A non-profit organization on Salt Spring Island has a plan to help prepare residents for the challenges of climate change by increasing resiliency and self-sufficiency.
In 2021, Transition Salt Spring unveiled a local Climate Action Plan, outlining 250 actions residents could take to address the climate crisis, with a goal of reducing local greenhouse-gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.
“We asked people to take one bike trip or eat one less burger — any action to reduce the ‘nothing we can do’ mentality,” said Darlene Gage, executive director of Transition Salt Spring Society.
She said the group’s goal is to empower people who can sometimes feel powerless in the face of a global crisis, and remind them that ordinary citizens can take action — together — and make a difference.
“We are looking at climate change through a hyper-local lens, encouraging neighbours to talk to neighbours,” said Gage. “We see ourselves as a central driving force, activating people to work together and take a collective approach in reaching CO2 emissions-reduction goals.”
The society, funded in part by grants from the Victoria Foundation, was formed 25 years ago amid the ‘Transition Town” movement, where communities worked together on a grassroots level to counter or mitigate the effects of climate change.
Bryan Young, chair of the society’s board, describes the group’s work as building “circles of relationships,” and creating “tables for people to come together.”
“We are all in this together,” Young said. “There is so much we can do by coming together. We just have to find the thread that holds us together.”
He pointed to the Slow Down Salt Spring initiative, which includes a toy swap, repair cafe and clothing swap where community members can exchange and reuse items. Fixing or trading items reduces consumption and thus, the overall carbon footprint.
“The clothing-swap event — the first one which took place last October — underscores our message and the need to reach beyond our principal audience,” he said.
Other initiatives include a rainwater-harvesting incentive program, community garden and native plant and marine-stewardship groups.
They also work with other organizations, including collaborating with the North Salt Spring Waterworks District on a Climate Adaption Research Lab in the Maxwell watershed.
The society is part of efforts led by Island Pathways to advance the Salish Sea Trail Network, a regional trail network that already winds through Greater Victoria, Cowichan Valley, Sooke Hills and E&N Rail trails.
The project is 20-plus kilometres short of completion, with the road between Fulford Harbour and Vesuvius the last leg needed to close the loop on Salt Spring Island.
The hope is that the upgrade of the roadway will increase bicycle ridership — reducing CO2 emissions from vehicles — along with attracting tourists to the island.
“We have a chance here for locals and tourists to have a deeper, slower experience,” said Young. “We just have to open the door to change.”
