News

  • OSCIII Blog: Food security in a time of uncertainty

    A word cloud depicting the important concepts surrounding food security, April 2020 (Photo: shutterstock.com).


    Farming is an essential service. It is also an industry with a great deal of volatility; farmers must continually rethink how they manage their crops in order to respond to changing weather patterns, depletion of resources, pests, diseases and markets . The current COVID-19 pandemic has also demonstrated how vulnerable agricultural systems can be when the number of workers who can be on site at a time is reduced or the farm has to be shut down entirely. A good first step to achieving total sustainability starts with the consumer. By better understanding where their food and materials come from, they can be more aware of the efforts that are needed to maintain food security.

    Food security is the ability for all individuals to have safe access to food that is nutritious and healthy — no matter their economic or social status. When thinking about our current situation, and the need for social distancing as well as economic shut down, we need to consider what it means to Canadian food security.

    So, where does our food come from? Many might think that we get a lot of our produce locally, especially those living in the Niagara region where fruit farms are plentiful and farmer’s markets are extremely popular. It might come as a surprise to learn that Canada actually imports most of its fruit and vegetable supplies from other countries. Outsourcing our produce means that the food has to travel long distances before ending up on our plates. The further that produce travels, the less secure it is and the more environmentally costly it becomes. One reason Canada relies on imports is that we have a relatively short growing season that limits the amount and variety of produce we can grow. Other factors, such as trade agreements, market demands, and the impossibility to grow some of the tropical produce that many people like in Canada, are also part of the equation.

    It’s important however, to not take our local farmers for granted. Many of our local farmers are developing innovative new greenhouse systems and working with new indoor growing technologies to maintain production during our Canadian winters and attempting to farm as sustainably as possible through organic farming practices. Ideally, more people would also attempt to garden at home, and choose produce that is considered to be more environmentally friendly (which usually translates to buying locally). While our urbanized way of life and potential lack of skills and knowledge might be used as excuses to not try growing our own food, it is indeed worth the effort and satisfaction.

    If growing your own food is not an option, changing your consumption habits to support local growers and suppliers is an impactful way to move toward food security. With borders being closed and food production factories shut down for weeks at a time, relying on Canadian farmers makes good sense. Choosing an Ontario tomato rather than one that has been shipped from as far away as the equator not only helps our farmers—who in turn help us—it also reduces the amount of carbon emissions that result from shipping produce over long distances. Bringing our food supply chain closer to home is one way in which we can help to implement sustainable agriculture and reduce the impacts of climate change. As consumers, we have the power to drive this change.

    This blog section will be ongoing throughout the duration of the project with bi-weekly updates provided by Liette Vasseur, Heather VanVolkenburg, Kasia Zgurzynski, Habib Ben Kalifa, and Diana Tosato (see research team). We will be providing research activity updates as well as informative pieces that delve into agricultural concepts and important global issues as they relate to agricultural sustainability and climate change. Stay tuned for regular updates!

    Categories: Organic Science Cluster 3 Blog, Updates of the Chair

  • MEOPAR BLOG: SUSTAINABILITY RATING SYSTEMS/CERTIFICATIONS FOR BUILDINGS 2.0

    The Grimsby Square Shopping Centre in the Niagara Region is BOMA BEST Silver certified.


    The buildings we live in have direct and indirect impacts on both our health and the health of our planet. There are numerous sustainability rating systems that have been developed to help us contruct and make our existing buildings more efficient and sustainable. We discussed a few of those in a past article (LEED and LBC), and we’ll examine a few more building sustainability certifications that are widely used in Canada below.

    1) BOMA BEST: Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Building Environmental Standards (BEST)

    BOMA BEST is a voluntary national certification program for buildings in Canada that started in 2005. This certification aims to assess the environmental performance and management of buildings in ten key areas: energy, water, air, comfort, health & wellness, custodial, purchasing, waste, site and stakeholder engagement.

    Building owners complete an online assessment and have an on-site verification by a third-party to then qualify for one of five levels of certification: Certified (attained up to 19 per cent on the questionnaire), Bronze (attained between 20 to 49 per cent on the questionnaire), Silver (attained between 50 to 79 per cent on the questionnaire), Gold (attained between 80 to 89 per cent on the questionnaire) and Platinum (attained between 90 to 100 per cent on the questionnaire). The certification is valid for a three-year period.

    Since the BOMA BEST certification can be applied to buildings of all sizes, it is very popular among building owners and managers in the real estate sector. The certification also provides economic advantages as the operation and maintenance costs of the buildings can be reduced through the installation of high-efficiency systems. Obtaining a building BOMA BEST certifion can also help to attract and retain tenants are many renters are now prioritizing environmental efficiency.

    2) BREEAM: Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

    Developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in 1990, BREEAM is the world’s first and oldest established sustainability rating system for buildings and is used in more than 90 countries. The BREEAM rating can also be obtained for community planning and other infrastructure projects, commercial buildings and homes that have been renovated. BREEAM asesses energy, health & well-being, innovation, land-use, materials, management, pollution, transport, waste, and water. There are five BREAAM ratings for buildings: Outstanding (85 per cent and above), Excellent (70 per cent and above), Very Good (55 per cent and above), Good (45 per cent and above) and Pass (30 per cent and above).

    3) Energy Star Certification for buildings

    The ENERGY STAR symbol is a well-known addition to many of our appliances. This energy efficiency rating was established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 and is one of the most common rating systems for electrical and electronic appliances. But did you know that buildings can be ENERGY STAR-certified, too?

    Getting an ENERGY STAR certification for your building involves scoring well on these four benchmarks: energy use, water use, waste and materials. The ENERGY STAR certification uses a scoring system out of 100; a score of 50 is the median energy efficiency performance, and a score of 75 or more means top performance. The aim of this certification is to encourage homeowners to improve efficiency and save money. The certification is valid for one year.

    Buildings are increasingly being certified in the Niagara Region through these various sustainability rating systems and certifications—which is a good thing.  It shows the potential for property owners to make impactful contributions to boosting Niagara’s local economy and lend momentum to climate change mitigation and adaptation programs in the future.

    The researchers involved with the MEOPAR project are working to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change and how communities can effectively adapt, and increase resilience, to these changes. Follow along with our blog every week (written by researchers Liette Vasseur, Meredith DeCock, Bradley May, Pulkit Garg, Sam Gauthier and Jocelyn Baker) to learn more about the project and how you can get involved. You can also visit our website at brocku.ca/unesco-chair or email us at meopar-lincoln@brocku.ca

    Categories: MEOPAR-Lincoln Blog, Updates of the Chair

  • MEOPAR BLOG: The importance of restoration for enhancing resilience and adaptation to climate change

    A provincially significant wetland (PSW) in Niagara is being restored by digging out the invasive species phragmites (also known as common reed). The project is a partnership between the Niagara Restoration Council, Ducks Unlimited (DU), the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) and a private landowner.


    Ecosystems all over the world have undergone significant damage and stress due to human activities and extreme weather events. This has many adverse effects on biological diversity as well as peoples’ livelihoods and even their health. To bring back these ecosystems, it is crucial that we reverse these negative impacts and degradation. This can be done through a process called ecological restoration, described by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed.

    Restoration is considered a nature-based solution, involving the improvement of the relationship between nature and communities by re-establishing the goods and services that the ecosystem provides. Restoration projects are taking place all over the world in both terrestrial and aquatic environments, including the shorelines of the Great Lakes. There are many different restoration strategies: re-vegetation in areas that have lost their natural plants and trees, habitat enhancement through physical, chemical or biological changes in order to increase the suitability of an environment for native species living, removing invasive species and reintroducing native species that have been lost.

    Remediation is another restoration strategy which helps to reverse or stop environmental damage. This is achieved through the creation of a new ecosystem or by returning the ecosystem to its original state.

    There is a partnership project between the Niagara Restoration Council, Ducks Unlimited (DU), the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) and a private landowner for wetland restoration here in Niagara. Pictured, from left, are Stuart McPherson (NPCA), Jeff Krete (DU) and Steve Gillis (NPCA).

    To be successful, restoration projects require the participation of all stakeholders and sectors of society. In the Niagara Region, for example, the Niagara Restoration Council works in partnership with government and non-government groups to restore some of the natural environment in the Niagara Region through various projects. Some of those projects include: Trees for Niagara: Wildlife Corridor Enhancement of Watersheds, building stream buffers for Niagara’s rivers, Fish Barrier survey, and many others. These restoration projects are considered to be critical in bringing back the ecological processes and ecosystem services needed for the future sustainability of the planet. Many other organizations also aim to contribute to this endeavour in the region.

    Enhancing ecosystems through restoration allows native species to return and thrive in their natural environments, helps to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, and ultimately builds resilience for present and future generations.

    The researchers involved with the MEOPAR project are working to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change and how communities can effectively adapt, and increase resilience, to these changes. Follow along with our blog every week (written by researchers Liette Vasseur, Meredith DeCock, Bradley May, Pulkit Garg, Sam Gauthier and Jocelyn Baker) to learn more about the project and how you can get involved. You can also visit our website at brocku.ca/unesco-chair or email us at meopar-lincoln@brocku.ca

     

     

     

    Categories: MEOPAR-Lincoln Blog, Updates of the Chair

  • OSCIII Blog: Farming—an essential service

    Spring soil amendment application in a Niagara vineyard, May 2018 (Photo: Heather VanVolkenburg).


    The term “essential service” is one that most of us have become acutely aware of in the past few months. An essential service refers to an occupation that a government or governing body deems to be necessary for preserving life, health and basic societal functioning. These services are determined to be needed during an emergency as well as when job action is taken in a labour dispute (such as during strikes). Such services must maintain operations during a crisis in order to ensure that society can still function during and after that crisis. Services deemed essential usually include hospitals and healthcare, law enforcement, firefighting, garbage collection, utilities (i.e. water and electricity), and food services connected to the food supply chain.

    Determining what qualifies as an essential food service can be complicated. From a consumer’s perspective, we are often only concerned with the availability of food in the grocery store. Some may also think of food services as the prepared salad on the shelf at your local grocery store or a meal purchased from a fast food joint. While these businesses are indeed essential, there is one essential food service that is perhaps the most important: farming. Farming forms the foundation of all food services, providing us with the food and ingredients necessary to survive from day to day. Without farmers, the grocery store where you bought your salad or the fast food joint that served you a hamburger would not exist.

    So, before you finish unpacking those groceries or sitting down with that take-out container, take a moment to thank the farmers and those directly connected to agriculture. Also remember that thinking of terms like “farm” or “grocery store” is far too simplistic to truly understand the nature of being essential. Think not only of the farms, but also the workers, fuel providers, truckers, packaging suppliers, grocery clerks, and countless other people that have been involved in the food supply chain along the way. Without these essential food services, and the many intricate pieces involved, we would be a pretty hungry lot!

    This blog section will be ongoing throughout the duration of the project with bi-weekly updates provided by Liette Vasseur, Heather VanVolkenburg, Kasia Zgurzynski, Habib Ben Kalifa, and Diana Tosato (see research team). We will be providing research activity updates as well as informative pieces that delve into agricultural concepts and important global issues as they relate to agricultural sustainability and climate change. Stay tuned for regular updates!

    Categories: Organic Science Cluster 3 Blog, Updates of the Chair

  • Vasseur publishes first position paper with Building Back Better Post COVID-19 Task Force

    Liette Vasseur, UNESCO Chair on Community Sustainability: From Local to Global, is part of a new task force that will publish a series of Policy Briefs focused on Ecosystems and Biodiversity, Green Infrastructure and Food Systems.

    Known as the Building Back Better Post COVID-19 Task Force, it brings together Canadian experts that are proposing economic recovery measures that would make our communities stronger in a post-COVID-19 world. It was established by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the UNESCO Chair on Food, Biodiversity, and Sustainability Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University.

    The first Position Paper published by the task force introduces the series of Policy Briefs focused on Ecosystems and Biodiversity, Green Infrastructure and Food Systems that will be released in the weeks to come.

    Along with Vasseur, other contributors include:

    Alison Blay-Palmer, UNESCO Chair in Food, Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University
    Sébastien Goupil, Secretary-General, Canadian Commission for UNESCO
    Debora Van Nijnatten, Professor, Political Science and North American Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University and Faculty Member, Balsillie School of International Affairs
    Eleanor Haine-Bennett, Natural Sciences Program Officer, Canadian Commission for UNESCO
    Harriet Friedmann, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto
    Liette Vasseur, UNESCO Chair on Community Sustainability: From Local to Global; Brock University
    Simon Dalby, Professor, Balsillie School of International AffairsWilfrid Laurier University
    Patricia Ballamingie, Associate Professor, Environmental Studies and Human Geography, Carleton University
    Amanda Di Battista, Project Coordinator, Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, Wilfrid Laurier University
    Heather Reid, Researcher, UNESCO Chair in Food, Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University
    Johanna Wilkes, PhD Candidate, Balsillie School of International Affairs
    David Zandvliet, Simon Fraser University, Professor, Faculty of Education; Director, Institute for Environmental Learning
    Heather Mcleod-Kilmurray, Professor, Centre for Environmental Law and Global Sustainability, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
    Wayne Roberts, Advisor, Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems

    Read the full policy brief.

    Categories: Updates of the Chair

  • MEOPAR BLOG: Sustainability Rating Systems/Certifications for Buildings

    The Ball’s Falls Conservation Centre in Lincoln, Niagara Region, ON is an example of a LEED ‘Gold’ Certified Building


    While we spend a majority of our time indoors, we might not consider the environmental impact and sustainability of the buildings where we are spending all of that time. In previous posts, we discussed the potential that green buildings and green infrastructure have to increase sustainability in the Niagara Region. In today’s post, we’ll explore several popular building sustainability certifications.

    LEED – ‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’

    LEED is internationally recognized and one of the most widely used building rating systems in the world. Here in Canada, it is administered by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC). The LEED certification is holistic in nature and assesses the sustainability of buildings according to these criteria: water efficiency, energy efficiency, material selection, indoor environmental quality, innovation in design and sustainable site development.

    The Plaza Building at Brock University has been certified LEED Silver.

    Buildings are evaluated using a tiered point system to score green building design and construction out of 100 points. The more points awarded, the higher the level of certification. There are four levels of certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points) , Gold (60-69 points) and Platinum (80-89 points).

    The LEED certification has been instrumental in creating cost efficient and environmentally sustainable buildings in communities worldwide. LEED-certified buildings have been proven to be healthier for people, and a range of buildings and projects—from local apartment buildings to university campuses—can become certified. The Rogers Place arena in Edmonton, for example, became the first National Hockey League (NHL) facility in Canada to achieve a LEED Silver certification.

    LBC – ‘Living Building Challenge’

    A living building is defined as a structure that can produce its own energy, capture and treat all of its own water and operate efficiently while being aesthetically appealing. LBC was conceptualized and launched by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), which was founded in Seattle, Washington in 2006. It is also regarded as one of the most advanced and comprehensive green building certifications in the world.

    LBC examines whether buildings can function like plants—maintaining self-sufficiency and giving more than they take. To complete the LBC certification process, a builder must meet standards in seven focus areas, called “petals”. These are: materials (regenerative and non-toxic), health (good interior air quality and natural light), a sense of place (develops a relationship with nature), water conservation, energy efficiency (produces 105% more energy than consumed), equity/accessibility and beauty.

    The Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education Centre in Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario, is the first LBC certified building in Canada.

    Once builders achieve the standards in all seven petals (demonstrated through performance data over a period of 12 consecutive months), the ILFI awards a Full Living Building certification. An example is

    LEED and LBC rating systems have promising potential to contribute towards boosting Niagara’s local economy and lending momentum to climate change mitigation and adaptation programs in the future.

    The researchers involved with the MEOPAR project are working to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change and how communities can effectively adapt, and increase resilience, to these changes. Follow along with our blog every week (written by researchers Liette Vasseur, Meredith DeCock, Bradley May, Pulkit Garg, Sam Gauthier and Jocelyn Baker) to learn more about the project and how you can get involved. You can also visit our website at brocku.ca/unesco-chair or email us at meopar-lincoln@brocku.ca

     

     

     

     

     

    Categories: MEOPAR-Lincoln Blog, Updates of the Chair

  • MEOPAR BLOG: Green Infrastructure—An Effective Climate Change Adaptation Mechanism

    Green infrastructure offers promising potential for increasing the sustainability of our existing infrastructure in the Niagara Region. 


    Even if you haven’t heard of the term green infrastructure before, perhaps you have seen examples of it on a building around you. Ever noticed that a neighbour or local business has replaced traditional roofing with grass or living vegetation? That is just one of many great examples of green infrastructure at work.

    Green infrastructure combines innovative green technology with natural vegetative systems, resulting in a wide array of social, economic and environmental benefits for the community. It includes both natural and engineered system solutions that promote healthy and rich ecosystems. Management practices that use a range of cost-effective measures to mimic the natural water cycle, manage stormwater and reduce flooding are examples of green infrastructure. Other examples include bioswales, green roofs, permeable pavement, rain gardens, rainwater harvesting and urban tree canopy.

    More affordable and reliable energy systems, energy savings through efficient fixtures and renovations, reduced flooding (by increasing ground permeability), more efficient stormwater management, lower runoff, improved water quality and quantity (replenished water tables) and lower soil erosion (with increased stability from planted vegetation) are but a few examples of the benefits green infrastructure provides. It also improves local biodiversity and reduces air temperature by providing shade, and, most importantly, leads to better community health, wellbeing and local aesthetics. By restoring natural flood defence systems, more resilient and reliable energy systems, reducing heat island in urban areas and implementing natural water retention mechanisms, green infrastructure serves as an effective climate change adaptation mechanism.

    Green infrastructure also creates jobs in many economic sectors including landscaping, engineering, plumbing, and design. Additionally, it lends support to various jobs associated with the manufacturing of materials such as roof membranes, rainwater harvesting systems, and permeable pavements. The  Green Infrastructure Ontario Coalition also reports that green infrastructure systems are 5 to 30 per cent cheaper to construct and about 25 per cent cheaper over its lifespan than conventional infrastructure of comparable performance.

    In 2018, the Governments of Canada and Ontario entered into an agreement to invest more than $2.2 billion in green infrastructure projects across Ontario over the next ten years. A similar trend is also being followed in other countries such as Germany, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. It will be interesting to see the role investments in green infrastructure will play in Niagara’s transition into a more climate resilient economy.

    Be sure to read our article next week, where we will focus on the various certifications and standards that specify and measure the sustainability of our buildings.

    The researchers involved with the MEOPAR project are working to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change and how communities can effectively adapt, and increase resilience, to these changes. Follow along with our blog every week (written by researchers Liette Vasseur, Meredith DeCock, Bradley May, Pulkit Garg, Sam Gauthier and Jocelyn Baker) to learn more about the project and how you can get involved. You can also visit our website at brocku.ca/unesco-chair or email us at meopar-lincoln@brocku.ca

     

     

     

    Categories: MEOPAR-Lincoln Blog, Updates of the Chair

  • OSCIII Blog: What is the Organic Cluster project?

    Early spring in a Niagara, Ontario vineyard partnered with the Organic Cluster project, May 2019 (Photo: Heather VanVolkenburg).


    In 2019, Brock University initiated the new project: “Unique Cover Crops, Rootstocks, and Irrigation Techniques for Canadian Vineyards”. The project is funded through the Organic Science Cluster 3 (OSC3): Connecting Environmental Sustainability and the Science of Organic Production, managed by the Organic Federation of Canada (OFC) in collaboration with the Organic Agricultural Centre of Canada (OACC) at Dalhousie University. The OSC3 is also supported by the AgriScience Program under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Agricultural Partnership (an investment by federal, provincial, and territorial governments). More than 70 partners from the agricultural community are also involved in these projects.

    Brock’s Dr. Liette Vasseur and Dr. Medhi Sharifi, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, BC, are the two principal investigators on this OSC3 grant. Heather VanVolkenburg, a recent graduate student of Dr. Vasseur, is supporting and contributes to the research as a Scientific Project Manager. Together, they are leading the project with several undergraduate and graduate students, with the long-term goal of developing and testing combined cover crop, rootstock, and irrigation strategies that support vineyard soil health. The research is being conducted at vineyards located in two major wine growing regions of Canada.

    Bi-weekly research activity updates will be provided in on-going blog posts. These will be written by Vasseur and the research team, including Heather VanVolkenburg, Kasia Zgurzynski, Habib Ben Kalifa, and Diana Tosato. The team will also write informative pieces delving into agricultural concepts and important global issues as they relate to agricultural sustainability and climate change.

    Stay tuned for regular updates!

    Categories: Organic Science Cluster 3 Blog, Updates of the Chair

  • MEOPAR Blog: Green Buildings For Sustainable Living

    Greg Redden, Principal Architect at Macdonald Zuberec Ensslen Architects Inc, stands in the DSBN Walkers Living Classroom, in the Woodend Conservation Area. His firm designed this green space, or living classroom, to engage all senses in the learning environment while also utilizing natural light and space so that no utilities are used and energy costs are reduced.


    With the warm weather finally here, many of us are thinking about new home projects. But how often do we think about projects that can reduce our ecological footprint and increase the health of our community, or the impact of the materials we use when we build?

    We can contribute to a global effort to increase the number of green buildings in our communities. A green building refers to one constructed by using any method that will minimize or eliminate adverse impacts on human health and the environment. Multiple ideas can apply to green buildings, ranging from the use of solar panels as a way to increase energy efficiency to the installation of a simple rain barrel to reduce city water consumption. The concept of a green building encompasses the analysis of how materials we use in our projects will have an impact on the environment over their lifetime. This means looking at them from the planning and design stage through to the construction, operation, maintenance, and demolition of the project.

    The green building concept has gained traction because conventional buildings have massive ecological impacts throughout their life cycle. For example, buildings account for one quarter of global carbon emissions and more than 10 per cent of global water consumption every year. By incorporating several measures to reduce our footprint, we can conserve precious natural resources. The green building concept is not only for houses or apartment buildings, you can also apply it to your garden or backyard, such as in the construction of a small greenhouse or a plant wall made of recycled materials.

    Green building projects can include issues such as water resource consumption (efficient management and recycling), energy efficiency, material efficiency (by using sustainable, non-toxic and locally sourced building materials), health and well-being of occupants (better ventilation, natural light, improved indoor air quality), and waste reduction (reduce, reuse and recycle).

    Green buildings offer a multitude of benefits for the environment including the preservation of natural resources, enhanced ecosystem health and biodiversity and lower waste generation. Green buildings also provide economic advantages, such as lower operation and maintenance costs that mean savings on water and energy bills due to increased efficiencies.

    In the Niagara Region, green buildings have a high potential to address many long-term sustainability targets while simultaneously providing solutions to pressing economic development concerns such as resilient infrastructure. In upcoming articles, the MEOPAR team will focus on some aspects of green infrastructure and the various certifications that exist to certify buildings as sustainable.

    The researchers involved with the MEOPAR project are working to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change and how communities can effectively adapt, and increase resilience, to these changes. Follow along with our blog every week (written by researchers Liette Vasseur, Meredith DeCock, Bradley May, Pulkit Garg, Sam Gauthier and Jocelyn Baker) to learn more about the project and how you can get involved. You can also visit our website at brocku.ca/unesco-chair or email us at meopar-lincoln@brocku.ca

    Categories: MEOPAR-Lincoln Blog, Updates of the Chair

  • MEOPAR Blog: Transformation: The Next Level of Climate Change Adaptation

    We talk a lot in the academic world about transformation—climate change adaptation on steroids! But what does it mean and how would we go about it? At its most basic level, transformation is thinking about how we move from where we are now, toward a more sustainable future. It is not so much about reacting to changes as they happen (reactive adaptation) but rather about thinking of adaptation and resilience-building as a proactive and long-term planning process. The movie “The Current War” (about Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla’s race to bring convenient and easy access to power and light to the masses), is a great example of the technological, societal and behavioural changes needed for large scale transformation.

    Transformation means that we may have to do things in fundamentally different ways. Transformation, or transformative adaptation, as some people call it, may need to occur when gradual or incremental adaptation may not be enough. For instance, rebuilding infrastructure year after year after extreme weather events is considered adaptation. But what if that becomes too cost-prohibitive and more innovative solutions are needed? Transformation often happens when changes take place faster than expected. Transformation requires a long-term vision of what is more sustainable, while, at the same, also time planning for short-term gains. When we look at a community, it also means ensuring strong engagement and communication among partners and stakeholders, and removing barriers to change by empowering citizens and communities to take action. It may sound like a tall order, but think what things would be like if we began to use a transformation mindset.

    For example, think about a field of vacant land in your neighbourhood. What is its history? Who owns it? Why does it exist the way it does and Is it okay the way it is? Does someone have future plans for it and, if so, what are they and what could they use the land for? All of these great questions lead us to envision the many positive uses for this land: greenspace, a playground, community garden, or organic farm, for example.

    Now think even bigger. Increase the scale from one vacant lot to an entire waterfront where flooding is occurring more frequently with increased storms. As the size of the area changes, so does the complexity, but the questions remain the same. In previous blog posts we have focused on a number of ideas, such as the global sustainability goals, tree planting, biodiversity protection, swales, agricultural ditches, greenspace, and shoreline protection. All of these areas could be used as a focus for transformation. Innovation and innovative thinking are key ingredients for transformation to happen. So ask yourself this: Are you an innovator?

    The researchers involved with the MEOPAR project are working to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change and how communities can effectively adapt, and increase resilience, to these changes. Follow along with our blog every week (written by researchers Liette Vasseur, Meredith DeCock, Bradley May, Pulkit Garg and Sam Gauthier) to learn more about the project and how you can get involved. You can also visit our website at brocku.ca/unesco-chair or email us at meopar-lincoln@brocku.ca

    Categories: MEOPAR-Lincoln Blog, Updates of the Chair