group SIGN-ON
THE CLIMATE action plan
The Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign encourages diverse groups from every sector to urgently work together towards our shared climate action goals.
Together we can be stronger in securing our future by holding the government accountable to the critical Climate Action Plan below.
Sign on your group or organization to the campaign today.
The climate action plan
Acknowledging the Code Red for humanity declared by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the closing window in which to enact impactful positive change, we will hold the Government of Ontario accountable to the following Climate Action Plan.
These actions must be embedded in legislation to ensure accountability, transparency and inclusion, with periodic mandated public reporting on all measurable outcomes.
01
Set binding climate targets based on science and justice consistent with global efforts to limit planetary warming to 1.5°C.
Set binding greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets relative to 2005 levels of 30% by 2025; 60% by 2030; and 100% by 2040. Establish rolling 5-year carbon budgets that decline over time towards zero emissions by 2040 or sooner. Review and update targets regularly as climate science evolves. Track and report progress on these actions every year.
02
Prioritize and respect Indigenous sovereignty and autonomy.
Build a new relationship between the Province of Ontario and Indigenous peoples premised on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Recognize and respect Indigenous peoples’ jurisdiction and right to free, prior, and informed consent within their territories. Collaborate in true partnership with Indigenous peoples on shared climate priorities, recognizing that spiritual value of the land is reflected in Indigenous culture with a commitment to respecting Mother Earth.
03
Invest in a thriving, regenerative, zero emissions economy.
Invest 2% of Ontario’s GDP to advance the zero emissions, decarbonized, renewable economy and create many thousands of decent, secure, sustainable jobs across multiple sectors. Create new economic and public institutions, diverting monies from destructive fossil fuels, and spend what it takes to immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Do so recognizing that the cost of inaction will massively outweigh the cost of immediate urgent climate action. Regulate and support governmental holdings to rapidly divest from fossil fuel exposure, and businesses to decarbonize while promoting green manufacturing.
04
End all fossil fuel subsidies immediately and rapidly wind down all fossil fuel use.
Phase out gas-fired electricity by 2030. Redirect funding to energy efficiency and fully renewable low carbon energy sources. End all fossil fuel subsidies, tax and financial incentives immediately. Ensure that all high emitting industries and sectors that create or profit from fossil fuel pollution pay their fair share of the costs of the resulting climate damage. Place an immediate moratorium on any further investment in nuclear energy to invest instead in new renewable energy.
05
Prioritize public health, as the climate crisis is our single greatest health crisis.
Recognize that climate change is the single greatest health threat of this century and taking climate action is our greatest health opportunity. Invest in sustainable, equitable, and accessible healthcare. Incorporate Health in All Policies, One Health tenets, and Wellbeing Economy indicators into all future policy decisions, moving beyond economic evaluations and GDP-based measures.
06
Accelerate the transition to zero emission buildings.
Establish and implement stringent net-zero emissions building codes on all new builds by 2025 including elimination of fossil fuel based heating, while incentivizing deep retrofits for existing buildings to achieve net-zero emissions and inclusive affordable housing with low energy costs. Ban new gas connections by the end of 2023. Create a Crown Corporation to mobilize the workforce for the sustainable employment opportunities that will be generated.
07
Accelerate the transition to zero emissions transportation and ensure ongoing sustainable community development.
Invest in affordable, accessible, and convenient zero-emissions public transit connecting and interconnecting communities, including northern communities. Reallocate infrastructure funds from unnecessary highway expansion including cancellation of Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass to sustainable public transit and active transportation. Mandate all new vehicle sales to be zero emissions by 2030. Prevent urban sprawl through sustainable urban development and intensification, while promoting healthy walkable, cycling-friendly communities with ample green infrastructure.
08
Urgently protect natural biodiversity.
Support and invest in Indigenous-led conservation initiatives. Restore natural ecosystems functions, preserve biodiversity, and increase carbon sequestration, including important carbon sinks such as the Greenbelt, the boreal forests of northern Ontario, and the James Bay lowlands, thereby improving human and ecosystem resilience to climate impacts. Protection must include at least 30% by 2030 of forests, wetlands, greenspaces and fresh water including our Great Lakes and other sources of drinking water. Restore powers and funding to Conservation Authorities.
09
Invest in local, organic, regenerative agriculture and plant-rich food systems.
Incentivize carbon storage in soil, restore biodiversity, restore degraded ecosystems, and ensure food sovereignty and food security across the province. Increase public access to locally-sourced, affordable, sustainably-produced, and plant-rich foods and implement reductions in food waste. Support farmers in shifting operations to regenerative agriculture. Support Indigenous communities wishing to maintain traditional food systems and enhance their food security.
10
Institute a broad public education campaign, as we all have the right to know what’s at stake.
Tell the truth about the climate and biodiversity crises and their critical impacts on human survival, in order to educate and mobilize broad community-based and societal action. Recognize climate change as the single greatest threat to human health of our time. Highlight the multiple co-benefits and massive opportunities that will result from taking climate action, including health and economic benefits, as well as employment opportunities.
11
Reinstate an independent office of the Environmental Commissioner.
Empower and adequately fund the Environmental Commissioner on an ongoing basis to independently oversee the implementation of the essential environmental actions to be taken.
12
Leave no one behind.
As we make the massive and urgent transformations critically needed to secure our shared future, ensure a just transition for Indigenous, resource-dependent, remote, and marginalized communities, low income families, fossil fuel workers, and all others disproportionately affected by the necessary shift to a low carbon economy. Prepare our communities for the impacts of the climate crisis to minimize human suffering and infrastructure damage. Address environmental racism and intergenerational justice by supporting those most vulnerable to climate change impacts including future generations. Recognize that our only way forward is to act together urgently, collectively, massively to safeguard the present and secure the future for ourselves, our children, and for generations yet to come.
Signatories
Agricultural
Land Over Landings
Crooked Farmz
Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario
Green Thumbs Growing Kids
National Farmers Union - Ontario
GreenerFarms
Toronto Urban Growers
Arts & Culture
Artists for Real Climate Action (ARCA)
Silence Guelph
Aruna & the Sirens
Frolick
The People's Climate Foundation
Sectoral Climate Arts Leadership for the Emergency (SCALE)
Connection Earth Collaborative
The Culture of Sustainability
Common Thread Community Chorus
WeeFestival of Arts and Culture
Music for Climate Justice
100 WATT Productions: Innocent Anarchy
Business
Anythink Creative
Goldfinch Energy
Bullfrog Power
Unboxed Market
Parkbus
Method Collective
Future Food Salon
Alimentary Initiatives
Anarres Natural Health
Zero Waste Toronto Trading Zone
Good Investing
Saponetti
Green Economy Law Professional Corporation
Starfield CreatorCo
Shift Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health
Power Saving Systems Inc.
Climate Ventures
Braden Homes Ltd
Exactus Energy
CIO's Beyond Borders Group
Coolearth Architecture Inc.
Achieve Sustainability Inc.
Community
Council of Canadians Windsor Essex Chapter
Ontario Voters’ Coalition
Leadnow
Windsor/Essex On Watch (WOW)
Citizens for an Accountable Mega-hospital Planning Process (Windsor-Essex)
Green 13
Windsor Law Cities and Climate Action Forum
Cardinal Place
Windsor of Change
Cycle Toronto
Green Neighbours 21
Climate Momentum Stratford
50by30Niagara
Oakville Climate Hub
Council of Canadians Kitchener Waterloo Chapter
Green 11
Building Roots
Community Power Northumberland Co-operative Inc
Council of Canadians Guelph Chapter
Stop Sprawl Durham
Council of Canadians Peterborough and Kawarthas
Bike Windsor Essex/Windsor Bike Kitchen
Green Neighbours Network of Toronto
Council of Canadians London Chapter
Council of Canadians Kitchissippi-Ottawa Valley Chapter
EcoPembroke
Sustainable Cobourg
Sustainable Mississauga
Council of Canadians Peel Chapter
Stop Sprawl Peel
Windfall Ecology Centre
Mining Injustice Solidarity Network
Climate Action Timiskaming
Free Transit Ottawa
Wasaga Beach Climate Action Team
Council of Canadians Toronto Chapter
BikeBrampton
Brampton Environmental Alliance
eMERGE Guelph Sustainability
Socialist Alternative Toronto
Drawdown Newmarket-Aurora
greenWR
Drawdown Richmond Hill
Nith Valley EcoBoosters
Toronto Women's City Alliance
Action 13
Stop Sprawl HamOnt
Sustainable Waterloo Region
Park People
Mississauga Environmental Awareness
Green Orillia
Stop Sprawl Orillia
Kingston Action Group for a Basic Income Guarantee
Community Resilience to Extreme Weather (CREW)
Stop Sprawl York Region
Granite Ridge Family
CBLCA Environmental Subcommittee
ecoCaledon
Climate Impact Fund
Langford Conservancy
Decolonial Solidarity
Guelph Green New Deal
The Falstaff Family Centre
Wise Communities
Education
Sustainability Literacy Initiative UW (University of Waterloo)
7th Generation Initiative
Students for Education, Empowerment and Development (SEED) Kenya
Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Ontario Council
Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) National
Canadian Federation of University Women BC Council
Elementary Teachers of Toronto
Climate Change Toronto
Earth Education League
Environmental Education Ontario
Environtastic
York University Faculty Association Climate Emergency Committee
Environment & Climate Action
David Suzuki Foundation
Environmental Defence
Climate Emergency Unit
ClimateFast
The Climate Project Canada
Ontario Clean Air Alliance
Climate Pledge Collective
Toronto Environmental Alliance
For Our Kids Mississauga Oakville Burlington Hamilton (FOK MOBH)
For Our Kids Gatineau (FOK Gatineau)
Grand River Environmental Network
MobilizeTO
Halton Action for Climate Emergency Now (HACEN)
Fossil Free University of Waterloo (FFUW)
Drawdown Toronto
Citizen’s Climate Lobby Canada
Green Majority Radio
Just Earth: A Coalition for Environmental Justice
Toronto East End Climate Collective (TEECC)
Wellington Water Watchers
Biodiversity and Climate Action Niagara
Ontariogreen Conservation Association
Earth Day Grey Bruce
Save Ojibway
Toronto Climate Save
Canadian Climate Challenge
Ecohesian
Drawdown Toronto
Toronto Climate Save
Citizens United for a Sustainable Planet (CUSP)
Toronto350
Drawdown Newmarket-Aurora
Target Climate
Peterborough Alliance for Climate Action
Iron & Earth
Citizens Environment Alliance
For Our Grandchildren
Impact Zero
The Land Between
Climate Action Muskoka
Scugog Climate Action Now
Climate Network Lanark
Grey Bruce Climate Action Network
Environment Haliburton!
School for Climate
Wilderness Committee
Council of Canadians
For Our Kids Toronto (FOK Toronto)
Citizens' Climate Lobby Toronto
Pan African Centre for Climate Policy
Sierra Club Ontario - Peel Group
Climate Action London
Sierra Club Canada Foundation
Windfall Ecology Centre
Collingwood Climate Action Team
Hamilton 350
350 Kingston
Sunset Country Spirit Alliance
Protect Our Winters Canada
StopPlastics
Perth County Sustainability Hub
People's Climate Movement Toronto/GTA
Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition
Oakville Climate Hub
eMERGE Guelph Sustainability
Ontario Nature
Environment North
Climate Reality Project Leadership Corps - Canada
Below2C
Project Neutral
Clean Air Partnership
Faith
Church of St Stephen-in-the-Fields, Toronto
Green Ummah
Bathurst United Church
Canadian Interfaith Fast for the Climate
Danforth Jewish Circle
Trinity-St Paul's United Church
Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice
Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) Toronto Monthly Meeting
Noor Cultural Centre
Faith & the Common Good
Shoresh Jewish Environmental Programs
Simcoe County KAIROS
Felician Sisters
Hamilton Buddhist Temple
Pax Christi
Pax Christi Toronto
Social Justice & Advocacy Committee, Anglican Diocese of Toronto
Toronto United Mennonite Church
Bishop's Committee on Creation Care, Anglican Diocese of Toronto
Toronto Diocesan Council of Development and Peace/Caritas Canada
Christians for Creation Care Halton-Peel
Diocese of Ontario Green Group
Woodroffe United Church
KAIROS Guelph
EnviroMuslims
Health
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO)
Naturopathic Doctors for Environmental and Social Trust (NEST)
Canadian Federation of Medical Students
Cdn Federation of Medical Students' Health & Environment Adaptive Response Taskforce (CFMS HEART)
Canadian Climate Psychiatry Alliance
PEACH Health Ontario
Peterborough Health Coalition
Federation of Medical Women of Canada-Women, Peace and Security Committee
Green Is Health
Canadian Health Association for Sustainability and Equity (CHASE)
MD Moms for a Healthy Recovery
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario - Algoma Chapter
Justice
Just Earth
Science for Peace
Disability Justice Network of Ontario
Group of 78
Council of Canadians - Ottawa Chapter
Labour
CUPE Local 3903
Workers' Action Centre
Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups
Thunder Bay District Injured Workers Support Group
Keep Transit Moving Coalition
Toronto and York Region Labour Council
Seniors
Climate Action for Lifelong Learners (CALL)
Seniors for Climate Action Now! (SCAN!)
Grand(m)others Act to Save the Planet (GASP)
Climate Legacy
Greys for Green
Youth
Fridays for Future Toronto
Student Christian Movement Canada
Youth Climate Save Canada
Windsor Essex Youth Climate Council
Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario
Mississauga Climate Action
Community Climate Council
Love the Skin You're In Youth Resiliency Project
Shake Up the Establishment