Submitted by: North Bruce
Climate Change Action Committee
It may seem like an unlikely partnership, but Climate Change solutions and tightening the financial belt can go hand in hand. We often hear of more expensive ideas like e-vehicles, solar panels and heat pumps, all of which keep fossil fuels in the ground, an important goal to lower carbon emissions. For those that can afford these measures, they should consider taking them. But there is an entry point for every budget.
Local teacher and mother of two, Terri McIver says, “our family is far from perfect and sometimes it’s one step forward two steps back, but overall we are trying to make better choices along the way. We’ve thought about our consumer choices, our food choices, how we spend our recreational time as a family. We hope that the sum of all of our actions will add up to make a difference, along with the actions of our friends and family.”
Terri McIver has looked at different areas of family life and implemented small but meaningful changes along the way.
“If Covid has shown us anything, it’s how important it is to shop locally. I’ve started to buy shampoo and conditioner bars that help reduce plastic packaging while supporting local merchants. It sounds so simple, but reducing food waste, buying local meat and eating the odd plant-based meal are all good actions for the wallet and the environment,” said McIver. “Fast fashion does not exist in our home. Most of the kids clothes are hand me downs from friends that get passed along when we are done with them.”
Their family tries to foster some recreational activities that are free from non-renewable energy sources. Tobogganing, board games, and hiking bring the family together for free fun and save on energy.
The idea to ‘refuse” along with reduce, reuse, recycle and rot keeps the pocket book happy and reduces carbon emissions. Refuse what you really don’t need, reduce the things you do need, recycle whatever you can and compost your food waste.
As Terri McIver emphasizes, all of our actions accumulate to make an impact.
It’s warming.
It’s us.
We’re sure.
It’s bad.
We can fix it.
(thanks to Dr. Kimberly Nicholas for putting it so simply).
