Beyond the Guidebook 2010: Rollout continued at a session within the BC Hydro PowerSmart Forum on "Building the Green Economy" (Oct)
Note to Readers:
The rollout of Beyond the Guidebook 2010 commenced on September 27th at the 2010 annual convention of local governments. During the week of October 25, there were presentations at three regional events, including the 2010 BC Hydro Power Smart Forum: Building the Green Economy. This leading conference attracted about 1000 delegates
Preparing for Climate Change
In May 2010, the BC Hydro Power Smart team convened a select group of community leaders from across the province for a one-day dialogue. Kim Stephens represented the Water Sustainability Action Plan for BC.
“We believe that there is much that others could learn from you, given the work that you are doing in your community. Our objective is for participants to work together to co-create a conservation community of practice that connects you and your networks with other like minded leaders throughout BC to share your successes and challenges in engaging communities,” stated Pia Nagpal, Program Manager for Community Engagement.
Creating a Conservation Culture
“The intention is to learn with and from each other about what we can do to advance community based efforts in creating a conservation culture in British Columbia. BC Hydro Power Smart defines conservation quite broadly, to include more than just conserving energy or reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve an environmentally-sustainable future with adequately functioning natural systems will require the involvement and commitment of all citizens.”
“At the 2010 Power Smart Forum, we incorporated a session about Beyond the Guidebook 2010 because it demonstrates what can be accomplished when one implements a culture change. Beyond the Guidebook 2010 is the story of doing business differently in the local government setting, and connecting with the community.”
“Government and large institutions, while needing to put in place broad policies and support systems, do not have enough influence by themselves to encourage individual behaviour change in support of conservation, at the level that is needed to maintain to adequately conserve out natural systems.
“The nature of individual change that is needed to create a stronger conservation ethic leads itself to a social networks approach – working through local, existing communities (physical or other) and local leaders,” concluded Pia Nagpal.
Implementing a New Culture by “Convening for Action”
Kim Stephens, Ray Fung and Mike Tanner elaborated on elements of the “convening for action story” in an integrated presentation. They introduced the context for changing water management practices at the site level, explained the BC process for moving from awareness to action, and described how the Water Bucket website is the key to the communication strategy.
To Learn More:
Download a PDF copy of BEYOND THE GUIDEBOOK 2010: Implementing a New Culture for Urban Watershed Protection & Restoration in British Columbia – An Integrated Presentation By Kim Stephens, Ray Fung & Mike Tanner.
Nature of the Paradigm-Shift
“In 2002, the Guidebook advanced this provocative premise: land development and watershed protection can be compatible. At the time, this was considered to be radical thinking,” states Kim Stephens, Program Coordinator for the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia.
“The paradigm-shift resulted from recognition of HOW a science-based understanding could bridge the gap between high-level policy goals and site design practices. Over the past decade we have been developing the tools and experience to build and/or rebuild communities in balance with ecology.”
“Changing the practitioner culture takes time to complete. There is no short-cut. The case study experience documented in Beyond the Guidebook 2010 will help those who want to implement change.”
Links to YouTube Video Clips
A set of four video clips are posted on YouTube. These correspond to the presentations by each of the three team members, including two segments by Ray Fung. This allows the viewer to follow along with the PowerPoint storyline. To learn more:
Beyond the Guidebook 2010 Introduced (by Kim Stephens)
(10:26 minutes)
Convening for Action Explained (by Ray Fung)
(10:29 minutes)
Story of the waterbucket.ca Website (by Mike Tanner)
(13:24 minutes)
Connecting Dots (by Ray Fung)
(3:13 minutes)
