Our changing climate poses a severe threat to both human wellbeing and that of the many animals, plants and insects that inhabit our planet. The Sierra Club Canada Foundation works on both the national and the local level to reduce greenhouse gasses and to promote sustainable energy practices.
It’s the holidays, and I can’t get this song out of my head, and those beautiful words sung by our beloved Joni Mitchell,
I wish I had a river.
Admittedly, the song is a good dose of melancholy, and some longing for home, a longing for Canada, where the landscape is rich with rivers so long you could teach your feet to fly.
Breathing is easier “beyond coal.”
In 2007, before the shut down of the coal-fired power generating plants in Ontario, there were 29 smog days and 11 smog advisories in Toronto. It seemed that almost every hot day there was choking smog. At that time, I couldn’t even escape to my cottage in the Kawarthas. That same year, there were 21 smog days and 8 smog advisories in Peterborough County.
It's been a tempestuous month.
In the last weeks, two world events have shaken our world and will continue shake up our work in the year ahead.
In Marrakesh, world leaders and civil society gathered to push for implementation of The Paris Agreement. The event has exceeded expectations: entry onto force of The Paris Agreement ahead of schedule, over 175 nations signing the agreement, 47 countries committing to 100% clean energy between 2030 and 2050.
In just the last few days, 1,347 concerned people like you have signed and sent a letter asking the government not to settle with a New Jersey company who has been thwarted from developing a destructive quarry in the Bay of Fundy.
Because of you, we have been an instrumental force on this campaign since the beginning, and we’re not going anywhere. But we need your help!
Gather 'round young Wild Ones for a reading of The Hugging Tree!
At home with kids while in #isolation? Check out this reading, and stay tuned for more activities for your #QuarantineLife and #COVID19Kids activities.
Stay healthy and well!
By Rosemary Keenan, Chair Sierra Peel Group
On June 5, 2019 the City of Brampton Council responded to growing community concerns and declared a Climate Emergency. Since then the City has been accelerating development of a Community Energy and Emissions Reductions Plan (CEERP) designed to transform Brampton’s energy use and reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.
COP25, a conference that began with a flurry of media attention, ended December 15th after falling woefully short of expectations. The UN climate change conference was plagued with bad luck before it had even begun. Brazil had originally planned to hold COP25, but reversed its decision only two months after agreeing to host. Chile replaced Brazil as host, but withdrew with only a month left before the conference, after weeks of mass protests in response to inequality in the country.
From our friends at Community AIR (Airport Impact Review):
This is a press release from January 3, 2020, also attached as a PDF
CommunityAIR: Climate Crisis Means Pickering Airport Proposal Must Finally Be Abandoned
For Immediate Release Friday, January 3, 2020
You get us to the highest courts so we can fight to protect the world's most endangered whales.
You demand protections for our irreplaceable Great Lakes.
You fiercely call for a ban of pesticides that are killing bees and other pollinators so critical to the functioning of our ecosystems.
It's our turn to thank you.
Two major environmental victories have taken place recently, derailing important parts of the war on the environment. Both victories saved programs to plant trees. Trees are critical to rescuing Lake Erie from massive algae blooms brought on by the twin evils of deforestation and phosphorus pollution.
When the Minister of Transportation, Steven Del Duca, announced the termination of an environmental assessment for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) West Corridor in December of 2015, those who cherish the earth in Ontario gave a great sigh of relief. The proposed 50 kilometer-long expressway planned to slash through entirely environmental and agricultural zones, much of which is protected by the Greenbelt. The plan was a salt tipped dagger on Lake Ontario.
June 13, 2019
Dear Ministers McKenna, Sohi, and Wilkinson,
The new Impact Assessment Act, Bill C69, will make environmental assessments for offshore oil and gas activities in Atlantic Canada have even less credibility than they do now.
The draft amendments to the bill introduced in the House of Commons on June 12 will allow offshore petroleum boards to chair review panels that will assess offshore oil and gas projects.
On April 16, 2019 Alberta joins the rest of the Prairie provinces with a majority conservative government.
In light of a polarizing campaign putting the environment at odds with economic development, the questions begs, how do move forward together?
By David Poch, Green Energy Coalition
On March 21st Ontario Minister of Energy, Greg Rickford, released Bill 87, entitled Fixing the Hydro Mess. But rather than sustainably reducing consumer bills in Ontario it will enlarge the economic and environmental mess that past energy policies are visiting on the province.
On Monday, February 25th, we will be in court arguing that the licence to drill in the Gulf of St. Lawrence is illegal.
Our National Program Director Gretchen Fitzgerald has a little VIDEO MESSAGE for you.
Wishing you and yours a peaceful and safe New Year.
Melissa Munro - Director of Development and Communications
