Climate Change

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

With support from the Ministry of the Environment's E-Team 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 how climate change relates to 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.

 

 

 

Climate Change Awareness Survey Results

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

Do you know what Climate Change is or what causes it?
Yes - 73%(751)    No - 25%(244)   ? - 2%(21)

Do you consider climate change to be a problem? If yes, global/national/local?
Yes - 72%(750)  No - 15%(155)i  ? - 8%(80)

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)

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

The CGC continues to encourage community action on climate change and can provide resources to those wanting to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions.

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

 

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