Greenspiration Events: Arctic hits 100 degrees

Sun Jun 21 23:50:20 EDT 2020

GLOBAL

Arctic records its hottest temperature ever

Alarming heat scorched Siberia on Saturday as the small town of Verkhoyansk (67.5°N latitude) reached 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. This town is typically one of the coldest spots on Earth. This past November, the area reached nearly 60 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. Reaching 100 degrees in or near the Arctic is almost unheard of. As a result of the hot-dry conditions right now, numerous fires rage nearby, and smoke is visible for thousands of miles on Satellite images.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/arctic-records-its-hottest-temperature-ever-2020-06-20/ 

World has six months to avert climate crisis

The world has only six months in which to change the course of the climate crisis and prevent a post-lockdown rebound in greenhouse gas emissions that would overwhelm efforts to stave off climate catastrophe. - International Energy Agency chief. Wind and solar power should be a top focus, alongside energy efficiency improvements to buildings and industries, and the modernisation of electricity grids. These would all create many times more jobs than pouring money into the high-carbon economy.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/18/world-has-six-months-to-avert-climate-crisis-says-energy-expert 

How big tech plans to profit from the pandemic - by Naomi Klein

If tech companies win their ferocious lobbying campaign for remote learning, telehealth, 5G and driverless vehicles – their Screen New Deal – there simply won’t be any money left over for urgent public priorities, never mind the Green New Deal that our planet urgently needs. On the contrary: the price tag for all the shiny gadgets will be mass teacher layoffs and hospital closures.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/may/13/naomi-klein-how-big-tech-plans-to-profit-from-coronavirus-pandemic

Plastic rain is the new acid rain

Plastic rain could prove to be a more insidious problem than acid rain. Microplastic particles, tiny chunks of fragmented plastic bottles and microfibers that fray from clothes, all pollutants that get caught up in Earth’s atmospheric systems and deposited in the wilderness and oceans, messing with soil, leaching chemicals, transporting microbes, and becoming part of the food chain.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/06/plastic-rain-is-the-new-acid-rain/

COVID-19 is a game-changer for renewable energy. Here's why

COVID-19 has brought the generation of energy from fossil fuels to breaking point while renewables (mainly wind and solar) saw their share in electricity substantially increase at record levels in many countries. 

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/covid-19-is-a-game-changer-for-renewable-energy/

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CANADA

Analysts See No More Need for New Pipelines as Tar Sands/Oil Sands Production Slides

After years of complaints that Canada lacked space in its crowded export pipelines to serve tar sands/oil sands producers in the Alberta oilpatch, analysts are beginning to point to a different problem: a surplus of pipeline capacity, even as governments and industry boosters try to push, pull, and drag the Keystone XL and Line 3 pipelines and the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion toward completion.

https://theenergymix.com/2020/06/18/analysts-see-no-more-need-for-new-pipelines-as-tar-sands-oil-sands-production-slides/ 

Alberta’s Green Economy Could Produce 67,200 New Jobs by 2030

The Pembina blueprint projects significant new employment in four areas of Alberta’s economy: renewable energy, transit and EV infrastructure, energy efficiency, and clean-up and methane reduction in the oil and gas industry.

https://theenergymix.com/2020/06/18/albertas-green-economy-could-produce-67200-new-jobs-by-2030/ 

Merging Climate, Racial Justice Concerns Would Deliver Just, Green Recovery

Done well, with principles of economic justice at the forefront, there is an opportunity to marry climate change policy with actions that address deep, structural inequities that result from colonialism, racism, and unrestrained capitalism.

https://theenergymix.com/2020/06/18/mccarthy-merging-climate-racial-justice-concerns-would-deliver-just-green-recovery/

Canada needs a strong nuclear waste policy 

Canada does not have adequate rules in place to manage non-fuel nuclear waste. The international community has recognized that Canada's policies for managing nuclear waste are inadequate. Watch the 95 second video. Then sign the petition and send a letter to your MP here.

https://www.ottawariverkeeper.ca/what-we-do-2/issues/cnls-proposed-nuclear-waste-disposal-facility/a-strong-policy-on-nuclear-waste/ 

https://www.ottawariverkeeper.ca/what-we-do-2/issues/cnls-proposed-nuclear-waste-disposal-facility/a-strong-policy-on-nuclear-waste/contact-your-mp/ 

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ONTARIO

Say No to Speeding Up Evictions - Kill Bill 184

https://acorncanada.org/take-action/say-no-speeding-evictions-kill-bill-184

Helping our climate by phasing-out Ontario's gas plants

The GHG pollution from Ontario’s gas-fired power plants will increase by more than 300% by 2025 as the province uses gas to replace aging nuclear plants. If this occurs, Ontario will lose 35% of the pollution reduction benefits it achieved by phasing-out its dirty coal plants. Send a letter to the leaders of the 4 main parties here calling for a phase out of Ontario's gas plants and move to a 100% renewable future.

http://www.OntarioClimateAction.ca  

Can you spare a few hours to help me distribute these phase-out-gas-plants leaflets in mailboxes anywhere in the province of Ontario? They're free and beautiful. I'll mail them to you along with a map around your house. Thanks!

https://www.cleanairalliance.org/get-involved/order-pamphlets/

Petition for the immediate dismantling of Pickering Nuclear Station after shutdown 

The Pickering Nuclear Station is one of the world's oldest and largest. Just 30 km from downtown Toronto, it was designed to last 30 years, but is now 49, and OPG has gotten permission to run it till 2024. Send a letter to local MPP Bethlenfalvy calling for immediate dismantling of the station after shutdown in 2024 (as recommended by the IAEA), rather than OPG's plan to let the station sit idle for 30 years before dismantlement. 

https://www.cleanairalliance.org/waterfront/ 

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TORONTO

Ride with the Toronto Bike Brigade

The Toronto Bike Brigade is pairing volunteer cyclists with community organizations that serve isolated, vulnerable people, seniors and health care providers to deliver supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bike Brigade offers free delivery service for organizations and individuals in need.

https://www.bikebrigade.ca/

Looking to share a house/space with other like-minded people in downtown Toronto core. Ideally with a yard or roof to garden. Social justice, climate awareness, permaculture principled driven, open to diversity of all kinds including age, leaning far left, healthy food, flexetarian diet, sharing responsibilities. I’m an urban gardener with a food security focus, emergency preparedness, teach cooking, Private chef & professional Declutterer. Please contact me with any ideas or desire to create a community living situation. Petra 416.732.8965

Looking for housing in Toronto, July 1 or Aug. 1, budget $1200/month. Contained suite. Contact: dianneknight210 at gmail.com    

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EVENTS

Just Recovery online rally 

Tues. June 23, 3 p.m. EST

Mass online rally in support of a Just Recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic that puts the health of people and our planet first.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ucOGrqjkpE9EzW-I0CL9QWQNgVBfobw3v 

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Women and the Energy Transition

Tues. June 23, 1 p.m. EST

Across Alberta, women are leading the charge in a shift to a lower-carbon future. Whether they are industry professionals, public servants or community members, whether they are running community workshops, lecturing in university classrooms or changing their homes, women are key to increasing the momentum towards a lower carbon world and making sure no one is left behind. Hear our panel of standout Albertans in a webinar that explores the role of women in this changing energy economy.

https://www.pembina.org/event/webinar-women-and-energy-transition 

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Green Party of Canada Leadership Debate

All ten Green Party of Canada leadership candidates will debate on TVO’s The Agenda on Tuesday, June 23, 3pm ET. 

You can watch the livestream or the archive of the full debate here: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu_u-P3cBFO7D-sAjxd_I-w   

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Let’s get Waste-Ed

Wednesday, June 24

Aluminum foil - garbage or recycling? If you, like us, find yourself perpetually standing over your waste bins scratching your head, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to pick the brain of Emily Alfred from @toenviro as she walks us through some common recycling myths and misconceptions, and upcycling opportunities. 

http://youtube.com/channel/UCzSB5ouC4e_AR-pAaE8-TVg/videos    

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Carbon Province, Hydro Province: The Challenge of Canadian Energy and Climate Federalism

Wed. June 24, 3 – 5 p.m.

Join us for this Webinar discussion, at which Professor Douglas Macdonald will present the findings from his analysis of all five national energy and climate programs to date, from Pierre Trudeau’s National Energy Program to Justin Trudeau’s Pan-Canadian Framework. Based on those findings, Professor Macdonald will present his recommendations for how all parts of the country can start moving down the same path of declining emissions without doing unacceptable harm to national unity.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/summer-webinar-series-carbon-province-hydro-province-tickets-108472433970 

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Rally for Rent Control

Wednesday June 24, 9 a.m.

Meet outside the Landlord Tenant Board at 15 Grosvenor St (2 blocks north of Yonge & College) and march to Queen's Park

Doug Ford is trying to make it easier to evict tenants. In the middle of a Pandemic! This is inhumane. Join ACORN members from all over Toronto for a rally and march to Queen's Park to demand he back down. We need an eviction ban NOT a bill that makes evictions easier.

Petition: https://acorncanada.org/take-action/say-no-speeding-evictions-kill-bill-184

Toronto Rent Control: https://acorncanada.org/take-action/tell-city-council-support-real-rent-control 

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What will be the future of Toronto post COVID?

Online Consultation with City of Toronto staff

Wed. June 24, 7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Let’s make sure that we Build. Back. Better.  For the climate and for each other, everyone, inclusively and equitably. Let’s make sure we have a Just Recovery!

Register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/have-your-say-future-of-toronto-post-covid-climatefast-discussion-tickets-110433898764 

You can fill in a survey on-line until June 30th at this link: https://bit.ly/2NgndgD 

And the city also provides a consultation guide at this link: https://bit.ly/37Q4amQ

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COVID & Climate

Wed. June 24, 5 - 7 p.m. EST

Our expert panelists will discuss the parallels between the covid and climate crises, the variety of scientific and media narratives that surround them, and the ways in which these two crises continue to disparately affect people across racial and socioeconomic lines.

https://climatechallenge.ca/events-campaign/covid-climate-free-webinar/

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Climate Ventures Mornings: A Conversation with Laura Witt of Drawdown Fund

Wed. June 24, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Join us for a conversation on impact investing, tangible solutions to tackle climate change, and how the Drawdown Fund scales market-based solutions to reverse global warming.

https://climatechallenge.ca/events-campaign/climate-ventures-mornings-a-conversation-with-laura-witt-of-drawdown-fund/

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Equality, Resilience and Reconciliation: COVID-19 & Indigenous Toronto

Thur. June 25, 8 am. EST

https://event.webinarjam.com/register/61/0v569cg3 

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Responding to Climate Change as Public Health Professionals

Thur. June 25, 3 p.m. EST

This presentation will summarize the health risks associated with climate change on a global scale and in Canada, identify the actions needed to address climate change which provide immediate health benefits, and discuss the different ways that public health professionals can help mitigate climate change and/or its harm on the populations they serve.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/responding-to-climate-change-as-public-health-professionals-tickets-109024593494  

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Policing, Direct Action, and Infiltration: Ten Years Since the G20

Thur. June 25, 6 p.m. EST

This webinar will explore how to bring systems thinking into the design of programs to decarbonize industrial and municipal processes and systems.

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5270035505408034571

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How Organizations are Using Digital Technologies to Meet Their Carbon Reduction Commitments

Thur. June 25, 1:15 - 2:45 EST

This webinar will explore how to bring systems thinking into the design of programs to decarbonize industrial and municipal processes and systems.

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5270035505408034571

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A Just Transition for Sustainable Jobs

Fri. June 26, 11:30 a.m. EST

What constitutes sustainable employment, and how to quantify it? What do we do with jobs considered unsustainable or located in companies with high GHG emissions? Is it possible to transform the world of work to become sustainable? The answer is yes, and that requires a just transition. Hosted by The Climate Reality Project Canada.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3zVsuyUwQUujRuOhZtNCxw

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

http://theenergymix.com/ 

And for the best global perspective: DESMOG - Clearing the PR Pollution that clouds climate science

https://www.desmogblog.com/topics/covering-climate-now                                                                                                                                                                                                            

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Toronto's NOW magazine hosts a very comprehensive online events listing

https://nowtoronto.com/search/event/community-events/      

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

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