The consultation process well underway by the City’s environment department has brought to light key issues effecting the well being of our city. “It has become quite clear with this process that the overwhelming majority of people involved in the planning of our City’s future agree that lifestyle changes are inevitable,” says Valerie Pachal, EFCL representative in the consultation process.
This very well organized procedure has involved over 150 members from a wide variety of interest groups such as developers, oil industry, environmental groups, students, not for profits, and right down to the individual level, including five of our own community league members. The contributors were asked to read papers written by experts about the condition of our city and the future challenges we will face. The news is not new, but it is amazing how many people are still unaware about key issues such as peak oil and the threats brought on to our way of living by the lack of economic diversity and our addiction to non renewable energy sources. They are even more unaware of how much we as Albertans contribute to Green House Gases and how are life will be changed when non renewable resources become even more scarce.
Video presentations, the comments from contributors, and papers by experts are available online at www.edmonton.ca/ The Way We Green and include local and worldwide intelligentsia, including the founder of Transition Towns, Rob Hopkins, who has implemented amazing changes to his community in Ireland. This model has been adopted in over 350 communities around the world, and here in Westmount, Grovenor, and Parkallen Community Leagues. The City of Edmonton has recognized the necessity to address sustainability on a local level.
In short, to prepare for the future your best option is to choose how your future looks rather than react to change that severely impairs our ability to function and live. Remember, that if there was a crisis in energy or weather, there is only 3 days of food in Edmonton.
For more information on Transition Towns visit www.TransitionEd.org which links to sites and resources.
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