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Cranbrook, BC (January 21, 2020) --  Climate change is in the news virtually every day, and there is a myriad of viewpoints on the topic.  Many different ideas on how to address climate change have been discussed.

Cranbrook area residents are invited to explore these issues on Tuesday, February 11, 7 to 9 pm in the Lecture Theatre at the College of the Rockies, Cranbrook Campus. “For a livable climate: working on solutions” is being jointly hosted by the City of Cranbrook, the East Kootenay Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), and the Climate Caucus. Doors open at 6:30pm. 

“We are pleased to have been asked to be part of this exciting discussion around climate change,” says Mike Peabody, Acting Mayor for the City of Cranbrook. “As a City, we have been active the past seven years in finding ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our operations and undertaking changes to our processes to help  conserve energy.”

The evening is scheduled to be divided into several parts. The City will first discuss a series of climate mitigation, adaptation and energy conservation projects – both in progress and completed within the municipality. Participants will then explore the latest information about how the climate is shifting in the Cranbrook area and learn about projections for the future. The main presentation of the evening, which will be led by Laura Sacks, will be framed around 3 questions: Must we change? Can we change? Will we change? Breakout sessions encourage participants to discuss their concerns.

“We look forward to this evening for information and community dialogue,” says Sue Cairns with the East Kootenay Chapter of CCL. “I’m excited to be hosting along with the City who has proven strong leadership.  The challenges and opportunities we face require broader participation which this event will support.”

Sacks will present some of the sobering global and local impacts of climate change, and then lead into a discussion about exciting and viable climate solutions. Participants will have opportunities to share ideas.

“Climate change is a topic often avoided because it can be divisive and depressing,” explains Sacks. “What many may not be aware of is that many climate solutions are also good for our health and local economy.”

Local solutions proposed at Columbia Basin Trust’s Climate Action Meeting in Cranbrook will also be discussed. CBT held 28 such meetings in communities across the basin between 2017 and 2019.

Sacks helps coordinate CCL in British Columbia, founded the West Kootenay chapter of CCL, and is a trained Climate Reality Leader. She has a background in hydrology and sustainable agriculture. She has degrees in geology and environmental sciences, with additional course work in climate science and policy, sustainability and renewable energy.  

Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots advocacy organization with a twin focus: to create the political will for a livable planet and to empower people to claim their political and personal power. 

The Climate Caucus is a non-partisan network of elected municipal leaders working collectively for climate action and policy throughout Canada. The Caucus network currently includes more than 200 councillors, mayors, and regional directors.