Friday, October 18, 2024 – The District of Sooke, in partnership with the Fireweed Learning Commons, is excited to announce the release of the first edition of the Climate Field Guide for Residents of the Sooke Region. This practical, one-stop resource is now available digitally, offering residents tools and guidance on how to take impactful local action to address climate change.
The Climate Field Guide builds upon the concerns of residents and supports Sooke’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. It reflects the District’s vision in the Sooke2030 Climate Action Plan of rethinking how we relate to others and our environment, inviting residents to work together. Through education and community collaborations we can work toward a better future.
Written by citizens for citizens, the guide empowers residents to contribute to local climate goals by addressing key areas like carbon footprint reduction, emergency preparedness for climate events, and personal wellbeing in a time of climate uncertainty. The Liveable Futures Workshop Series hosted by the Fireweed Learning Commons is using this guide to engage residents in interactive climate planning for households as well as learning about the global energy transition, climate misinformation, and how to talk about climate across diverse perspectives.
Mayor Maja Tait expressed appreciation for the guide, stating:
“Our community is committed to creating a sustainable future, and this Climate Field Guide is a valuable resource to help residents make informed choices. The actions we take today will have a lasting impact on future generations.
Dr. Elizabeth Lange, PhD, Co-Chair of the Fireweed Learning Commons, added:
“The path to a liveable future requires each of us to not only think differently but to act differently. This guide and our workshops are more than just a how-to resource—they are an invitation for residents to reconnect with the Earth to understand what is going on around us, to our community and hope in its collective future, and to the concrete actions required of us in an already changing climate. I have deep gratitude for the T’Sou-ke Coast Salish and their territory where we live, and for the wisdom of these lands and waters which teach us how to shape a sustainable and just future, now and for future generations.”
Key features of the Climate Field Guide include:
- Emergency Preparedness: Practical steps to protect your household against the growing threat of extreme weather events, such as wildfires, floods, and heatwaves.
- Carbon Footprint Reduction: Detailed information on energy-saving and cost-saving options like heat pumps, low carbon transportation, reducing household waste, and grants/rebates.
- Wellbeing: Tips on improving personal and community resilience through local food and water security, less stress, and more emotional wellness and hope in anxious times.
The Climate Field Guide reflects Sooke’s broader climate action vision of working together to create an even better community.
Access the digital copy of the Climate Field Guide, by clicking the cover image or visiting letstalk.sooke.ca/sooke2030 or fireweedlearningcommons.ca. Hard copies will be available through the Liveable Futures Workshop Series hosted by the Fireweed Learning Commons, offered again in Spring 2025.
Acknowledgments
Compilation Team
Fireweed Learning Commons
Catherine Albertson, Primary Researcher
Dr. Elizabeth Lange
Dr. Shandell Houlden
Lily Mah-Sen
Liz Bueckert
Graphic Design
Matt Hornsby
Production Graphics
www.matthornsby.ca
Printing
Sooke Fax and Copy Centre
www.sookecopycentre.com
Content reviewers:
Christina Moog, Communications, District of Sooke
Maia Schnorr Von Carolsfeld, CRD, E-Mobility Coordinator
Steve Unger, Shift Solar
Helen Ritts, Sooke Emergency Support Services, Volunteer
Ian Waugh, former manager, Interpretive and Environmental Education Services, Alberta Parks