Category: climate change

Seeing Ottawa in New Ways

GreenLivingOttawa
Background image in grey tones showing a group of people facing away from the camera, one holding a flag with an icon of a person walking. Blue, red and white graphic frames the text "May 4-5: Jane's Walk Ottawa-Gatineau, JanesWalkOttawa.ca"
Image courtesy Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau

There are quite a few opportunities this weekend to think about our city, and what it could be, in different ways. (Apologies for the last-minute post—life happens!) Here are some highlights:

Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau

Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau is happening Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5, 2024. Jane’s Walk is an annual series of community-led walks through the places and neighbourhoods of the city, in honour of Jane Jacobs, whose ideas influenced how we understand cities and city-building. This year’s walks explore and celebrate local art, architecture, histories, communities, pathways, greenspaces, habitats and biodiversity. For example, you can learn about the unique ecosystem of the Pinhey Sand Dunes; tour green homes, community gardens, or rewilding efforts; see downtown Ottawa from an Indigenous perspective; and much more. Because this year’s theme is “Towards water,” many of the walks explore the significance of waterways as meeting places, habitats and city shapers. That means you can contemplate an Indigenous canoe portage site connecting the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers; the history of the Ottawa River; or the microbes of Mud Lake. There are virtual and self-guided walks, too. Walks are conducted in English and/or French; some require pre-registration. Check the Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau website for details.

Image of an Indigenous woman (her head and shoulders); she is looking up, and her mouth is covered with red-handprint-shaped paint. Image appears on a black background, between two small red beaded dress images. Text in white and red below the image reads "MMIWG2S need justice; reconciliation demands action"
Image courtesy Families of Sisters in Spirit

Red Dress Day

I’ve posted before about the connections between environmental action and the need to address the ongoing harms of living on unceded Indigenous territory in ways that perpetuate ongoing violence against Indigenous peoples, including Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people. On Sunday, May 5, 2024, Families of Sisters in Spirit (FSIS), in collaboration with Assembly of Seven Generations, the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women, and Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak, is hosting an event to commemorate Red Dress Day in support of local families affected by the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and Two-Spirit people. They’re welcoming donations of food and other items, as well as financial support. See the event page for details.

Ottawa International Writers Festival

The Ottawa International Writers Festival is bringing several eco-focused authors to the stage on Saturday, May 4, 2024. These include Lydia Millet and Michael E. Mann, who, in different ways, use the power of story to help think through the climate change and environmental crisis. Check the Festival website for details.

+Local Action for Palestine: INSAF and the University of Ottawa Palestinian Students’ Association are asking people to support their efforts, including the “Occupy Tabaret” campaign calling for the University to divest from genocide in Gaza. See their website for more information, and Decolonize Palestine for additional background and why this is relevant to environmental justice globally and locally.

Mark Earth Day 2024 in Ottawa by Supporting an End to Plastic Pollution

GreenLivingOttawa
A small image of a megaphone in orange tones appears above white text "March to End the Plastic Era," both set on a blue circle with orange border. Below the circle are two banners in white, with orange text reading "Ottawa, Canada" and "April 21, 2024." Background is a faded colourful photograph of a crowd of people holding a variety of banners, and a large globe prop. Below the image, on a white gridded background, orange and blue text reads "11:00 AM, Parliament Hill (111 Wellington St)" with the URL Bit.LY/inc4march
Poster courtesy of Fridays for Future Ottawa

The world has a huge plastics problem.

There’s ample evidence that plastics contain toxic chemicals, break down into microplastics that harm our bodies and ecosystems, and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions—because most plastics are fossil fuel-based, they’re a big part of the climate crisis. Curbing plastics is also a matter of social justice, as the production, use and “disposal” of plastics affects some communities disproportionately.

Dealing with the plastics problem is partly about individual action: individuals can choose plastic-free products and packaging when buying food, clothing, personal care and other items. To effectively tackle the problem, though, we need a systems approach; governments, industries and investors need to take action. The challenge is that many of these benefit from the plastics industry—an industry that is actually growing rapidly.

Here in Ottawa, we have a significant opportunity to help shift the plastics trend. Representatives from governments around the world will be meeting in Ottawa from April 23-29, 2024, in a fourth round of negotiations to develop a comprehensive and legally binding Global Plastics Treaty. Getting governments to come together to address the plastics crisis has been challenging, but an effective global treaty could reduce the amount of plastic being produced, centre the people and communities most affected, and require governments to act.

Environmental groups are organizing a March to End the Plastic Era on Sunday, April 21, 2024, starting at 10:30 a.m. on Parliament Hill. They’re inviting people to join them to call for effective and equitable action. Find out more, and register to participate, here.

In preparation for the March, Fridays for Future Ottawa is also hosting an Art Build and Poster Making event on Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., during the Centretown Community Association’s Earth Day event in Dundonald Park. See the event page for details and registration.

[Edited:] You can also call on the Government of Canada to take action to eliminate plastics and end subsidies to the industry; see the petitions on the Environmental Defence and David Suzuki Foundation websites.

“For far too long, fossil fuel companies have viewed plastics as a Plan B for their dying industry. The entire plastics life cycle comes at the expense of human life and our fundamental rights to health and the environment, and our climate — especially for Black, Brown, Indigenous, frontline, and under-resourced communities.

The Global Plastics Treaty has the potential to stop the plastic pollution crisis at the source — but only if governments truly step up and uphold their responsibility to the people, environment, wildlife, and the climate.”

#BreakFreeFromPlastic website

The March to End the Plastic Era coincides with Earth Day, April 22. This year, the focus of Earth Day is “to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health.” The Earth Day organization is inviting people to sign a petition for international action to eliminate plastic pollution.

[Edited to include additional events:] Other Earth Day 2024 events happening in neighbourhoods across Ottawa include the Centretown festival in Dundonald Park, a free market at the Ottawa Public Library, Re4M’s eco-market, an Ottawa Tool Library repair cafe at City Hall, a guided walk and nature-themed little library launch in Hampton Park, environment-themed community events in River Ward and elsewhere, a community choir concert in support of Foodsharing Ottawa, tree care with Forêt Capitale Forest, a film screening, a canvass of Old Ottawa South to encourage the City to ban fossil fuel ads, a webinar on the environmental consequences of building a new prison on farmland in Kemptville, neighbourhood and shoreline clean-ups, and more. (Check the links for specific dates, times, and further information.)

Climate Change Learning and Action in Ottawa

GreenLivingOttawa
A poster; on a white background, in the top left corner, is a small icon of a red hand holding turquoise cards, beside text reading "Climate Fresk: Understand Climate Change in 3 Hours" (the i in climate is represented by an exclamation mark). Additional text below, on a green background, reads: "Climate Fresk Workshop: 2 dates, Thur Apr 11 and Tue Apr 23, 5:30-8:30 PM, 411 Dovercourt Ave, www.dovercourt.org/community/events-at-dovercourt/" On the right side of the poster is a large photo of 7 people (white, adults of varying ages, dressed in casual clothes) around a large conference-type table. They are looking at, and holding, postcard-sized cards that appear to have images and text on them; the cards are spread out on white paper that covers the table. Behind the table are large windows, shelves and stacked chairs, suggesting a workshop or community room.

[Update: By popular demand, new dates have been added! The next Climate Fresk workshops are coming up on Thursday, May 9 and Wednesday, May 22, 2024, both from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Register through Dovercourt Recreation Centre.]

In a previous post, guest blogger Don Sproule shared information on an interactive workshop that brings people together to think through the causes and consequences of climate change and identify actions needed.

Two more Climate Fresk workshops will be taking place on Thursday, April 11 and Tuesday, April 23, 2024 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Dovercourt Recreation Centre.

According to workshop organizer Don Sproule:

“The facilitated workshops will be using the very successful Climate Fresk format. While new to Ottawa, over 1.5M world-wide have participated in the workshop. … I can pretty well guarantee coming out of the workshop you’ll be able to say: I learned something, I had a good time and I’m now spurred on for further action related to climate change.”

Find out more and register through Dovercourt. If you have questions, check out the earlier post or contact Don at donald.sproule[at]gmail.com. The Climate Fresk website has more information on how it all works.

Given the urgency of the climate crisis, it’s great to see more local, community-led initiatives for learning about and acting on climate change. Some other upcoming events include:

Fossil Fools Day Ottawa: a solidarity action against RBC-funded pipeline and other projects that are contributing to the climate emergency. Saturday, April 6, 2024, 1-2 p.m., corner of Bank and Queen Streets.

Carleton Climate Commons’ Climate PUBlics on “Food Relations in a Time of Climate Crisis”: conversations on food sustainability in the context of climate change. Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 7 p.m., Irene’s Pub.

Community groups are leading a call for Ottawa City Council to ban fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship in City facilities and activities. Residents can sign a petition in support of the ban.

For more local climate-related events and activities, check out the CAFES Ottawa and Carleton Climate Commons community environment and climate calendars.

Understanding and Acting Together on Climate Change: Climate Change Workshop in Ottawa

GreenLivingOttawa
Background image of a tabletop covered in white paper with a series of postcard-type cards placed on top. The cards have environment-related words and images that are slightly out of focus. Two people are standing beside the table, one pointing to a card. A large white circle bordered in teal in the centre of the image reads: "Climate Workshop, Thyme & Again, Tues, Jan 30th, 1:30-4:30 pm, Second Floor @Nest, Tickets: eventbrite.ca, Contact: donald.sproule@gmail.com". Another small image on the bottom right contains a red hand icon on teal cards, and reads: "Climate Fresk" with an exclamation mark replacing the i in climate.
Image courtesy of Don Sproule, Climate Fresk, Ottawa

Guest post written by Don Sproule, certified Climate Fresk facilitator.

You can’t fix what you don’t understand.

If you’re interested in attending a fun and informative workshop to learn about the causes and consequences of climate change, read on. This is the event to attend.

Thyme & Again
1255 Wellington St West
Tuesday, Jan 30th
Time: 1:30 – 4:30

For registration go to:

Climate Change Workshop in the Climate Fresk Format Tickets, Tue, 30 Jan 2024 at 1:30 PM | Eventbrite

For more info, contact: donald.sproule[at]gmail.com

The workshop follows the Climate Fresk format. Conceived in France, more than 1.4 million people around the world have participated in a workshop and some 60k have gone on to become facilitators.

This 3-hour workshop calls on participants’ collective and creative intelligence, to collaborate and identify the cause-effect relationships between the different components of climate change. As a team, you will be handed out 42 cards, in five sets. The cards are based on the science of the IPCC 6th Assessment Report. When each new set is handed out you are asked to (re)arrange the cards on the table according to cause and consequence. The Fresk is revealed once all cards are on the table. Team cooperation is very important and will get you from one set of cards to the next! A facilitator will guide and support you through the workshop. The last part of the workshop is to table/share and discuss ideas for action from the personal to the community to the globe.

Here are some comments from Fresk participants:

“The Fresk gave us a higher, more comprehensive view of the complex interconnections between the causes and consequences of climate change.”

“I haven’t stopped thinking about the time we spent at the workshop, the power of those cards! It DID NOT feel like 3 hours!! Time flew!”

“In our house, even two weeks after the workshop, we’re still talking about the Fresk!”

Climate Actions in Ottawa

GreenLivingOttawa
Alt text: “Global Climate Strike 2023: Friday 15 September, 1:00 p.m. Parliament Hill” appears to the right of an icon depicting a globe, the left half covered in orange flames and the right half covered by blue earth and green trees. Below this, four images show (1) smoky skies above Parliament Hill, (2) a burned forest, (3) a house with a broken roof, and (4) an emergency worker walking towards cars on a flooded street. Along the bottom, text reads “Four reasons to be there! FridaysForFutureOttawa.org.” Image courtesy of Fridays for Future Ottawa.

If you’re reading this, you don’t need me to tell you that the climate emergency is here, now. Beyond compelling evidence from successive climate reports, the reality of increasing wildfires, floods, storms, drought and extreme heat around the world is impossible to ignore. Just in Ottawa, over the last few months, we’ve experienced smoke-filled skies, damaging hail and severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and record heat.

Taking action as individuals can feel more difficult than ever, in the face of the scale and magnitude of the emergency, compounded by the failure of many elected leaders, and the companies most responsible for disastrous climate change, to do what’s necessary. It can help to join with others to call for action—that way, we’re not alone, and our collective voices can make a difference.

Here are some upcoming opportunities:

2023 Global Climate Strike

Fridays for Future Ottawa, along with other environmental and Indigenous groups and individuals, are inviting people to gather on Parliament Hill on Friday, September 15, 2023 at 1 p.m. for this year’s Global Climate Strike. We’ll be calling on the federal government and other decision-makers to take climate action: to cap emissions; end fossil fuel extraction, use and subsidies; and support the transition to sustainable and just alternatives. (There’s also a petition to the federal Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland here.) The local event, which includes a range of speakers and musicians, is part of the Global Fight to End Fossil Fuels taking place around the world from September 15-17 this year.

“Fossil fuels—coal, oil and gas—are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions.”

United Nations

Community Bike Rides

A number of residents and groups offer opportunities to remind our elected leaders that investing in sustainable, safe and affordable cycling infrastructure is an essential part of climate action and community-building. For example, every month, cyclists get together for a community bike ride—a “self-organizing” Critical Mass ride—that demonstrates the importance of, and celebrates, active transportation. There’s a Critical Mass Ride for Climate on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 10 a.m. departing from the Canadian War Museum.

Inspired by critical mass events, Kidical Mass is a family-friendly bike movement created to “celebrate the joy of biking while calling for a need to create streets that are safe for kids and therefore safe for everyone.” Bike Ottawa, For Our Kids Ottawa-Gatineau and School Streets Ottawa are co-hosting a Kidical Mass Ottawa bike ride on Sunday, September 24, 2023, starting with bike decorating at 9:30 a.m. at Sylvia Holden Children’s Park, 641 O’Connor Street, followed by a ride along Queen Elizabeth Drive to Confederation Park at 10 a.m., and activities in Confederation Park from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.; see the event page for details.

Rally for Public Transit

There’s no denying that the erosion of Ottawa’s public transit system, along with continuing fare hikes, are not helping residents shift from car-dependent to more sustainable and equitable transportation. Free Transit Ottawa and other groups are holding a rally on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. calling for accessible, affordable and reliable public transit.

Petition for Municipal Climate Action

Ecology Ottawa has made it easier to call on Ottawa’s Mayor to address the climate emergency, by posting a petition demanding that Mayor Sutcliffe to take the lead in reaffirming the City’s commitment to and implementation of climate action. Please sign and share!