Over the years, the City’s Environment & Climate Resilience team has developed a number of resources to help citizens understand climate change and to deliver programs that support climate action. Recently, a pilot program was launched that encourages neighbours to work together to identify community assets and climate risks, and adapt their neighbourhood block to a changing climate while mitigating emissions.
Program background
Co-created with community members in the fall of 2022, Neighbouring for Climate is a toolkit of action cards to help make climate resilience action as easy as possible. It was designed to align with Abundant Community Edmonton‘s Get Neighbouring program and taps into their networks and formula for involving citizens at the block level.
At two launch events, participants were reminded of the climate changes facing Edmonton, and had the opportunity to work with the toolkit contents. Dropping into the Saturday morning event was a special guest, Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, who reminded us about the importance of community connections.
Inspiring action
Your role as a participating neighbourhood would include gathering your neighbours to use the toolkit and inspiring action in your neighbourhood. You don’t need to have prior knowledge of climate change and its impacts. This program is designed to help you take those first steps and encourages you to learn with your neighbours and to share knowledge and experiences.
Download the toolkit, test it out and provide any feedback you might have. Visit edmonton.ca/ClimateNeighbours.