From the Wilderness Committee: There’s a reason fossil fuel companies like FortisBC spend big money on advertising to greenwash their products. While we don’t have those kinds of resources, we have something they don’t — we have you. These posters are a visible sign of growing opposition to fracking; they’ll also help your neighbours join the movement. Once you’ve got your posters, go around your community with some tape and tacks. Rather than putting them on exterior walls or windows, ask local coffee shops, grocery stores, concert venues or credit unions if you can hang them on their community boards. You can print the posters here, request them to be mailed to you here, and sign the petition to end fracking.
📌 Eby: Ban Gas in New Buildings - Please Sign the Letter
From Dogwood: The gas piped into our homes, schools and workplaces is the third largest source of carbon pollution in B.C. Ninety per cent of it comes from fracking. And when burned indoors, it can make us sick. Living in a home with a gas stove increases a child’s risk of asthma as much as living with a cigarette smoker.
📌 February 25th - United We Stand for Old Growth Forests Super-Rally, in Victoria
Now is the time to make plans to join the thousands who will be there. And has your organization signed the United We Stand for Old Growth Forests Declaration yet?
📌 A BC Coastal Marine Strategy - An Invitation to Engage! By April 14th
From the BC Government: The Province is committed to developing a coast-wide strategy to address the health and stewardship of marine ecosystems and resilience of coastal communities. We invite your feedback and suggestions on an Intentions Paper that outlines potential solutions and policies that the Province can implement to achieve better outcomes for marine life and people. All input will help inform development of the Coastal Marine Strategy. Read more
📌 Who Are the Activists Leading Progressive Change in Your Community? By Sunday January 8th
From Rabble: Each year, we ask our audience to share with us the organizations, activists, and changemakers they know who are doing incredible work in activism. We want to hear from you. What are the organizations that inspire you? Who are the activists leading progressive change in your community? In 2023, we want to continue to support the movements that make our communities stronger.
From the Wilderness Committee: Sign our petition to the provincial government to protect communities from climate disasters by ending fracking for fossil gas. in British Columbia.
📌 Ban Advertising for All Internal Combustion Vehicles by 2025 – Sign the Petition!
From Equiterre and others: We demand that the federal government and the CBC commit to banning advertising for all internal combustion vehicles by 2025.
236 organizations are now members. Any climate action group with three or more members whose leaders agree with our Members’ Agreement can apply to become a Member
Extinction Rebellion UK’s New Year’s Resolution: WE QUIT
From Extinction Rebellion UK: As we ring in the new year, we make a controversial resolution to temporarily shift away from public disruption as a primary tactic. We recognise and celebrate the power of disruption to raise the alarm and believe that constantly evolving tactics is a necessary approach. What’s needed now most is to disrupt the abuse of power and imbalance, to bring about a transition to a fair society that works together to end the fossil fuel era. Our politicians, addicted to greed and bloated on profits won’t do it without pressure. Read more
Canadian Doctors Prescribe Fines for Natural Gas 'Greenwashers'
From Corporate Knights: Nurses, doctors and public health advocates say the Canadian Gas Association is misleading consumers by aggressively promoting natural gas as 'clean' and 'affordable'. Read more
Who Are the Rabble-Rousers of 2023?
From Rabble: You have until this Sunday to submit the name of someone who has inspired you as a change-maker. Submit here!
🐦 Build the Climate Twitter-Storm! 🐦
🌱 Climate Solutions 🌱
The Year in Cheer: 183 Ways the World Got Better in 2022
From Reasons to be Cheerful: For instance: Every large parking lot in France will soon be covered in solar panels, generating green energy equivalent to running 10 nuclear reactors, and Norway is developing a heat pump that could allow one fifth of all European industry to cut its energy use by 70%. Read all 183 ways here.
‘Face it Head On’: Connecticut Makes Climate Change Studies Compulsory
From The Guardian: Starting next July, Connecticut will become one of the first states in America to mandate climate change studies across its public schools as part of its science curriculum. The requirement follows in the footsteps of New Jersey, which in 2020 became the first state to mandate K-12 climate change education across its school districts. Read more
Canadians See a Clean Energy as More Affordable and Secure than a Fossil Fuel Energy System
From AbacusData: Eight in ten think it’s important for Canada to invest in clean energy opportunities in response to the American Inflation Reduction Act investments in climate action. In the latest round of survey work by Clean Energy Canada and Abacus Data, Canadians believe a clean energy system that includes hydro, wind, solar power and electric vehicles would be both more affordable and more secure than a fossil fuel energy system. Read more
‘Climate Impact’ Food Labels Could Encourage Consumers to Eat Less Red Meat, Study Says
From EuroNews: Providing information about the environmental impact of foods is an effective method of altering consumer choices, the clinical trial by researchers from Johns Hopkins and Harvard universities concluded. Read more
🌲Forestry Impacts, Science & Politics 🌲
With Forests in Peril, She’s on a Mission to Save ‘Mother Trees’
From the Washington Post: Suzanne Simard walks into the forest with a churchgoer’s reverence. Researchers estimate that more than 90% of British Columbia’s towering ancient forests have been cut down, and another 94,000 acres of old growth is lost each year. The vast majority of this logginginvolves clear-cuts or “clear-cuts with reserves,” where just a tiny patch of trees is left standing, leaving mycorrhizal fungi to wither without their plant partners. And since the biggest, oldest trees provide the most valuable timber, companies often target them first. Meanwhile, provincial regulations still mandate that replanted areas be “free to grow” without competition — nudging forest managers to cultivate same-aged “plantations” of just a few species, rather than fostering more diverse landscapes. Read more
British Columbia’s Big Forestry Lie
From David Broadland, Evergreen Alliance: The BC government is committing a 220,000 square kilometers biodiversity-killing, climate-destabilizing fraud on its own citizens and on the international community. Read more
Canada’s Biggest Certifier of Sustainable Forests Faces Greenwashing Accusations
From the National Observer: The Sustainable Forestry Initiative certifies 115 million hectares of forest within Canada’s borders for companies. In a complaint filed to Competition Bureau Canada, environmental groups allege its claims of sustainability are “false and misleading” because it has “no rules requiring that logging meet prescribed sustainability criteria nor any on-the-ground assessment to confirm sustainability.” Read more
Aftermath of a Resignation: Who is Watching Over the Public Interest in BC Forests?
From Evergreen Alliance: If anything is going wrong in our forests, it’s not the fault of the professional association of BC foresters, according to its CEO Christine Gelowitz. Foresters Herb Hammond and Fred Marshall disagree. Read more
The Netherlands to Stop Paying Subsidies to ‘Untruthful’ Biomass Firms
From Mongabay: In December, the Netherlands decided it will stop paying subsidies to any biomass company found to be untruthful in its wood pellet production methods. Read more
🌎 Climate Impacts, Science & Politics 🌎
Yes and No: Premier David Eby’s Climate Leadership is a Muddle
From Justine Hunter, Globe & Mail: A month after being sworn in as premier of British Columbia, David Eby is choosing his words about the expansion of fossil fuel development carefully. He isn’t saying yes, but he won’t utter the word “no.” Read more
An Activist in Office: Steven Guilbeault’s First Year as Canada’s Environment Minister
From Nelson Star: Guilbeault has worked on plastic pollution, electric cars and emissions caps, among other areas. Five days after Steven Guilbeault was appointed Canada’s environment minister in October 2021, he headed to Scotland for the annual United Nations climate talks being held in Glasgow. But Guilbeault, who says he prefers “trains to planes whenever possible,” would only agree to fly as far as London. His team made the remaining 555 km of the journey by train, producing less than a sixth of the carbon dioxide than if they had flown. Read more
3 Reasons Local Climate Activism is More Powerful Than People Realize
From The Conversation: When people speak up and work together, they can spur powerful changes. Read more
Greenland's Glaciers Are Melting 100 Times Faster Than Estimated
From Live Science: Scientists are getting a better handle on how fast Greenland's ice is flowing out to sea. Old models that used Antarctica as a baseline were way off the mark. Greenland ice holds enough water to raise sea levels by 6 meters. Read more
Big Oil is Behind Conspiracy to Deceive Public, First Climate Racketeering Lawsuit Says
From The Guardian: Lawyer in a civil lawsuit launched by towns in hurricane-hit Puerto Rico describes why it is using laws used to target mob bosses. The same racketeering legislation used to bring down mob bosses, motorcycle gangs, football executives and international fraudsters is to be tested against oil and coal companies who are accused of conspiring to deceive the public over the climate crisis. Read more
Climate Goal of 1.5C is ‘Gasping for Breath’, Says UN Head
From The Guardian: António Guterres has announced a climate ambition summit to confront ‘existential threat’ facing the planet. “We are still moving in the wrong direction … The 1.5C goal is gasping for breath. National climate plans are falling woefully short. And yet we are not retreating, we are fighting back.” He added: “The invitation [to the summit] is open. But the price of entry is non-negotiable – serious new climate action that will move the needle forward. It will be a no-nonsense summit. No exceptions. There will be no room for backsliders, greenwashers, blame-shifters or repackaging of announcements of previous years.” Read more
Coal is Extremely CO2-Intensive. Gasoline is Far Worse
From National Observer: The overwhelming driver of global climate breakdown is burning fossil fuels — coal, oil, and methane gas. Not surprisingly, there is an intensifying global fight over which fossil fuel should be eliminated first. Canada has been leading a push to single out coal as the first fossil fuel to go. Others, including India and the European Union, are pushing back — insisting the world ramp down all fossil fuels together. In this battle, coal often gets portrayed as the most CO2-intensive fossil fuel (i.e., emitting the most CO2 per unit of energy). Rarely mentioned, however, is the fact that gasoline is far worse. Here are the numbers. Read more
Overheated — Canada’s Gasoline Emissions Are Surging Out of Control
From National Observer: The number of fossil fuel-burning cars in Canada — and the climate pollution pouring out their collective tailpipes — keeps surging upwards, unchecked by climate targets, pollution policies or all-electric alternatives. Our burgeoning horde of internal combustion engines is locking in hundreds of millions of tonnes of climate pollution — and locking out Canadian climate progress. But, as we'll see below, not all nations have lost control of their vehicle emissions. Read more
The Top Three Things You Can Eat to Save the Planet — And Your Wallet
From National Observer: Replacing meat and dairy with plants can almost halve your environmental footprint and leave more money in your wallet. That's important when prices are on the rise: food costs grew more than 10 per cent in August, September and October of this year. Read more
2022 Connected the Dots Between Fossil Fuel Finance and Climate Chaos
From National Observer: 2022 was a year of demystifying the connections between climate chaos, financial flows and corporate greed. Collectively, we experienced increasing economic insecurity, volatility from Russia’s fossil fuel-funded war in Ukraine, and record-shattering climate disasters like fires, floods, and deadly heat. All while bank and fossil fuel executives and the conservative politicians they back raked in billions in profit while the rest of us struggled with rising prices. Read more
College Textbooks Cover the Climate Crisis Less Than They Did Before 2010
From TruthOut: Coverage of climate solutions dropped to 3% of the total content on climate change from 15% in the ‘90s. Evidence is mounting fast of the devastating consequences of climate change, but college textbooks aren’t keeping up. A recent study found that most college biology textbooks published in the 2010s contained less content on climate change than textbooks from the previous decade, and gave shrinking attention to possible solutions to the global crisis. Read more
A New Year’s Resolution for Federal Pension Funds: Stop Financing Fossil Fuels
From Patrick DeRochie, Shift Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health, via Corporate Knights: The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Public Sector Pension Investment Board continue to finance oil and gas expansion abroad. Read more
Vox Media “Formalizes” Ban on Fossil-fuel Ads
From Marketing Brew: The update to the company’s advertising policy states that Vox Media no longer accepts ad dollars from fossil-fuel companies, or any companies that mine nonrenewable resources, Vox Media spokesperson Peyton McCarthy said. The policy will also extend to lobbyist groups “whose purpose is to support fossil-fuel companies.” The Guardian introduced a similar ban in 2020. Read more
🌎 COP15 Biodiversity Talks in Montreal 🌎
‘Embrace History’: UN Environment Chief Calls for Immediate Action on Cop15 Deal
From The Guardian: Inger Andersen said we must not ‘pause for a second’ as we ‘change the relationship between people and nature’. Read more
Critically Important Story: The Collapse of Insects
From Reuters: The most diverse group of organisms on the planet are in trouble, with recent research suggesting insect populations are declining at an unprecedented rate. Read more
Countries Inked a 'Transformative' Plan to Protect the Planet in Montreal. Now It's on World Leaders to Turn Those Words Into Reality
From the National Observer: The agreement, known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, commits countries to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030, recognizes Indigenous leadership as a central pillar of achieving these goals and reaffirms Indigenous Peoples’ right to free, prior and informed consent to development projects taking place on their territories. Read more
📹 Videos, Podcasts, Art & Creativity 🎨
Podcast: Climate Pledges and Progress
From BBC: Episode 1 of 5. Why is there a gap between the pledges made to combat climate change and greenhouse gas reductions? Amol Rajan and guests Rethink Climate Change. Listen here
📢 Events, Protests and Rallies 📢
All times are PDT Pacific Daylight Time
Every Sunday and Wednesday, 1-2pm - Stop TMX – Stoney Creek Salmon Tours
From Stop TMX: The salmon are running at Stoney Creek!! Come to witness this spectacle while supporting your local frontline and building community. Every Sunday and Wednesday, Protect the Planet offers educational tours highlighting the salmon run. Assemble at our camp, set up on the Burnaby Mountain Urban Trail, under Lougheed bridge. Approach from East Lake. Read more
Thursday January 12, 9am - The Climate Story in 2023
From Covering Climate Now: To cover the climate story well in 2023, journalists need clarity on the biggest climate developments. With panelists Dr. Saleemul Huq of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development in Dhaka, Bangladesh; author and activist Bill McKibben; and Dr. Marcia Rocha of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris. Register here
January 17th, 4pm - Storytelling and Compassionate Curiosity for Climate Action
From Neighbours United: participants will learn the skills necessary to share your personal climate story. Sharing stories is the foundation of creating meaningful conversations that lead to action, and this workshop is meant to equip you with what you need to spur friends, family, and co-workers to get involved in the fight for climate action + justice. Read more
Thursday January 19, 9am - Talking Shop: How to Do Climate Solutions Reporting
From Covering Climate Now: Good solutions reporting does not cheerlead, it interrogates: Which are the solutions that actually work, and which do not? With Solutions Journalism Network journalists Fara Warner and Swati Sanyal Tarafdar. Register here
Thursday January 19 to Feb 16th 1pm-3pm - Climate Action Workshop
From ElderCollege: During this five-session workshop a wide range of solutions to global warming will be discussed. Participants will develop climate action plans for individuals, family and friends, community, and/or policy levels. Expect to meet with people who are curious and caring, who roll up their sleeves to take action to heal our precious planet. $39.05+GST Online Register here
Tuesday January 24st and 31st, 10am-Noon - How To Talk To Anyone About Climate Change
From ElderCollege: Conversations about climate change can be challenging. This course will give you the tools you need, derived from experts in values research, storytelling and communications; we will learn how to talk about climate change as if it mattered to everyone. Patricia Lane has been studying effective climate communications since 2012 when she helped to found LeadNow. Online $23.33+GST. Register here
Wednesday January 25, 12-1pm - Explore Our Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science Program
From Royal Roads University: Our undergraduate programs in the School of Environment and Sustainability help you facilitate the changes we need to protect the environment, and advance your career in this exciting and growing sector. Read more
Tuesday January 31 5:30pm - Frack Free BC Inaugural Organizing Call
From Dogwood and Stand.earth: Fracked gas is B.C.’s biggest climate problem. If we keep expanding the oil and gas industry, we’ll blow our climate targets and suffer more floods, wildfires and heat waves. David Eby said as much on his first day as Premier. But it’s going to take a grassroots army to push the government’s new leadership to turn those words into actions that count – like rejecting new pipeline permits, and setting a date to end fracking in B.C. Register here
February 7-10 - SUMMIT 2023 A Local Climate Leaders Collaborative
From Climate Caucus: This important annual event brings together local elected leaders from urban and rural communities across Canada to workshop practical local climate solutions. Register here.
Wednesday February 15, 10-11am Find Out How Our Graduates Impact the World
From Royal Roads University: Climate change is one of the most significant challenges of our time, and there is a growing need for professionals with the knowledge and education to guide the science and the policy of climate change. Read more
Wednesday February 22-Thursday 23 - Free Conference on Communication & Ethics
From Royal Roads University: Communication can act as an ethical force in society. This two-day event aims to challenge, clarify and expand our ethical capacities as professional communicators. Read more
Saturday February 25 - United for Old Growth Forests! Declaration, March and Super-Rally
In Victoria, at the Legislature. Details here. To add your organization’s endorsement, click here and scroll down.
Wednesday March 9, 12-1pm - Explore Our Graduate Programs in Environmental Practice
From Royal Roads University: Find out how people contribute to, and can do something about, climate change and sustainability. Solve legal, economic and social problems for positive global change. You can make a difference and work hands-on with organizations to solve climate challenges locally and globally. Read more
Tuesday March 14, 12-1pm - Blended Option: MA & MSc in Environment and Management
From Royal Roads University: You’re passionate about, and deeply involved in, practical environmental issues. Now, you want to take your energy and commitment to the next level, furthering your career in creating a more sustainable world. Read more
Thursday March 16 - Explore our Graduate Environmental Education & Communication Programs
From Royal Roads University: This program is your chance to apply learning and research to inspire a more interconnected, humane and healthy future. Cultivate your mastery and deepen your passions with an education of personal and planetary significance. Read more
Thursday March 30, 12-1pm - Explore our Master of Arts in Climate Action Leadership
From Royal Roads University: Our graduate programs in Climate Action Leadership are an invitation to join the international movement working to change the climate story from a tale of disaster to one of transformation — and from activism to organizational and societal leadership. Read more
👷🏽♀️ Jobs, Opportunities & Grants💰
How Is Climate Change Affecting Our Young People?
A researcher at UVic is seeking participants born between 1994-2004 for a study about how climate change is affecting young peoples' relationships with nature. Check out the details here
Clean Electricity Campaign Specialist
From David Suzuki Foundation: The Clean Electricity Campaign Specialist is responsible for organizing, driving and growing the campaign and mobilization elements of DSF’s clean electricity program. This role will coordinate campaign strategies and tactics, identify key campaign moments and rapid response opportunities. Read more
Senior Communications Specialist, Climate & Executive Director Support
From David Suzuki Foundation: You’re an experienced senior communications specialist who is adept at responding quickly to breaking stories. In this role, you will lead communications responses for a variety of projects under DSF’s Climate Solutions Portfolio and provide communications support for our Executive Director. Read more
Digital Specialist, Mobilization & Engagement
From David Suzuki Foundation: As the Digital Specialist, Mobilization & Engagement, you’ll play an integral part in supporting our ambitious goal of 1.5 million people taking action against the environmental crisis. Read more
Social Media Specialist
From David Suzuki Foundation: You are a collaborative, creative, and solutions-oriented Social Media Specialist who will play a critical role in the success of our national Communications and Digital teams. Read more
Climate Transition Cohort – New Intake, Apply Here
From Tamarack: Our Community Climate Transitions team is launching the second Climate Transitions Cohort––and you're invited to apply. The Cohort is a unique opportunity for communities across Canada to learn from some of the most promising emerging solutions and collaborative governance innovations, and to build or advance a climate action plan unique to your local needs. Read more.
Indigenous Resilience Fund
From Community Foundations: Any Indigenous-led organization working to foster resilience in Inuit, Metis and First Nations communities anywhere in Canada can apply for resiliency support ranging from $5,000 to $30,000. Learn more here.
Communication Director - Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative
From the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty: We are seeking an experienced and strategic communication director to lead the communication effort and team for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. Full-time, remote. Read more.
We Help You Find a Way to Work on Climate
From Work on Climate: We are an action-oriented Slack community for people serious about climate work. Find climate jobs. Build climate companies. Find your people. 10,000+ members. Join the community. Share your journey, find collaborators, and celebrate each other's wins. Explore our programs. Find the right community offering for where you are on your path. Meet climate experts. Drop in to meet our friendly climate experts during regular office hours. Read more.
Graduate Student Opportunities
From the Climate Research Lab at SFU: We are seeking Master’s and Doctoral students interested in pursuing research in the areas listed on the Research site. Inquiries are welcomed from students of a variety of science backgrounds, including atmospheric science, oceanography, earth science, physical geography, physics or related disciplines. Read more.
From CleanBC: A simpler way for local governments and Indigenous communities to find funding for their climate action projects. Maybe you’re a grant writer looking for funding to add heat pumps to a community building. Or a mayor preparing your town to cope with future wildfires. Or a sustainability manager implementing active transportation projects. Read more.
From Indigenous Climate Action: Indigenous Youth who have been engaged in climate justice organizing or frontline activism can apply to help alleviate financial pressure while trying to prioritize their wellness. $250 financial award. Read more.
