CLIMATE CHANGE

What you can do to make a difference.

2007 Tornado in Elie, Manitoba
Photo Credit: Lori Raymond

Although there was not a lot of public discussion about it at the time, CGC began promoting the issue of global climate change back in 2001.

With support from the Ministry of the Environment.s ETeam program, we employed Matthew Justice as our climate change emissary. Matthew produced a four-page brochure on climate change as it relates to rural communities and, more specifically, the Cowichan Valley. Over 400 copies of Climate Change in the Cowichan Valley were distributed locally.

In addition, he developed a public survey and a Climate Change Kiosk, which he and other CGC members staffed for several days at the Duncan Mall. The kiosk provided a great opportunity to implement his survey to find out what Cowichan residents thought of the issue of climate change at that time.

One thousand and thirty four residents participated in the survey, answering the following three questions:

1. Do you know what Climate Change is or what causes it?
   Yes - 73%(751)    No - 25%(244)   ? - 2%(21)
   
   
2. Do you consider climate change to be a problem? If yes, global/national/local?
   Yes - 72%(750)  No - 15%(155)i  ? - 8%(80)
   
   
3. Do you think we as individuals in the Cowichan Valley have a role to play in addressing Climate Change?
   Yes - 76%(789)  No - 11%(114)  ? - 10%(107)
   

Flooding in Terrace 2007
Photo Credit Joe Pelletier

The dialogue indicated that many were not clear on the actual definition of climate change, often confusing it with the hole in the ozone layer. Despite this, most residents felt that individual community members did have a role to play in addressing global climate change.

We continue to educate residents on climate change and our centre is a great resource for those wanting more information on climate change science, as well as what we can do to reduce our own greenhouse gas contributions.

For more information about climate change and its effects, check out these interesting sites:

Climate Change Primer by Starhawk
The Bullfrog- Facts & Concerns
National Parks, National Marine Conservation Areas and National Historic Sites of Canada
Eco Action
Vancouver Island Diet