Greenspiration News & Events: electric dragon rising

Mon Nov 17 16:14:31 UTC 2025

COP-30

Electric dragon rising

While the US is absent from COP, the biggest foreign delegation is from China. China is now regularly referred to as the world’s first “electrostate,” in contrast to the “petrostates” (ie. Canada) that historically dominated geopolitics. The rate of green energy deployment in China really is hard to grasp: the equivalent in wind and solar of 5 nuclear plants every week. China absolutely dominates the clean energy sector, which has grown into a key driver of its economy and its global reach. It produces 90 per cent of the world’s solar modules and 82 per cent of wind turbines, according to some estimates. It accounts for about two-thirds of global battery manufacturing and a similar proportion of the world’s EV sales. China’s CO2 emissions have now been flat or falling for 18 months.

https://mailchi.mp/nationalobserver/electric-dragon-rising?e=6b2d759cf7

Indigenous women leaders at COP30: Listen to us as equals

Our territories are not carbon sinks or green investments. They are living systems of culture, economy, and spirit. Ending subsidies and investments that drive deforestation... would do more for climate and biodiversity than any new fund could.

https://icmagazine.org/indigenous-women-leaders-at-cop30-listen-to-us-as-equals/

INTERNATIONAL

Supply boom in cheaper renewables will seal end of fossil fuel era, says IEA

Watchdog’s flagship report says rise in low-carbon electricity will make transition ‘inevitable’, despite Trump’s (and Ford's, Carney's, Smith's and Moe's) calls to carry on drilling

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/12/supply-boom-in-cheaper-renewables-will-seal-end-of-fossil-fuel-era-says-iea 

The week around the world in 20 pictures

The Cop30 climate summit, blackouts in Kyiv, immigration raids in Chicago and super-typhoon Fung-wong: the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2025/nov/14/the-week-around-the-world-in-20-pictures 

Trump’s new radiation exposure limits could be ‘catastrophic’ for women and girls

In a May executive order, aimed at ushering in what he described as an “American nuclear renaissance,” President Donald Trump declared moot the science underpinning decades-old radiation exposure standards set by the federal government. “It would be “undeniably homicidal” of the NRC to loosen current US exposure standards even slightly.” “That goes against science.”

https://thebulletin.org/2025/11/trumps-new-radiation-exposure-limits-could-be-catastrophic-for-women-and-girls/

They placed 1,700 sheep among solar panels—and the animals’ unexpected behavior surprised researchers

The solar panels provided crucial shade, protecting the sheep from harsh sunlight, wind, and extreme weather fluctuations. This shaded environment led to a marked improvement in the animals’ overall health, reducing heat stress and exposure to parasites, and improved wool yield. Agrivoltaics are catching on around the world.

https://www.leravi.org/they-placed-1700-sheep-among-solar-panels-and-the-animals-unexpected-behavior-surprised-researchers-16255/

The false promise of nuclear power: A review of M.V. Ramana’s ‘Nuclear is Not the Solution’

https://mronline.org/2025/11/13/the-false-promise-of-nuclear-power-a-review-of-m-v-ramanas-nuclear-is-not-the-solution/

CANADA

Pipelines in Canada, explained by The Narwhal

Why are we hearing about building more pipelines? Do they make sense for Canada's economy? And what about our emissions goals? We mapped 800,000 kilometres of pipelines in Canada and tried to get to the bottom of these questions. 7 min. video

https://thenarwhal.ca/video-pipelines-canada/

Democracy Falls - Yves Engler & the NDP 

A Canadian Gothic Political Horror Documentary Comedy By Zachary Ruiter

https://www.zacharyruiter.com/work/democracy-falls-yves-engler-and-the-ndp

Nuclear Map of Canada

https://www.ccnr.org/Nuclear_Map_e_2024.pdf

Glossary of Icons

https://www.ccnr.org/Glossary_of_Icons_e_2024.pdf

Nuclear Waste Transportation

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) wants to transport 100,000 tonnes of high-level nuclear waste thousands of kms to bury and abandon it deep in the heart of Treaty 3 territory in NW Ontario. Send your letter of concern here.

https://win.newmode.net/wethenuclearfreenorth/nuclearwastetransportationitsanimpact

Saskatchewan plans to use dirty coal as 'bridge' to nuclear

Saskatchewan is hitching its future to continued coal-fired power generation while it transitions to nuclear energy — and wants the federal government to help pay for a huge, but unspecified, chunk of it. Not unlike what Ontario is doing - ramping up dirty gas while they build out nukes.

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/11/news/saskatchewan-coal-nuclear-energy-plans#comment-88077

Solar Farming Brings New Life to Alberta’s Agricultural Land

Solar farming revolutionizes modern agriculture by merging food production with renewable energy generation through the concept of agrivoltaics.

https://organicagcentre.ca/renewable-energy-integration/solar-farming-brings-new-life-to-albertas-agricultural-land/

You could get at least $50 from the bread price-fixing settlement. 

Your chance to get a piece of a $500-million class action settlement, following a years-long bread price fixing scheme will soon expire. Applications must be in by Dec. 12

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bread-price-fixing-settlement-deadline-9.6978171

ONTARIO

‘Whiplash’ and ‘scar tissue’: conservation authorities grapple with Ontario’s most dramatic overhaul yet

Nearly 80 years after their creation, the Doug Ford government is reducing the unique environmental agencies from 36 to 7, in a move staff say may ‘slow approvals, create confusion’ over development and flood protections

https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-conservation-authorities-consolidation/

Ontario’s Nuclear Nightmare

On Nov. 1, electricity generation costs for residential consumers in the province surged by 29%. Tell Ford you want low-cost renewables, not high-cost, polluting nuclear and gas.

https://www.cleanairalliance.org/rates/

TORONTO

Speed camera ban sparks safety concerns from families of crash victims

‘It’s horrifying,’ Jess Spieker of Friends and Families for Safe Streets warns Ontario’s speed camera ban will endanger lives, especially in school zones.

https://nowtoronto.com/news/its-horrifying-speed-camera-ban-sparks-safety-concerns-from-families-of-crash-victims/

The ban on speed cameras came into effect on Friday, despite weeks of pleading by mayors, researchers, parents and families to improve rather than eliminate the automated speed enforcement program.

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/doug-ford-said-he-d-pay-for-traffic-calming-measures-to-replace-speed-cameras-here/article_a8e8ece0-34e2-45ec-bcfd-abbb866fa4ac.html

Toronto's Green Roof Bylaw Axed by Ford

In 2010, Toronto became the first North American city to introduce a green roof by-law, which has since brought about more than 1,200 of these environmentally friendly real estate projects. But, quietly before World Series, Doug Ford’s provincial government axed the municipal by-law by decree, on the grounds of reducing red tape

https://torontolife.com/real-estate/green-roof-by-law-doug-ford-bill-60/

Mayor Olivia Chow & Toronto City Council: Bring back open streets programs by 2026

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/mayor-olivia-chow-toronto-city-council-bring-back-open-streets-programs-by-2026

Toronto City Council needs to ditch Ontario’s dirty energy plan for our city

Send your own message here: 

https://www.cleanairalliance.org/win/

PERSONAL

Tooker Tapes Archiving Project

We are uncovering, archiving and logging 600 hours of historical footage by and about one of Canada’s most daring and courageous environmental leaders – Tooker Gomberg. Now with your help we’re making the movie. 

https://greenspiration.org/tooker/tooker-tapes/

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EVENTS

Climate Consciousness Summit: A Living Field for Planetary Renewal

November 14 - 20

Hopes of an orderly transition to climate safety now seem more remote than at any time since the Paris Agreement was forged a decade ago. Old-style multi-lateral climate diplomacy has failed to solve the crisis. This moment demands a shift in consciousness, a fresh way of seeing, an openness to entirely new ideas, and a depth of global conversation that we have never experienced before.

https://climateconsciousness.net/

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Tackling the Climate Emergency with Avi Lewis and Seth Klein

Mon. Nov. 17, 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. ET

Across Canada and around the world, communities are reeling from unprecedented fires, floods, and extreme weather events. Meanwhile, the Big Oil giants fuelling this crisis are raking in record profits even as they slash jobs and foreclose on our collective future. In his recent federal budget, the self-proclaimed “climate leader” Mark Carney has made it abundantly clear whose side he’s on. He has rolled out new fossil fuel subsidies, watered down anti-greenwashing legislation, and scrapped the oil and gas emissions cap to the delight of fossil fuel CEOs. Seth and Avi will dig into what real climate leadership would look like in this political moment, how we can leverage public ownership as a tool to tackle the climate crisis while making life more affordable for working people, and why we must transform the NDP into a political vehicle for our movements to make it happen.

https://act.lewisforleader.ca/solidarity-session-1-tackling-the-climate-emergency

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Donut Economics German Style

Mon. Nov. 17, noon ET

Deeply rooted economic beliefs about constant economic growth radiate powerfully into all areas of life, dominating the mainstream narrative of acceptable cost externalization and obstructing realistic perspectives. Many of these beliefs are the root causes of the interconnected ecological and social crises of our time. Doughnut economics offers a compass to navigate the growing uncertainties of the polycrisis and to rewrite our basic economic assumptions. A set of principles offer guidelines to develop methodologies for building a regenerative, distributive and growth independent economic system that looks at the big picture and embraces complexity. A global movement puts the Doughnut into practice in various contexts: municipalities & politics, academia and education, organisations, businesses and civil society. In this webinar you will learn about civil initiatives in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt. The municipality of Bad Nauheim chose Doughnut Economics as their DNA for transformation into a sustainable and healthy city. 

https://brandeis.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wvcJb7ltR5CKFlcCgruVuQ#/registration

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Big Oil vs. Big Water Webinar

Tues. Nov. 18, 7 – 8:30 p.m. ET

Line 5 is an aging Enbridge pipeline which crosses hundreds of rivers that flow into the Great Lakes and runs through some of the most environmentally sensitive waters in North America, including the Straits of Mackinac, where Lakes Michigan and Huron meet. One rupture could devastate 700 miles of Great Lakes shoreline. The oil company's solution? Build an unprecedented tunnel and run the pipeline through it for the next 99 years, which doesn't eliminate the risk; it's a project that has never been attempted by a company with a history of massive oil spills, cutting corners, and repeatedly being fined for breaking the rules. Learn more.

https://www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/big_oil_vs_big_water_webinar

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Advancing local climate action through participatory democracy

Wed. Nov. 19, 2 pm ET 

How can innovative decision-making structures and democratic processes foster more meaningful community engagement? Participatory democracy—such as citizens’ assemblies, residents’ panels or juries, participatory budgeting, and policy crowdsourcing—offers residents more direct and substantive ways to influence government decisions than traditional methods like voting or consultations. This session will examine a participatory democracy initiative led by a Canadian municipality, featuring insights from elected officials, municipal staff, practitioners, and community members. Hosted by Climate Reality Canada

https://www.climatereality.ca/mobilizing-for-local-action  

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Join Us For A Q&A Session on Building Emissions 

Wed. Nov. 19, 7:30 - 8:30 pm. ET

Toronto's climate plan depends on greening buildings. The City of Toronto is at risk of losing the most important policy of our time. Find out what we can do to make sure that our City Council passes and supports this critical document, before it's too late.

Register to get the link: newsletter at climatefast.ca 

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Ending Gender-Based Violence

Wed. Nov. 19, 7 - 9 p.m. ET

Online or in person in Ottawa

Gender-based violence refers to harmful acts directed at individuals based on their gender. It disproportionately affects women, girls and gender diverse people, impacting over half of Canada’s population and costing lives. Canada is at a critical turning point in how it responds to gender-based violence. The Walrus Talks Ending Gender-Based Violence brings together activists, advocates and experts to examine pressing policy gaps and cultural shifts that can reduce and prevent gender-based violence. This timely event will highlight lived experience, evidence-based solutions and the need for coordinated, cross-sector action.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-walrus-talks-ending-gender-based-violence-tickets-1740240569389  

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Conservation Documentary: A Home in the Grass

Wed. Nov. 19, 6:30 - 8 p.m. ET

Brentwood Public Library, 36 Brentwood Road North, Toronto

Local filmmaker Ryan Ward presents his award-winning short documentary A Home in the Grass, featuring Environmentalist in Residence Carly Davenport and her work to protect Ontario's grassland bird species.

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMEVT575334&R=EVT575334  

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Can Clean Energy Fix the Climate Crisis? With Bill McKibbon

Thur. Nov. 20, 11:30 a.m. 

As world leaders gather in Belém, Brazil, for COP30, the annual U.N. climate conference, they will confront a polarized world and regular disagreements on emissions targets and financing. One environmentalist has an unlikely message of hope. In his new book Here Comes the Sun, longtime journalist Bill McKibben writes how “we are on the verge of turning to the heavens for energy instead of to hell.” According to McKibben, who has for decades raised the alarm about climate change, dramatic advances in solar and wind energy could help decarbonize economies in time to stave off the worst predictions of climate scientists. What will it take to accelerate the global growth of clean energy? How will geopolitical competition play a role?

https://foreignpolicy.com/live/can-clean-energy-fix-the-climate-crisis/

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Nuclear Waste Update - Let's be ready for 2026

Thur. Nov. 20, 7 p.m. ET

This session will provide an update on the the Nuclear Waste Management Organization's plan to transport, process, bury and abandon all of Canada's high-level nuclear waste in the heart of Treaty 3 territory in northwestern Ontario, and will walk participants through how to prepare for the federal impact assessment process expected to start in 2026. And we'll share ideas and strategies to effectively oppose NWMO's project.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/YBIdYrm0RnaMGZjStahuRQ#/registration  

Watch the 6 min. explainer video about Canada's nuke waste

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pG7STo0ccVyD7chCvH93Q8AnYWors-xX/view  

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AI and the Politics of Extraction Panel

Thur. Nov. 20, 2 p.m.

Online and in person in Vancouver 

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence has brought renewed urgency to questions of climate justice. The massive resource extraction required to build and power data centre infrastructure is having profound impacts on local communities and ecosystems. At the same time, the large-scale monetization of data raises complex political and ethical issues, with far-reaching consequences for democracy, human rights, and the environment. In this public discussion, Professors Naomi Klein (UBC-V), Stephanie Dick (SFU), Wendy Wong (UBC-O) and Hamish van der Ven (UBC-V) will explore questions around the implications of AI for climate justice, the governance of AI and protection of users, and which beneficial models of AI could and should be explored. 

https://climatejustice.ubc.ca/events/event/ai-and-the-politics-of-extraction-panel/

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Ontario Old Growth Forest Symposium

Fri. Nov. 21, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET 

Online and in person at The Publican 300 Charlotte St., Peterborough

The Ontario Old Growth Symposium will bring together researchers, conservationists, planners, and nature-lovers to share knowledge and perspectives on identifying and protecting old-growth and intact forest ecosystems for their critical contributions to biodiversity, climate resilience, and human well-being. The symposium will include both in person and remote presentations on work being done to identify, conserve and describe the conservation values of old growth and intact forests in the province. 

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/western-canada-wilderness-committee/events/ontario-old-growth-forest-symposium/  

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‘Here Comes the Sun’ and the Path to a Climate-Safe Future - with author Bill McKibben

Mon. Nov. 24, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. ET

In person at the U of T 

Or online

$40 includes book

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bill-mckibben-on-here-comes-the-sun-and-the-path-to-a-climate-safe-future-tickets-1578537220319  

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More Toronto events 

https://showuptoronto.ca/ 

For the best Canadian climate and energy news, visit and subscribe to the Energy Mix newsletter

http://theenergymix.com/ 

Democracy Now Daily Show - global peace, justice and enviro news

https://www.democracynow.org/ 

Tooker Tapes Archive Project - Youtube Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3IwhNn-WrINTQz2fBNayDoBWLW0y59le  

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Submissions, subscribes, unsubscribes, and comments: mailto:angela at cleanairalliance.org  

Share this newsletter on social media using this link: http://greenspiration.org/news-events/

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