Greenspiration News & Events: no brainer

Mon Jun 29 19:29:54 UTC 2026

Friends, this is my last newsletter for the summer. I hope you get to enjoy some nature. See you in Sept!

"It may be hot but it’s likely the coolest summer of the rest of our lives." - climate circles

INTERNATIONAL

Europe’s extreme heat is shutting down nuclear and gas power plants

https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/06/24/1139676/europe-heat-power-plants/

Heat waves, brought to you by fossil fuels

Europe is experiencing the most severe heat wave ever recorded on the continent. Heat deaths, overloaded hospitals, overwhelmed emergency crews and melting rail lines understandably receive the bulk of our attention, but let’s spare some compassion for non-human beings.

https://mailchi.mp/nationalobserver/5uf1eou6s4?e=02591b0337

How to Solve the Climate Crisis - with Johan Rockström on Planetary Boundaries & the Path Forward - 52 min. podcast       

https://youtu.be/2_IKP3MwwO0?si=yS6P-0qyAu8oLGqu

Tony Seba's Massive 2026 Warning: Get out of fossil fuels immediately - 18 min. podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORu53NHcuig

How Should We Talk About Nuclear Power?

How do we communicate the twin evils of nuclear power and nuclear weapons so everyone can understand it? With Linda Pentz Gunter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y3Y6mNORZc

“It’s now a no-brainer:” Trump has done more for renewables than anyone in 100 years

https://reneweconomy.com.au/its-now-a-no-brainer-fortescue-says-trump-has-done-more-for-renewables-than-anyone-in-100-years/

The Welcome Table tells the powerful story of climate migration, resilience, and humanity in a rapidly changing world.

Airing now on HBO. Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Kgr-19hkWA

CANADA

Liberals fast-track NWT highway, Arctic deepwater port, nuclear waste dump in NW Ontario as projects of national interest

That means no proper environmental assessment with public input, instead Cabinet decides. 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mpo-greys-bay-mackenzie-highway-nuclear-waste-9.7247003

Response from enviros to the listing of the Deep Geological Repository (DGR) to bury and abandon nuclear fuel waste in NW Ontario as a project of national interest is absurd - no environmental assessment? disregarding public and indigenous opposition?

https://wethenuclearfreenorth.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/nw-wtnfn-letter-to-ministers_24june2026.pdf

The Flawed Federal Proposal to Fast-Track Major Projects

The overall goal of the federal Discussion Paper is to simplify and shorten federal assessment and permitting processes so that major projects can be approved and implemented in a faster manner.

https://cela.ca/blog-the-flawed-federal-proposal-to-fast-track-major-projects/

Tell the federal government to strengthen - not rollback - environmental protection

https://cela.ca/action-alert-federal-proposal-would-cut-environmental-protection/

Say good-bye to independent assessments of nuclear projects 

Comment period open until July 22 - send a message

https://nuclearwastewatch.weebly.com/assessing-nuclear-risk.html

Ecojustice is taking the feds to court over their planned failure to meet their climate targets

https://ecojustice.ca/file/demanding-a-real-plan-for-canadas-2030-climate-target/

What, exactly, is happening with coal mining in Alberta?

https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-coal-mining-2026/

The PM and the Broligarchs

3-part series. Wins of the broligarchs include a boosterish approach to AI, major military spending and the privatization of a key, publicly owned technology centre.

https://thetyee.ca/Series/2026/06/24/PM-and-Broligarchs/

ONTARIO

Ontario Can’t Afford More High-Cost Nuclear Power - It's Time to Triple Renewables

https://www.cleanairalliance.org/ontario-nuclear/

Is this Port Hope's Nuclear Future? With Dr. Gordon Edwards - 45 min. video recording

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ozL3fpSxbk

The Real Costs of ON’s Nuclear Gamble 

https://environmentaldefence.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nuclear-Gamble-Report.pdf

Ontario First Nations Invest $715M in Nuclear Project as Critics Warn of Financial Risk

https://www.theenergymix.com/ontario-first-nations-invest-715m-in-nuclear-project-as-critics-warn-of-financial-risk/

Internal documents show scientists reject Doug Ford's environmental study of the 413 Highway

https://thepointer.com/article/2026-06-28/they-re-worried-about-a-grasshopper-jumping-across-a-highway-internal-documents-show-scientists-reject-doug-ford-s-environmental-study-of-the-413-highway

TORONTO

Toronto City Council has approved Councillor Dianne Saxe's zoning amendment that removes a key barrier to solar parking canopy installations across the city.

This practical change will make it easier to transform parking lots into sources of clean electricity while also:

- Providing shade and weather protection for vehicles

- Reducing heat radiating from asphalt surfaces

- Supporting electric vehicle charging

- Generating clean electricity where it's needed most

https://www.facebook.com/CleanAirAlliance/posts/pfbid02aceUfnsCfDWC6h1oupzE2azXJKtcmopcGSXLhTLrgPAcmoi747ic3NbeJ7WkgUY2l

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EVENTS

Fight Ford Protest - Toronto

Mon. June 29, 7 p.m. Queens Park, 111 Wellesley St W 

https://protestdougford.com/june-27th-protest-locations/ 

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Deadly Heat

Tues. June 30, 11 am ET

As millions of Europeans swelter under record-shattering heat and North America faces similar temperatures next week, civic-minded reporting can literally save lives. As journalists, we’re part of the “social infrastructure” that shapes how communities experience extreme weather. In the short term, providing accurate and timely information on the dangers and how to stay safe is imperative. The best reporting also explains the “why” behind extreme weather: global warming driven by burning fossil fuels has overheated the planet, making heatwaves hotter, longer, and more frequent.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__-me9pItSz6Sj3VsKHIDYg#/registration

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How To Buy A Country 

Tues. June 30, 8:30 p.m. ET

Paradise Theatre, 1006 Bloor St. W (at Dovercourt), Toronto

This eye-opening documentary rewrites the story of Canada-US relations, exposing exactly how Canada ceded its strategic autonomy and sovereignty over the last 50 years — and how we might get it back. In this time of trade wars and oil price shocks, this film aims to show Canadians how the rise of U.S. influence, the growth of neoliberalism, and our structural dependence on fossil fuels are part of the same underlying story: the stranglehold of corporations over our democracy. Unmasking the history of Canada's economic dependence on the United States, How To Buy A Country explores what it would look like if we finally stepped out of the shadow of our southern neighbour and carved a new path, more independent path. Premier screening followed by panel discussion. Hosted by re-generation.

https://luma.com/5074eppk 

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Water Townhall

Tues. June 30, 1 p.m. ET

Join the Council for Canadians for an hour of grounding, learning, and conversation with water — its struggles, its stories, and its power to call us toward something different.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/f1rvA3rXQN2XriGsgugkSA

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Keeping Water Public! With Maude Barlow & other speakers

Tues. June 30, 7 p.m. ET

Join us and leading experts for a webinar to explore the implications of these legislative changes, examine the history and impacts of water privatization around the world, and understand how Ontario's recent reforms fit into a broader pattern of shifting essential public services into private hands. We'll also discuss how communities can help safeguard public stewardship of water. Organized by Water Watchers.

https://www.waterwatchers.ca/keep_water_public 

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Tech and Games that Create Health

Tues. June 30, 11 am. ET

Guests:

• Dr. William Bird, Family GP, CEO, Intelligent Health, England. (IntelligentHealth.co.uk) 

• Stephen McPeake, Founder & CEO, Civic Dollars, N. Ireland. (CivicDollars.com)

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_r0tNwL4JTTu3OxUn7yf5NQ#/registration 

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Waste of Space: The Environmental Cost of Human Activities in Space

Wed. July 1 · 2 - 3:30 pm ET

Rocket launches for both military and civil purposes have rapidly increased over recent years as costs have fallen and this is driving a new ‘race for space’.  Commercial companies and government sectors are keen to capitalise on the economic and strategic advantages offered by the exploitation of space and the space sector too is undergoing rapid transformation as it moves from being government-led to funded by wealthy entrepreneurs and private companies. To coincide with the opening of a three-month window for the first space launch from UK soil on 1st July, Space Watch UK is publishing a new report: ‘Waste of Space: The Environmental Cost of Human Activities in Space’ 

Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/waste-of-space-the-environmental-cost-of-human-activities-in-space-tickets-1991047569879 

More info: https://mailchi.mp/78bf10b92a4a/us-spy-drones-out-of-fairford-thank-you-6144281?e=d17787aca5 

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Building an Ocean of Peace

Starts: Friday, July 3, 9 p.m. ET

For decades, Pacific communities have carried the consequences of militarization, nuclear testing, and great-power competition. Tune in this July to learn about efforts to strengthen peace, oppose further military expansion, and support a sustainable, nuclear-free Pacific. For many communities across the Pacific, 2026 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercises scheduled for 24 June - 31 July represent a continued expansion of militarization in the region. These large-scale war exercises heighten regional tensions, increase the risk of conflict, and divert resources away from addressing the urgent social, economic, and environmental challenges facing the region. 

https://actionnetwork.org/events/ppn-webinar-building-an-ocean-of-peace/ 

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A Breath of Clean Air: Building Climate Resilience by Improving Indoor Air Quality

Sat. July 11, 2:30 p.m. ET

Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Ave. Toronto

Join Clean Indoor Air Toronto for A Breath of Clean Air, a workshop to learn how to improve indoor air quality and make our indoor environments more resilient to the impacts of air pollution and climate change. 

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-breath-of-clean-air-building-climate-resilience-by-improving-iaq-tickets-1991602472608 

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Can Public Spaces like Barcelona’s Superblocks Make Cities Healthier? 

Tues. July 14, 11 a.m. ET

Cities are centres of innovation and wealth creation, but also still hotspots of air pollution and noise, heat island effects and lack of green space, which are all detrimental to human health. New urban concepts such as the Barcelona Superblocks, the London low traffic neighbourhood, the Paris 15 Minute city, the Freiburg - Vaugban Car free city or a mixture of these that may go some way in reducing the health burden related to current urban and transport practices. They will reduce air pollution and noise, heat island effects and increase green space and physical activity levels. Particularly the Barcelona Superblock model is promising, but the development in Barcelona itself has come to a standstill. Why, what happened and can it applied in other cities?

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UkDqTdNoTIeJ_5Y8NavzDw#/registration 

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The 7th Floor

Tues. July 14, 2:30 p.m. ET

Friends Houes, 60 Lower Ave. and livestreamed

Join us on Psych Survivor Day for the premier of The 7th Floor. A one- act play reading set in the lounge of a ficticious psychiatric ward. An experience psychiatrist and nurse contemplate how they've helped their patients, while the patients explore their real life experiences. Hosted by the Friendly Spike Theatre Band. 

Livestreamed on Instagram 

https://www.instagram.com/thefriendlyspiketheatreband/

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Imagining a Life After Cars 

Tues. July 28, 11 a.m. ET

Guests: Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear, co-hosts of The War on Cars podcast and co-authors of Life After Cars. USA The book exposes the devastating impacts of car dependency on society, the environment, and our cities while offering a hopeful, actionable blueprint for reclaiming our streets.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TUFH19OpTHqGvoJlU41tdg#/registration  

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The Unexpected Power of Open Streets 

Tues. Aug, 11, 11 a.m. ET

Jim Burke will focus on the community building aspect of opening our street. The programming, mutual aid, cultural celebrations, that then lead to connections, friendships and the “small town vibes” that have resulted from “opening” our streets in the densest city in the US has been something to behold and incredible to experience.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8y8ZGQifRb6es6WKymteIw#/registration 

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2026 Basic Income Network Congress 

Aug. 19 - 22

Toronto

The Congress theme positions basic income as a unifying response to the polycrisis—one that cuts across policy silos and reconnects income security to broader questions of justice, human rights, sustainability, and democratic capacity. The Congress will convene researchers, policymakers, advocates, and practitioners to explore how basic income can help “unlock the puzzle” by advancing economic security while supporting social cohesion, adaptive and transformative capacity, and democratic renewal.

https://bien2026.net/register/

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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 

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