The climate crisis is one of the most pervasive and impactful phenomenons happening in our society, affecting almost every aspect of our lives including the economy. human health, mental health, culture and way of life. Yet despite this it rarely gets talked about by everyday people, or even the media. Hyper-partisanship and politicization have shied people away from talking about climate change further. Meanwhile people who experience climate emotions like ecological anxiety and climate dread often keep their emotions bottled up instead of sharing them with other people.
Climate scientist Dr. Katherine Hayhoe says the most important thing we can do about the climate crisis right now “is the exact thing we are not doing- talk about it.” Climate cafes are informal spaces where people can share their thoughts and feelings about the climate and ecological emergency. By meeting like-minded people and talking about climate solutions, climate cafes are a great way to help people feel empowered and remind us that we do not have to face this crisis alone.
To learn more watch Katherine Hayhoe’s Ted Talk on youtube.
The theme of this month’s climate cafe will be green buildings. Heating buildings with oil, gas and propane is the third largest source of carbon pollution in Canada, at around 18% of emissions. In this climate cafe we will be discussing how we can reduce emissions from this sector through climate solutions such as energy-efficiency measures (better insulation, triple-glazed windows), heat pumps and green roofs. What are some things we can do as individuals to reduce our carbon footprint from our homes? What are some challenges in doing so? What are some ways you would like the government to address this, at a local, provincial and federal level?
Join us at 7pm on Tuesday February 24th at the Island Restaurant. This event is free to attend and all are welcome!