FEBRUARY 2023 NEWSLETTER
Hi Friend,
The final stretch of winter is upon us!
At this point in the winter, some of us have started to daydream about warmer days of spring and summer spent somewhere in nature, the garden, or maybe enjoying time outside with friends and loved-ones. For those feeling the winter blues, hang in there! With every passing day we are closer to the return of longer days, spring ephemerals, emerging frogs, foliage, song-birds, and sunny days with warm breezes. With only roughly 6 weeks of winter left, there is so much to look forward to as we approach the turning of the page on winter and a new chapter of spring.
In this issue, we share a county update highlighting a positive step towards the use of the climate lens in municipal decisions making. We also share a piece called “Hope is a Discipline” by Susan Phillips, the Executive Director of Climate Generation. This piece is written from an American perspective, but the insight and message is important and reminds us that we must act now and be disciplined in our actions towards climate change.
Be sure to check out the learning opportunities and read what has been going on locally in the news. We also have a helpful resource for those looking to use solar in their homes. For actions you can take this month, give your bank account a break by finding joy in what you currently have and taking time to practise gratitude.
Thank you for your continued support,
The CNL Team
In this Issue:
County Update
“Hope is a Discipline” by Susan Phillips Executive Director of Climate Generation
Events and Learning
Helpful Resources
Local Climate Action in the News
Actions You Can Take
1. County Update
The Climate Lens- Adopted by Lanark County!
The Climate Lens tool developed by Bob Argue of Eco Perth, has been adopted by the county council! This tool shows the monetary value of greenhouse gas emissions produced from various activities. The peer-reviewed tool can be used to calculate the carbon footprint associated with various actions, while also showing the cost differences between energy sources. The tool created in excel software has been formulated to present accurate estimates on emissions and costs. This is a great step in local municipal decision making, so decision makers can understand the climate implications. Read the article in our “Local Climate Action in the News” section of our newsletter to learn more!
2. “Hope is a Discipline” by Susan Phillips Executive Director of Climate Generation
My daughter lives, works, and plays in Los Angeles, California. I have grown accustomed to being anxious during fire season; the recent extreme weather has me checking in more often. As I write, 18 people have lost their lives in these storms, more than 4.5 million people are under flood watches, hundreds of thousands are without power, and a heartbreaking search is on for a 5-year-old boy who was swept from his mothers’ arms by raging flood waters. Experts say the cost of the damage from these storms will top $1 billion.
Reading these impacts alone is overwhelming; I invite us to take a deep breath. We are also seeing impacts of our fossil-fuel based society locally: Minnesota is currently experiencing the worst winter air quality situation seen in the state since December 2005. There is not enough wind to disperse the particulates and air pollution.
The impacts and realities of the climate crisis are part of the daily news cycle. New words are entering our vocabulary that define our sweltering planet: Heatflation (when hot temperatures send prices soaring), Nature-rinsing (using natural imagery in advertisements to give the appearance of being environmentally friendly) and Danger Season (the period of the year from May to October plagued with wildfires, hurricanes, and heat waves) among them.
Mental health professionals are talking about climate grief — feelings of sadness, loss, and anxiety in response to climate devastation. A 2019 poll by the American Psychological Association revealed that 68% of US adults are experiencing at least a little anxiety about climate change. Another 2021 study surveyed ten thousand 16–25-year-olds across ten countries and found that 84% were at least moderately worried about climate change, and more than half (59%) were very or extremely worried.
In a recent staff meeting, as we talked about wellbeing and the intersection of personal practices and organizational culture, we talked about climate grief. We talked about the transformational power of story and relationship-based work. Someone told a story of a conversation with a college professor and the realization that we are here—in this work—because we have hope and because we believe that a different way is possible. If we didn’t believe that, we would give up and disengage. Someone else shared an article by writer and activist Rebecca Solnit.
“Not acting is a luxury those in immediate danger do not have, and despair something they cannot afford.” — Rebecca Solnit
The paralyzing despair of climate grief is a privilege. The folks whose lives are being literally turned upside down don’t have time for despair, “they simply can’t afford,” says Solnit, “to lose hope.” Solidarity with Indigenous and front line communities means showing up and taking action while holding the despair and anxiety.
“Hope doesn’t preclude feeling sadness or frustration or anger or any other emotion that makes total sense. Hope isn’t an emotion, you know? Hope is not optimism. Hope is a discipline… we have to practice it every single day.” — Mariame Kaba
Kaba’s words remind us that we can be hopeful and still experience all of the feels. That our hope can be grounded in the nitty gritty reality and not a rose-coloured space of unicorns and rainbows.
“I’m not saying we’ll live to see some sort of paradise. But just fighting for change makes you stronger. Not hoping for anything will kill you for sure.” — Leslie Feinberg.
Fighting for change makes you stronger. Taking action relieves despair. We get to build community, learn from one another and stitch together all of our hyper local actions to create a giant net of love surrounding the planet. Let’s not let despair take over 2023, let’s fight like our lives depend on it. Because they do, and it’s time.
3. Events and Learning
February 1st- “Navigating Energy transitions: The implications of 1.5°C scenarios for Canada’s Paris-aligned energy transitions”- Hosted by The Climate Institute @12pm to 1:30pm EST – online, CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
February 1st & March 8th - “Introduction to Regenerative Livestock Course”-Hosted by EFAO, February 1st @ 7:30 PM - March 8th @ 9:30 PM Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants, CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
February 1st- “Regenerative Livestock: The Basics”- Hosted by EFAO @ 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM, Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants, CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
February 8th- “Regenerative Poultry”- Hosted by EFAO @ 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants , CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
February 9th- “Climate Change and Heat Pump Seminar”- Hosted by REAL @ 7:00PM- CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
February 9th- “Principles and Practices of Holistic Management”-Hosted by EFAO, February 9th @ 12:00 PM - THURSDAY APRIL 13 @ 2:00 PM Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants- CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
February 15th- “Raising Pigs Regeneratively”-Hosted by EFAO, February 15th @ 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
February 16th- “Eat, Prey, Love: The Secret Lives of Spiders” Speaker: Catherine Scott followed by the MVFN Annual General Meeting @ 6:45 pm - 8:00 pm CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
February 18th- “Winter Tree ID with Owen Clarkin – A Members Only Event” @ 10:00AM-1:00PM- CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
February 22nd- “Raising Small Ruminants Regeneratively”-Hosted by EFAO, February 22nd @ 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants- CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
March 1st & 29th- “Living Soils Intensive”-Hosted by EFAO, March 1st @ 12:30 PM - March 29th @ 4:00 PM Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants, CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
March 8th- “Key Considerations for Raising Livestock Regeneratively”-Hosted by EFAO, @ 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Online via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
March 22nd- “Indigenous Spaces of the Biosphere - An Educational Webinar The Indigenous Spaces of The Frontenac Arch Biosphere” - Webinar @ 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
March 25th- “Thunderbird Tales – Teachings with Tim Yearington” @ 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
1. The Narwhal- "Appetite for construction: Ontario’s Greenbelt and beyond"
Click HERE to view the recording
2. SolarShare- Installing Solar Panels on Your Ontario Home
. SolarShare offers Ontarians the opportunity to support solar energy in the province without having to own a system themselves. However, people often ask them about how they can install panels on their homes, businesses and properties to reap the rewards of the sun! Here’s what you need to know about going solar in Ontario.
5. Local Climate Action in the News
It’s called a climate lens and why is Lanark County now looking through one?- Ashley Kulp
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Climate resolutions you can keep- Tom Shoebridge
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
6. Actions You Can Take
Less is More! Escape Excessive Consumerism and Rein in Materialistic Urges
To live in our modern world, is to consume. While our economy has evolved to reflect our fast paced lives, it seems there is a product that provides a “solution” for everything. With marketing tactics rooted in psychology, sometimes we feel a need for a product in order to be happy, healthy, or fulfilled. It seems like an easy fix right? Spend $29.99 and magically some or maybe all of your problems are solved. As the old saying goes… If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. Although there are studies that suggest buying products can leave us with a temporary feeling of happiness (Rick et.al, 2014). On the contrary there are studies that show as the desire to achieve materialistic goals increases, there are decreases in measures of well-being and self-esteem (Kaser et.al, 2013).
Aside from the negative implications this has on human well-being, materialism also has severe and detrimental effects on the environment. As we continue to buy updated versions of technologies, revamp our wardrobes to the latest fashions, and purchase novelty items, this “out with the old '' mentality eventually leads directly to the landfill. Some big manufacturers use a product development strategy called planned obsolescence, to keep you coming back for more. Planned obsolescence encompasses products that are made using poorly sourced materials and are difficult or impossible to obtain replacement parts. As a result most products we buy are destined for the landfill in a matter of a couple years. This concept of planned obsolescence is also seen in the fashion industry, where clothes are made to match current trends, and manufactured with materials that do not last.
From a climate perspective, the extraction, refining, manufacturing, and shipping of goods to the consumer are all activities that use a large amount of fossil fuels. 45% of Global GHG emissions can be attributed to the production of materials, products, food, the management of land. It is estimated that the implementation of circular economies could reduce this by 40% by 2050 (“Completing the picture: How the circular economy tackles climate change. How to Build a Circular Economy” et.al, 2021).
As we continue to see huge piles of clothes in the Chilean desert, heaps of various plastics in our oceans, mountains of old technology, and natural disasters displacing and taking the lives of people worldwide, use these images as a catalyst for adapting your lifestyle and keeping your consumption in check. As the earth and the climate beg for our attention, limiting our consumption of material goods is a step in the right direction. By shifting priorities away from materialism, we can begin to focus on the things in life that matter. By regularly practising and fostering gratitude with intention, this can help to curb your materialism (Chaplin et.al, 2018).
It's understandable that we can’t entirely escape buying things. We need food to eat, clothes to keep us warm, and certain items help us to achieve certain goals. Consumers should consciously advocate with their dollar by making informed purchasing decisions and doing some or all of the following:
Purchase items with less packaging where possible
Resist the urge to update items that do not need to be replaced
Check for second hand options
Purchase items made with quality materials
Buy products where possible that are made of renewable or recycled materials
Avoid comparisons of what you have to what others have
Most importantly advocate for a circular economy that supports extended producer responsibility
Remember, companies want you to buy their product, but what is the real cost?
Sources
Rick, S. I., Pereira, B., & Burson, K. A. (2014). The benefits of retail therapy: Making purchase decisions reduces residual sadness. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 24(3), 373–380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcps.2013.12.004
Kasser, T., Rosenblum, K. L., Sameroff, A. J., Deci, E. L., Niemiec, C. P., Ryan, R. M., Árnadóttir, O., Bond, R., Dittmar, H., Dungan, N., & Hawks, S. (2013). Changes in materialism, changes in psychological well-being: Evidence from Three longitudinal studies and an intervention experiment. Motivation and Emotion, 38(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-013-9371-4
Completing the picture: How the circular economy tackles climate change. How to Build a Circular Economy. (2021). Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/completing-the-picture
Chaplin, L. N., John, D. R., Rindfleisch, A., & Froh, J. J. (2018). The impact of gratitude on adolescent materialism and generosity. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 14(4), 502–511. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2018.1497688
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