Changes in the climate have recently become more than obvious. By the end of this century, it is estimated that the Earth's surface temperature will rise by approximately 2°C, having devastating effects on our ecosystems, flora, fauna, and humans. Nature itself is already very fragile, and our attitude is destroying a whole world of living organisms and our very own home. We are residents in one of the neighborhoods within the peel region and our keen observation is that some apartments have a central waste collection point but every time you go there, there is always household waste disposed on the floor, a mixup of recyclable and non-recyclable waste items inside the same bin bag when appropriate and well-labeled refuse bins have been provided. A lot of these negative effects could be improved if humans slightly amended their behavior. By managing waste in a way that avoids landfills and reducing consumption by reusing products, we avoid the creation of unnecessary waste. Nevertheless, by separating and recycling the waste we do create, we could reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfills. The waste that remains would actually be burnt to create energy, meaning less waste or nothing at all is actually sent to landfill. The environmental benefits of a proper waste disposal system are clear. When a person doesn’t dispose effectively of a plastic product or a product that may contain dangerous chemicals, these chemicals can eventually find their way into local water sources and the soil. Proper waste disposal can help preserve our natural environment, and ensure a healthy ecosystem for the long-term future. People need to know about the importance of proper waste disposal to help induce action. The better you are aware of the value and benefits of the good waste practice, the easier and more efficient the desired behavior can be adapted.

The equivalent of one garbage truck of plastic enters our oceans EVERY minute. Plastic is everywhere, destroying our ecosystems by releasing harmful microplastics and contaminating our water bodies. If we want to stop plastic pollution from destroying our environment beyond repair, we need to take action at the local level to push for impactful change. This is why we are calling on Toronto leaders to do their part in the fight against plastic pollution. We can do better. Every year, Toronto uses approximately 215 million plastic bags, which equals 1400 tonnes of plastic waste, adding to our growing body of plastic pollution. Black plastic takeout containers and cutlery are still used extensively, even though black plastic cannot be recycled in Toronto. 54,000 tonnes of recyclable material go to Toronto landfills every year due to contamination. As a city, we have made some progress with Phase 1 of Toronto’s Waste Reduction Strategy by encouraging businesses to reduce single-use takeaway items. But we must take bolder measures to make the necessary reductions in plastic waste that are needed to save our environment for Phase 2. So, we are pushing Toronto City Council to strengthen Phase 2 of its Waste Reduction Strategy. Toronto must ban single-use plastic bags, non-recyclable single-use black plastic, and take steps to gradually phase out single-use water bottle consumption.

Salmon are dying a death of a thousand cuts. Fish friendly infrastructure investments will allow desperately needed healthy habitat to return. These improvements will provide access to over 250 km of habitat currently impacted by pump stations and flood gates.

BIPOC folks bear a disproportionate share of the impacts of pollution in Canada, while being the least responsible for creating it. The dump site in Kanehstatà:ke, which is filled with toxic settler construction waste, is a clear example of what is known as 'environmental racism' and must be cleaned up as soon as possible! **For full disclosure of research and dump data, see the website listed further below on this petition page. This call to action is currently supported by the following organizations across Québec and Canada: 350 Canada 350 Montreal Action cancer du sein du Québec / Breast Cancer Action Quebec Action Environnement Basse Laurentides Amnesty International Canada (English Speaking) Amnistie internationale Canada (francophone) Association des étudiant.e.s diplômé.e.s du département d'histoire de l'Université de Montréal (AÉDDHUM) Association québécoise des médecins pour l'environnement (AQME) Black Environmental Initiative Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment/ Association canadienne des infirmières et infirmiers pour l'environnement (CANE-AIIE) Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment Canadian Coalition for Environmental and Climate Justice Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) - Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique (SCFP) Centre justice et foi CFMS HEART Chrysaliid Design Ciel et Terre Climate Justice Laurier Climate Justice Montreal Climate Pledge Collective Coalition Alerte à l'enfouissement Rivière-du-Nord Coalition Verte / Green Coalition Collectif La ville que nous voulons Com'femme Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain-CSN Créat’heure Éducative David Suzuki Foundation / Fondation David Suzuki DAWN Canada Divest McGill Earth Action Inc. Eau Secours Eco-Art Workshop Program Environmental Defence ENvironnement JEUnesse Extinction Rebellion Québec Fondation Filles d'action / Girls Action Foundation Fridays for Future Toronto Front commun pour la transition énergétique Front commun québécois pour une gestion écologique des déchets (FCQGED) Gidimt'en Checkpoint GreenFaith Montreal Groundswell Projects Ilot centre de crise de laval Indigenous Climate Action Indigenous Land Defence Across Borders Intre-G Productions KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives L'R des centres de femmes La CEVES Le Collectif Soignons la justice sociale/The Caring for Social Justice Collective Les enjeux de l'insecticide Bti sur la biodiversité MARE (Mouvement d'action régional en environnement) Mères au front Mères au front Rosemère et les environs Mères au front de Rouyn-Noranda et leurs alié.e.s Mères au Front Vaudreuil Soulanges Montreal Quaker Meeting Mouvement d'éducation populaire autonome de Lanaudière (MÉPAL) Mouvement d'éducation populaire et d'action communautaire du Saguenay-Lac Saint-Jean (MEPAC) Mudgirls Natural Building Collective Mutant Akademy / Revolt Motion Nature Canada Nature Hudson No More Silence Nova Scotia Voice of Women for Peace OPIRG Toronto Organisation of Urban Planning Students at McGill People's Health Movement Canada - Mouvement populaire pour la santé au Canada Planners Network-Montreal Chapter Pour le futur Montréal Pour Nos Enfants / For Our Kids Montréal Prevent Cancer Now Projet accompagnement solidarité Colombie Quit RBC / Lâche RBC Ralliement contre la pollution radioactive RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs) Raven Knits Design Recherche Indépendante de retraité.e.s en Écologie Regroupement d'éducation populaire en action communautaire des régions de Québec et de Chaudière-Appalaches Regroupement écocitoyen de Sainte-Marthe-sur-Le-Lac Relais-femmes Research for the Front Lines Réseau Alternatif et Communautaire des Organismes (RACOR) en santé mentale de l'île de Montréal Réseau d'action des femmes en santé et services sociaux Réseau des femmes des Laurentides Réseau des Tables régionales de groupes de femmes du Québec Réseau Québecois Action Santé Femmes (RQASF) Save Fairview Forest - Sauvons la Forêt Fairview Seniors For Climate Action Now! SCAN! Sierra Club Québec Small Change Fund SOS territoire Stand.Earth Table de concertation de Laval en condition féminine Table de concertation du mouvement des femmes de la Mauricie Table des groupes de femmes de Montréal Table régionale des organismes volontaires d'éducation populaire (TROVEP) de Montréal Table ronde des OVEP de l'Estrie (TROVEPE) The Environmental Noxiousness, Racial Inequities and Community Health Project True North Insight - Voie boréale Union paysanne Voix juives indépendantes - Montréal Women's Healthy Environments Network

This grotesque, untimely and out of scale development might be have been possible 20 years ago, but now it is clearly destructive to the River and landscape which makes the area unique. It is disrespectful of First Nations eons of care for the land and waters. It disregards local settler communities and their heritage village. And it sets a precedent for development and pollution along the banks of the Grand to Lake Erie.

Safe, accessible public transit is the backbone that keeps a big city like Toronto moving. It’s an essential part of our lives — enabling people who live and visit here to efficiently commute from home to work, to a doctor's appointment, or to pick up food at the grocery store Thousands of people rely on public transit every day in Toronto, especially those who are struggling the most to make ends meet and don’t have access to a car or taxi. But right now, the TTC is planning to slash services as soon as this month. [1] Imagine you’re a frontline worker. You rely on transit every day to get to work. Your daily commute usually takes you 30 minutes but lately it’s been taking you up to an hour to get to work. You have to wait in the freezing cold at a bus stop every day, because TTC services are being cut. This could be the reality for many of us if TTC service cuts go ahead. [2] A huge wave of public pressure could force the city, provincial and federal government to save the TTC — but only if we all speak out. Sign the petition now to stop the cuts and save the TTC. Sources [1] https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/10/27/ttc-plans-service-cuts-starting-in-november-because-of-workers-who-havent-complied-with-vaccine-mandate.html [2] https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/10/06/its-too-much-of-a-risk-riders-left-the-ttc-in-droves-over-covid-19-could-that-trigger-a-public-transit-death-spiral.html

This is big. As part of COP26, the global climate change conference, 19 countries are announcing a commitment to end all public financing for international fossil fuel projects by 2022. [1] Canada is one of the world’s biggest public financiers of fossil fuel projects at home and abroad. [2] But right now, the Canadian government is dragging their feet on joining this commitment. This isn’t climate leadership. Our sources have told us that fellow countries are pushing the Canadian government hard to join the commitment—and they’re wavering. This decision is going down to the wire. A big flood of public pressure as the government is deciding could show them that the world’s eyes are on them and that we need them to deliver. [1] https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/19-countries-plan-cop26-deal-end-financing-fossil-fuels-abroad-sources-2021-11-03/ [2] https://environmentaldefence.ca/2021/02/04/us-uk-eu-leadership-pressures-canada-end-fossil-finance/

Not all disabled people can operate a car, or afford to own one. And sidewalks are often too narrow, and/or uneven for mobility aids. The climate emergency requires that we give everyone the opportunity to travel using low-carbon modes of transportation. Bike lanes host many types of users, who move at different speeds - including some with disabilities. Many cycling advocates and other organizations support access to cycling facilities by people using electric mobility aids.

The Vancity Board are our friends. Vancity has committed to leadership in the financial services sector on climate. https://rethink.vancity.com/ The Board cares about what we have to say. We need to let them know this is important to us.

During last summer’s heat wave, I was luckily able to spend $700 on an AC unit just in time to find some relief. While those 600 people were in an actual fatal emergency, my partner and their two cats were feeling very stressed and desperate in their hot 1950s building in south Vancouver. In the 1950s the buildings were made to store and hold heat because they had little clue the opposite was a more vital need. They didn’t expect the changes in the climate we’ve seen now. Luckily I could house my partner and their cats for a couple weeks, and we made it through with the AC. Not everyone was as lucky — but the most vulnerable in our communities shouldn’t have had to spend hundreds to survive. As British Columbians, we are currently living in fear of unnecessary deaths and climate hardship this summer and into the future. We need government action right now. Sources [1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-heat-dome-coroners-report-1.6480026?utm_medium=email&utm_source=actionkit
 [2] see [1] 
 [3] https://council.vancouver.ca/20210720/documents/b5.pdf [4] https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/10/05/canada-disastrous-impact-extreme-heat

Bees are critical to life on earth. They maintain the wellbeing of our ecosystems and pollinate a third of the crops we consume, providing pollination services valued at $2 billion to Canadian farmers every year. [1] Without them, Canada’s food system would collapse. Neonicotinoids were banned by the European Union two years ago because of their devastating impact on bee populations. [2] Neonicotinoids can kill insects on contact, interrupt their ability to navigate and reproduce [3] and threaten to poison our fish, our water, and the foods we eat. In 2018, the Ministry of Health promised to ban the use of neonicotinoids in Canada. But last year, they quietly walked back on their commitment — trading out a decisive neonicotinoid ban with half-measures that come nowhere close to meeting the scale of the problem. [4] It’s time for our government to follow the example of the European Union and ban the use of neonicotinoids. We need to stop the use of this chemical to preserve our environment and stop poisoning ourselves! Sources [1] https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/documents/AgCanadaNativePollinators.pdf [2] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/neonics-neonicotinoids-banned-european-union-protect-bees-pollinators-environment-science-spd [3] https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/05/31/news/bees-dying-toxic-chemicals-feds-wont-save-them [4] https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/canada-rejects-outright-ban-on-bee-killing-pesticides-1.5370556

"Observed increases in well-mixed greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations since around 1750 are unequivocally caused by human activities...Each of the last four decades has been successively warmer than any decade that preceded it since 1850." -IPCC Assessment report 6, working group 1 https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_Full_Report.pdf The climate crisis does not end here. We know what we need to do to lower emissions. It is essential and only fair for students to have required and updated climate curriculum to spread the awareness we need as fast as we need it.