The New Brunswick Community Challenge

Introduction / Rationale

Process

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Introduction / Rationale

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.

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. 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. The New Brunswick Community Challenge is aimed at building capacity at the local level, for implementing long-term action plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Russia recently ratified the Kyoto Protocol, effectively bringing it into force on February 16th. This means Canada will make renewed efforts to reach its Kyoto target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 6% below 1990 levels, by the year 2010. This includes actions by municipalities, industry, and individual Canadians. 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.

We co-organized the Climate Change and Sustainable Communities Conference in partnership with the New Brunswick Environment Industry Association, in 2003. In March 2004, we held a workshop for municipalities called 'Building Community Responsiveness to Climate Change', in Fredericton, NB. Keynote speakers included: Honourable Andy Scott, MP and Minister of Infrastructure; Honourable Brenda Fowlie, Minister of Environment and Local Government; and Pat Dolan, Director of the National One-Tonne Challenge, Environment Canada. In April, we co-sponsored a workshop on Sustainable Transportation, hosted by the University of New Brunswick. Throughout the spring and summer months we developed a series of resources for community-based action on climate change. We assisted numerous New Brunswick groups to identify and apply for funding of community-based projects addressing climate change. More recently, we have been involved in the development of the National One-Tonne Challenge campaign, aimed at encouraging individual Canadians to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On November 1st, 2004, we held a workshop entitled: "Behavior Change and Community Based Social Marketing" with Dr. Doug McKenzie-Mohr.

There are many groups active on environment and health issues in New Brunswick, which is a fantastic resource pool for expertise and partnerships. Municipalities are looking for cost-effective solutions to addressing key environmental and health concerns. With the Kyoto Protocol coming into force, Canadian communities are Canada's best opportunity for achieving GHG reduction targets through leadership and innovation. 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.