Climate Action Sarnia-Lambton speaker series back with success stories

Climate Action Sarnia-Lambton’s speaker series returns Jan. 9 with a presentation about the recovery of the St. Clair River.

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Friends of the St. Clair members Brenda Lorenz and Ken Hall will speak about successful efforts over several years to improve water quality and restore natural habitat along the waterway.

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Each of the free series’ four monthly presentations are set for 7 pm at the Sarnia Library auditorium downtown. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

“We had a speaker series last year. . . around the same time,” said Climate Action’s Allan McKeown. “They were quite successful, so we thought we’d do it again.”

Attendance varied from 40 to 75 for each speaker last year, he said.

“What we want to do is invite people to come along and become more informed about climate change and . . . other environmental issues,” McKeown said.

“Our focus will be on offering positive news – giving people hope,” he said. “There is a lot of despair around these days when it comes to climate change and other environmental issues.”

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They aim to provide accurate information and some “hopeful” presentations about success stories, McKeown said.

Climate Action Sarnia-Lambton formed in about 2018 when a call went out for local residents interested in learning more about climate change and what they could do in response to it.

“Our first major action was to ask Sarnia city council to pass a climate emergency declaration, which they did in 2019,” McKeown said. “We thought that was a very important step for the city.”

The speaker series begins with a success story about reducing industrial and municipal pollution and agricultural runoff into the St. Clair River. which has “rebounded in significant ways,” he said.

The second presentation, set for Feb. 13, will feature Bob Sutton of the Samara Center for Democracy democracy discussing’s strengths and weaknesses while reviewing local efforts to address and mitigate the effects of climate change.

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Sutton also is expected to highlight ways citizens can become more constructively engaged in driving meaningful change.

The presentation set for March 12 will feature Patrick Donnelly, co-founder of the non-profit Lake Huron Coastal Center, discussing how climate change is affecting the lake, and what’s needed to mitigate its impacts.

The final speaker April 9 will be Mark Richardson, Niagara Falls cemetery services manager, who will talk about natural “green” burials and how they can eliminate carbon emissions and other pollutants released by cremation.

“Polls have shown that the majority of Canadians want to see more action on climate change,” McKeown said. “And they want to see stronger steps being taken by governments at all levels, but also by industry.”

“If we don’t reduce carbon emissions, it’s going to continue to get worse as the temperature continues to rise,” he said.

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