The District of Highlands initiated the Municipal Survivor Climate Challenge in response to the catastrophic climate impacts we are experiencing and that will continue to escalate if we don’t collectively and immediately reduce our emissions. Here in BC and Canada we have some of the world’s largest per person footprints. We must act.
“The Highlands is one of the smallest municipalities on Vancouver Island; what can we do in the face of this global crisis? We know that our individual impacts are small, but by taking action, we can inspire others, build local resilience, and lead by example.” ~Highlands Mayor, Ken Williams
WHAT? To have some fun with this, Highlands council has challenged all local governments within the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) to accept our invitation for a friendly competition to see which council has the lowest footprint, and which council can improve the most over a one-year period. The challenge has taken off!
WHO? The challenge has been so successful with local governments, that many other groups including boards, associations, NGO’s, offices, and committees are also accepting the challenge and comparing their results to their local elected
officials. Together we can work towards a One-Planet Region.
HOW? The group average is calculated from the individual footprint scores. The on-line calculator will give an individual their starting footprint. No individual numbers will be publicly shared – only group averages.
WHEN? The Municipal challenge begins on EARTH DAY – April 22, 2019 and runs until April 22, 2020. Other groups can start ANYTIME!
The simple and fun to use online calculator, www.footprintcalculator.org, will give you a result measured in number of Earths. Footprint questions include: Transportation, air travel, diet (local, packaged, meat/dairy), material consumption, home energy use, garbage, etc.
Will you accept the challenge?