As we prepare to launch the 6th edition of the National Climate League standings report on
October 3rd, we interviewed several volunteers who helped collect data from their local municipalities for this latest edition.
The NCL 6th edition standings report is a critical tool that activists can use to hold their local municipalities' climate action plans accountable by comparing each city to one another and tracking their performance. Without volunteer participation, a project this ambitious wouldn’t be possible, and we value the input and experience of each volunteer in this endeavor.
Out of our 51 volunteers, we've gathered a few testimonials from Andrea Sadowski (Chilliwack, BC), Amanda Page (Saint John, NB), McKenna North (Ottawa, ON), Andre Kroeger (Regina, SK),
and Adam Johnston (Winnipeg, MB). Hear about their experience collecting data for their local municipalities in this year’s edition of the National Climate League.
Please tell us a bit about yourself, and what drew you towards participating in the NCL.
Andrea: I love all things writing and researching, so when this volunteer opportunity presented itself, I knew it was the right choice for me. It’s rare to find exclusively online volunteer opportunities for local climate projects, so I was excited to see this was something I could do in my spare time, and the topic was something I was interested in researching about anyways.
Amanda: Initially I aimed to enhance my resume as a student, but more importantly, I wanted to contribute meaningfully to my local community. During my onboarding with CRPC, I was fascinated by the previous year’s NCL standings. This inspired me to participate in the upcoming year's data collection. Reading the standings is enjoyable for anyone, but as a data collector, I found it thrilling to investigate and organize my city's climate data, making it more accessible to
the public.
McKenna: I love the outdoors, and I’m passionate about helping the environment in any way possible. That’s one of the reasons I chose to participate in the NCL, it was a chance for me to push for action to be taken to protect our environment.
Andre: I was drawn to the NCL as an opportunity to help with a longitudinal study across communities to see how we might leverage learnings and experiences across Canada.
Adam: What drew me to the NCL was the opportunity to learn more about what my city in Winnipeg is trying to do to become more sustainable, and also learn more about sustainable urban planning.
What was your most exciting or interesting takeaway from your data collection?
Andrea: The most shocking takeaway for me was that a town as small and conservative as Chilliwack would have a climate action plan in the first place. I was surprised about how much information was readily available to me through just a quick online search.
Amanda: In my data collection experience in Saint John, one of the most exciting takeaways was witnessing firsthand how our municipalities dated climate policy is being addressed. Despite its age, it was inspiring to meet city staff who are passionate about making a difference and are dedicated to improving transparency with their climate action efforts.
McKenna: My most exciting takeaway from my data collection was how open the city of Ottawa is to citizen involvement in the creation of its new climate policies. The city has many ways citizens can voice their opinions through surveys, suggestions portals, feedback forms and data collection. You can see this right now on the city’s work-in-progress personal electric vehicle strategy plan and Transportation Master Plan Update.
Andre: The most interesting takeaway was following the transition from wanting a plan, creating a plan, and then putting a plan into action. These are very different stages with their own unique challenges.
Adam: What I found interesting from the data collection process was that Winnipeg does have a climate action plan, and also a plan to support urban forests. That in itself is important.
What was your most concerning or frustrating takeaway?
Andrea: Chilliwack has the largest homeless population in the Fraser Valley with a ton of low-income seniors and young adults, along with six different First Nation bands. There is no mention of the barriers marginalized and low-income communities face when reducing emissions. In fact, homeless camps themselves have been blamed for a lot of the pollution and dumping. It seems as if the community likes to shift blame, rather than take action.
Amanda: My most concerning takeaway from the data collection process in Saint John was the frustration of encountering outdated and inaccessible resources. It was challenging to access certain data and information due to its age and the difficulty in locating relevant resources.
This experience highlighted gaps where our municipality may not be adequately
prioritizing updates and accessibility in its climate action initiatives.
McKenna: My most frustrating takeaway was that overall, the city of Ottawa’s climate action plan and progress is very lackluster. It’s missing many key aspects that a great climate plan requires such as an equity lens, renewable energy targets, a Citizens’ Advisory Committee, an adaptation plan along with many other things.
Andre: The most concerning take-away was how the effort seems to get lost in translation for a plan on sustaining and measuring climate outcomes. Measurement is inconsistent and accountability in communities seems to be a real weakness.
Adam: What I am really concerned about the Winnipeg data is that there are no current plans for climate finance, nor any real short term targets for boosting active transportation. However, the City of Winnipeg is planning to provide an update either this year or in 2025.
What does local climate action mean to you? What aspects are most important to you or would make a difference in your life and/or those in your community?
Andrea: To me, local climate action means that apartment dwellers have easy access to the outdoors and are able to grow their own produce or keep pots of native plants on their balconies, in their side yards or their backyards, if they have one. I think developing a personal connection with nature is the first step that people must take before they're motivated to make personal sacrifices to protect and preserve the environment.
Amanda: To me, local climate action means taking proactive steps within our communities to address environmental challenges and create a sustainable future. The most important aspects include reducing carbon emissions to combat climate change, promoting renewable energy adoption, improving air and water quality, and implementing sustainable practices in everyday life. These efforts not only enhance our own quality of life but also ensure a healthier environment for current and future generations in our communities.
McKenna: To me, local climate action is all about implementing practical, community-driven solutions which not only address climate change at the municipal level but also help local communities thrive. I believe the best local climate action comes from the collective effort of local residents, governments, businesses, and organizations. The most important aspects of local climate action for me are sustainable transportation options which are reliable and effective, supporting local food production, encouraging energy-efficient practices, while also working to transition to renewable energy sources.
Andre: Local climate action is about communities coming together with shared leadership and mutual commitment. It’s not enough to expect any one agency to do this alone, but to work cooperatively and then hold each other accountable with the progress. Local governments have an incredible influence on climate mitigation and resilience, and can affect how we live in sustainable, green and vibrant communities.
Adam: Local climate action is important to me. You need local climate action and climate justice to work hand in hand to improve the health and the economic well-being of Canadian cities.
How do you see yourself applying what you learned going forward?
Andrea: By continuing to put pressure on the local government to put these plans into action and fill in the gaps where needed.
Amanda: This was a great exercise for going through and reading specific climate policies. I see myself using this information while participating in public consultations and climate hub meetings, and to inform the public in general.
McKenna: I believe that I’ll apply what I learned through the NCL going forward by shifting the focus of my academic studies to be more focused on local climate policy and climate action. Now that I have this basis of understanding, I’m passionate to continue to learn more about how municipalities can do better and how I can best advocate for improvements in climate action to succeed.
Andre: The NCL survey can help city officials better understand what works and how to avoid the pitfalls of losing direction. I hope that sharing this within our communities can help us hold our elected officials accountable to their climate commitments over time.
Adam: I plan to apply what I have learned from the NCL and incorporate this into a future episode of Not Necessarily The Automobile.
What was the most enjoyable part about participating in the NCL?
Andrea: There was very good communication on the part of the Campaign Manager. I felt very supported as a volunteer, and I knew that if I had any questions whatsoever they would be answered ASAP.
Amanda: I foundit fascinating to dig into the data specific to my city. While the experience
would likely have been similar for any nearby city, living here myself added a personal dimension. It was enriching to explore the resources and data that are directly relevant to where I live and play. This exploration not only highlighted the potential impact on municipal climate action, but also provided a profound insight into the ongoing efforts and initiatives within my city. It truly opened my eyes to the proactive steps my community has taken and continues to take towards sustainable practices.
McKenna: For me, the best part about participating in the NCL was knowing that I was expanding my knowledge and skills while working towards a greater impact that pushes municipalities to do better when it comes to taking climate action.
Andre: The NCL was very well organized, thoughtfully conducted and has amazing supports. It was a pleasure to participate in it, and I would be ready to help again.
Adam: The ability to personally contribute to an important report that supports climate action in Canada.
Would you like to volunteer to be a part of the next edition of the annual National Climate League standings report? Head to climatereality.ca/ncl to learn more and get involved in the NCL.