Now that you are educated and motivated, you can start to draw on the energy of the people in your community to take action on climate change.
On this page, you will find suggestions on how to
- Get started
- Get moving
- Get connected
Click a link in the list above to jump to that topic on this page.
Get started
Form a steering committee – When starting to bring about changes that will affect and involve the community at large, it is important to both consult with and have direction from stakeholders that will be involved.
Approach local stakeholders – Anyone who effects or can be affected by the change or circumstance is a stakeholder.
Some stakeholders in your community might include:
- Local business owners
- Parents
- Youth
- Elected officials
- Educational institutions
- Faith-based organizations
- Local industry
- Local community groups
By approaching local stakeholders to be a part of your steering committee, you are ensuring a collaborative decision-making process that includes a variety of perspectives and values. You also gain a team of individuals who will assist you with setting and achieving goals.
Note: In order to have a link between yourself and your municipal council, it is a good idea to invite an elected official to be a member of your committee.
Once your committee is formed, you can bring them together to discuss/implement some of the following first steps together:
- Identify the community vision, mission, goals and objectives
- Identify community priorities and needs
- Create a local action plan
- Assess the available resources, and potential partners (human and financial)
- Prepare a list of short, medium, and long-term actions
- Develop implementation plans for the determined actions
- Monitor and evaluate the existing projects over time and review your overall plan
Get people
Engage your community
This is just a sample of the many great resources available to help you engage residents in sustainability issues:
| Resource title & link | What it covers |
|---|---|
| David Suzuki Foundation’s “Take Action” website | Learn about actions you can take at home, work, and in the community to lower your impact. |
| Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) "Quick Action Guide" PDF | Descriptions of 20 corporate and community actions that your can take to make your community more climate-friendly. This guide also provides resources, case studies, and contact information for community leaders who have taken these actions. |
| CCC / ICLEI "Actions Local Governments Can Take" PDF | Choose from over 50 actions local governments can take to reduce GHG emissions or conserve energy |
Get moving
Here are some actions your community can take today:
- Contact Climate Change Connection – Find out how your community can develop an awareness strategy. Read about current events and activities occurring in communities across Manitoba on our homepage.
- Join Green Communities Canada – They are a national network of community-based non-profit organizations that deliver innovative environmental programs and services, with a focus on household and community action.
- Spread the word about your climate change plans by working with your local paper to run articles about climate change issues in your community.
- Contact Climate Change Connection to get your Idle-Free Zone traffic signs.
- Visit the following websites to learn how you can make changes to your regular routine and start to live more sustainably.
Get connected
Join up with other groups such as
- Partners for Climate Protection (PCP)
- Climate connection network
Partners for Climate Protection
The Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program is a network of municipalities across Canada that have made a commitment to take action on climate change by reducing greenhouse gases in their municipal operations and their community.
By joining the Partners for Climate Protection program you join hundreds of other communities who are taking advantage of this existing framework and resources (including funding resources available through the Green Municipal Fund).
These Manitoba communities are already following the PCP framework: Brandon, Dauphin, De Salaberry (RM), Morden, Notre Dame de Lourdes (Village), Stanley (RM), St. Laurent (RM), St. Pierre Jolys (Village), Swan River, Taché (RM), Thompson (City), Thompson (RM), The Pas, Virden, Winkler, and Winnipeg
PCP is based on a five milestone framework to guide municipalities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The five milestone process is a flexible performance-based model; milestones do not need to be completed in sequential order. Each milestone provides an opportunity for municipal capacity-building.
The five milestones are:
- Create a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and forecast
- Set an emissions reductions target
- Develop a local action plan
- Implement the local action plan or a set of activities
- Monitor progress and reporting results
Click here to learn more or sign up for the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP)
Climate connection network
Climate Change Connection has created a network – an online database of companies, groups, and organizations that are active in climate change throughout Manitoba. The Climate connection network is organized by sections such as agriculture, transportation, youth, and environmental.
