North Cowichan's Climate Action and Energy Plan has next airing Thursday
Folks worried about climate change and global warming can air their concerns during tomorrow's climate-change advisory committee meeting at North Cowichan's municipal hall.
The 3 p.m. huddle on Aug. 23 will hear ideas about water-rights' protection, waste-oil collection, municipal population growth, carbon sequestering, comments by Cowichan carbon-buster Peter Nix, and more after an update about North Cowichan's Climate Action and Energy Plan.
Thursday's meeting happens as Maple Bay's Valerie Russell, a teacher at Shawnigan Lake's Dwight International School, is in San Francisco being trained about climate-change action tactics by former U.S. vice-president and climate-change guru Al Gore, plus notable scientists, as part of Climate Reality Canada.
Russell and other Canadian trainees can offer free presentations about climate change impacts and answers as of Oct. 1.
That's good news to Councillor Kate Marsh, leading climate-change committee.
"It sounds like she'll be a great resource to bring in after she's had that course," said Marsh, noting council's committee has been working on its climate neutrality plan for a year.
A draft report will be compiled for senior-staff review by Vancouver's Sustainability Solutions Group — earning about $60,000 — by month's end.
More public comment will happen this fall before council gets the amended plan.
Marsh expects action, not shelf dust, from the report.
"About 80% of North Cowichan's emissions come from private residences and cars. If we're really going to make a difference, we have engage to the community in strategies to get us closer to carbon neutral."
That may usher municipal electric cars, solar panels, and a total municipal burning ban, a tree-cutting permitting bylaw and more, depending on council's will, she explained.
"The municipality has a goal to become carbon neutral in its operations. Council commissioned the plan and set the goals. The plan will make an argument for doing these things."
For more, call 250-746-2500, or visit www.northcowichan.ca.
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