1. Have one meeting a year focused on nature-based solutions. Some examples include talks on pollinator gardens; planting a Miyawake mini-forest; the GHG absorption value of forests, wet-lands, meadows and croplands/soils. Or closer to home, the value of planting a tree in your gar-
den, replacing some of your lawn with a pollinator, or kitchen garden.
2. Dedicate one outing a year to tree planting with other community members; or other active restoration initiative on our own or collaborating with others.
3. Invite Grey County or municipal staff as speakers to tell us what climate actions have been carried out, and what the measured GHG reductions have been. Ask them hard questions like, ‘How is the implementation of Green Building Standards going in Grey County?’ or ‘How is the public transit program in Grey County going?’ as well as other questions about progress on the metrics
that are listed in the plan.
4. Invite speakers to talk to us about topics like green building standards in Ontario and what we
can do in our own homes; or what public transit in a large area like Grey might look like, and talk
to us about progress in electrification of buses. About 42% of total emissions in Grey come from private vehicles.
5. Invite members of the business/commercial community to talk to us about how they are trying to
become more sustainable. We have already had a couple of really good agricultural speakers
present, but more on this topic would be appropriate for our region. About 33% of emissions in Grey come from agriculture.
6. Widely promote meetings like these to draw in and educate more members of the public and local councilors.
7. Hanover councilors suggested we come on a tour of their new Fire Hall when it is done so that
we can learn about the green building standards that have been incorporated to lower the GHG emissions of this new building.
8. Hold a members’ night where members share what climate actions they are doing. Climate change is one of the biggest issues facing us today, along with the Biodiversity Crisis – maybe more on that one later. We welcome your feedback on the ideas presented in this article, and other thoughts you may have about what the club can do support the regional effort to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
