Anything you noticed during Covid that is positive with respect to climate change: in the environment, in your lifestyle, etc.

• Clear blue skies, less air pollution, quieter (fewer planes & vehicles)

• More birds & wildlife

• More people active outdoors (cycling, hiking, walking) & around home (hobbies)

Does our shared national experience and your personal experience with COVID-19 hold lessons on how to fight climate change?

• Governments can respond quickly. If they want to do something, it can be done. Red tape disappears.

• Working from home is a viable option for many (though for some is too isolating); saves money, time and reduces emission.

• Humanity proved that we can slow down, and that we can reduce our carbon footprint.

How can economic recovery funding help a transition to a green economy?

• Federal COVID recovery funding = $10 Billion. Is it best to target a few highly effective areas versus spreading funds thinly?

• HFCs (refrigerant emissions) are 100 times worse than CO2. Since HFC alternatives already exist, governments should be targeting this.

• Municipalities can act more quickly than higher levels of government as they can enact local bylaws.

• Local bylaw ideas to reduce emissions: road tax proportionate to size of vehicle, use funding to subsidize e-transport, set tight emissions standards, free parking for EVs, incentives to improve energy efficiency of buildings, tighter building codes, ban single use plastics, no drive-thrus, restrict idling.

• Research station could study regenerative agriculture methods, carbon sequestration, etc.

• Existing sustainable grape growing program could be expanded.

What does a just and sustainable recovery mean and, should it happen, how do you imagine it will affect you and your community?
Reviewed the 6 principles of a Just Recovery before breaking into groups to discuss local ideas.

• Agricultural land important.

• Eating locally reduces a person’s carbon footprint (and increases their health!).

• Locally generated electricity would make us less dependent on the big grid and more resilient to weather or fire related outages.

• Food security really important!

• Government incentives are important. Need to ensure incentives don’t exclude those with limited incomes.

• Carbon fee is the best way to lower our carbon emissions. It is also the fairest way as those with lower incomes, who typically emit less, receive larger rebates.

• Strengthening the safety net is hard because it involves 3 levels of government.

• Reforestation and forest management projects are important.

• Educate girls, e.g. provide scholarships.

• We already have the science to draw our global emissions down, just need to do it! Drawdown provides solutions.

• Local governments can do a lot.

• Example of a Penticton project: 20 families had 2 garden beds built for them by the Co-Vic Garden Box Project. Vegetables from one bed were picked by the foodbank, the other was used by the family. Very positive feedback.

Closing thoughts?

• Interesting discussion but how do we mobilize?

• Can we form an action plan that we could use at the local level?

• Liked the format and length of the discussion.