Here's something to think about with the municipal election coming up on October 20.
One of the best ways to do something to help the planet is to vote.
Good climate policy happens when policy makers feel political pressure to lead on climate and that's on all level of government. It's not just on Parliament Hill or at the Legislature in Edmonton. It's at Calgary City Hall. Things like compost and recycling services and funding for climate resiliency don't happen without the political will and it's up to us to let politicians know climate change is a top priority.
Some of the issues city hall deals with are bike lanes and housing density. Find out what your ward candidate's position is. Make sure you ask about their ideas to tackle rezoning, how they plan to steward our public spaces.
I live in an established area impacted by the zoning changes and I know some of my neighbours are feeling anxious about the rezoning. That's understandable. The way I look at it, change is coming everywhere and I don't expect the streets around me to look the same in the next 10 or 20 years. Zoning that allows more density can be good housing policy, as it reduces sprawl and creates more walkable neighborhoods, and reduces air pollution.
If you haven't already, consider volunteering with a candidate who shares your values when it comes to the environment. I have found that it gives me a chance to connect with other people who have shared values and it feels good knowing we are trying to accomplish something together.
We need to get more voters who care about the environment to the take part in local and provincial elections to help change the political environment.
Consider the number of people who didn't vote in the last civic election.
Voter turnout in the Calgary General election in 2021 was 46.38% That means that if "I didn't vote" was on the ballot, they would have won the election. That's a huge number of people who could've exercised their political power that were not heard from.
Recycling your cardboard and riding a bike are great things to do, but if you want to do even more about climate change: vote.
