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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.

The Climate Action Plan

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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

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

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

Signatories
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