Lunenburg County Climate Change Challenge

Go to Project... MAIN PROJECT PAGE NEW PROJECTS • Active Transportation in Bridgewater • Atlantic Whitefish Recovery Project • Green Office Challenge • Environmental Education Field Program • Development of a Restoration Plan for the Gold River, NS • Mahone Bay Roseate Tern Recovery • Monitoring and Assessment of Water Quality in the LaHave River Watershed ONGOING PROJECTS • Mapping • Mushamush River Restoration PAST PROJECTS • Baywoods • Caring For Our Coast - Coastal Education • Clean Boating • Coastal Islands Conservation • Ernst Brook Restoration • LaHave River Waters • Lunenburg County Climate Change Challenge • Lunenburg Bay Marine Enivornmental Prediction System (MEPS) • Lunenburg Municipal Water Pollution Prevention Program • Oil Spill Response • Shale Pit Restoration • Species at Risk Conference 2006 • Town of Lunenburg Water Pollution Prevention

A program designed to promote and encourage the federal government’s “One Tonne Challenge” while also educating the public on the effects of global warming and Greenhouse gases on our health and the environment. Each Canadian produces an average of five tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions every year by driving cars, heating and cooling homes, washing and drying clothes, and using other everyday household appliances. If current trends continue, both the environment and human health will suffer.

The solution is simple...a more educated and aware public using energy more efficiently through re-thinking their actions and making small personal changes in their everyday habits. These changes in habit could be as minor as turning off lights when not in use, turning off water when brushing your teeth, choosing to walk or bike rather than drive on short trips, choosing to carpool when commuting, and purchasing energy efficient “EnerGuide” household appliances. Small steps really do make a difference in reducing Canada’s total energy consumption, especially when communities, large and small, band together and commit to taking those steps.

Established Anti-Idling Sites: • Town of Mahone Bay • Bayview Community School • Bridgewater Marine Terminal • Lunenburg Day Care • The Water Clinic in Lunenburg • Chester Municipal Office

The main components of this project are:

1) Register for the Lunenburg County Climate Change Challenge/Survey. Energy saving prizes to be won. Participants must live in Lunenburg County.

2) Establish an Idle-Free Zone in your area. It’s free and will improve community health and prevent unnecessary pollution.

3) Establish a Walking or Bike School bus at your local school. This initiative takes volunteers and staff support. They can be organized for one day each week or month or become a regular part of school life. Walking and biking school buses improve the health of our children while improving the air and environment around us.

4) Improve on an already existing car pool program. “Share-A-Ride and Save” is a program that was established in 2001. This program was designed to allow people commuting from Lunenburg County to Halifax to access a commuter database. Anyone interested in learning more about program, please contact our office.

5) Organize and conduct a community meeting based on climate change issues. Guest speakers will discuss current issues and initiatives that the general public can use to improve the effects of climate change. Contact our office for meetings/workshops in your area.