Climate Change

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.

Protecting whales and water on World Oceans Day and every day.

Melissa Munro — June 12, 2017

Few things are as spectacular and awe-inducing as a breaching humpback whale.

The sheer enormity of their body, with such strength and grace – blasting out of the water, seeming to defy the laws of gravity even just for a moment – is enough to take your breath away. It’s acrobatics and ballet on the largest scale, with a splash down that is out of this world!

It’s what they do, and it is what they have done for millennia.

Welcome home blue whales!

Gretchen Fitzgerald — March 28, 2017

I'm devastated to report that the licence for oil and gas drilling has been approved in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and there’s not one thing whales can do to stop it.

We're not giving up and neither are they.

At this very moment – mile by mile, heading north – they’re coming back.

Over the next few weeks, blue whales will be making their way back to Canadian waters.

Trump's lump of coal

Mary Kainer — December 14, 2016

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.

In light of the decisions on pipelines, I wanted to share with you my address at our AGM last weekend: GRASSROOTS AFTER THE QUAKE

Gretchen Fitzgerald — December 1, 2016

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.

These whales cannot go to court

Melissa Munro — August 17, 2016

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!

Rejoignez-nous et regardez votre effet papillon en action !

Posted on July 21, 2020

Il y a quelques semaines, j'ai vu mon premier papillon de la saison. Après un hiver au climat capricieux, et au milieu de la crise sanitaire actuelle, la vue de cette jolie petite créature - d’un orange flamboyant sur l'herbe morne du printemps, avec ses ailes qui battent doucement - a été un baume pour mes yeux et mon cœur. (Ce n’était pas un papillon monarque. Je suis toujours en train de faire des recherches - peut-être était-ce un papillon belle-dame (Vanessa cardui ?))

Join Us and Watch Your Butterfly Effect In Action!

Melissa Munro — April 30, 2020

A few weeks ago, I saw my first butterfly of the season. After a winter of erratic weather, and in the midst of this current health crisis, the sight of this beautiful little creature – its brilliant orange set ablaze against forlorn spring grass, with its wings gently fluttering – was a gift to my eyes and my heart. (It was not a Monarch. I’m still researching – perhaps it was a painted lady (Vanessa cardui?)

CEERP, Brampton’s Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan

anonymous — March 13, 2020

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.

Let’s hold their feet to the fire! COP25 - not with a bang, but with a whimper

Megan Sutton — February 13, 2020
Megan at COP25

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.

-- Extended for the holidays!-- Giving Tuesday 2019 - A Special Gift -- TruEarth-Dizolve Laundry Eco-strips and Sierra Club Quarter-Zip Top

Melissa Munro — December 3, 2019

TruEarth Laundry Eco-StripsYou 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.