ClimateFast October 2025 Newsletter

OCTOBER 2025

This ClimateFast newsletter shares information about the Climate Crisis that may interest our readers, but does not necessarily reflect the views of ClimateFast as an organization, nor those of its members. If you have an event or resource you would like to share, please send it to newsletter@climatefast.ca.

PLEASE NOTE: this newsletter may be truncated when you receive it; click on 'view entire message' at bottom to see the full document.

CLIMATEFAST IN ACTION

CF @ QP Sept 20 | Marching to Draw the Line Sept 20 | CF @ Peace Walk (Scarborough to City Hall) Sept 27

WARDS PROJECT UPDATE

Members of Ward 14 (Toronto Danforth) w/ one of Councillor Paula Fletcher's staff

Members of the Wards Project Team for Ward 14 (Toronto Danforth) decided, after not having luck getting a meeting with Councillor Paula Fletcher, they would make a surprise visit to her office! Their efforts paid off and they were able to talk with Councillor Fletcher's staff about Toronto Green Building Standards, deliver a letter conveying how climate change is a great concern to her constituents, and support the City of Toronto’s staff recommendation that the provincial Bill 17 does not impact the continuation of the Green Building Standards. Congratulations to the Team’s efforts and tenacity for advocating for climate action and TransformTO!

Through the Wards Project, we're trying to connect with ALL city councillors to let them know their constituents care about climate action and are here to help them do the right things when it comes to lowering fossil fuel emissions in Toronto. If you'd like to get involved in the Wards Project, contact Susan at wardsproject@climatefast.ca. Additionally, you can watch an information session on our Youtube channel.

CLIMATE VOTING RECORDS WEBSITE

While discussing this item in Council, Councillor Bravo amended the item to push for more equity in the City for people experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations. They added to the item "to find opportunities to activate additional 24/7 cool indoor spaces for vulnerable people, including people who are unhoused, during Environment and Climate Change Canada-issued Heat Warnings in the 2025 summer season" and for the "Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to explore and identify appropriate operational funding sources to allocate funds on an emergency basis to support additional cool indoor spaces." For more details see: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.MM31.21

Find the VR site at votingrecords.climatefast.ca | Follow us on Instagram @climatefastaction

Upcoming TABLING

When: Sunday Nov 2 11am - 4 pm

Where: Wychwood Barns

More...

CALLS TO ACTION

A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT IS THE BOTTOM LINE!

We can’t let Canada’s federal budget, due on November 4, be the next environmental backslide, but the sneak peeks we’ve seen don’t look promising for nature or the climate.

Building Canada means investing in nature protection and restoration, building a clean electricity grid and supporting Indigenous-led conservation. It doesn’t mean digging in our heels — or raising our elbows — for fossil fuels.

CLICK HERE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE FEDS

AFFORDABLE RENEWABLES OR HIGH-COST NUCLEAR?

Doug Ford is planning to meet Toronto’s electricity needs by building four new first-of-their-kind U.S. (GE-Hitachi) nuclear reactors near Oshawa and a new transmission line to bring this power to downtown Toronto.

The provincial NDP and Liberal Party need to be clear about whether they support the Ford government’s risky plan to build new U.S. nuclear reactors, or whether they will support an affordable, reliable, renewable electricity system to meet Toronto’s needs.

CLICK HERE TO ASK YOUR MPP WHERE THEY STAND

COMING EVENTS

Ontario Climate Summit

When: Friday Oct 3 (6:30 pm - talk and Q&A with David Miller); Saturday Oct 4 (workshops and panels); Sunday Oct 5 (morning - choice of 3 climate-related tours)

Where: U of T and community tours

Who: Hosted by Urban Climate Alliance

What else: In this 3-day summit (all free), climate activists from across Ontario will connect, build skills, and collaborate to drive inclusive, effective, sustainable, and coordinated climate action in Ontario’s municipalities. The summit’s focus: Building Climate Action in Ontario Municipalities. More info and register here.

Circle the Strollers Action

When: Saturday, October 4; 10 am

Where: Dundas West and Bloor West (near Dundas W Stn)

Who: Parents Against Speeding TO and Friends & Families for Safe Streets

What else: Express your deep concern regarding ON government’s decision to dismantle Toronto’s Speed Safety Camera program. This decision puts the lives of children, seniors, and all road users at risk.

Networked: New Research on How Social Networks are Shaping Climate Action in Canada

When: Monday October 6; 1-2 pm

Where: on Zoom

Who: Hosted by Sustainability Network

What else: Interactive webinar features UBC professor David Tindall and will focus on the extent to which social media counts in engaging individuals. More info and register here.

Rethinking the Vote

When: Monday October 6; 7 pm

Where: Danforth Multifaith Commons (Eastminster UC)

Who: Hosted by East Toronto Liberals

What else: Tired of seats not reflecting the vote? Come out and learn about alternatives to our "first past the post system." Register here.

Mobilizing for Local Climate Action

When: Starting October 16; 2 pm (four-part series)

Where: on Zoom

Who: The Climate Reality Project Canada; Climate Caucus; Tamarack Institute; Clean Air Partnership; David Suzuki Foundation

What else: How local elected officials and local communities can drive local climate action together...each session will highlight practical strategies, real-world examples, and lessons learned from elected officials and community leaders who have worked together to advance local climate solutions. More information and register here

IESO's Plans for
Electricity in Ontario

When: October 22, 2025

Where: on Zoom

Who: David Robertson (Seniors for Climate Action), TBC; Angela Bischoff (Ontario Clean Air Alliance)

What else: Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) is releasing a report to the Ford government on Oct 31 re: the future of electricity in the region. IESO did public consultations and heard requests for more renewables, but we know their focus will be on the more expensive and environmentally damaging gas and nuclear sources. What can we do? Email newsletter@climatefast.ca for the Zoom link to attend.

Building Energy Retrofits

When: November 5, 2025

Where: on Zoom

Who: various groups TBC

What else: City of Toronto offers funding for building retrofits but it's not being taken up. At the same time, there are many un- and under-employed Torontonians who could be trained to do retrofitting. What can we do to encourage this activity - and before the next budget comes round? Email newsletter@climatefast.ca for the Zoom link to attend.

COP 30 - 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference

When: November 10 - 21, 2025

Where: Belem, Brazil

Who: Hosted by Gov't of Brazil

What else: Attendees include representatives from over 190 countries, including heads of state, government officials, scientists, business leaders, non-governmental organizations, and civil society actors.

Bill McKibben's "Here Comes the Sun" - Remote Book Launch

When: November 24, 2025; 5 pm

Where: Friends' House (60 Lowther Ave.)

Who: ClimateFast

What else: Bill McKibben is launching his new book "Here Comes the Sun" at a small venue at U of T. If you didn't get a ticket, join us at Friends' House for a remote 'watch party.' We'll have snacks and a chance for discussion. SAVE THE DATE - more details (including the chance to get a copy of the book!) to come.

For Our Health and the Health of Our Earth

When: November 25; 1 pm

Where: on Zoom

Who: Diana Beresford-Kroeger

What else: Diana Beresford-Kroeger is a world recognized author, medical biochemist, botanist and climate change visionary. She possesses a unique understanding of modern western science and ancient Celtic knowledge. Diana’s legacy project is to clone and map the entire global forest. Register here.

RESOURCES & INFORMATION

.Planetary Health Check 2025

The Planetary Health Check is a yearly report on the state of our planet. It presents the most up-to-date assessments of the Planetary Boundaries... In this 2025 edition, there is a special focus on the Ocean's role in the Earth system, and authors assess for the first time that Ocean Acidification is the seventh transgressed Planetary Boundary.

To safeguard the Earth's resilience and stability, we must bring the planet back into its Planetary Boundaries. These boundaries are scientifically defined guardrails that ensure the Earth's health. Stay within them, and the Earth stays our dependable home — breach them, and we risk irreversible damage to our very own life support system. Today, seven out of nine boundaries have been transgressed.

The Production Gap 2025 Report

The Production Gap Report tracks the misalignment between governments’ planned and projected production of coal, oil, and gas and the global production levels consistent with the Paris Agreement’s temperature goal.

Canada and other major fossil fuel-producing countries are derailing the world's chance to hit key climate change targets, the report suggests, with 2030 production levels expected to be more than double what would be compatible with the Paris Agreement.

"The continued collective failure of governments to curb fossil fuel production and lower global emissions means that future production will need to decline more steeply to compensate," states the Production Gap Report, which was produced by three climate research non-profits.

1st International Conference for the Phase-Out of Fossil Fuels

Coming in April 2026, the government of Colombia will host the First International Conference for the Phase-Out of Fossil Fuels. The landmark conference will provide a global platform for countries to cooperate on strategies to phase out oil, gas and coal extraction, complementing and reinforcing the Paris Agreement. It also aligns with the historic International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion (ICJAO), which recognizes States’ legal obligation to protect the climate, including by addressing fossil fuel production.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Excerpted from Talking Climate with Katharine Hayhoe, Sept 29, 2025 :

"Announc[ing] a fantastic new resource for climate action! From Project Drawdown, it’s called SHIFT, which stands for the Super High-Impact Initiative for Fixing Tomorrow.

SHIFT is centered around five science-based climate superpowers that enable you, as a citizen, professional, investor, consumer, or role model, to make personal choices that then translate into collective action. In just a few clicks, SHIFT helps you discover your “climate superpower!”

How does it work? The website asks you a series of simple questions about where you live, your level of education, your yearly income and then recommends a series of actions you can take. The guide clearly describes actions you can take, quantifies the impact such actions can have, and points you towards other resources that can help you act more effectively.

Too often, these tools focus exclusively on your individual carbon footprint and ignore how powerful our voices can be in catalyzing change. SHIFT doesn’t make that mistake: it’s one of the most accurate tools I have ever come across."

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