From angela at cleanairalliance.org Mon Dec 8 18:52:36 2025 From: angela at cleanairalliance.org (Angela Bischoff - OCAA) Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2025 11:52:36 -0700 Subject: Greenspiration News & Events: Solarpunk Message-ID: <3BD419CD-6D5F-473A-9C2F-9C6C3E535893@cleanairalliance.org> INTERNATIONAL Why Solarpunk is already happening in Africa - MUST READ - The 20th century infrastructure model was: Centralized generation; Government-led; Megaproject financing; 30-year timelines; Monopolistic utilities - The 21st century infrastructure model is: Distributed/modular; Private sector-led; PAYG financing; Deploy in days/weeks; Competitive markets This is how things will get built going forward. It?s already happening. https://climatedrift.substack.com/p/why-solarpunk-is-already-happening Millions to receive free electricity in 2026 thanks to Australia?s solar boom Australians to get free solar electricity for up to 3 hours per day https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/05/millions-to-receive-free-electricity-in-2026-thanks-to-australias-solar-boom/ Bill McKibben on the Path to a Climate-Safe Future (hint: solar)- video recording of his presentation https://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/news-events-and-ideas/public-events/events-listings/2025/november-2025/nov-24-bill-mckibben/20251124-bill-mckibben/ Rock solid? A scientific review of geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. (English starts on pg. 10) https://www.greenpeace.ch/static/planet4-switzerland-stateless/2025/11/ed8ea7f1-rock-solid-2_bericht-mit-summary_de.pdf The rise of the disinformation-for-hire industry https://mailchi.mp/euvsdisinfo/dr366-6230030?e=75dc37d381 Bombed Chornobyl shelter no longer blocks radiation and needs major repair ? IAEA https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/06/chornobyl-disaster-shelter-no-longer-blocks-radiation-and-needs-major-repair-iaea CANADA 100% Renewable Canada: Mark Jacobson?s Wind, Water, Solar Master Plan - 17 min. video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAScTJDZLIU Where Are the Customers? Why the Idea of a Pipeline to Asia Is Built on a Fantasy Asia is electrifying. It doesn't need or want Alberta's ultra heavy sour crude. https://energymixweekender.substack.com/p/where-are-the-customers-why-the-idea Now you see it, now you don?t - excellent newsletter from ZeroCarbon The Ford government just repealed all requirements to set climate targets, make a plan, and issue accountability reports along the way. What other jurisdictions will be next? Assembly of First Nations want pipeline deal scrapped. Naomi Klein on Carney's shock doctrine. https://mailchi.mp/nationalobserver/now-you-see-it-now-you-dont?e=02591b0337 NDP Leadership Candidate Avi Lewis is calling for a Green New Deal for Canada https://lewisforleader.ca/ideas/green-new-deal-full-plan The Battle for Alberta Danielle Smith Brings the Chaos ? From Pipelines to Health Care - by Charlie Angus https://charlieangus.substack.com/p/the-battle-for-alberta ONTARIO Here?s How Doug Ford?s Government Will Impact Public Services and Infrastructure in 2026 A look back on a jam-packed year of new legislation in Ontario. https://pressprogress.ca/heres-how-doug-fords-government-will-impact-public-services-and-infrastructure-in-2026/ Food bank use in Ontario hits record high with over 1M users: report Feed Ontario said this is the ninth year in a row that food bank usage has increased, marking a 'deeply concerning' affordability crisis across the province https://www.torontotoday.ca/local/business-economy/food-bank-use-ontario-hits-record-high-over-1m-users-report-11567290 TORONTO Meet the four Toronto Councillors who voted for more pollution Last week, four city councillors voted to stall action on phasing out the polluting Portlands gas plant and shifting the city to a renewable energy future. https://www.cleanairalliance.org/four-councillors/ ______________________ ______________________ EVENTS Climate Action Against Disinformation (CAAD): Climate Disinformation, and What We Can DO About It Tues. Dec. 9, 1 - 2 p.m. ET You know climate change isn't a hoax. But do you know how climate disinformation is still influencing you? Find out how climate disinformation is being used to sabotage climate action, and what you can do about it, with Phil Newell, communications co-chair of the Climate Action Against Disinformation coalition, a network of over 90 organizations around the world who are part of a new Global Initiative on Information Integrity on Climate Change. This hour-long training will provide an entertaining overview of how disinformation really works, before explaining why many common responses, like fact checking, unfortunately won't work, and ending with what is already working and what YOU can do about it. https://www.sustainabilitynetwork.ca/events/climate-action-against-disinformation-caad-climate-disinformation-and-what-we-can-do-about-it ? ______________________ ______________________ Powering What Matters: How Partnerships Take Energy Solutions from Concept to Scale Tues. Dec. 9, noon ? 1 p.m. ET This webinar hosted by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) will highlight how targeted partnerships accelerate the journey from pilot to policy to scale, delivering real climate solutions that are clean, affordable, resilient, and accessible to all. https://rmi.tfaforms.net/169 ______________________ ______________________ Well+Being: Good Intentions are Not Enough ? Living Healthier & Happier must be The Easy Choice. Tues. Dec. 9, 11 a.m. ET Guest: Gil Penalosa. Living healthier and happier, requires good intentions, but as with most New Year's resolutions, that is not enough. We know that to live healthier and happier we need to eat better, sleep longer, socialize more, exercise more, and connect with nature. Cities can and should make these 5 actions the easy choice, through policies, infrastructure, activities, and programs. https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ki4pt9_UR960NJ47E9KmwQ#/registration ______________________ ______________________ The Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home Tues. Dec. 9, 7 p.m. ET America spends a trillion dollars a year on its military. This extraordinary spending not only detracts from our ability to address pressing social problems but compels us into foreign wars to justify our vast arsenal. Sold to us in the name of ?security,? our military industrial complex actually makes us far less safe. Top policy experts William D. Hartung and Ben Freeman will discuss their new book The Trillion Dollar War Machine, which follows the profits of militarism from traditional Pentagon contractors, who receive more than half of the Pentagon?s budget, to the upstart high-tech firms that shamelessly promote unproven and destabilizing technologies. The Trillion Dollar War Machine shows who is pulling the strings and pushing for war, and offers a blueprint for how we can shut down the war machine and restore American security and prosperity.? https://secure.everyaction.com/7cR7gtXz40m9mhQAleZXlA2 ______________________ ______________________ The Buck Starts Here! A Speculative Budgeting Lab Tues. Dec. 9, 6 p.m. ET and/or Sat. Dec. 16, 1:30 p.m. ET Feeling frustrated, annoyed, or just plain confused by all the noise around the newly passed federal budget? This workshop is a chance to slow down, make sense of what?s actually in the budget (Coles Notes style, we promise!), and unpack what?s at stake. Major projects? ?Climate competitiveness?? Pipelines? The disappearing act of the feminist international assistance policy? What on earth is going on? Once we?ve decoded the budget together, we?ll switch gears and step into imagination mode. With curiosity and collaboration, we?ll co-create an alternative budget rooted in shared values like climate action, justice, and care. Think of it as a collective exercise in political play and future-building. https://luma.com/3co6vq2o https://luma.com/s3b2dnn5 ______________________ ______________________ Designing Safe Streets ? The Latest Wed. Dec. 10, 2 - 3 p.m. ET We believe in giving safety the priority it deserves in street design, rather than prioritizing the speedy movement of vehicles. So what are the best ways to redesign existing streets for safety? ??? - Gain an overview of best practices for safe street design ??? - Understand recent developments in the practice ??? - Discover the latest research on street safety ??? - Explore inspiring examples https://americawalks.org/webinar-designing-safe-streets-the-latest/ ? ______________________ ______________________ International Human Rights Day December 10 Human Rights Day is observed annually around the world on 10 December. It commemorates the anniversary of one of the world's most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This landmark document enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 and sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected.? https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day ______________________ ______________________ Toronto Climate Comedy 5.0! Stand-up & network for Climate! Fri. Dec. 12, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. ET Society Clubhouse, 967 College Street (near Dovercourt), Toronto Are you climate conscious and stressed about what is happening? Do you want to have fun while doing your part? We have got the best show for you where your laughs will make the world a better place. $20 if you use the code FRIEND (10% off) https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-climate-comedy-50-stand-up-network-for-climate-tickets-1967769638961 ______________________ ______________________ No More Noise Online Drop-in Sat. Dec. 13, noon ET No More Noise is a Toronto-based group that is creating a movement. They are the leading anti-noise advocacy group in Canada. They work to engage citizens and change policy by using data to reduce harmful noise. Get an update or learn about their many activities. Plus, participate in constructive discussion about improving the soundscape of our cities. https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_Lj3_uWWR4-rcmJIFrWAOQ#/registration https://nomorenoisetoronto.com/ ______________________ ______________________ Climate & Militarism ? A Conversation About Canada?s Future - with Avi Lewis Sat. Dec 13, 6 - 8 pm ET CSI, 192 Spadina, 3rd floor, Toronto Join the Avi Lewis for NDP Leader campaign for a powerful discussion on how Canada can choose climate action and peace over runaway militarism. As the government pushes military spending toward $150 billion a year, Canadians are facing the real crises of climate chaos, soaring living costs, and deepening inequality. Avi?s vision is a Canadian Green New Deal: a 10-year mobilization to create millions of good union jobs, build clean local industries and food systems, launch a Youth Climate Corps, expand community and Indigenous-led renewable energy, and electrify transportation and industry?all while upholding the right to free, prior, and informed consent for Indigenous peoples. https://act.lewisforleader.ca/climate-militarism-a-conversation-about-canada-s-future ______________________ ______________________ 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? _______________________ _______________________ Submissions, subscribes, unsubscribes, and comments: mailto:angela at cleanairalliance.org? 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