For the past few days, world leaders have been gathering in Glasgow to address the issue of climate change at the Cop26. Faced with the complexity of global warming, the challenge becomes to be able to translate the will to do something into concrete actions. Discover how to become an actor of change in your society with urban farming.
Cities, both victims and responsible for the problem
In addition to being major emitters of greenhouse gases, urban areas are also very vulnerable to the effects of global warming. Summer heat waves are exacerbated by the heat island effect and can have serious repercussions on the health of city dwellers. Rain, storms, and droughts are becoming more and more frequent in urban areas and affect both urban environments as well as populations on the outskirts of the city (1). Considering that more than 80% of the Canadian population lives in urban areas (2), ensuring the adaptation of our cities to climate change is a critical issue for the well-being of our communities.
Urban farming
Urban agriculture projects are becoming more prolific, and are helping to mitigate these negative effects on our communities. By bringing nature back to the city, urban gardens help to absorb greenhouse gases and reduce the carbon impact of food transportation, as the food is produced nearby, and therefore does not need to travel very far before it reaches our kitchens. They also offset the effects of heat islands by increasing the green cover of cities, support stormwater management systems and create more biodiverse spaces. It is not surprising to see major cities such as Montreal and Toronto have made urban farming an important part of their development strategy (3).
Cultivating change
Starting an urban farming initiative at an organization is a simple way to have a tangible and visible impact on the urban environment, as well as benefiting local communities. The garden becomes an educational platform to raise awareness among members of an organization, and has the potential to shift lifestyles towards healthier and more sustainable habits.
There are now many experts in the field ready to support organizations wishing to work toward the betterment of the environment. It is therefore an initiative that is widely accessible to all individuals and allows companies to position themselves as actors of change by actively participating in the green transformation of our cities.
Do you want to get involved in the creation of sustainable and resilient cities? Contact us!