New group looking to take action on environmental issues

Like all parents, Sommer Amare wants to leave her children with a better world to live in.

When the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its report on Oct. 8, Amare first felt alarmed and dismayed, but soon felt spurred to act. “I want to be able to tell my kids that we did everything we can,” Amare said. “I don’t want to say ‘oh sorry, China didn’t do their part, so we didn’t do anything either.’ I want to be able to tell them what I did here to help.”

The UN report was commissioned in 2016 and warned that if global warming isn’t kept to a maximum of 1.5C by 2030, even a half degree beyond that will significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods and extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people. “It was five days after the report came out and I put on my Facebook page ‘Is anybody talking about this? Because it’s a pretty big deal. Is nobody having conversations that we have 10 years to make a big change here?’” said Amare.

Amare and Gwen Fisher began discussing things they could do within their community that would have an impact and they decided to form a group. The group wants to put forward positive and effective ideas and plans that the community can implement so that they can do their part in reversing climate change. “(The UN report) was the big shocker to me and then Gwen said that she was wondering the same thing too. So, we threw it out there to friends and family and about a dozen people came to the first meeting,” Amare said.

After three meetings at the public library, the group hasn’t finalized a name, but the roots of some projects are taking hold. Three areas of early focus have been planting trees, making bicycling more accessible and solar energy.

The group hosted a solar panel information night at the end of November as well.

“It’s really easy to circle around ideas, but I’m really hoping to see us take some real action. I would love to try to do so much that we inspire other communities to do so too,” Amare said.

While individuals like Amare in the group do things on their own that benefit the environment, there was a feeling like they weren’t making the difference that they need to make individually, so “we need to get together and do something big,” Amare said.

“I think that’s why I’m so passionate about the tree project because trees make a big impact in the amount of carbon that is in the air.”

The members of the group aren’t trying to necessarily re-invent the wheel. There are programs in other communities and provinces that they can draw inspiration from and take ideas from to implement here.

“In Alberta every second grade student has access to getting a tree to plant if they want and other provinces have an arbour day, where there are free trees available for people who wish to plant them,” Amare said. “It’s going to how to connect the dots of what’s available, what can we do, who wants to be a part of it and what resources can we find.

“It’s going to take a lot of hands, but I think it can happen.”

Given the importance of the province’s resource-based industry on the economy, issues relating to climate change and green technology can be divisive and easily politicized. “It doesn’t have to be that way. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. We’re going to have to be on some sort of integrated system, but we can’t be afraid of solar and renewable resources in the way that we are,” Amare said. “I think we’re being very resistant to change. There are solutions and ways we can do this. There are new technologies every day. It doesn’t help to hate on oil and gas. It doesn’t help anybody.”

During the meeting the point was made that much of the convenience of modern society is built on oil and gas. The group has more than 100 members on their Facebook page and are trying be inclusive and show that everyone has a role to play in creating a healthy environment for the future.

“Everybody is welcome,” Amare said. “We can make a difference when we get together.”

The group will meet again on Jan. 2 at 7 p.m., but are still determining the location. The specifics will all be posted on their Facebook page at “Together we can make a difference - Moose Jaw.”