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
Feb 23, 2016
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?