Here are some things you can do today to help our corner of the world do its part in combating the climate crisis. We have arranged them into categories to match different levels of ambition and energy. Just remember that every action that you take will make a difference.
Sign a Petition
Pre Budget ConsultationsThe Government of Canada is doing pre-budget consultations until February 19th. This is a great opportunity to speak up for your priorities.
Send Trudeau a Green Job ApplicationOver 10,000 people signed the petition calling on the Prime Minister to keep his promise to deliver a Just Transition Act and kickstart a green jobs revolution. But we still haven’t heard a response.
It's time to make sure Trudeau understands the urgency of the situation. Let's send him a message he can't ignore. We're flooding the PM's fax line with "green job applications" to show him that thousands of people across Canada are ready to get to work. Send yours now.
Tell Canadian banks to stop funding fossil fuel companiesEvery year, Canadian banks provide tens of billions of dollars to fossil fuel companies. And some of this money is yours - tell them to stop.
Call on Trudeau to pass the Just Transition ActNow that US President Biden has cancelled the Keystone XL pipeline, one thing is clear: the fossil fuel era is ending. Workers can’t keep waiting for help with the transition. They need action now. It’s time for Trudeau to keep his promise to workers and legislate the Just Transition Act.
Demand a world-class climate accountability law for CanadaA groundbreaking piece of new legislation - Bill C-12 - could finally help Canada meet its climate goals. But there’s one problem: Bill C-12 doesn’t actually hold government legally accountable to targets. Add your name to tell the Liberals to make the amendments that will make it a world-class climate law.
Tell Trudeau's government to strengthen the Climate Accountability ActCanada has never met a single one of its emissions reduction targets. Real climate action means no more missed emissions reduction targets! The provisions of Bill C-12, the Climate Accountability Act, will not get us there. It does not require a progress report until 2030. Its provisions for oversight are very weak.
Send a letter to the government demanding stronger legislation.
Peterborough Transportation Master PlanThis survey will lay the foundation for transportation investments and priorities over the next 20 years in the City of Peterborough. Please consider filling it out and sharing it. The deadline for submission is January 15th.
Tell Trudeau to choose: pipelines or the planet?Prime Minister Trudeau keeps telling us that building the Trans Mountain pipeline goes hand-in-hand with tackling the climate crisis. We know this isn’t true.
Tell him to choose people and the planet over pipelines.
Tell the Ontario government to phase out Ontario's gas fired power plants by 2030Ford's government just invested $2.8 billion to buy 3 new gas plants and they have plans to increase imports of fracked gas. There are clean options that will support renewable energy and allow Ontario to meet its 2030 Climate Target. This petition by the Clean Air Alliance will let the government know that you care.
Ask the City of Peterborough to invest in clean zero emission transportationSign this petition to compel the City of Peterborough to invest in clean zero emission transportation.
Tell the Mainstream Media to #EndClimateSilenceWhat if a tree burns in the forest, and everyone sees it on TV, but no one says why it caught fire? How can we expect people to understand the connection between fossil fuel pollution, extreme weather and the climate crisis if news networks aren't making the connection for viewers?
Tell Prime Minister Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to release the numbers and prioritize a green recovery from the pandemic.Every dollar directed towards this pipeline is a dollar taken away from spending on solutions to the climate crisis and supporting people through the worst economic crisis of our lifetime.
In 2018, the Trans Mountain pipeline cost $5 billion. In February 2020, it ballooned to $13 billion. Some suggest that the cost might now be well over $20 billion of public money. But, we don’t know because Trudeau’s government refuses to tell us.
Tell Shell to withdraw from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)Shell belongs to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), which is the biggest oil lobby group in Canada and the single biggest barrier to implementing climate action policies that could help us meet Canada’s goals.
Sign petition to stop Canada Pension Plan from investing our money in fossil fuels.Help stop the Canada Pension Plan from investing our money in fossil fuels.
Petition for a Just RecoverySign this petition telling Trudeau and his cabinet that you support a Green and Just Recovery from COVID-19.
Stop Canada Pension Plan from investing in Fossil FuelsThe government of Canada has committed itself with other nations in the Paris climate talks to reducing annual emissions of carbon into the atmosphere by 30% less than 2005 by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and other government bodies should actively pursue the same objectives.
Write
Demand that the mandate of our Conservation Authorities be protected.Register your opposition to the Ontario Government's plan to attack the mandates of Ontario's Conservation Authorities. This link contains an sample email and addresses of government representatives. The bill passed second reading and as of December 2020, it is now before the Standing Committee for consultation and debate.
Let your pension know that you care about the climate crisis.Canada's top ten pension funds are responsible for managing over $1.5 trillion. Imagine if these funds were used to help transition to a low carbon economy at the same time as growing your pension?
Ask your local MP to support a climate accountability framework.In September 2020, the federal government committed to immediately bring forward a plan to exceed Canada’s 2030 greenhouse gas goals and legislate net-zero by 2050. However, Canada has missed every emissions target it has ever set! We need a new climate law that holds federal governments accountable.
Tell Trudeau's cabinet that you want a Green and Just Recovery from Covid-19.Tell Trudeau’s cabinet that you want a Green and Just Recovery from COVID-19. The link provides a sample letter as well as cabinet ministers’ email addresses.
Read
Energy vs ClimateAt Energy vs Climate, the panelists break down the trade-offs and hard truths of the energy transition in Alberta, Canada, and beyond. Read, listen to their podcast, or watch their YouTube channel.
Learn how to talk to kids about climate changeLearn suggestions from MakeItBetterOntario how to talk to kids about climate change. Their toolkit, Let’s Talk: A Kit for Communicating with Children about Climate Change was developed to help parents and teachers to empower children to tackle climate change issues and address concerns affecting their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Watch
Watch the Webinar on How to Make Your Pension Fund Climate FriendlyJoin climate expert Adam Scott, Director of Shift: Action for Pension Wealth & Planet Health for two workshops exploring why shifting finance is essential for addressing the climate emergency and protecting investments from growing climate risks.
Join
Learn About Kitchen Table Climate ConversationsStarting March 1st, we are holding a series of 4 training webcasts. Take a look and join us for this exploration of talking about climate justice and taking action together! We’d like to reach and engage lots of people, so please share with your networks and those in your community.
Township Climate Advocates needed for Peterborough CountyFor Our Grandchildren is acting locally in Peterborough County to persuade the First Nations and Townships to take assertive, appropriate action in implementing their Climate Change Action Plans. We are looking for people from every township to help throughout the county in a role that we are calling “Township Climate Advocate“.
Protect what you love - join a global movement of people acting together on climate change.Their mission is to inspire 1 billion citizens to make changes that will significantly reduce their carbon pollution and will also challenge leaders to take more responsibility for rebuilding a healthy and resilient world. Choose from 16 actions and you will see exactly how much you can reduce your carbon footprint, and the cumulative impact of other people's choices.
Support Peterborough Youth Empowerment action to mark 5th anniversary of Paris AgreementOn Friday December 11th, 2020, PYE is joining other groups around the world to mark the 5th Anniversary of the Paris Agreement.
We have not seen the needed action to combat the climate crisis. Leaders are have not taken it seriously nor are they meeting their Paris Agreement targets. PYE will be striking this Friday to show PTBO and the world that they must #FightFor1Point5. At our strike we will have candles (electric) to represent the burning of our earth and the flame that is burning out, leaving us with less and less time. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the strike is NOT public however we want to represent all of you who are also fighting for climate action, and would be at the strike if it wasn't for the restrictions.
Please click the link above and complete the form if you would like your name to be represented on a bag with a candle at the strike.
Have your say on Peterborough's Master Plan before January 15/2021Have your say on Peterborough's Transportation Master Plan by completing this survey. Actions such as prioritizing active transportation, transit fleet electrification, avoiding the Parkway extension, promoting higher downtown and main road densities, and streamlined traffic controls will all have a positive influence on addressing the climate crisis.
Join the Count Us In campaign from the Guardian.Count Us In invites people to sign up online for the steps they want to take and a level of commitment. There are 16 steps on offer, of varying levels of difficulty. These range from having your house insulated, buying an electric car or solar panels and opting to fly less, to writing to political representatives and reusing and repairing belongings rather than buying new ones.
Donate (coming soon)
Personal
9 Ways to Extend the Lifespan of Your Food AND How You Can Use Up Everything!Did you know that roughly one third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year gets lost or wasted? Random Actos of Green challenges YOU to take some simple and accessible steps to minimize your food waste this year!
