Playbook brings 100% renewable energy possibility to your community
By Dan Wall
We all want to live in safe, healthy, and strong communities. Making sure we have clean air to breathe, clean water to drink and healthy local food to eat are the biggest steps we can take to keep our communities thriving.
Communities across Canada now have a tool to help them achieve these goals, while working to prevent the worst impacts of climate change that threaten our communities. West Kootenay EcoSociety has created the 100% Renewable Energy in Your Community Playbook & Toolkit that shares the non-profit organization’s experience and lessons from five years of work to bring nine local governments in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia together to commit to 100-per-cent renewable energy in their communities by 2050 and develop a transition roadmap.
“Local governments have jurisdiction over many of the things in our communities that create carbon pollution. You can work with your community to support your local government to make the transition to 100-per-cent renewable energy and create healthier communities in the process,” says Montana Burgess, executive director of West Kootenay EcoSociety. “This will make your community more accessible, healthier and safer, and it will reduce pollution and waste contributing to climate change.”
“Finding enough support in your community, regardless of how big or small, is key for this long term local transition to be successful. That way, no matter who is making decisions, the community will ensure their renewable energy transition remains a priority.”
The Playbook has step by step information for community planning, local government actions and community engagement.
The Playbook helps residents, community groups and local governments answer questions such as:
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What does a commitment to 100-per-cent renewable energy mean?
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What does good climate policy look like?
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How can my community champion the transition to 100-per-cent renewable energy?
The EcoSociety’s five year process to support nine local governments to commit to 100-per-cent renewable energy, collaborate on a plan to make it happen, and adopt the plan officially has created one of the largest geographical areas in the country to commit to 100% renewable energy.
To download the Playbook and Toolkit, go to https://www.ecosociety.ca/campaign/renewable-energy-playbook/.
This project was made possible with the support of many donors with primary contributions from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Real Estate Foundation of BC.
West Kootenay EcoSociety is a non-profit community-driven organization that brings together local residents to protect the natural environment while building just, equitable, healthy, and livable communities in the West Kootenay region.
