless day per week, and an easy change if you drive a car: avoid idling our engines. Did you know that an idling vehicle emits 20 times more pollution than a vehicle traveling at 30 miles per hour, and idling your engine for just ten minutes releases a pound of carbon dioxide into the air? And of course it also wastes gas and money.

You can learn more and connect to others through these events, community groups and an online course.

How We Thrive offers:  Reimagining Resilience (shared stories), Climate Connections (lunchtime conversations and the online course)

Read HalifACT’s latest community update to learn about new electric buses, growing urban forestry and supporting African Nova Scotians to develop high-demand engineering skills for deep energy retrofits for our community buildings.

And take a moment to browse the North End’s Every One Every Day website. Although not in District 7, this is a model of community action that we could recreate in all neighbourhoods. Everyone Every Day is a platform for inclusive neighbourhood participation that accelerates social cohesion and creates opportunities for inclusive local economies.

On a personal note. I volunteer weekly at my good friend Noah Pohlkamp-Hartt’s New Caledonia Organic No-Till Farm. Wildfires, floods, and destructive storms always break my heart and last year this was brought very close to home when Noah lost half his crops and braved personal danger in the frightening floods we endured. Read the interview with Noah here.  He and the farm have recovered and are optimistic for a good harvest this year.