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Climate Change Dreams: Nightmares, Visions and Realities Communicating Solutions not Problems. : St . Francis Xavier University CREATE – June 9, 2011 Julian Boyle, P.Eng , Energy Manager . Why d o YOU care about climate change?. Increase in Carbon Dioxide.
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Climate Change Dreams:Nightmares, Visions and RealitiesCommunicating 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
Depletion of Oil Reserves Source: http://peakoilportfolio.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/PeakGraph.160111150_std.jpg
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
The process of adapting a formal policy • Increases: • Awareness • Dialogue • Understanding • Education • Benefits • Costs
Climate Change Education Steep 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: Communication • Timing matters: Make sure the audience is ready; • Detail of content: Use specifics when forming “big picture” i.e. sea level rise, fossil fuel costs, etc; • Identify problem: Forward the problem with questions that have probable solutions; • Initiatives: Use multiple lenses to frame effectively.
Thank you for your time QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS?