Greg Powell has been seconded by the Pembina Institute to work full-time as the project coordinator of Alberta Acts on Climate Change. Greg has a background in environmental engineering and is part of Pembina's consulting group. Greg is an avid backcountry skier and is currently training for the Ironman triathlon in Penticton, BC in August 2010.
We asked Greg why he is committed to Alberta Acts on Climate Change:
"Why Alberta Acts on Climate Change? In short, I believe in the power of people. I believe that when ordinary solutions fail, people are capable of generating extraordinary ideas and bringing these to fruition. I believe that when prompted, people are capable of envisioning a future in which our ecosystems thrive and our communities vibrate with energy. I believe that the solutions for our looming challenges lie within us as a collective. These beliefs provide the background for my decision to work on Alberta Acts on Climate Change.
As a province, a nation and a civilization, we have some significant challenges looming over the next few decades. Peak oil, climate change, international conflict, deteriorating ocean ecosystems, growing disparity between rich and poor, pandemics such as AIDS in some countries and obesity in others - these could each be reason to throw one's hands in the air. Alberta Acts on Climate Change does not pretend that it will solve all - or any - of these. But by drawing on the power of people, Alberta Acts hopes to move us collectively one step closer to the vision of healthy people on a healthy planet.
Over the past few years, I have seen some extremely powerful policy solutions come from my co-wokers at the Pembina Institute. These range from mutually beneficial royalty regimes to innovative ideas about renewable energy to a carbon price that would allow Canada to transition to a low-carbon economy. By and large, these solutions really resonate with people when the solutions are fully explained. But unless enough people are advocating for these solutions, I don't know if we'll ever see them implemented. Alberta Acts is about increasing environmental citizenship; with more people taking action in their personal lives and organizing their communities, we are bound to solve the challenges that we now face."
