The ClimateFast newsletter shares information 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.

ClimateFast members joined with members of Toronto350, Toronto East End Climate Collective, and Council of Canadians to bring the message of just transition to Toronto area MPs. We are pushing Parliament to pass bold legislation that accelerates the transition to 100% renewable energy while creating millions of good, green jobs. From coast to coast, participants of the March 12th Day of Action visited MP offices and used creative visuals, theatrics, and art to show them the kinds of programs we need to transition off fossil fuels. Above are some photos of Toronto Day of Action activities.

The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, released on February 28, 2022, concludes that “Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health,” and any further delay in drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions “will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.” 

This is the second of three working group reports, which, along with three special reports and a synthesis report, make up the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). The first working group report was released in August 2021 and assessed the physical science, showing climate change is widespread, rapid and intensifying. The third working group report, expected in March, will be on climate change mitigation.

Read the IPCC press release

Read the report Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability

Read the press release from the Canada Climate Action Network, which includes the following quote provided by Lyn Adamson of ClimateFast 

“This report could not lay it out more starkly: we must act now or face the consequences of devastation of the world both now and in the future.  It is a criminal act to accelerate ecocide as continued use and development of fossil fuels, and any public subsidies for continued reliance on oil, gas, and coal.  We must all work together putting all our efforts into the renewable energy transition that is our primary way out of the dreadful outcomes laid out in this latest IPCC report.”

See below in the Resources section of this newsletter for a few other articles and videos to help you  better understand the IPCC Report.

Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has delayed his decision on the approval of the Bay du Nord project due to environmental concerns about establishing new oil and gas projects. Equinor’s massive project, located 500 kms east of St. John’s, is estimated to produce about 300 million barrels of oil. On March 2nd, 118 environmental and citizens' groups across Canada signed a letter sent to Ottawa calling on the federal government to reject the project. A second letter was signed and delivered by 81 international organizations saying the approval would undermine Canada's credibility as a climate leader and set back international efforts to solve the climate crisis. 

See the letter sent by Sierra Club with 118 signatories.

Read the CBC news story

The 1.6 million mostly racialized working class migrants who have been at the frontlines of COVID-19 need full and permanent immigration status so they can have the power to protect themselves against being exploited. Take action on March 20th and 21st to mark the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

This is a smaller session for those who want to gain more confidence talking about climate justice ahead of the provincial election.  We will hear from some people who are already engaged in holding conversations, share ideas and explore how best to make them happen! There will be opportunities to buddy up with others to hold conversations in their ridings. Click the RSVP button below to receive a link to the zoom meeting.

Resources: Provincial KTCC Backgrounder and Ready to Talk Climate in Ontario

This bike ride, postponed from March 6th due to a wind warning, is to build support for bike lanes in Mississauga. Join the rally as Toronto cyclists meet Mississauga cyclists at the Toronto/Mississauga border. For more information see the event Facebook page, email the organizers or check out the campaign website. Note: given the lack of road safety on Bloor, this ride is not recommended for children.

• Ontario Yours to Protect is an initiative of 19 organizations supporting clean water, farmland, biodiversity, and healthy communities. Ontario’s population is growing, and we need to build vibrant, affordable and sustainable communities throughout the province. They envision an Ontario where our cities, towns and villages grow within nature, instead of on top of it. On April 22nd, 23rd and 24th they’ll be working with local groups all across the province who want to host rallies, protests and nature walks to draw attention to local environmental problems or give people a chance to experience some of the many marvellous natural spaces in this beautiful province.

Use this page to register a local event
Click here for a map of all registered actions.
Click here for a how-to guide.

Gallatin Valley Earth Day presents this online event with Dr. Richard Ready, Professor of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics at Montana State University. He will discuss different tools that we already have in our toolbox to reduce and reverse greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more on the Facebook page.

This workshop explores diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and how it is essential to Climate Justice, as well as how environmental organizers can integrate DEI into actions to address the climate emergency and the transition to a just and sustainable future. This workshop will be facilitated by Adiat Junaid, a creator, writer, and consultant who uses storytelling in many forms to address human rights, social justice and ecological justice

The Energy Mix is hosting this webinar on how climate journalism helps drive faster, deeper carbon cuts—and what happens when climate journalism hits the wall. Attend this expert panel to learn how climate journalism spotlights the gaps that are slowing down the shift off carbon and the solutions that make a difference—and brings together the audiences that can turn that knowledge into action and results. You can use this promo kit/social pack to help spread the word.

The Ontario Voters Coalition is organizing a volunteer canvasser training program that will help you connect with your electoral district to gather momentum for the upcoming provincial election

Dr. Jennifer Rudd will share how she completed her masters and PhD in chemistry without knowing anything about climate change, how she learned about it, and how it affected her life. If you're interested in communicating climate change and affecting behavioural changes, then this talk is for you.

• The Energy Mix published a special report on the IPCC Report: “Atlas of Human Suffering’ Only Matters if Countries Take Action”
• IPCC’s short fact sheets on climate impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability, focusing on specific regions of the world, biodiversity, and human settlements.
• IPCC also produced a trailer for the report and a short video “The latest IPCC report explained un under 7 minutes”
• Carbon Brief has an in-depth Q&A on the report, along with collected reactions from 15 of the scientists who contributed to the drafting.
• The World Resources Institute distills “six big findings” from the report, including an infographic showing how climate impacts cascade as average global warming increases from 1.5 to 2.0 to 3.0°C.
• Power Shift Africa summarizes the climate impacts facing seven African countries and the high costs they’ll incur in their attempts to adapt.
• DeSmog reports on the “vested interests” and climate disinformation that have fuelled the crisis.
• In the March 3rd episode of The Conversation Weekly Podcast the hosts talked to three of the scientists involved in the IPCC report about what the future may hold – and the narrowing window of opportunity to adapt to climate change.