Portage la Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce and the Portage Rotary Club held a joint luncheon yesterday for a forum about climate change and small businesses. Manitoba Chambers of Commerce president Chuck Davidson was there. He outlines the questions the forum was seeking to address.

Chuck Davidson"What's their knowledge base on the issue of climate change?" says Davidson. "How big of an issue is this for them? Are they concerned about the impacts of it? Are they prepared for it? Do they understand the various potential opportunities around that as well? So, I think this was a good opportunity to, again, get some feedback from the business community about some of the things that businesses are doing in their local communities."

He notes the small businesses of our province seem to understand adjustment with climate change in mind is a path that is happening. Davidson says the recent weather occurrences speak to the question about what is going on with the climate. He notes businesses seem to know they want to be part of the solution, adding the challenge is their busy schedule.

International Institute for Sustainable Development associate Darren Swanson addressed the crowd.

"This was one of a dozen climate action forums that the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and International Institute for Sustainable Development have been hosting around the province," explains Swanson.

Darren SwansonHe says some feedback he was getting at the forum included businesses performing energy retrofits, such as lighting or entire facilities making efforts to reduce energy.

Swanson explains discussions included reducing greenhouse emissions or adapting to the impact. He says they wanted to hear from businesses about how they're coping with the adjustments needed, what is hindering them, and what's supporting them.