Moving Towards Resilience
One Sky has been working on energy conservation and sustainability issues for some time. You may have noticed the solar panels on the roof and our attempts to develop regional programming toward energy conservation (Energy Smart Smithers, Energy plans for Smithers and Burns Lake, Energetic Olympics, Canadian Renewable Energy Alliance, U.N. meetings on energy). When we completed the Energetic Olympics program we realized that the region has no overall strategy to deal with energy conservation and many of the active energy conservation promoters were working in isolation from each other. People had enjoyed hearing from each other and there was a strong desire to continue to communicate with each other more often. Since then, the Enbridge pipeline project has catalyzed a lot of local opposition in the Northwest and the price of gasoline is on everyone’s mind. Energy is increasing a key issue in the North given the transport issues here, the challenges of “energy poverty”, the changing climate, and the overall need to invest in our community’s resilience.
One Sky has been attending meetings that BC Hydro has been organizing in Vancouver regarding the provincial idea of a “conservation community of practice”. We received a small amount of funding to organize a couple of meetings this summer.
Through these meetings, we are looking for a regional approach to energy conservation and to examine the subject of adaptation and resilience in light of peak oil, climate change, and globalization. There are significant planning gaps and we lack an understanding of how various initiatives fit into a holistic approach to energy conservation. It is actually quite difficult to track down who is doing what and where. Despite our active involvement in energy issues, at various scales, from the local to regional to national and even international, at One Sky we still seek a comprehensive understanding of how to move forward in a way that these scales complement each other. Equally important is understanding what others are doing and how to complement or leverage initiatives. It is fine to act locally and think globally. Our problem is how to act locally in a way that complements or deals with the current global context. Indeed, it is challenging enough to make sure that local initiatives fit into regional planning.
September Community Event
One Sky-Canadian Institute of Sustainable Living is holding a two-day community event. The event combines community organizing with policy dialogue, and will include adaptation scenario planning, asset mapping, community conversations on resilience, and energy conservation. Come learn, discuss, strategize, and contribute to community resilience.
Sept 8-9th
Northwest Community College
Hosted by One Sky in conjunction with Bulkley Valley Research Center, Northwest Community College, Office of the Wet’suwet’en, with funding support from BC Hydro.
Interested participants should sign-up by contacting Gail Hochachka by email before September the 7thor at the One Sky office, as spaces are limited. gail@onesky.ca
