Bill McKibben’s introduction to his electrifying talk, “Notes on the Climate Struggle,” delivered to a packed audience at Carleton University, hit home for his Ottawa crowd. He had been eager, he said, to visit in February because he wanted to go skating on the canal. The canal, however, was closed on that first day of Winterlude and showed no signs of opening soon. It was a talk we all need to hear.
We’re very concerned by a recent effort by a City Councillor to weaken Ottawa’s efforts to combat climate change. Read on to learn what happened, understand why it's problematic, and take actions to help strengthen the climate approach in Ottawa.
Dear Ecology Ottawa community,
I wanted to share personally with you that I will be transitioning out of Ecology Ottawa over the next few months. This has been a very difficult decision for me, as I believe deeply in this wonderful organization and our important work together. Since you welcomed me in 2022, I have been heartened by the vibrant and effective grassroots movement that is the Ecology Ottawa community, and have been deeply proud of what we accomplish together.
City Council voted on December 6 to approve their draft budget for 2024. The budget contains some positive action towards addressing some of the crises Ottawa is facing: there is increased investment into housing, for example, and the City is reaching into its reserves to boost spending on affordable housing thanks to a motion from Councillor Kavanagh. The spending on climate, however, is somewhat underwhelming and contradictory.
Even though the City’s own Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) projects that “Ottawa will continue to become warmer, wetter and have more unpredictable extreme weather events over the coming decades,” the City of Ottawa’s 2024 Budget reveals a continued lack of ambition for environmental protection and climate action, threatening our ecosystems and communities.
A group of Ottawa residents have created a new monthly book club to discuss how to build a more affordable and sustainable Ottawa. The Ottawa Urbanism Book Club, a part of Strong Towns Ottawa, provides an opportunity to connect with neighbours and build community, while at the same time discussing Ottawa topics like how to prevent suburban sprawl, design an effective public transit system, and making walking and biking easier and safer for Ottawa residents.
Ecology Ottawa was at the City Council’s Environment and Climate Change Committee on November 21 to talk about climate, air quality, CCMP and trees. We’ve provided our delegations below. You can also watch the recording.
Wildlife gardens are a wonderful way for children, educators, and the local community to connect with nature, increase biodiversity, and beautify school grounds. They can also provide ecosystem services that can improve the functioning of school yards for caretakers and children alike. A wildlife garden may be a native plant garden, a pollinator garden, or butterfly garden. What they all have in common is a focus on attracting wildlife to school grounds for children’s learning and enjoyment.
Ecology Ottawa was at City Council’s Transit Commission on November 14 as the Commission considered a route view of OC Transpo buses. We’ve provided our delegation below. You can also watch the recording.
Trouver la version française ici.
For part of this summer and fall, I had the opportunity to be a community organizer for Ecology Ottawa’s Breathe Easy Project. Breathe Easy, in its third year, is Ottawa’s largest citizen-led science project. Before I started, I did not consider myself a scientist. Neither did many of the volunteers that made this project possible. But I do know that just like climate justice and political advocacy, science works best when it is people-powered.
We are filled with immense gratitude as we reflect on the incredible evening we shared at Eco Gala 2023. Your presence, enthusiasm, and commitment to our mission made the event truly special, and we can't thank you enough for being a part of it. For those of you who weren’t able to join, thank you for contributing a “Give One” ticket to help make this event accessible and inclusive of our whole community.
After months of controversy and shockingly little in the way of meaningful public consultation, the final report on Lansdowne 2.0 will now go to a joint meeting of Council’s Finance and Corporate Services and Planning and Housing Committees on November 2, and then on to full City Council on November 10.