Climate Change Dreams:Nightmares, Visions and Realities

Communicating Solutions not Problems

: St. Francis Xavier University

CREATE – June 9, 2011Julian Boyle, P.Eng, Energy Manager

Why do YOU care about climate change?

Increase in Carbon Dioxide

Source: http://www.zero-carbon-or-climate-catastrophe.org/image-files/1000-years-of-carbon-emissions.gif

Increase in Global Population

Depletion of Oil Reserves

Source: http://peakoilportfolio.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/PeakGraph.160111150_std.jpg

Moral and Social Implications

Why Does HRM Care?Large and diverse interest in climate change

Cities in General• Are vulnerable to climate change• Are part of a global urbanization trend• Contain 50% of global population, yet produce 80% of GHG• Need to effectively plan for:

• Modes of transportation• Where and how people live • Economic opportunities• Where people work • Quality of life

Source: http://r3.iad04t03.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/original/3665599.jpg?redirect_counter=2&st=ts

Why a local interest in reducing GHG’s?• By promoting the reduction or mitigation of GHG’s

cities can benefit by impacting…• The quality of living• Opportunities• Competitiveness

The need to reduce GHG’s wasn’t so obvious as a short time ago…• No regional planning existed• No capacity considered• No understanding of issues• No language on climate change• No Dialogue

HRM Milestones• 1997:• Committed to 20% reduction of 1997 levels by 2012• Blind commitment

• 2005:• Committed to 20% reduction of 2002 levels by 2012

Application of Formal Policy, HRM• 2004:GHG Inventory• 2005:GHG Action Plan• 2006:25-year Regional Plan• 2007:Community Energy Plan

GHG Inventory

GHG Action Plan

Regional Plan

Community Energy Plan

The process of adapting a formal policy• Increases:• Awareness• Dialogue• Understanding • Education• Benefits• Costs

Climate Change EducationSteep knowledge climb on climate change aided by:• Several extreme weather events• Rapidly increasing fossil fuel costs• “Umbrella” of sustainability initiatives• Created tangible results

Source: http://www.ldmsoftware.com/Community/Hurricane/YHZ/Index.htm

Lessons Learned: Communication1. Timing matters: Make sure the audience is ready;2. Detail of content: Use specifics when forming

“big picture” i.e. sea level rise, fossil fuel costs, etc;

3. Identify problem: Forward the problem with questions that have probable solutions;

4. Initiatives: Use multiple lenses to frame effectively.

Thank you for your time

QUESTIONS?COMMENTS?CONCERNS?