Active Communities

Introduction / Rationale

The New Brunswick Climate Change Hub hopes to foster an environment favorable for taking action, including building a province-wide support network for municipalities engaged on climate change. We aim to build capacity at the local level for development of integrated community sustainability goals and for implementing action plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Municipalities are looking for cost-effective solutions to addressing key environmental and health concerns. Through leadership and innovation, communities across Canada are achieving GHG reduction targets. Community-based action on climate change requires a combination of partnerships, locating the right technical expertise, identifying resources, public education and engagement, and political will / support. Let the New Brunswick Climate Change Hub help you to make positive steps forward in addressing climate change, while simultaneously improving quality of life, realizing cost-savings, and engaging citizens in healthy living.

Here are some useful resources for communities taking action or developing a plan:

• Municipal Forum Teleconference Resources/Minutes

  Engaging Communities for a Sustainable World - State of the World Report 2008 (Chapter 11)
• Life-Cycle Costing Tool for Community Infrastructure Planning - CMHC
• Sustainable Community Planning and Development: Design Charrette Planning Guide
• PCP Council Resolution to Join
• Five Milestone Introduction
• Guide to local action planning
• Citizen Engagement Resources
• Template Local Action Plan - a skeleton in which you fill in the details OR
• PCP Model Climate Change Action Plan
• How to develop an estimated GHG Inventory
• Full GHG Inventory Spreadsheet Tool - when prompted, select 'enable macros' - since the spreadsheet has automated calculation / data functions
• Sustainable Buildings and Communities - CANMET
• Community Energy Planning Guide
• Alternative Energy Sources for Communities
• CMHC EQuilibrium
• GreenRide
• GreenMeter 

• Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Municipal Vehicle Fleets

• Adapting to Climate Change - An Introduction for Canadian Municipalities
• PREPARING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE - A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State Governments
• Sustainable Communities in a Self-Sufficient Province - Case Study for the greater Saint John Region.
• Local governments identify the impacts of climate change, analyze adaptation options and develop action strategies to protect their communities.

The New Brunswick Lung Association (which hosts the New Brunswick Climate Change Hub) became Associate Member of the Partners for Climate Protection program in 2001, as part of our commitment to help municipalities reduce harmful air pollutants and Greenhouse Gas emissions from municipal operations and from within communities at large. The New Brunswick Climate Change Hub is considered a foremost leader in public engagement, stakeholder facilitation, and development of community-based action projects to address climate change. The Hub provides networking, capacity building, facilitation, recognition, and technical support to communities, health and environment NGOs, and industry.