Vital Signs: Climate action in Hamilton

Climate change and environmental degradation can seem like they happen at a macro level, far removed from our everyday lives. However, their effects are felt locally by communities and individuals in very real ways like flooded basements, poor air quality and swelteringly hot apartments.

In this episode of Vital Signs, Rudi Wallace hosts Lynda Lukasik (Director, Office of Climate Change Initiatives, City of Hamilton) and Ian Borksuk (Executive Director, Environment Hamilton) to discuss how these forces play out in Hamilton – and how our community is dealing with their impacts.

From our city’s Climate Action Strategy and the decision over the past summer to subsidize air conditioning for low-income Hamiltonians to the relationship between transit and the environment, this episode brings into local focus some of the nuances of climate and environmental issues.

Key quotes

“Environmental justice is about taking a look at who is being most impacted by climate change the most…people who are already marginalized are impacted more deeply.” – Ian Borsuk

“The city’s climate justice framework will be co-designed, and we will be working directly w impacted communities so that they are sharing what they think needs to be done to address climate justice.” – Lynda Lukasik

“There is still some climate denial and climate delay that is prevalent across society but as time goes on, [climate change] has become unignorable…City Councillors are the ones that are having to deal with residences who are experiencing ‘one-in-100-year’ floods.” – Ian Borsuk

“One term we use to try to explain extreme heat is “tropical nights” – in Hamilton when we have heat alerts, it doesn’t cool down at night anymore and our bodies don’t get a chance to recover.” – Lynda Lukasik

“The removal of bike lanes is going to increase emissions…and goes counter to everything we know about how traffic works.” – Ian Borsuk

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