The Gabriola Climate 12-12-12 project is a Sustainable Gabriola initiative, starting September 2022. Over the 12 months, we will present 12 wicked problems related to climate change, and bring the community together to seek 12 (and more) local solutions drawn from Gabriolans’ collective wisdom and experience.
For more info about the project, there’s a full description at the bottom of this page.
May: Climate Change & Transportation
Event #1: Climate cafe, May 25th
On Thursday evening, May 25th, join us at GROUND UP CAFE for conversations on the changes we could all make to reduce our transportation related emissions and environmental impacts. Doors open at 6:00 pm to order food and drink. Event starts at 7 pm.
Event #2: EV Expo (Electric Bikes, cars & trucks), May 28th
On Sunday afternoon, May 28th, join us at the COMMONS (Timberframe) from 1:00 to 3:00 for an exposition of electric bikes, cars, trucks and vans. If you have a plug-in vehicle of any type, or are interested in looking at EVs and talking to EV owners, this is the event for you!
If you are interested in a transportation co-op please fill out our short survey.
Factsheet: Climate Change and Transportation
April: rethinking Gabriola’s economy
On Thursday April 20th we challenged society’s stories about the economy, turning those story upside down and identifying ways economics could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions rather than the other way around. The gift economy, sharing economy, circular economy, cooperative economy and different ways of measuring success were all included in the discussion.
Factsheet: Climate Change and the Economy
March: Climate Change & Art
In March we asked the question “How does art inform local responses to global crises? We heard from the six artists in GAC’s commissioned Covid vs Climate art exhibition. The artists and the participants discussed how art can inspire local responses to climate change.
Factsheet: Climate Change and Art
February: Health, Well-being & Climate Change
In February we focused on the intersections between health, well-being and Climate Change. Both physical and psychological impacts of climate change will be discussed, together with how we can respond to the challenges locally.
Click here for presentation by Dr. Sandra Allison (Medical Health Officer for Central Vancouver Island) and Crystal Bowes.
Click here for a summary of the cafe.
Factsheet: Health, Well-being and Climate Change
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January 2023: Indigenous Ways of Knowing
In January we focused on Indigenous ways of knowing and how they can provide insight into interconnectedness, and the importance of stories in understanding climate change. Geraldine Manson, David Bodaly and Ardyth Cooper shared stories related to climate change and invited conversations with those present.
Background document: Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Climate Change
December 2022: rethinking waste
A focus on consumption, Gabriola’s waste and the relationship between consumption, waste and climate change.
Factsheet: Climate Change and Rethinking Waste
Click to download: Brainstormed Ideas from Waste Climate Cafe
novemBER 2022: Climate change & energy
The global, national and local context for energy use and the relationship between energy and climate change.
Factsheet: Local Energy and Climate Change factsheet
Click to download: Brainstormed ideas from Energy Climate Cafe
OCTOBER 2022: Climate change & Food security
A focus on Gabriola’s food systems and food security, and how it is being affected by climate change.
Click to view: Summary of ideas from Food Security events
Factsheet: Local Food Security & Climate Change factsheet
September 2022: Local Terrestrial Ecosystems
A focus on Gabriola’s land-based ecosystems, and how they are being affected by climate change.
Factsheet: Local Terrestrial Ecosystems factsheet
Click to view page: Brainstormed ideas from Sept. Climate Café
or download (PDF): Brainstorming from Sept. Climate Café
About Gabriola Climate 12-12-12
The Gabriola Climate 12-12-12 project is a Sustainable Gabriola initiative that begins in September 2022 and will run for 12 months.
Our focus is “local impacts, local solutions,” with the aim of countering the general hopelessness and helplessness many Gabriolans feel in the face of the global climate crisis.
Gabriola Climate 12-12-12 will, over 12 months, present 12 wicked problems related to climate change, and seek 12 (and more) local solutions drawn from Gabriolans’ collective wisdom and experience.
Our topics are drawn from the 2010 Gabriola Community Sustainability Plan (PDF, 38 pages), with themes such as ecosystems, food, waste, transportation, water, and community well-being, all to be examined through a climate lens. We will highlight the many local successes we’ve already had in meeting these impacts, and bring aware and concerned locals together at our events to create more Gabriola-made solutions.
We’ll have announcements in the Sounder, by email, and on social media each month announcing the coming topic, and inviting you to that month’s events for information on, and discussion of, local solutions for adaptation and mitigation.
We can’t solve a global climate crisis at the local Gabriola level, but there is much we can do, as individuals and as a community, to mitigate and adapt, to make our own lives more active and hopeful, and perhaps to set an example for the world!
—the Gabriola Climate Working Group (Fay Weller, Joan Johnson, Steve Earle, Greg Blee)