The ClimateFast newsletter shares information, resources, news, and activist opportunities about the climate crisis that may interest our readers, and does not necessarily reflect the views of ClimateFast members. If you have an event or resource you would like to share, please send it to newsletter@climatefast.ca.

On November 4th, a coalition of East Toronto residents and local environmental groups came together to protest the planned expansion of the Portlands gas power plant. ClimateFast was a member of the coalition, and our members and volunteers participated in the rally. The event was covered by multiple news outlets, including Global News

Toronto’s municipal budget planning process for 2024 is already well underway, and we need residents to speak up to support funding for climate action! ClimateFast recently worked to support the Toronto Climate Action Network’s community budget consultation event, and our members will continue to work to win funding for the city’s TransformTO Net-Zero Strategy in the months leading up to the budget vote. You can watch Anne Keary’s presentation for TCAN here. 

There are a number of upcoming town halls that will give residents the chance to voice their opinions on the budget - see the list below for details. Whether or not you were able to attend the TCAN event - please register for one of the budget town halls and raise your voice for funding the city’s Climate Action Plan, TransformTO.  The city has a set of short-term strategies and these need to be funded so that we can meet our climate target of 65% reduction in emissions by 2030. 

Please speak up and urge funding for: TransformTO, NetZero, Climate, Sustainability

At these town halls, facilitators will create a word cloud and we want those words in!  Also everyone else at the meeting hears you say ‘climate action is urgent and important and must be funded’.  So please attend a meeting and/or fill in the survey (due November 30th). Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) provides background info.

Every voice is really needed!!  We need the Mayor to know that Torontonians want the Net-Zero climate action strategy funded and implemented. 

Upcoming budget town halls: 

• Saturday, November 25
  Noon to 1:30 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
  Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St.
  Register
• Monday, November 27
  7 to 8:30 p.m. or 8:30 to 10 p.m.
  North York Memorial Hall. 5110 Yonge St.
  Register
• Tuesday, November 28
  7 to 8:30 p.m. or 8:30 to 10 p.m.
  Virtual meeting
  Register
• Wednesday, November 29
  7 to 8:30 p.m. or 8:30 to 10 p.m.
  Rexdale Hub, 21 Panorama Crt.
  Register
• Thursday, November 30
  7 to 8:30 p.m. or 8:30 to 10 p.m.
  Virtual meeting
  Register

On November 5th, ClimateFast members participated in the annual Toronto EcoFair at the Wychwood Barns, sharing information and ways to take action. The event received positive media coverage, including this clip from CityNews.

The UN’s annual climate conference is set to begin on November 30th, with delegates from all over the world convening to discuss climate change mitigation and adaptation. This event is an opportunity for climate champions to push for transformative action! Greenpeace is currently campaigning for the Canadian government to use the conference as a platform to commit to a full phaseout of fossil fuels and greater financial accountability for polluters.

Thursday, Nov. 30th, 10:00am-11:30am
Toronto
At this day of action, hosted by the Climate Emergency Unit, participants will hand deliver mock job applications for a prospective Youth Climate Corps to Minister of Youth Marci Ien. Join in to show that young Canadians are ready and willing to work for a better future!  Deadline for youth letters to be delivered - Nov 27th.

Earlier in November, EU lawmakers agreed to update the organization’s environmental crime directive, which lays out minimum standards for environmental criminal enforcement in member states. The new draft regulations introduce stiff penalties for some of the most serious forms of environmental damage, including acts ‘comparable to ecocide’, namely those that result in lasting, large-scale damage to ecosystems, soil, air or water. Individuals, including corporate representatives, and organizations can be held accountable under the new rules. This decision is being hailed as a major step forward by organizations like the Stop Ecocide Foundation, which aims to have ecocide recognized as a crime at the national and international level. The law is expected to be fully approved in the spring, at which point member nations will need to begin incorporating its provisions into their own laws. 

Read the Guardian Article
Read the European Parliament’s press release
Learn more about the Stop Ecocide Foundation

Bill S-243, the Climate-Aligned Finance Act, was brought before the Senate Banking Committee on November 22nd. The bill, originally introduced by Senator Rosa Galvez in 2022, is an ambitious and well-researched piece of legislation that aims to make Canada’s finance industry work toward our climate goals. Among other things, it would make climate targets part of the mandate of the federal Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, and hold corporate leaders accountable for meeting climate targets. 

Read the Energy Mix article
Watch Senator Galvez explain the bill in this video by Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada

The Town of Greater Napanee is currently considering whether to allow a proposed new gas-fired power plant in their community. Other municipalities across the province, including Toronto and Thorold, have already rejected similar proposals to build new plants or expand capacity at existing ones. Ontario Power Generation, a publicly funded Crown Corporation, has offered an inducement of $4.8 million to Napanee, to be delivered as $400,000 yearly over 12 years, to try to persuade the town to accept their proposal. The municipal government was expected to come to a decision about the plant on November 14th, but deferred the decision to November 28th in the face of a large volume of deputations from members of the public.

Read the Toronto Star article
Read the Global News update
Learn more from the Ontario Clean Air Alliance