Abi Dagleish – November 7, 2023
I went to the Calgary Climate Symposium so you didn’t have to
The 5th annual Calgary Climate Symposium was held from October 23 to 27. The symposium included sessions on various topics, ranging from the launch of Alberta’s Emissions Neutral Building Information Exchange to Community Solar Generation in Our City. Its main focus was on Calgary’s strategy to transition to a low-carbon and climate-resistant future, with an emphasis on providing equal access to climate change information for all Calgarians.
You might be wondering: what are the potential consequences of not addressing climate change on a local scale? As global temperatures continue to rise due to the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, Calgarians can expect to see longer summers, elevated water vapor concentration leading to persistent pests during the growing season, and more energy available for severe storms like hail, wind, and thunderstorms. Shifting seasons could also lead to an increased risk of spring flooding and summer droughts. These changes will impact various aspects of life in Calgary, including our food supply chains, hospitals, housing, and energy security, due to warped temperatures, increased severe weather events, and decreased air quality. These events would also cost Calgary economically, as the cost of allowing climate change to continue unabated is much higher than the cost of adapting and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Calgary’s Climate Strategy incorporates both mitigation and adaptation strategies, encouraging individual involvement from Calgarians. Mitigation entails reducing emissions that contribute to climate change, such as promoting sustainable transportation, clean energy, and energy efficiency. On the other hand, adaptation involves managing the risks associated with climate change impacts, such as disaster management, flood protection, and infrastructure improvements.
The City of Calgary’s goal is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, requiring contributions from residential, transportation, industry, and commercial sectors. While the symposium focused on the city’s plan to mitigate and adapt to climate change, some sessions highlighted what individuals can do to reduce the impact of climate change on their communities. These actions include reducing meat consumption, minimizing food waste, enhancing home resilience, using sustainable transportation, and engaging in open conversations about climate change with friends and family. A complete list of actions you can take can be found here.
The City of Calgary has initiated several programs to support its climate change strategy that focus on communities, buildings, energy supply, mobility, natural infrastructure, and education and outreach. These initiatives include investments in waterway management, discussions with other cities about emission-neutral buildings, building retrofits, financial assistance for homeowners to enhance climate resilience, and support for pilot projects. The Highland Regenerative Farm is an example of a pilot project that emphasizes land revitalization, regenerative food, and community development and relies on community involvement to thrive.
Climate action not only addresses environmental concerns but also offers various co-benefits that directly impact the local community, such as reducing poverty, creating employment opportunities, enhancing public health, and improving flood and drought resilience.
For further inquiries about the Calgary Climate Symposium, ideas on how young Canadians can adapt and mitigate climate change, or to contribute on your campus, please reach out to [email protected].
