This ClimateFast Action Alert shares activist opportunities related to the Climate Crisis that may interest our readers, but that do not necessarily reflect the views of ClimateFast as an organization, nor the views of its members. 

SIGN UP TODAY FOR OUR ONLINE EVENT ON CLIMATE ACTION WEDNESDAY JAN 15 @ 7 pm  REGISTER HERE

Or an in-person workshop on Saturday Jan 18 @ 10 am REGISTER HERE

Or in-person in Etobicoke on Saturday Jan 25, @ 2 pm REGISTER HERE

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SAY FROM YOUR HOME IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. 

Scroll down for quick and easy ways to participate!

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There is an important opportunity this month to contribute to the development of the city’s next climate action plan and to build support for climate action on Council.  The city's survey (click here) on climate action will be open for your thoughts until Jan 31. The plan subsequently developed by staff will go to Council for consideration in June. 

We need to build support on Council for bold new steps to achieve a 20% cut in emissions between 2026 and 2030.  Right now our progress on reducing emissions is stalled ... so to get moving again, we need to bring forward the most effective strategies and build momentum to adopt them. Public support is an essential part of this process!

At the same time - it’s budget time!  Every year Council adopts a new budget and that 2025 budget was released today (Jan 13). You can find the budget at this link.

This budget will be voted on at Council on Feb 13.  We get to have a say - through written deputations and/or calling in to the Mayor’s budget town hall, or a town hall held by your councillor. Every year it is a difficult process, as there is not enough money to fund the programs and services the city urgently needs. And there are competing priorities for the limited funds available.

We need to raise the environmental voice to make sure climate action programs - including TransformTO Net Zero Strategy - are protected and enhanced, and that crucial new steps, like a parking lot levy, move forward.  

WAYS YOU CAN HELP!

Quick and easy: Fill in the City of Toronto’s Climate Survey (click here). It’s focused on your experience of climate change and the steps you are taking to reduce emissions, and also asks for your ideas for the city.

Mayor's Budget Telephone Town Halls

Telephone town halls will be held by Mayor Chow and Budget Chair Councillor Carroll to share information about the 2025 Budget and answer questions. Vote for climate and environmental action!

Dates: Wed Jan 15, 7 pm or Thurs Jan 23, 7 pm

Location: 1-833-380-0687 or online

Take a bit more time: Fill in the survey that the Toronto Climate Action Network has put together for individuals or groups (click here). This goes into more depth than the City survey on our climate goals and how we can achieve them together. We’d love to see your answers!

Dive in: To have a voice in this year’s budget consider giving a deputation (written or oral). We’ll go over these options at the town hall at the Jan 15 and Jan 18 sessions.

Please consult the Jan 15 Eventbrite registration page for times and places for the deputations on Jan 21 and 22 (scroll down), then send an email to buc@toronto.ca to register for a session. Register early!

Last year our voices for climate action made climate one of the top 5 concerns raised at the deputations, as noted in the Toronto Star. Councillors need to hear our voices.

Join the Wards Project!

This year we also have the opportunity to become advocates for climate action at the city level by becoming part of the Wards Project.

The purpose of the Wards Project is to bring community members together to meet with their councillor to advocate for TransformTO and the new Net Zero Climate Action Plan.  We’ll introduce this at the Jan 15 and Jan 18 sessions, and we’ll follow up with further training in February. To sign up for an active role in your ward, please fill in this interest form.

Our voices DO make a difference! Please join us!

Contact climatefast@climatefast.ca or lyn@climatefast.ca with any questions.