Greenspiration News & Events: Hope is contagious

Mon May 4 14:30:56 UTC 2026

INTERNATIONAL

Iran war is accelerating global shift from oil and gas to renewables

India, China, Pakistan, South Korea, Vietnam are all shifting rapidly to renewables.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/03/trump-clean-energy-iran-war-global-shift-oil-gas

The Global oil crisis has changed fossil fuel industry for ever say IEA chief

8 min. video podcast by the Electric Viking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm4qVChLSC8

People’s Declaration for a Rapid, Equitable, and Just Transition for a Fossil-Free Future - Santa Marta, Columbia

The declaration outlines 15 principles for a just transition

https://fossilfreerising.org/declaration-press-release

Hope is contagious and science is king: 10 big lessons on ending the fossil fuel era

At world-first Santa Marta climate meeting, delegates say it was ‘euphoric’ to finally be focusing on concrete solutions

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/01/santa-marta-colombia-climate-conference-ending-fossil-fuel-era

The fossil fuel ‘blind spot’ is finally closing

The First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels took place last week in Santa Marta, Columbia. 60 countries, as well as scientists and Indigenous representatives, researchers and civil society groups gathered to begin charting an end to the production and burning of fossil fuels.

https://mailchi.mp/nationalobserver/5wfre2lj9m?e=02591b0337

Nuclear Scaling Requires Discipline. SMRs Deliver Fragmentation

The evidence does not support treating SMRs as a broad, near-term, commercially validated solution.

https://cleantechnica.com/2026/04/28/nuclear-scaling-requires-discipline-smrs-deliver-fragmentation/

Circular, Equitable, and Renewable: Scrutinizing Mineral Requirements to Build a Just Energy Transition

This new report examines the mining demand necessary for a Just Transition away from fossil fuels. As societies and economies phase out oil, gas, and coal, large-scale deployment of renewable energy will play a significant role in meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. 

https://www.wecaninternational.org/jt-minerals-report

No Data Centers on Native Land!

Organizer Toolkit

https://www.honorearth.org/nodatacenters 

Danielle Smith Is Betraying Rural Alberta To Build Gas-Powered Data Centres

There are over 40 data centres proposed for construction in Alberta. Often opposed by local residents, these enormous installations create few jobs and require vast amounts of electricity and water – two commodities in limited supply in the province.

https://www.desmog.com/2026/04/28/danielle-smith-is-betraying-rural-alberta-to-build-gas-powered-data-centres/

After a period of covering climate change more, a quiet is returning to the mainstream media. What’s happening, and what's to be done?

https://coveringclimatenow.org/projects/a-burning-house-a-quiet-media-a-silenced-majority/

CANADA

Renewables Mix Beats Nuclear on Price in Future Energy Systems

https://www.theenergymix.com/renewables-mix-beats-nuclear-on-price-in-future-energy-systems/

Carney’s sovereign wealth fund gets it backwards

https://sethdklein.substack.com/p/carneys-sovereign-wealth-fund-gets

Concerned about high level nuclear fuel waste being trucked across across the country and abandoned on First Nations' land in NW Ontario? Learn more and submit your comments

https://share.sender.net/campaigns/fHNC/comment-by-may-10-on-nuclear-waste-transport-and-burial-scheme-draft-guidelines-for-impact-assessment-of-nwmos-deep-geological-repository

Worried about gerrymandering? The solution is proportional representation

The Alberta UCP’s decision to reject the recommendation of an independent boundaries commission and appoint a committee with a majority of UCP MLAs to draw the maps instead should worry us all. Winner-take-all systems are to blame for gerrymandering.

https://www.fairvote.ca/20/04/2026/worried-about-gerrymandering-the-solution-is-proportional-representation/

Stop the Global War Bank: Canada must not host or join the DSRB

News has just broken that Carney's plans to secure Canada as the permanent host of the global HQ of the new war bank (the DSRB) are falling in place – with Toronto the leading contender for host city. This new financial institution, the first of its kind, is designed to fund and accelerate a global arms race and funnel public money directly to arms manufacturers. We reject the war bank — not in Toronto, not in Canada, not on this planet.

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stopwarbank

ONTARIO

Concerned about OPG planning to build the world's largest nuclear station in Port Hope, Ontario without considering alternatives? Speak out now:

https://www.cleanairalliance.org/alternatives/

Ford government’s FOI changes block release of 219 Greenbelt 'investment-opportunity meeting' records

One email chain among the hundreds of records being withheld from The Trillium concerns a meeting between ‘Mr. X’ and Minister David Piccini about land that was later removed from the Greenbelt

https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-trillium-investigations/ford-governments-foi-changes-block-release-of-219-greenbelt-investment-opportunity-meeting-records-12208101

Two legal battles over Greenbelt records ‘likely’ quashed by PCs’ FOI restrictions

The Ford government’s retroactive FOI changes are expected to prevent the release of highly protected Greenbelt scandal-related documents, including records of the premier’s calls

https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/two-legal-battles-over-greenbelt-records-likely-quashed-by-pcs-foi-restrictions-12213868

Coalition calls on Ford to bring back our climate plan

https://thepointer.com/article/2026-05-02/last-generation-with-a-choice-coalition-calls-on-doug-ford-to-bring-back-climate-plan

The Ford Files

Everything is getting worse. The government keeps claiming success. We tracked the pattern. Critics argue it's not incompetence. It's a strategy.

https://www.dougfordclownshow.ca/

TORONTO

Carney and Ford can set Toronto up for success with renewables

https://www.cleanairalliance.org/support-toronto-renewables/

Say NO to Jets at the Toronto Island Airport - Petition

https://www.nojetsto.com/

Find where your city Councillor stands on climate policy.

https://votingrecords.climatefast.ca/

Toronto renters form a city-wide tenant union: ‘Landlords watch out’ - 6 min. video

https://breachmedia.ca/landlords-watch-out-toronto-renters-form-first-city-wide-tenant-union/ 

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EVENTS

NeuroScience Salon

Monday May 4, 7 p.m. ET

Join us online for a lively discussion hosted by Dr. Elan Ohayon, co-founder and director of the Green Neuroscience Laboratory. All are welcome. This month, our salon topic is the nexus of sentience, ecology, and intuition. Our special guest is Dr. Emily Sadowski, consciousness development scholar and author of What is Intuition? (2023). The Green Neuroscience Laboratory is a multi-national, non-profit academic research lab located in San Diego, California, with a base in Toronto Canada. Dedicated to pursuing a new way of studying the brain and its relation to the body, our environment and society, we aim at a new approach that is inclusive and sustainable: a new neuroscience. *No captive animal research * No toxic research * Neuro-diversity * Respecting sentience * Eco and environmental neuroscience * Rejecting the military-industrial complex / corporate funding model * How the brain can improve our world * Expanding multi-scale models, agency and freedom (contra reductionism and fatalism) * Academic freedom and open science * Computational modeling of agency, freedom and health * Champions of social and ecological justice.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/2VPlsW9RQreW4S6bsBF0-w#/registration

Help support Green Neuro’s innovative research

For over a decade, Green Neuro has demonstrated that the field of neuroscience can be advanced through ecological and justice-oriented goals: "no animal experimentation", "green methodologies" (reclaimed materials, renewable energy, and no toxic lab chemicals), "celebrating neurodiversity" and "challenging reductionism in science."

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-green-neuroscience

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Remarketing Our Roads 

Tues. May 5, 11 a.m. ET

Reframing our roads will look at how we can improve the discussion around road safety and our shared spaces by reviewing some of the mainstream narrative and comms that have dominated the space. Will also look at ways to flip the script and tell a different story.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yQguBvigQfGgbI6_K4Otww#/registration  

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Let's Talk Lake Huron: Chemical Contamination

Tues. May 5, noon ET

Learn about the current status and trends of chemical pollutants in Lake Huron. Find out how mercury and PFAS move through the food web and impact the lake’s ecosystem. We will also hear how agricultural runoff may be influencing mercury levels in Lake Huron’s tributaries.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_T1isAIakQC6JOKs8KO8d4g#/registration

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Parks, Housing ... or Jets?! What are Toronto's Choices for our downtown airport?

Wed. May 6, 7 - 9 p.m. ET

We know Premier Ford wants to expropriate 20% of the Island Airport Lands that the City of Toronto owns, along with Little Norway Park and Toronto Island to pave the way for jets at Billy Bishop. We also know that Waterfront Toronto continues its ambitious plans for waterfront housing, parks and transit, with Federal Government support, and in concert with the City of Toronto & the TTC. Can these things co-exist? With with speakers Councillor Josh Matlow and Mark Wilson of Waterfront Toronto. Hosted by Waterfront for All

https://www.waterfrontforall.ca/speaker_series_23

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Youth Climate Corps Mass Organizing Call

Thur. May 7, 6 pm.. ET

As our government pushes forward with LNG nation-building projects and more AI data centers, youth unemployment remains at record highs—with 108,000 permanent full-time jobs lost in February alone. The recently announced Youth Climate Corps pilot, which according to our estimates will only employ 350 youth across Canada, falls far short of addressing the scale of the crises we face. Now is the time to escalate our organizing and build momentum as we gear up to see the YCC pilot launch. Hear our plan to win a permanent, large-scale Youth Climate Corps—funded at a minimum of $1 billion per year. Together, we can generate the power, excitement, and community support needed to turn this vision into reality. Let’s build the future we deserve!

https://actionnetwork.org/events/youth-climate-corps-mass-organizing-call

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Proportional Representation: Myths versus Facts

Sat. May 9, noon ET

Join us for a webinar to look at the common things opponents say against proportional representation, and get the facts about PR. In this webinar, we'll tackle topics including:

* The influence of the far right in different voting systems

* Fringe parties and the role of small parties in Parliament

* How governments are formed

* Government stability

* How systems deliver local representation

...and more.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_93Y4i94BQ96w5fXqPFcLUg#/registration

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Daughters of Donbas - Songs of Stolen Children

Sun. May 10, 6 p.m. ET

The Drom Taberna (Queen and Augusta), Toronto

Daughters of Donbas - Songs of Stolen Children is a music/human rights project that deals with the war crime of the 20,000+ Ukrainian children that have been abducted from occupied regions in Eastern Ukraine and taken to russia. Featuring Alina Kuzma, Zoë Santo, and a string quartet, Daughters of Donbas blends elements of art-folk, chamber music and Ukrainian folk vocal traditions.The project is grounded in real stories of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia during the full-scale invasion. Each song bears witness to a stolen name, a stolen childhood, a silenced voice. $20

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/daughters-of-donbas-songs-of-stolen-children-tickets-1983030523678 

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Earth’s Greatest Enemy Film Screening 

Sunday, May 10, 6pm

The Redwood Theatre. 1300 Gerrard Street E, Toronto

Earth’s Greatest Enemy, by Abby Martin, is a documentary exposé of the world's biggest—and most unaccountable—polluter: the US military. Exempt from international climate agreements and rarely scrutinized in mainstream reporting, the Pentagon is the world’s single largest institutional polluter—spewing carbon, contaminating water, and scarring landscapes across the globe. Combining investigative journalism, striking visuals, and stories from impacted communities, this film challenges audiences to rethink the hidden costs of a global military empire and its planetary consequences.

https://actionnetwork.org/ticketed_events/earths-greatest-enemy-the-redwood-theatre-may-10

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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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