Voices on the Climate Plan
On Dec. 7, 2022, the Nova Scotia government released "Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia's Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth." This plan is meant to provide the roadmap for how Nova Scotia will address the climate crisis. In this six-part video series, Voices on the Climate Plan, the Ecology Action Centre speaks with different community members, leaders and organizers to get their thoughts on how the plan measures up to this huge task. Check out all six videos on this page or our YouTube channel!
Episode 1: Raymond Sewell
The Mi’kmaq concept of Netukulimk is one of the guiding principles of the climate plan. It defines Netukulimk as “the use of the natural bounty provided by the Creator for the self-support and well-being of the individual and the community by achieving adequate standards of community, nutrition, and economic well-being without jeopardizing the integrity, diversity, or productivity of the environment.”
In this episode, community member Raymond Sewell speaks about his understanding of Netukulimk from growing up with its teachings, if the concept is used throughout the province’s climate plan and, if not, what would need to change for the plan to align with the values of Netukulimk.
Episode 2: Sadie Quinn and Rae Steeves
What influence do youth climate organizers have on policy? To what extent does the provincial climate plan recognize youth perspectives and education as important parts of addressing the climate crisis?
In this episode, students and climate organizers Sadie Quinn and Rae Steeves share their thoughts on these questions and more, including what they were pleased to see included in the climate plan and what action they hope to see from the provincial government moving forward.
Episode 3: Brian Gifford
The climate plan aims to increase access to energy efficient homes and help people reduce home heating costs.
In this episode, Brian Gifford, chair of the Affordable Energy Coalition, provides the context for energy poverty in Nova Scotia, lays out what low-income households need to be included in a just transition and explains his thoughts on whether the climate plan is ambitious enough in its actions to increase energy efficiency and support low-income households.
Episode 4: Abhi Jain
In November 2022, the Municipality of the District of Lunenberg (MODL) released its Local Climate Change Action Plan 2030 and has since started to implement it.
In this episode, Abhi Jain, the sustainability planner involved in that plan, talks about the challenges in taking climate action from a municipal level, how the province could support municipalities through the climate plan and what further coordination is needed for an effective response.
Episode 5: Hope Moon
In this episode, Hope Moon, the Community Climate Hubs Manager with the Climate Reality Project Canada, speaks about why she thinks the provincial climate plan is aspirational, how a lack of detail affects community advocacy and why equity and justice should be centered in climate action.
Episode 6: Tynette Deveaux
In our final episode, Tynette Deveaux from Sierra Club Canada’s Beyond Coal Campaign shares her thoughts on why the climate plan is a distraction from bigger harms and why it’s important to zoom out from the details of the plan and put efforts toward changing current systems of capitalism and colonialism.
Opinions expressed in these videos are those of the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ecology Action Centre.