And while we hope it will light a fire under the Nova Scotia government, this document is really intended for you. We want to share what we’ve learned about some of the amazing things folks are doing to reduce greenhouse gases, protect biodiversity, and much more. In the Netherlands, Energiesprong is doing “net-zero makeovers” on homes in just one week, using a prefabricated, modular process. The UK government recently announced it will pay private landowners to support natural regeneration on their land and create woodlots that provide habitat for wildlife and help prevent flooding. In June, Vancouver’s municipal council voted down a motion to further delay climate action; the city is going to require new low-rise buildings to have electric heating, starting in 2022. Even the costs of wind energy and solar energy have gone way down. In fact, they are now much cheaper than coal, which currently generates most of Nova Scotia’s electricity. Great things truly are possible now. Our elected leaders need to either get on board or move aside and let the rest of us get on with tackling the climate crisis while there’s still time. Sierra Club Atlantic’s report is a testament to you and your efforts. Many of you have devoted years of your lives to environmental causes—sacrificing time with your families, your livelihoods, and even your own health. Your passion and commitment are inspiring. I hope you’ll dive into this report, full of easy-to-understand information, important facts, and fantastic visuals. A quick note about how to navigate the report: the page numbers in the table of contents are hyperlinked so you can click on them and go right to the page you’re looking for. Also, if you click on one of the citation numbers in the document, it will take you to the Endnotes at the back where the reference is cited; just click the number again to return to the page you were on. As always, we welcome your comments and feedback. |
