Weekend Wrap Up May 14th 🌺

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See our impact on the planet changing before your eyes. Stunning video of timelapse photography in Google Earth. GASP would like all the town councillors to see this video before land use decisions!

GASPs in the News - TV special on proposed Highway 413

Here is the link to the Zoomer TV interview. The GASP section is very short and yes, the host got Carole and Lorraine’s names reversed. The outdoor interview with our founders starts at 25:07 and runs until 27:57. The panel discussion is very good if you have time to watch it. David Crombie is featured as well as Donald Ziraldo founder of Inniskillen Wines.

Hope for the future - the young generation

2021 Youth Panel hosted by Pam Damoff

Joined by GASPs - Carole and Lorraine, Tabassum Wyne, Alanna Bodo and approximately 60 other young Canadians from Oakville and Burlington. Youth asked questions for 90 minutes. Great learning experience!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sObrQPNFuXw

Teen activist pushes city hall to get serious about emissions

Nineteen-year-old Samantha Lin says: “local government decisions could eliminate half Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.... I was part of the Sustainabiliteens, who, in 2019, succeeded in pressuring Vancouver city council to declare a climate emergency, and we have since been consulted on the development of the city’s bold, comprehensive plan ... I have trouble accepting that the executives of fossil fuel companies and other large corporations like banks have known about the dangers of climate change for so long and (have) chosen to make it worse... Be aware of how interconnected the climate crisis is to all other issues. Make a decision to do something about it.”
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/05/10/news/city-hall-carbon-reduction-young-activist

FORD WATCH

Ontario gets a C-

With the country’s largest population, Ontario remains Canada’s second-largest GHG emitter. Climate change has been on the back burner since the Progressive Conservative government came to power determined to dial back the ambition of the previous Liberal government.

Current Emissions: 165 Mt of GHGs in 2018, down 19% from 2005 levels

Emissions Per Capita: 11.5 tonnes

Climate Strategy: After the 2018 election, Premier Doug Ford’s government killed the existing cap-and-trade plan and slashed the energy-efficiency efforts that it financed. In 2020, Ontario replaced the federal carbon price on industrial emitters with a provincial one that will be somewhat less costly to industry than Ottawa’s version. Ford remains a vocal critic of the Liberal carbon tax and rebate plan. The PC government released a review of its plans, but that focused on the carbon levy on industry as well as a marginal increase in the amount of biofuels mixed with gasoline or diesel. The March budget bolstered the province’s significant budget for transit and noted that the Ontario Securities Commission would be consulting on a recommendation to set a mandatory disclosure regime for climate-related financial risks.

Best Attempt at Curbing Carbon: Ontario’s big declines came between 2005 and 2014, when the province retired its coal-fired power stations, a policy that caused one of the largest declines in GHGs in North America. There’s been virtually no improvement since 2014, according to figures released by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).

Long Shot: The government has offered support for technologies like the new-breed SMRs and hydrogen fuel cells that could play an important role in transitioning the economy to zero-carbon. However, it’s uncertain if or when either of those technologies will be commercially competitive and scaled up. It’s unlikely either will have much impact before 2030. In a more certain bet, Ontario is subsidizing North American carmakers’ plans to build electric vehicles in Ontario.

Blind Spot: Ford’s government cancelled renewable energy projects that had been approved but not built, a move that will eventually require the province to rely more heavily on natural gas, which means higher emissions. In a review of the province’s climate strategy, the Toronto-based advocacy group Environmental Defence said the Ford government had failed to take meaningful action to reduce GHG emissions. A spokesman for Environment Minister Jeff Yurek did not respond to several requests for comment.

Projected Emissions: ECCC projects that, given current trends, Ontario will still be emitting 160 Mt in 2030, for a decline of only 22% versus the Conservatives’ own target of 30%.

Grade: C-

https://www.corporateknights.com/channels/climate-and-carbon/net-zero-report-card-how-future-friendly-are-canadian-provinces-16188303/

Climate Action Goals

How to tell if a climate policy is real — or a load of greenwash

How to spot greenwash? A good rule of thumb is whether the proposal actually cuts emissions, by a significant amount, and soon, and whether the proposer is in fact making the climate emergency worse elsewhere. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says climate change is an “existential threat,” yet the country’s emissions have actually increased since the 2015 Paris deal, thanks to its Tar
Sands exploitation. Many nations still subsidize fossil fuels, which is like buying more cigarettes when you’re trying to quit smoking. Even UN climate finance envoy and former Bank of England governor Mark Carney recently tripped up over offsets. He claimed that the investment company he vice-chairs was “net zero” despite investing in fossil fuels because the company also invested in renewable energy.
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/05/13/opinion/how-tell-if-climate-policy-real-greenwashing

Canada’s new climate target still jeopardizes our future

Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has now committed Canada to reducing its national emissions by 40 per cent to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, a notable increase from the previous target of 30 per cent by 2030. In 2018, Canada was the 10th highest-emitting country globally and the fifth highest-emitting country on a per capita basis. By failing to set a firm target that appropriately reflects climate science and approaches Canada’s fair share of emissions reduction, this country sends a clear message to the international community that it will choose to be a laggard, not a leader. Canada’s projected oil and gas expansion from 2021 to 2050 will consume a staggering 16 per cent of the world’s carbon budget in a 1.5 C world.
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/05/07/opinion/canadas-new-climate-target-still-jeopardizes-our-future

Impact of Climate Change

Children face future wars for water and food if no Climate Action
Managing the climate crisis demands that countries implement climate and social policy together. What’s needed is for policy-makers to work to prevent “an alliance between those who don’t want change because they see their interest affected ... and those with a more sincere, if still misplaced, fear of “negative social consequences.” European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said: “If we don’t fix this, our children will be waging wars over water and food. There is no doubt in my mind... We need to show people the benefits of a low-carbon society, which include cleaner air and water, more livable cities, and higher levels of health and well-being.”
https://theenergymix.com/2021/05/09/children-face-future-wars-for-water-and-food-unless-adults-embrace-climate-action-timmermans-warns/

Deaths From Fossil Fuel Pollution Much Worse Than COVID
More people die every year from fossil fuel pollution—a problem that receives little attention—than have died from COVID since the outbreak in early 2020. According to new research, 8.7 million died prematurely in 2018—more than 18% of the entire global death toll for the year. In trying to draw parallels between the COVID pandemic and the climate crisis, Mark Carney (currently the UN’s climate envoy) told BBC news that “the world is heading for mortality rates equivalent to the Covid crisis every year by mid-century unless action is taken.”
https://below2c.org/2021/05/deaths-from-fossil-fuel-pollution-much-worse-than-covid/

The Big Melt - BC’s disappearing rivers of ice
The climate crisis is shrinking glaciers around the globe at a rate that startles even scientists who study the process. In British Columbia, the transformative effects extend from mountaintops, down valleys and into coastal waters. The more experts learn about what’s happening, the more they realize the complex, challenging implications of the Big Melt. There is a massive loss of glacial mass across much of Western North America during the last 20 years, including a four-fold increase in rate of glacial melt in just the last decade. Read more.

Climate Change Solutions

Ottawa grapples with zero-emission vehicle mandate

Statistics Canada reported in April that only around 3.5% of the vehicles registered in the country last year were electric. A parliamentary committee looking at incentives for EV purchases and production recently recommended that Ottawa work with provinces and industry to “establish a national ZEV standard,” requiring manufacturers and companies to make or sell a certain number of electric vehicles by issuing them credits and setting targets. In its study, the parliamentary committee heard that only one-third of car dealerships in Canada had a zero-emission vehicle actually in stock. With more models of electric vehicles expected to hit the market in the years ahead, fear among dealers is there will not be enough buyers to support demand, which is why rebate programs should continue until the price of electric vehicles gets close to non-electric ones.
https://theenergymix.com/2021/05/09/ottawa-grapples-with-zero-emission-vehicle-mandate-as-industry-opponent-digs-in/

GASP notes that Canadians drive the most gas guzzling vehicles in the world. What’s Canada’s bestselling vehicle today? The Ford F-150 truck.
It used to be that cars dominated the market, but about a decade ago, things shifted. In 2019, SUV sales in Canada topped 900,000, with trucks and cars each selling about half a million. The top-10 list is dominated by trucks and SUVs. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-why-canadians-drive-the-worst-gas-guzzling-cars-on-the-planet-and/

Hitting climate targets depends on building smaller homes and more multi-family units—not just energy efficiency

Carbon emissions from US households have been falling since 2005, but not fast enough. Hitting climate targets depends on building smaller single-family homes and more multi-family housing (including converting large single-family homes to multi-unit dwellings), consistent with the shrinking number of people per household.
Read more.

Oil and Gas Issues

Enbridge’s claims about a Line 5 shutdown need to be challenged

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered Enbridge to shut down the Line 5 pipeline on May 12 due to the threat it poses to the Great Lakes. By all accounts, Enbridge is about to ignore the governor’s order. And it will do so with the Canadian government’s backing. Enbridge also argues that the existing pipeline and its planned replacement are safe. However, Line 5 has leaked at least 33 times since 1953, spilling a total of 4.5 million litres of oil into the environment. Line 5, a 68-year-old pipeline, situated in the heart of the largest body of freshwater in the world, would seem like the perfect place for Canada’s energy transition to begin in earnest.
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2021/05/10/enbridges-claims-about-a-line-5-shutdown-need-to-be-challenged.html

Preserving Nature

New study shows small farms delivering higher yields,
better biodiversity
While much of the world’s food is produced on large farms, a recent review has found that smaller operations tend to have higher yields and biodiversity while being no less profitable or efficient—making them a fund-worthy lynchpin of sustainable development. Smaller farms also show a greater degree of non-crop biodiversity. The authors attribute this ecosystem-friendly outcome to limited use of insecticides, greater reliance on organic management practices, a higher margin-to-field area ratio (which creates more wild habitat), and a higher likelihood of leaving “conservation corridors” that support a range of insects and small mammals.
https://theenergymix.com/2021/05/09/new-study-shows-small-farms-delivering-higher-yields-more-biodiversity/

Nature Conservancy of Canada asking residents to participate in
“No Mow May”
Matthew Braun, manager of conservation, science and planning with the NCC, explained the idea first started in the United Kingdom before making its way to Canada. “It’s intended to give the insects and their food supplies a chance to go through their part of the life cycle here early on and in the summer,” Braun said. “I think people are looking for ways that they can contribute to conservation and green ideas and biodiversity protection in their own backyards. He explained that by keeping the lawn mower stowed away for an extra month, it allows food sources to bloom and provide for insects and other wildlife species.
https://globalnews.ca/news/7847490/no-mow-may-campaign-biodiversity/

Social Justice

12 min video highlighting the land management crisis

“Land governance” highlights the current crisis in land management in Canada, which has sparked, among other initiatives, the Indigenous-led Land Back movement. It explores what happens when two systems of law and governance come head-to-head, on land, and about land, highlighting the move toward activism and the need for difficult conversations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsyyYeVHGJ0

May 2021 Calendar - Free Webinars Coming Up

Wednesday, May 19 1 pm How future-friendly are Canadian provinces?

Corporate Knights recently published a net-zero provincial report card, prepared by veteran climate reporter Shawn McCarthy, that grades Canadian provinces and territories on climate performance. To unpack the findings of this report and discuss the path forward for building a coalition of net-zero committed provinces, join Corporate Knights and a diverse panel of voices from the front lines of policy and climate research to highlight what provinces and territories can learn from each other, and map out the big opportunities to unify Canada on climate action.

To register:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_v7Jrut7eRFmEvVZ-bIR9-w

Wednesday, May 19 1pm Do Nuclear & SMRs have a place in an Climate Crisis?

The Trudeau government and four provinces support the costly production of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): compact, transportable, nuclear reactors. SMRs aren’t even functional yet. In fact, our tax dollars will help develop them. This is money that could go toward renewables that are cheaper, safer, more reliable, and available now. High-profile accidents, radioactive mine tailings and waste, and potential bomb production obviously don’t concern certain politicians, and business interests. Our guests will be Gordon Edwards of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility and Angela Bischoff of the Ontario Clean Air Alliance. Find out why we have to stop nukes, large and small!

To register:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_f_GaplIjT6C4ZFsenthHZg

From Grandmother’s Voice
Thursdays 6 - 7 pm from April 29-June 17, 2021 Planting our seeds
Led by local urban Indigenous leaders Jody Harbour and Sherry Saevil, this free eight-week virtual program offers authentic insight into Indigenous peoples perspectives and experiences both locally and globally. Join us. report.

To register:https://www.oakville.ca/townhall/nr-21apr20_01.html

Thursday, May 20 7pm Zoom Discussion of “From Seed to Seed”
You can screen this film from Thurs May 6 to Thurs May 20. FROM SEED TO SEED is a feature-length documentary about the growing momentum of regenerative agriculture, a blend of small-and large-scale farmers in southern Manitoba, cutting edge science with age old traditions, and fascinating folks. GUEST: Katharina Stieffenhofer, Film Director and Writer. Sponsored by Halton Hills Ecofilm Fest.

To register for the film viewing and/or the zoom discussion contact@hheff.ca

PETITION:
This one is very important! Please sign!

Ontario is losing 175 acres of farmland every day to urban development. 

Every day. It’s a concerning number.

The land that supports our food production is a finite resource. Now it's under threat from major urban development.

Once a farm is turned into a shopping centre, or warehouse, or subdivision, it will never be a farm again. We lose the food that was grown on that land permanently.

SIGN HERE

http://chng.it/LfMLnLQ95x