Spring 2020 | Lab 2: Climate Emergency
The theme for our second lab is Climate Emergency!
What Is a Climate Emergency?
Rising sea levels, increased forest fires, biodiversity loss and record temperatures are catalyzing climate-induced migration around the world. According to the UN, 55 per cent of the world’s population currently reside in cities, with this number projected to increase to 68 per cent by 2030. While cities are feeling the burden of the climate crisis, they are also the ones stepping up, to take powerful and necessary action. Often, the start of such action is a climate emergency declaration.
One in ten people on the planet now live in a place that has declared a climate emergency. Within the Metro Vancouver region, this includes residents in the municipalities of Vancouver, Richmond, New Westminster, Port Moody, West Vancouver, City of North Vancouver, District of North Vancouver, and Burnaby, along with a growing number of post-secondary institutions and businesses.
Since these declarations are largely symbolic gestures, we asked:
:
- What does a climate emergency declaration mean for a city, for institutions, and for businesses, and what are the scales and measurements of success to ensure that actual actions are implemented?
- How can we address the gap that currently exists between needing necessary bold action that scientists and activists are demanding with the slow pace of policy making?
- How can governments better involve youth in the decision-making process when proposing new innovative ways to create change at the local level?
These questions drove the theme of our second Envirolab cohort, where we explored the challenges and opportunities for cities across Metro Vancouver to proactively work with youth on taking bold climate action after their emergency declarations. By learning with and from experts in the fields of climate science, local governance, circular and sharing economies, community engagement, infrastructure, and more, participants were equipped to design projects, actions, and/or products that address the urgency of our climate crisis and inspire us to take collective action.
In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, this cohort had to face the unique challenge of shifting to a digital session delivery halfway through the program. Their creative responses to this unpredictable situation ensured that every group continued to flourish and deliver exceptional projects, despite the added challenges. The CityHive team wants to commend this particular cohort of their hard work in the face of the crisis, and for staying centered on their climate emergency goals.
STEERING COMMITEE
PARTNERS
This program wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of:
