This article is written in response to CTV News' report on Windsor's warmest winter in decades.

Windsor-Essex finds itself at the forefront of a unique climatic shift. In the heart of it, a remarkable winter defies expectations and rewrites the weather books. With temperatures surging beyond 22°C, our region has had several record-breaking temperature days this season—we've even broken an all-time hottest temperature record for February.

But what has been driving this shift? Is it just an anomaly or the face of things to come? With the recent Equinox welcoming a chilly Spring, let’s dive into climate changes and consequences.

Environment and Climate Change Canada credits the El Niño phenomenon as the core influence that is shaping weather patterns across the globe these past six months. According to the National Geographic, “El Niño is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. [It] is the 'warm phase' of a larger phenomenon called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).” El Niño shakes up ocean temperatures, current speeds and intensities, coastal fisheries, and local weather across vast global regions from Australia to South America and beyond. It doesn't stick to a strict schedule like clockwork, happening every two to seven years, and it's far less predictable than the ebb and flow of ocean tides.

Windsor-Essex has had its fair share of encounters with ENSO, feeling its impact in the past; but don't get too comfortable—this doesn't quite explain this winter's record-breaking levels of warmth. While it's true that a robust El Niño has kept the season relatively mild, experts from NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory warn that our region has been on a warming trajectory for decades due to climate change.

Along with the temperatures, the Great Lakes have also set a new record this mild winter; according to the latest figures from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), all five Great Lakes are currently experiencing their lowest ice levels on record for this time of year. As of March 11, a mere 1.21% of the Great Lakes are covered in ice—a stark contrast to the nearly 39% coverage observed on the same date in 2022. Particularly noteworthy is the minimal ice coverage on both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, which paints a vivid picture of the unusual warmth gripping the region (WoodTV, 2024).

So what does this mean in plain terms? Well, less ice spells trouble for our shorelines, leaving them more vulnerable to erosion and the pounding forces of nature. With less Lake ice and milder temperatures, expect more overcast skies and rain rather than snow. The ecosystem balance in the Lake is upturned and may mean less food for Lake fish to feed on. On terra firma, a toasty winter sets the stage for disrupted hibernation and migration patterns for animals and birds. Without a consistent freeze, insects like black-legged ticks get to throw a pest party and continue to grow and spread throughout the region. There are possibilities of a frost that could kill plants that bloom early and harm animals that hibernate. While some might relish less time spent shoveling snow and more opportunities to soak up the sun, such rapid changes put a strain on the delicate balance of life around us, leaving many organisms struggling to keep up with the pace of change.

The La Niña Story

The sister to the warmer El Nino is La Niña, which holds the potential to sway the weather patterns the other way. While El Niño brought warmth and moderation, La Niña is a climate pattern that tends to occur soon after El Niño and brings on opposite cooler temperatures and altered precipitation patterns. If La Niña does occur in 2024, meteorologists say it would begin in late summer or early fall. According to meteorologist Ross Hull, La Niña also tends to create a jet stream where a fast, narrow current of air blows across the globe from west to east; in Canada, the phenomenon will likely lead to more precipitation in the west coast, Ontario and Quebec.

bringing it home

The El Niño and La Niña events remind us of how intricate and interconnected the pieces that make up our planet's climate are. From warm waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that shake up global weather, to low levels of lake ice that will likely lead to a strain on plant and animal life in coming weeks, everything is connected... and when one domino falls, so do all the others in time.

But we don't have to stand helplessly on the sidelines, watching dominos topple over; with some intervention and patience, our situation has the potential to greatly improve. By focusing on climate change mitigation with eco-initiatives at governmental and personal levels, we inherently also focus on disappearing animal life, vulnerable ecosystems in danger of collapsing, cost of living and damages related to unpredictable weather, and much more. Warm winters don't have to be our new normal. Part of the larger picture, our efforts count towards the grand scheme of our planet's climate.

Modern Valentine's Day, a holiday about love and affection, is also about extravagant gestures, lavish gifts, and a surge in consumerism. Most people buy chocolate, freshly cut flowers, stuffed animals, and greeting cards as gifts, which contributes to over-consumption and unnecessary waste. While gift exchanges are a time-honoured tradition, the environmental impact is an overlooked part of these festivities. Excessive consumption contributes to environmental issues, including resource depletion, waste generation, and carbon emissions. Gardeners use pesticides and intensive irrigation to cultivate flowers en masse, creating soil degradation and water pollution; plastic pollution from single-use plastics, ribbons, and excessive wrapping paper is an ever-growing problem; and the transportation of all these goods from source to shop to home only increases our carbon footprint.

Express love for each other and the planet by encouraging responsible consumerism during Valentine's Day.

Why Should We Care?

Greeting cards alone generate approximately $8 billion each year, and most of them end up in landfills within a few weeks, producing potent greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide. Since the 18th century, CO2 in the atmosphere has increased by 50% because of human activities, increasing global temperatures, which in turn increases the severity of weather events and impacts us in our daily lives. In the Northern Hemisphere, CO2 is the highest in the springtime and decreases as plants use CO2 to fuel their growth through summer until autumn; however, plants release the CO2 back into the atmosphere during their autumnal decomposition. This means many popular celebrations, including Valentine's Day, occur when CO2 is already at its highest.

Human contribution to excess carbon dioxide comes from activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation, both of which are necessary to produce mass-made greetings cards, unethically sourced cocoa, and other Valentine’s Day staples. According to Exeter University, sending a single greeting card produces 140g of carbon dioxide. Moreover, The International Council on Clean Transportation uncovered that 360,000 metric tons of carbon emissions could be attributed to the transportation of flowers in the three weeks leading up to February 14th.

But there must be a way to have your cake (or box of chocolates) and eat it too. Good news: there is! Remember to make mindful choices. Who says you have to abandon all Valentine’s Day traditions? A sustainable lifestyle should be fun, healthy, and cost-effective. Go eco-friendly this Valentine's Day to show love for your special someone and the environment. Our list of eco-friendly gift ideas is affordable, easy to plan, and sentimental.

Intangible Gifts

Ditch the physical gifts altogether and opt for intangible gifts. Experiential gifts are deeply enriching—these presents involve learning new skills, engaging in activities that contribute to personal growth, and prioritizing memories over objects that may become future clutter. Ultimately, they shift our focus from material possessions to the present time. Fun fact: you can do most of these activities at home!

Take a Class

Shopping locally is often more environmentally friendly because local products typically require less transportation to reach consumers, which minimizes carbon emissions and helps maintain a diverse and resilient local economy. Find classes for your niche interest locally or online. Here are some local class suggestions: G-Pots Pottery, Crock A Doodle Windsor, Sketch Clay + Pottery.

If local artisan courses are not within your budget, you can find plenty of tutorials on YouTube to follow.

Here are some ideas:

• Follow a cooking video after buying fresh, local produce.

• Use an old ball of yarn you have at home and watch a crochet video.

• Go through your craft supplies and make greeting cards with materials you already own.

• Dance in the middle of your living room.

Wine Tasting

Alternatively, if you want to go on a date outside of the comfort of your house, you can visit the Pelee Island Winery, or any other winery and brewery close to you, and taste-test some new spirits to get you into the spirit! Check out Tourism Windsor-Essex for the official local Winery Guide.

Suggested locations: Frank Brewing Co., Chapter Two Brewing Company, Colio Estate Winery, Mastronardi Estate Winery, and Wagner Orchards & Estate Winery.

As an at-home alternative, purchase a few local wines, wrap each bottle in recycled paper or fabric, and have a blind-tasting game. Guessing the varieties can be a fun and educational experience. You can experiment by pairing the wines with different foods and discussing which combinations work the best.

At-Home Spa Day

Ditch the expensive spas and make DIY masks with organic and ethically sourced ingredients you already own. Create DIY face masks using natural ingredients like honey, yogurt, oats, and fruits (generally, avocados are also safe to use on the skin), eliminating the need for store-bought products with packaging. Another eco-responsible tip is to use reusable cotton cloths instead of disposable wipes to cleanse and exfoliate.

To set the mood, light up the room with candles made from beeswax or soy wax, which are renewable and cleaner-burning than traditional candles. Mix sugar or coffee grounds with coconut oil for a natural and biodegradable body scrub, and create a playlist with sounds of nature to enhance the calming atmosphere.

Visit a Local Event or Museum

If you are in Windsor, Ontario, the Walkerville area is known for its local arts and cultural hubs. You can stroll outside Willistead Manor or visit the Art-Windsor Essex art gallery. Museums play a crucial role in the preservation of historical artifacts and artworks. By visiting local museums, you support their efforts to maintain and display these items within the community, reducing the need for long-distance transportation of cultural artifacts. Many Canadian museums offer Indigenous exhibits deeply tied to respecting the natural world.

See a local performance and meet interesting folks at Phog Lounge and Villains Beastro. Local venues offer an intimate space with lower environmental impacts because they require less lighting, heating, and electricity than arenas and stadiums. Supporting local bands contributes to the cultural vibrancy of the community. Take advantage of the local arts and culture in your immediate surroundings.

Bird Watching and Stargazing

Nature Canada named Windsor as Canada’s 16th bird-friendly city in 2022, which means that Windsor successfully met the following criteria: reducing human-related threats to birds; habitat protection, restoration, and climate resiliency; and community outreach/education. Go birdwaxtching to take advantage of Windsor and Essex County’s birding hotspots. We recommend visiting Ojibway or Point Pelee. Grab a birding guide from the Visitor Center and embark on a natural scavenger hunt. The Essex Public Library offers birding backpacks you can check out, which include binoculars and a Southern Ontario bird guide. Bird watchers learn about different species and habitats, contributing to a better understanding of local ecosystems and biodiversity. Bird watching is a low-impact recreational activity that does not disrupt natural habitats. Unlike some outdoor activities, birding generally involves observing and appreciating nature without causing harm to the environment (make sure to dispose of waste properly and keep trails litter-free). At night, look up and observe celestial bodies and identify constellations (there are many free stargazing apps that identify constellations).

Second-Hand Gifts

Employ the principles of a circular economy to your consumption habits and purchase repurposed, reused, refused, repaired, and recycled gifts to minimize waste. Buying second-hand items gives products a longer life cycle, reducing the overall demand for new goods and helping prevent usable items from ending up in landfills prematurely. If you want to purchase a tangible gift, find a pre-loved treasure. Many second-hand shops affiliate with well-known charities, and their proceeds often go towards supporting community initiatives. Here are some thrifty date ideas:

Board Games

Bond over classic games or discover new ones together. Choose games (or puzzles) that suit your preferences, from strategic board games to light-hearted ones. Bring people together by bonding (or fighting) over a board game. It will ensure you have something solid to discuss.

Vintage Shopping Spree

Spend the day exploring local thrift stores and vintage shops for unique finds. Challenge each other to find the quirkiest or most interesting item.

Tip: Set a budget to make it even more exciting, and enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

Here is a list of some thrift stores and vintage shops in Windsor: Timeless Treasures, Audrey's Closet and Company, Full Circle Vintage, Mission Thrift Store Windsor, Hope For A Cure Thrift Store, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Value Village, Goodwill, and Plato's Closet.

Used Bookstore Date

Select a book (or many books) from the thrift store or local used bookshop for both of you to read, then set up a cozy reading area at home and discuss the book over coffee or tea. You will walk away from the date with a unique book and conversation starter.

Bonus: visit a local café after the bookshop adventure.

Used bookstores in Windsor include: Juniper Books, Biblioasis Bookshop, and The Goodwill Bookstore (or visit the book section of any thrift shop).

Café recommendations: Café Amor & Art, Taloolas Café, The Coffee Exchange, Ciao Café, Anchor House, Toto Café, Green Bean Café, and Café March 21 (a lot of these locations are within walking distance of the used bookstores mentioned above).

Pre-Owned Jewelry

Companies like Brilliant Earth, Mejuri, and SOKO offer ethical and sustainable new jewelry and lab-grown diamonds with a heftier price tag. That said, it is even better for the environment if you purchase a vintage or pre-loved gem because it reduces the demand for new mining and extraction of precious metals and gemstones. Avoid supporting potentially unethical practices associated with some mining operations and promote responsible consumption with your purchases. Choosing a pre-owned adornment reduces the carbon cost of producing, transporting, and marketing new jewelry items.

Explore thrift stores, vintage shops, pawn shops, online marketplaces, and estate sales for a diverse selection. Vintage shops and thrift stores are full of unique jewelry pieces, but you cannot plan to find a specific item if you are going this route. Curated second-hand shops, Facebook Marketplace, and Kijiji are great options if you are looking for a specific item (such as a ring, necklace, etc.), but it might cost you a bit more since these pieces are more curated (but it will be more affordable than new pieces, and there is always room for negotiation).

Whether you opt for intangible experiences that create cherished memories or venture into the world of second-hand treasures, each choice contributes to a more eco-friendly celebration. Windsor's charm and its array of local businesses and thrift stores offer the perfect backdrop for a Valentine's Day that leaves a positive mark on both your relationship and the environment. So, let love bloom in the heart of Windsor-Essex, where sustainability and romance can intertwine for a memorable and greener celebration.

Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, was passed at the end of 2022 as a proposed solution to the housing crisis in Canada, a way to increase the amount of available viable housing while also increasing affordability with major changes to legislation. It sounds like a good deal, right? If only things were so simple. Like any policy, there's some good and some bad, and while Bill 23 may do some things right, it also raises significant concerns from Conservation Authorities and other experts over adequate environmental and wildlife protections, among other things. And although the bill was passed over a year ago, it’s still a highly relevant topic today.

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Conservation Ontario, a network of Ontario's 36 conservation authorities (CAs), wrote a strongly supported publicly available letter to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, citing power redistribution and natural infrastructure endangerment as their primary overarching concerns with this Act. While Bill 23 aims to streamline the planning and building processes, the decision to delegate CA regulations to municipalities will likely reduce careful considerations in land-use decision making, and ultimately do more harm than good.

The core role of CAs is to "ensure the conservation, restoration and responsible management of Ontario's water, land and natural habitats through programs that balance human, environmental and economic needs," as detailed on Conservation Ontario's website. In other words, they are our local Lorax and "speak for the trees." 

• What is a Building Permit?

  A building permit is a document issued by those responsible for enforcing the Ontario Building Code (usually municipal building departments), and it is necessary to obtain before making any changes to a property so that the municipality may protect the interests of both individuals and the community.

However, the significant changes in power distribution outlined by Bill 23 quiets the voices and reduces the roles of CAs; many environmental decisions and responsibilities will fall on the shoulders of municipalities, which in many cases are "unprepared and under resourced," and in which "development interests wield the most influence." Municipalities have much relied on benefits from long-standing and successful partnerships with CAs, and these partnerships are ultimately undermined. Conservation Ontario also states that, in addition to not being equipped with adequate eco-expertise, the burden of extra responsibility placed on municipalities stretches limited resources thinner and could result in errors.

Under these circumstances, Ontario's natural infrastructure—valuable spaces in our environment—has been put in jeopardy. But why are these spaces so valuable in the first place? Why do they merit thoughtful surveillance and dedicated protection?

The Promised Land

Conservation Ontario highlights wetlands in particular as key natural infrastructure integral to our communal health and safety. After all, wetlands play vital roles: they help with flood control, water filtration, erosion control, sediment retention and more. In fact, Ontario’s Special Advisor on Flooding recognized that Ontario's previous environment-conscious planning is highly effective in protecting Ontarians and preventing property damage, and that this approach would be “increasingly valuable” now, especially as climate change leads to more extreme weather events.  

The continued loss of wetlands is an important factor behind rising flooding and natural hazards, and it's an issue only made worse by land development. In fact, according to leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization Environmental Defence, "[d]evelopment of natural areas is the primary cause of wetland loss in southern Ontario." As these lands are manipulated in favour of expanding residential, commercial, and agricultural territory, the negative consequences of doing so threaten property and people. 

It's necessary to also consider that wetlands are disappearing 3 times as fast as forests, according to a 2018 article from UN Climate Change News—and that's on top of the fact that over 72-85% of them have already been lost in Southern Ontario. 

In addition to flooding and natural hazards, wetland destruction is detrimental to ecosystems. Take, for example, the Great Lakes Coastal wetlands which, according to Environmental Defence, contain "a large variety of rare, threatened, or even endangered animal and plant species" as well as "up to one-third of primary food for other animals in the ecosystem."  

These wetlands are also among the particularly threatened, as "an estimated 50 percent of Great Lakes wetlands have been lost basin-wide, with losses of up to 90 percent occurring in some areas." 

Prevention is the best medicine and an often overlooked approach. As the Ontario government invests $6.7 million in an attempt to restore and enhance around 150 wetland projects across the province, Bill 23’s direction is counterproductive. According to an article from the University of Waterloo, wetlands are worth billions of dollars in terms of the value they provide. In water filtration services alone, they provide 4.2 billion dollars—and that's only in Southern Ontario! The loss is immeasurable: billions are lost in wetland destruction, and millions are lost in restoration projects.

Two Heads Are Better Than One

The passing of Bill 23 has also raised concerns at the level of democracy, as it "[u]ndermines democracy by reducing public participation in planning matters and urban design, and eliminating the public’s right to appeal planning decisions,"  in addition to greatly limiting the authority of CAs. 

• What is Offsetting?

  Offsetting “involves extremely risky trade-offs, where existing natural areas are sacrificed on the premise that they can be recreated or restored elsewhere.”

Whose interests are at the forefront? Who benefits from these changes? The answers seem to lean disproportionately towards developers. Not only do they have more sway in municipalities where environmental responsibilities will be delegated, but they will also benefit from an offsetting policy proposed by the government. Is wetland offsetting really possible? The short answer is no. According to Ontario Nature, this program means that the loss of a wetland is guaranteed while its timely and effective recreation is anything but. In fact, over 30 years of recreation attempts have, more often than not, failed. Alarmingly, developers also have the option to opt out of this initiative altogether in favour of paying a fee instead, which puts a price on priceless ecosystem elements. This kind of set-up can "push the floodgates of destruction wide open." 

Conservation Ontario wishes for a more effective, productive, and proactive role. They ask the Province to resist giving eligible developments a free-pass from obtaining CA permits; to return CA regulations to CAs rather than delegating them to municipalities; to refrain from freezing necessary funding to CAs; and to allow municipalities entry into agreements with CAs in order to ensure a well-rounded, informed perspective from which to make mutually beneficial environmental decisions.

The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions

Bill 23 may have good intentions. As discussed by WOC contributor Jeff Watson in his article There Is No Place Like [Tiny] Home, there is a positive motion the Bill rolls out that aligns with its ultimate goal: the construction of more dwelling units (which you can read more about at the link).

Dr. Dawn Parker, professor at the University of Waterloo's School of Planning, confirms that "[o]n the positive side, [the Bill] addresses exclusionary zoning by requiring municipalities to allow more units on residential parcels and increases some incentives for rental and attainable housing supply." 

However, these positives alone will not change the fact that the Bill’s "unintentional, negative consequences" will "not meet the goals for increasing housing supplies and will instead increase risks to life and property for Ontario residents," thus requiring serious reconsideration, according to Conservation Ontario. 

Furthermore, in comments submitted to the relevant provincial authorities, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) validates that up to $1 billion in costs will be diverted from private sector developers to property taxpayers annually, further reducing the chances of housing affordability. It's simply expressed as: short term profit > people + planet.

The howard bouffard secondary plan

Right here, right now: a major land development project is currently underway in our Windsor-Essex community. Hailed as “the biggest land use plan in LaSalle's history,” The Howard Bouffard Secondary Plan aims "to create the environment to allow for the orderly development of the Bouffard and Howard Planning Districts within the Town’s urban boundary." These lands have been "designated for a range of land uses and earmarked as the Town’s growth area for the next 20 years," as outlined in the 2017 Environmental Assessment Addendum.

In addition to concerns about increased traffic and expropriation, residents worry about the future of green spaces. While certain green spaces around Malden Road are visibly recognized by Ontario's Natural Heritage map as provincially significant, the green space near Bouffard Road is currently unlabelled; according to resident John DeMarco who was interviewed for CBC New Windsor, “all options of the plan that have been presented and discussed so far involve significant loss of LaSalle's wood lots and natural areas—some 40 hectares,” approximately.

In an interview with iHeartRadio, LaSalle's mayor Crystal Meloche stated that "we'd all love to preserve as much green space as possible, but their plan requires the municipality to purchase land that's privately owned by individuals as well as developers [which would cost] millions and millions of dollars [and] some of that just won't work financially." She highlighted that the Town of LaSalle does already own a portion of the area, which is currently under some level of protection. 

you snooze, you lose

So, what happens now? What do we do? Even though Bill 23 has already passed and some parts of it are currently taking effect, some others will be delayed; as part of the housing package, the government is continually seeking public input for related policies and regulations. With Bill 23 and any other land development projects, there are multiple phases which may allow formal opportunities for public comments, such as council meetings and workshops. Outside of these opportunities, residents can stay in the loop on projects and leave their comments on representatives’ social media posts, or contact them directly by phone or email.

“It is VERY important that people continue to provide comments on all of those Environmental Registry of Ontario postings by the specified deadlines.”

—Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director of Canadian Environmental Law Association

Like the Brown Bar-ba-loots, the Swomee-Swans, and the Truffula Trees of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, our local ecosystems are beautiful and rich. And unlike the Onceler from The Lorax, our story doesn't have to end with the cutting down of the last tree. We have the power to amplify the voices we care about.

by Anna Karch
originally created for Art Create Learn Magazine’s Fall 2023 issue

“I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality.”
—Frida Kahlo

When it comes to understanding and acting against climate change, something is missing. Recent public opinion research by Climate Access shows that our planet’s crisis is a significant concern for most Canadians, but a large chunk of the worried is also part of a “moveable middle”—those who recognize the alarming state of things but aren’t invested in action. Why is this? From a lack of information, to anxiety, burnout and pessimism—a lot of us recognize the reality, but we aren’t necessarily moved to act.

Art as a Catalyst for Change

The definition of art can be fairly subjective—it means different things for different people. However, no matter what definition we use, most would agree that art moves people. According to the Columbia Climate School, psychology research suggests that art helps us “process, internalize, and respond to information more effectively than facts alone.” It bridges the gap between facts and feelings, and acts as “an essential ingredient to empowering the hearts of people” (Van Jones). We rely on this to inspire concrete structural change, as meaningful action begins with individually significant motivation; art fosters interest, inspiration, and action.

Representing Reality

When we think about climate change, the first things that come to mind might be melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and increasing greenhouse gases, which are important but abstract, meaning that they’re not easily felt or seen by a lot of us. As a result, climate change impacts can seem like distant issues, making it difficult to feel connected.

Art can help concretize these topics, making them more real and accessible for people's engagement. For example, take a look at these Climate Stripes developed by Professor Ed Hawkins at the University of Reading. No words. No numbers. No graphs. Just a series of vertical coloured bars, showing the progressive heating of our planet over nearly two centuries in a single, striking image.

More locally, the Windsor-Essex Art Gallery opened a Green Roof Terrace installation in 2022 titled Depends on the Light, which was produced by artist and horticulturist Julie Hall. The green roof terrace, which previously lacked diversity, was reworked to include a palette of local pollinator-friendly plants. Several symbols, appearing on flags and as eco-friendly sculptures, adorned the space as well. It was an installation that relied on reworking infrastructure, and one that produced a thoughtful space in which people and animals could peacefully coexist. As a result, it asked visitors to think critically about space-use and habitat loss, which is a significant climate change issue.

Art Gallery

The experiential and informational aspects of art serve to both pique curiosity as well as foster lasting interest. Art bridges the gap between the abstract and the concrete, between the impersonal and the personal, and it can also act as a book cover that draws people in—after all, half the battle of education is getting students to turn the page.

Eco-artist Xavier Cortada produced a moving art piece in 2007 titled Astrid—an abstract painting composed of blue splotches made by melting the very ice that threatens to flood his city. Upon viewing the painting for the first time, the public is made to inquire about the meaning and origin of the piece, sparking an interest in education. Image credit: https://www.cortada.org/2007/ice-paintings/astrid

In 2007, Xavier Cortada traveled to Antarctica to carry out a series of projects and art installations deeply intertwined with climate change. While there, he created a series of "ice paintings" using sea ice, glacier and sediment samples. The resulting collection aimed to draw a connection between the alarming climate change effects melting glaciers and his peninsula. Image credit: https://cortada.com/press/2019-press/artista-de-miami-siembra-en-conciencias-y-jardines/

Olafur Eliasson's The Weather Project from 2003, in which a recreated sun and sky were made to occupy the Turbine Hall in London, England, provided a communal dystopian experience in which people lose their traditional ways of orienting themselves. He was inspired to create this when one hot day (which came after it had snowed the previous day) sparked conversations on global warming. Image credit: https://publicdelivery.org/olafur-eliasson-the-weather-project/

Olafur Eliasson's 2018 installation, Ice Watch, saw 30 blocks of glacial ice placed in public spaces across London, England, where they were left to melt. The project, which underlines the urgency of climate change, was created with the intention of concretizing an otherwise out-of-sight-out-of-mind issue. Image credit: https://www.dezeen.com/2018/12/12/ice-watch-olafur-eliasson-installation/

In 2021, Olafur Eliasson created the Life installation in which he removed barriers between humans and flora/fauna, inviting wildlife into the Fondation Beyeler museum in Basel, Switzerland after flooding it with pond water. With the added element of live-streaming, the installation highlighted the entanglement of our lives (the real and the virtual, the human and the animal). Image credit: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/olafur-eliasson-fondation-beyeler-1960155

Appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Climate Change in 2019, Olafur Eliasson is an artist-activist who creates ecological sensorial experiences meant to bring climate change matters closer to home and ultimately mobilize people. His projects predominantly focus on renewable energy and climate action, and they are driven by his interest in the way we collectively see, co-create, and experience our environment. Image credit: https://www.luxartasia.com/2018/12/olafur-eliasson-sculptor-of-light-and.html

On a glacier, text is projected like advertisements on man-made infrastructure. According to the artist: “This image was made in a short window of time when the power of the video projector matches the light of dawn, when there is both message and ice. This fleeting moment of human excess is so short, two hundred years, but for the glacier it is barely a single breath taken.” Artwork by David Buckland. Text by Amy Balkin. Image credit: https://archive.capefarewell.com/switch/the-great-white-sale/

As part of David Buckland's Cape Farewell Project, across fractured, melting ice, the shape of a pregnant woman is projected. The image highlights the interconnectivity between our lives and the world we live in. The woman also seems like a light in the dark, further implying communal strength and environmental responsibility—both to our unborn generations and to the world as a whole. Image credit: https://www.capefarewell.com/david-buckland/

Back in 2001, artist David Buckland created the Cape Farewell project to instigate a cultural response to the challenges around climate change. The mission behind it was to bring together scientists, artists, and educators to find innovative solutions and to use art to communicate the fact that the climate crisis is both real and already upon us. Via Cape Farewell, people from different fields have been able to collaborate on ecological projects, spanning from work in the rainforests of South-America to the ice-cold coast of Svalbard in Norway. Image credit: https://www.bucklandart.com/

The 2017 oil and acrylic painting Pioneers symbolically compresses time and shows the left-to-right progression from glacier, to clear water, to oil-polluted water within a lake. From the left, a mammoth skull and lively fish are juxtaposed with a shopping cart and two ships (one anchored and one sunken). Image credit: https://www.marquette.edu/haggerty-museum/alexis-rockman.php

The 2015 oil and alkyd painting Cascade similarly compresses time. It is divided into what seems to be three primary periods: the ice age, the age of man, and the fall of man. Many animals emerging from the left side move towards the right side in a mock-timeline, with most disappearing halfway through. The right side, the anthropocene, blocks animals from passing through with man-made borders (a shaved treeline, a fenced lake, and a smoking sky). Image credit: https://alexisrockman.net/great-lakes/

The 2017 oil and acrylic painting Forces of Change presents the past, present, and future. Flora and fauna become more and more sparse as the eye progresses from the left side to the right side. Specific to this painting, the center presents a Kraken-like creature with tentacles that rip off the claw of a green graple machine. On its right, huge bacterium and virus particles replace fish in the water, and on its left, fish and birds flee. Image credit: https://alexisrockman.net/great-lakes/

Artist Alexis Rockman created "The Great Lakes Cycle" series following a research tour of the Great Lakes region. A suite of five mural-sized paintings (accompanied by field drawings among other things) acted as the centerpiece of the resulting exhibition, exploring themes that emerged during his travels. The series celebrates the beauty, value, and importance of the Great Lakes, while exploring their past, present, and future. Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis_Rockman

In Tan Zi Xi's Plastic Ocean installation, over 26,000 pieces of discarded ocean plastic is removed, cleaned, organized, and hung from overhead in a suffocating mass. This experiencial art mimics the Pacific Garbage Patch and highlights the way in which our waste smothers ocean life. It asks us to rethink our consumption. Image credit: https://www.riseart.com/article/2485/9-artists-confronting-climate-change

Also known as MessyMsxi, Tan Zi Xi creates playful yet striking collections of art that shed a light on ocean pollution and its realities. Concerned about climate change but believing that the issue was beyond anything she could do alone, communicating through art was her first move in climate action. She began with a 2008 illustration collection, "An Effort Most Futile," and was later able to revisit the subject in 2015 when the Singapore Art Museum invited her to be part of Imaginarium: Under the Water, Over the Sea. Image credit: https://www.stirworld.com/inspire-people-singaporean-artists-create-new-dimensions-with-their-interactive-real-time-artworks

The Rock Garden in Chandigarh, India is 40 acres composed of interlinked artificial waterfalls and beautiful sculptures made from found materials. Decades ago, Nek Chand decided to collect waste materials from across his city (things like bottles, glasses, tiles, etc.), which he used to create a mini utopia. Image credit: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/329748003941667395/

While it was in danger post-discovery by the government in 1975, public opinion allowed the space to continue to thrive. The resulting fantasy land is a striking collage of domestic and industrial waste organized into alluring mosaics. In a way, it sets the possible blueprints of how to build a real utopia. Image credit: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nek-Chand

Self-taught sculptor and recycled art pioneer, Nek Chand worked as a roads inspector for the Public Works Department, and built sculptures from recycled materials in his spare time. He ultimately created The Rock Garden in Chandigarh, and he was awarded the Padma Shri by Government of India in 1984 for his moving work. Image credit: https://chandigarhx.com/remembering-the-great-visionary-nek-chand-saini/

Seeing the Glass Half Full

Another big contributor to climate inaction has to do with fear and anxiety. As with any perceived threat, these emotions naturally kick in and demand fast action, but they aren’t effective for large and long-term issues like climate change. In fact, constant anxiety can lead to Continuous Traumatic Stress (CTS), as outlined by Senior Policy Planner at the Town of Essex, Jeff Watson, in his Windsor of Change Article titled “Climate Change—It's Driving Me Crazy!”

Like alarming headlines that feed into anxiety, art can tap into negative emotions too, but it can also incite compelling positivity and hope. For example, in Julie Hall’s Depends on the Light, the reworked eco-friendly space proposed a prosperous possible future—one that highlighted the importance of, as Julie stated in an interview with CBC, “the responsibility and opportunity that landowners have to participate in and restore the local ecosystem.” Her work emphasized personal agency: we all have the power to make meaningful change.

As a preliminary step in catalyzing this change, we can also choose to engage in art creation ourselves. This process asks the creator to carefully observe the world, strengthening awareness of and connection to the environment. Take pottery, for example—local pottery artist Gisele Bick confirms that this craft can “enhance the user's experience and connection to their immediate surroundings, [which] can foster a deeper appreciation for the beauty and presence of the natural world.” This is partly due to the utility of a finished product, but it’s also due to the nature of working with clay; the artist needs to mould earth with their hands, which allows them to practice an empowering metaphor of our ability to mould or change the planet.

We’re in It for the Long-Haul

Sadly, climate change is a long-term problem, which—combined with disconnection from the world and feelings of climate anxiety—makes it even more complicated to deal with. Not only is it a problem that seems to be happening either physically or temporally far away from us, but it’s also a non-linear problem of an unpredictable future that asks us to prioritize long-term benefits over short-term benefits. Even if art can move people into action, it can't do all the work. What will happen in the long-run?

In psychology, behavioural change is broken down into a six-step model: unawareness, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and transcendence or relapse. As we cycle through these phases, reaching the end is inevitable; actions taken to mitigate climate change will either stick or fall through, and with most first attempts, the latter can be expected. However, this doesn't mean we should stop trying.

With any meaningful change, it takes time to adjust. Getting off track doesn't mean failure; if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. And when we find ourselves back at the starting point, inspirational art can help us get moving again.

originally created for Art Create Learn Magazine’s Fall 2023 issue

As our world becomes increasingly environmentally conscious, we as global citizens become more and more invested in finding sustainable solutions and alternatives to problems and activities in our lives. While recycling paper and plastic, turning off running water, and closing the lights when they’re not in use are typical habit changes recommended to enable an environmentally proactive lifestyle, what kind of eco-friendly steps can we take to make art more sustainable? To find out, we talked to two local Windsor-Essex artists—pottery artist Gisele Bick and mixed-media collage artist Julie A. Bell.

What is Sustainability in Art?

Gisele states that sustainability in art means “adopting practices that prioritize environment, social, and economic factors for the long-term benefit of both the art form and the community; it involves striving for balance between creative expression and resource utilization.” Similarly, Julie highlights the importance of resource usage and choice, stating that “a lot of art practices have changed in the last decades to become more mindful of both consumption of raw materials and the use of dangerous chemicals and pigments.”

Gisele opts for non-toxic and eco-friendly glaze materials in her work. (Image credit: Gisele Bick at g-pots.com.)

Gisele opts for non-toxic and eco-friendly glaze materials in her work. (Image credit: Gisele Bick at g-pots.com.)

Gisele opts for non-toxic and eco-friendly glaze materials in her work. (Image credit: Gisele Bick at g-pots.com.)

In pottery, this can look like using local materials and working to minimize waste. For example, the clay Gisele buys comes from within Ontario, which means that greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise be produced in long-distance transportation are reduced. At her studio, Gisele makes the most of the material: she plans and measures the amount she uses prior to starting a project, and she works with recycled water to revive and reuse leftover clay trimmings post-project. She furthermore opts for non-toxic and eco-friendly glaze materials.

For mixed media collage arts, Julie frequently incorporates a lot of found and up-cycled materials into her work, such as “newspapers, flyers, old magazines, maps, flattened boxes and containers.” She is a collector of the detritus, or debris, of consumer culture; things left behind as waste are reused and given a new, lasting life in art.

the Creation Process

In addition to material mindfulness (the choice, use, and proper disposal of art resources), the creation process itself as a whole plays a big role in eco-friendly art. While what we choose to use is always in front of us, part of conscious thought, the other decisions we make during the creation process may occur on a more subconscious, habitual level. What are these decisions and how can they be adjusted to reflect environmentally-friendly values? Answers will vary as different artists have different routines, but there are a few commonly used resources—namely electricity and water—that can benefit from changes in how they're utilized.

Electricity is a major resource in the 21st century; we need it for almost everything, art included. In Gisele’s studio, her kiln, which is a thermally insulated chamber that hardens clay into pottery, uses electricity to reach its high temperatures. Conscious of this, she “ensure[s] that [her] kilns and other equipment are energy-efficient, reducing their overall environmental impact.” Furthermore, she “schedule[s] firings to optimize kiln usage” and “always turn[s] off lights and equipment when not in use.”

Water is another resource heavily implicated in art, whether it’s used to mix mediums or clean up afterwards. In the case of pottery, Gisele recognizes that it’s a fairly water-reliant art form; water is used to soften and manipulate clay, to create glazes, and to clean. To make the most of it, Gisele incorporates “water-saving techniques, such as using a misting bottle for moistening clay instead of continuously running water, and recycling water where possible.” To recycle water, several buckets are used as a filtration system in which, over time, sediment settles at the bottom and clean water rises to the top.

Mindfulness and Balance

Ultimately, sustainability in art is created through mindfulness and balance. When we take thoughtful inventory of our materials and processes, we become eco-conscious, and that shift can help us identify places for improvement—whether that means investing in energy-efficient equipment, recycling proactively, sourcing alternative eco-friendly materials, or minimizing overall consumption. Most importantly, any changes made must be sustainable for the artist themselves; a balance must be struck between environmental, economic, and social values, as Gisele said. Positive changes, after all, are most effective when they're long-term changes.

There’s no denying Canada’s housing bubble. As prices ramp up, certain properties now cost even more than European castles—a fact that inspired several viral TikTok videos of real estate comparisons by @millennialmoron. This crisis stretches all across Canada, including Windsor-Essex, and as less and less people can afford a place to live, we can’t help but wonder what can be done. 

Well, there is one solution in motion: more dwelling units. 

What does this mean? How does it help? And what are its effects on our environment?

By “more dwelling units,” I refer to new regulations that allow for an increase in living spaces on one given property; up to 3 dwelling units, comprised of a main dwelling and two Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs), are now allowed on a municipally serviced urban residential property (according to recent changes to the provincial Planning Act). One of the ADUs can be a detached dwelling on the same lot as the primary dwelling, while the other must be in or attached to the primary dwelling.

All in all, the key point here can be summarized in two words: small homes.

One given living space can be divided into many (up to 3 total) in order to accommodate more people while simultaneously reducing costs due to the homes' manageable small sizes.

Municipalities are encouraged, and may soon be required, to permit ADUs in rural areas too. The intention of these changes is to provide more opportunities for affordable, varied-by-type owner-occupied and rental housing to meet current and projected housing needs over the next 10 years—the needs being what the provinces estimates to be up to 1.5 million new dwelling units. 

In terms of the size of these living spaces, local regulations governing building height, setback from property lines, and lot coverage, for example, still apply. But municipalities are not permitted to set minimum dwelling or dwelling unit size (floor area) limits anymore—the minimum permitted size of a dwelling unit is now set exclusively by the Ontario Building Code. 

Tiny homes, anyone?

Recently, I met with Operations Manager Austin Friesen and Sales Representative Brandon Bergen (Featherstone Realty) of INNO Home Solutions, a new Leamington-based company and offshoot of Essex Weld Solutions. INNO was specifically created to help address the need for affordable, well-constructed housing, especially for people who are limited to mortgage financing of less than the average monthly cost of available housing regionally. 

INNO produces modular housing units—cost-effective and stable small-scale infill housing—that are placed on a concrete pad or foundation on site. They are not mobile homes, but rather 3m by 4.3m (10’ by 14’) units that can be joined together horizontally and vertically to form a free-standing permanent dwelling.

• What is Infill Housing?

  According to the Province of British Columbia’s website, Infill Housing is defined as:

  “…housing that "fits within" an existing neighbourhood without significantly altering its character or appearance. “

  Infill housing could include:

  • “building a new home on an empty lot;

  • adding secondary suites, carriage homes and laneway homes (garden suite or "granny flat");

  • replacing a single-detached home with a duplex or a fourplex; or

  • subdividing an existing lot to allow the construction of additional units. (British Columbia, 2018)”

It’s clear to see from real estate listings just how difficult it is to find a house under $350,000, or to anticipate likely costly renovations and repairs once a house is purchased. Faced with both high cost and high competition, getting a home in today's market can seem impossible.  Interestingly, Brandon states that despite higher interest rates, the buyer competition for such dwellings is strong, given the limited number on offer. 

Touring the factory floor with Austin to see a 3m by 18m² (10’ by 60’) model under construction revealed 3 major things: the homes are built under factory conditions, not exposed to the vagaries of the weather; they are built to CSA standards; and, as factory homes, there is greater consistency in construction and in quality control. 

The cost? A smaller unit runs in the low $200s plus the costs of transport to the site, the foundation, the utility connections, parking and landscaping. Being a very efficient and solidly constructed house, maintenance costs are reduced which helps keep monthly costs more affordable.

My first impression was on just how solid the home’s basic construction is. Hurricanes be damned! They are also quite energy efficient, as air infiltration is very well controlled—another advantage of the factory construction technique.

Photo credit: Jeff Watson

These additional dwelling units (ADUs) are a good way to provide accessible owner-occupied and rental housing opportunities, so that healthy, affordable and efficient housing is available for all residents of Windsor-Essex County.

Photo credit: Jeff Watson

In terms of who is eligible for these living spaces, there are no restrictions on who can occupy an ADU. A homeowner can set up an ADU for a relative or any other renter of choice. *

These additional dwelling units (ADUs) are a good way to provide accessible owner-occupied and rental housing opportunities, so that healthy, affordable and efficient housing is available for all residents of Windsor-Essex County.

What about the environment?

It's important to note that ADUs can be climate friendly as they make better use of urban lands, reduce sprawl, and take advantage of existing municipal services. They can be in greater density areas where the occupants can have access to public transit and institutions, also encouraging the build of more active transportation facilities. Plus, homes like those constructed by INNO Home Solutions and others will likely be more energy efficient. Being for the most part smaller, they will also be easier to live in and maintain in a way that is resource and cost-effective. In which case, the “More Homes Built Faster Act” seems to have positive potential. However, key issues arise that have conservation authorities across Canada standing strongly against it.

According to Birds Canada, “Bill 23 and other proposed legislative and policy changes would affect natural heritage conservation, urban and rural land-use planning, and environmental protections” in concerning ways. Moreover, they also state they are “concern[ed] that such changes will weaken environmental protections, infringe on Indigenous rights, limit public involvement in land-use planning and decision making, remove cities’ green building standards, remove farmland needed for food production – and, that it won’t increase (and may in fact decrease) the supply of truly affordable housing for people who need it the most.”

“Statement: The Problems with Bill 23 and the Proposal to Remove Lands from the Greenbelt” is an accessible and helpful resource that outlines the argument against Bill 23 by 125 diverse signatories across Canada, which states:

In contradiction with the previous statement, Bill 23 and its associated changes may actually reduce the supply of affordable housing, supercharge urban sprawl, wound local democracy, undermine environmental protection, and threaten farmers and farmland.

So what can we do? We may choose to cautiously take advantage of what is available to us now, but ultimately advocate for a different approach with the environment in mind. 

ADU Search

ADUSearch is a program funded primarily under the Canada Mortgage and Housing Supply Challenge initiative. It’s made to assist you to see if it's possible to accommodate an additional dwelling unit in the principal residence or in a detached dwelling (detached ADU) on your property in permitting municipalities.  

As per the image below, the City of Windsor has approximately 20,000 suitable properties classified in dark green. Other information related to the site’s proximity to local amenities, average neighbourhood property owner, and renter affordability, based on the 2021 Census, is available for reference and comparison on the website and on the Windsor Law Centre for Cities blog.

While in its infancy, ADUSearch should prove to be a very handy tool for property owners, developers, and municipal administrators in gauging public interest and the potential demand for additional dwelling units.

This is a start to your research on ADUs. It is important that you become familiar with the local regulations that apply to your specific property; so please contact your municipal building department for more detailed information on how you can take advantage of the ADU trend and the regulations that govern them. 

* Municipalities generally do not permit a free-standing ADU to be severed from the main dwelling to create a separate lot. So, a commitment to a freestanding ADU must be made on the assumption that it is permitted exclusively on the existing lot with the primary dwelling, forever.

Welcome back, WOC readers! Here at WOC, we’re all prepped and ready for a brand new year of climate change and sustainability engagement.

While 2022 saw some milestone moments for climate policy, 2023 will be even more important as Canada steps up implementation of climate actions.

Last year was "the 17th hottest year in Canada" and Earth's "5th warmest" since 1850. Even without knowing the specific numbers, many have noted the unusually warm winter weather and lack of snow in the Windsor-Essex area. January, up until the last half, has felt like autumn—only a bit chilly, with rain instead of snow. Simultaneously, parts of Ontario experienced the coldest weather in 100 years. Quite simply put, in 2023 the work continues…

There has been environmental progress at the federal and international levels, like biodiversity conservation, climate actions, plastic waste, and toxic chemicals in 2022. At the provincial level, progress was mixed. There have been extreme anti-environmental policies and laws in Ontario, and many other provinces resisted progress.

So, to prepare ourselves for another year of hard work, the WoC team has assembled a list of 10 big things in the climate and environmental realm you can expect to affect you:

ten expectations for 2023

1. Adapt to Overcome

Canada is expected to have a widespread threat of severe weather around the June solstice as a surge of "very warm, humid, and unstable air" will trigger "showers, violent thunderstorms, and possibly even a twister or two." The federal government created a National Adaptation Strategy in 2022 which will be leading adaptation responses across various governmental organizations. Every part of Canada is now feeling the effects of climate change, especially in Ontario where Ontarians will have to resist the provincial government's attempt to regress to a time when the environment was seen as a public nuisance in the way of private profit. More generally, there’s an overall pressure at municipal levels and from various communities to move more quickly in terms of adaptation.

2. Refuse Single-Use

The federal government will start to invest in reusable systems and services while expanding the ban on harmful single-use plastics from six non-recyclable, single-use plastic products to other unnecessary and harmful plastics.

3. Highway 413 to the Danger Zone

For the proposed Highway 413, the federal government will proceed with a complete environmental assessment, since the highway would force car-dependent sprawl on Caledon and Brampton. Also, it would devastate rivers, farmland, and forests, many of them on the Greenbelt.

4. Environmental Justice for All

Canada is looking to obtain its new environmental justice and toxic laws through Bill C-226, which has been passed in the House of Commons and moved to the Senate, to hopefully, be quickly passed this year. The “National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act” has been proposed to address better toxics monitoring among specific communities that are disproportionately impacted (specifically, Indigenous and racialized communities), more protective mechanisms on clean-ups and exposures, and advance environmental justice.

5. More Homes, Built Faster

All this said, there are significant opposing forces in 2023 that hinder climate change mitigation, especially at the Provincial level, in terms of some recent largely anti-environmental laws and policies in Ontario. These policies include Bill 23 (the More Homes Built Faster Act), which creates new homes at the expense of making "changes to the Ontario Heritage Act that will remove thousands of listed properties on municipal heritage registers."

Ontario Nature further describes the negative impacts of Bill 23: it will concentrate power at the top, taking several land-use planning decisions away from municipal governments, regular citizens, and conservation authorities, as well as place wetlands and natural heritage under attack.

6. More Homes For Everyone

Similarly, Bill 109 (the More Homes for Everyone Act) takes power away from local authorities, as well as decreases public consultation and use of local expertise. An 8-minute summarized meeting from Hamilton 350 reveals additional concerns about public safety, highlighting that Bill 109 makes modifications to the building code without regard for environment or efficiency. Ontario will realize its error of paving over critical ecosystems and the Greenbelt due to the growth of new alliances of the group coordinating their efforts to halt the enactment of this destructive agenda.

• WHAT IS THE GREENBELT?

  According to Ontario.ca,

  “The Greenbelt protects farmland, communities, forests, wetlands and watersheds. It also preserves cultural heritage and supports recreation and tourism in Ontario's Greater Golden Horseshoe. The Greenbelt Act, 2005 provides the authority for the creation of the Greenbelt Plan (2017).”

7. Transitioning from a Crisis

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia will speed up a green transition due to the energy supply crisis in Europe, which could lead to faster decarbonization and investment in conservation, renewable electricity, green hydrogen, heat pumps, and electric vehicles.

8. Speak “Green” and Enter

In 2021, Canada was among 19 countries to announce new "green shipping corridors” (shared maritime trade routes intended to boost the industry towards zero-emission shipping), but no concrete plans had been outlined in terms of achieving the zero-emissions goal. This year, the Canadian government will develop reduction targets for marine shipping emissions, an industry in which significant heavy fuel oils are often burnt.

Windsor-Essex borders three significant bodies of water that offer important shipping routes in the Great Lakes area, and it will be interesting to see if these will receive a green shipping corridor designation.

9. Canada’s first Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP)

In March 2022, the new ERP set the agenda for future policy development. Significantly, just five policies are needed to get us most of the way to Canada’s 2030 emissions targets. In 2023, the focus will be on completing three of those:

The cap on emissions from the oil and gas sector:
Increasing carbon emissions from oil and gas production have nullified reduction from all other sectors. Between 2005 and 2019, emissions from oil and gas rose by almost 20 per cent, and without regulation, it is projected that O&G will overshoot their 2030 emissions goal. Because of this, the federal government in 2021 dedicated itself to developing a cap, forcing industries to reduce emissions to zero by 2050. In 2023 it is expected that the regulation will be finalized.

The Clean Electricity Regulation:

• WHAT IS NET-ZERO?

  Net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) that's produced (like from the tailpipes of automobiles and smoke stacks) and the amount that's removed from the atmosphere ( like from tree planting or technologies that can capture carbon from the air).

By 2035, the Canadian government intends for Canada’s electricity generation to be Net Zero, though clean electricity production in Canada must increase greatly to meet ERP commitments. This framework for clean electricity has the potential to make the overall cost of energy more affordable and to underpin new economic opportunities for Canadians, at local levels. It is expected that the federal government will increase the affordability and availability of electric vehicles in the future due to advancements in battery technology as well.

While the federal clean electricity standard will push provinces to eliminate the creation of more polluting gas plants, this might clash with Ontario’s provincial government that wants to expand natural gas for electricity, and lock itself into higher electricity prices and carbon emissions.

Improvements to carbon pricing:

This past year saw strong traction for policy ideas to provide more significant certainty around carbon prices in the future. Without them, investors would be disinclined to make large multi-year commitments. If correctly implemented, innovative approaches (carbon contracts for differences) could be fully realized in 2023, which could open the investment floodgates and free the creativity of markets in moving Canada toward net zero.

10. Equity and a Just Transition

Indigenous governments continued to show leadership in the energy transition in 2022, with communities leading the switch to non-emitting electricity. Indigenous groups have also protected Canada's fresh water and their communities—an ongoing battle—standing up against the line 5 pipeline and toxic tailings. With the right support, Indigenous-led clean energy projects could see exponential growth in 2023 and on.

It is also important to remember that indigenous communities are severely impacted by climate change as their lifeways are deeply interconnected with natural ecosystems.

The Bottom Line:

Transitioning into a new year is often a time of gratitude, reflection, excitement, and planning. While new years inspire us to start over, persisting issues need to be addressed with renewed vigour and even increased attention.

Though some of these decisions seem to be out of reach and impossible to influence, it's important to remember that we, as citizens and regular people, can have a considerable impact on driving them forward by staying informed and taking action. We can make a difference. 

In the spirit of 2023, Windsor of Change would like to sincerely thank you for your investment in our organization and your dedication to climate change education and engagement. We have some exciting plans ahead, and we're looking forward to spreading our message even further across the Windsor-Essex community!

Staying on top of platforms and issues in a sea of information can be overwhelming; our goal is to equip you with knowledge about where your potential representatives stand regarding climate change mitigation and resilience building—pivotal information you can bring with you to the polls. 

Why Do We Need Our Councillors to be Informed on Climate Change?

The importance of climate change is often overlooked and underrepresented in daily decision-making. It isn't surprising that it's therefore given less priority when discussing other issues, like the recession and the pandemic. However, did you know that climate change is closely linked to these pressing topics  and others? As the climate crisis worsens, so does everything else that is interconnected in our global system. It becomes more expensive to live; the prices for energy, food, rent, etc. skyrocket. In fact, costs as a result of climate change could be six times higher than previously thought. Imagine going shopping for groceries—$2 white bread is now $12, $5 milk is now $30, and $12 salmon is now $72. Not to mention, quality of life will worsen with all the environmental damage; smog from Detroit, algae ridden lakes, drought-induced yellow vegetation etc. In scenarios like these, municipal decision-making plays a very important role, for municipalities are often on the forefront of experiencing these changes first-hand. With the gravity of such hefty decisions resting on their shoulders, it is imperative to ensure that the people voted in to represent our communities are competitive and driven to solve these challenges. While we cannot expect candidates to be experts of all issues, we should expect them to be aware and to care.

Breaking It Down

We asked candidates about their stance on a variety of climate and sustainability-related governance issues. This is in an effort to bring their climate agendas front and center, to inspire potential voters to engage and vote, and to emphasize climate action to candidates from the standpoint of their electorate. From action on greenhouse gas reductions to sustainability in the development/construction industry, green economy building to community engagement—we covered it all! With 41 responses total, most come from Windsor, followed by Lakeshore, and Kingsville.

We’ve summarized larger trends to provide an overview of where our local politics are leaning, pertinent climate issues and corresponding possible solutions, and what we can look out for as informed voters in local government.** 

Looking for individual candidate responses ?

check out candidate responses here

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check out candidate responses here 〰️

How are you planning to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions in your City/Town?

When it comes to reducing energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions, transportation features at the top of respondents' priority lists. In particular, promoting active, accessible, and electric transportation.

• What changes can we expect?

  • Walkable communities (neighbourhoods where all essential needs are located within walking distance)

  • More bike lanes, trails, transit routes and relevant active transportation infrastructure

  • Increased accessibility via subsidization to electric scooters/bikes

  • Electrification of City/Town fleets and public transportation

  • Embracing and promoting the City’s Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP)

• What results can we expect from these promised changes?

  • Lower greenhouse gases and energy consumption

  • Better air quality

  • Savings (on gas and travel)

  • Less traffic congestion

  • Better overall health (from air quality and increased movement)

  • Higher community interactivity

  • More local business growth

• Other proposed actions:

  Respondents also mentioned the following possible actions:

  • Requiring sustainability plans from businesses

  • Retrofitting buildings with GHG reducing solutions

  • Generating hydro power from the river

  • Increasing solar panel installations

  • Increased tree planting, protecting green spaces

• More information:

  Active transportation (any human-powered mode of moving, as well as bussing and carpooling), accessibility (making sure everyone has movement options to choose from regardless of any limitations), and electric transportation (vehicles powered by electricity) all contribute to the environment by eliminating toxic tailpipe emissions. These emissions make up a huge chunk of community greenhouse gas emissions (ex. in Windsor it's 40%) thus reducing them will make a big difference. 

  The use of electric vehicles (EVs) is nuanced—their manufacturing method (mining of precious resources), energy source (green or not), and recycling systems (batteries) will dictate whether or not they do more harm than good

  Certain municipalities have Active Transportation Master Plans (ATMPs) in place and available for public perusal on their respective websites (you can find Windsor's here)

  There is some concern expressed over the proposed mega hospital, which are linked to an increased carbon footprint from the size of construction, and reduced accessibility.

How do you plan to manage risk from climate impacts (like extreme heat and flooding) to public and private infrastructure?

The most prevalent climate impacts we experience in the Windsor-Essex region today include flooding, extreme heat, and storms with increased severity and frequency, all of which cause damage to public and private infrastructure. Therefore, it becomes necessary for councillors to prioritize and promote proactive decisions that will help reduce the extent of physical, social, economic, health-related and environmental damage from these impacts.

• What changes can we expect?

  • Building and maintaining reservoirs

  • Rethinking public and private landscaping

  • Creating swales, vernal pools, temporary ponds, etc.

  • Encouraging the use of rain barrels and rain gardens

  • Enhancing the sewer system

  • Installing water fountains/bottle refill stations

  • Preparing a snow removal plan for the winter months

  • Following the ERCA flood planning tools and the Drainage Act

• What results can we expect from these promised changes?

  • Decreased risk of damage to public and private infrastructure

  • Decreased costs to taxpayers from preparedness

  • Ecological benefits due to working with the land (increased pollinator activity, greater oxygen filtration from trees, wetlands etc.)

  • Increased community-level preparedness

  • Greater resilience to extreme weather events so that daily life can continue relatively as normal as usual

• More information:

  When it comes to managing floods, many proposed actions highlight the importance of responsible land-use. It is essential to integrate man-made solutions (such as sewer systems and water treatment plants) with nature-based solutions (swales, vernal pools, and rain gardens are all landscaping options that allow water to collect and seep into the ground slowly).

  Planting trees was by far the most common suggestion, especially as trees not only help with flooding (by absorbing water), but they also protect from severe storms (by blocking wind) and reduce extreme heat (by creating shade). Extreme heat and resulting droughts also necessitate water. Thus, water conservation and ensuring water access is of utmost importance.

How will you ensure equitable access to vital resources (like clean water, emergency services, etc.) for all?

It has been stated in research and through observed data that marginalized communities are typically the worst affected from any massive societal change. Homelessness is a key issue in Windsor-Essex, which will be exacerbated by climate change. Research from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council says, “…climate change compromises the housing and living circumstances of impoverished peoples, creates homelessness through waves of climate migrants, and drives suffering and deteriorating health for those most exposed to weather extremes.” Therefore, equitable access is a key driver for decision-making in climate impacts.

When it comes to equitable access to vital resources, candidates highlight marginalized voices, fund allocations, and emergency services.

• What changes can we expect?

  • Supporting initiatives for clean and safe drinking water (such as installing water fountains in communities)

  • Requiring annual equity training

  • Renovating emergency shelters in order to provide adequate service with long-lasting positive impacts, such as mental health services, harm reduction programs, life skills training, etc.

  • Enhancing water conservation

• What results can we expect from these promised changes?

  • Improved support and accommodation for marginalized people

  • Healthier, more equitable communities

  • Greater resource conservation and equitable allocation across vulnerable communities

  • Reducing poverty conversion

• Other proposed actions:

  • Establishing extensive research and testing of lake systems beyond WECHU

  • Rehiring all fired EMS workers and/or hiring new ones to ensure ample emergency service personnel

  • Removing fluoride from the water supply

  • Adhering to the 2015 federally funded initiative : "Advancing Equity and Inclusion: A guide for Municipalities"

• More information:

  Those who experience marginalization know their needs best, thus it's essential for their voices to be heard so that subsequent appropriate and effective actions can be taken. To facilitate this, marginalized people must be given opportunities and platforms to speak, and education/training must be enforced so that others are ready to listen and respond appropriately. Funds must be set aside with the goal of investing in and ensuring equitable access, and self reliance initiatives must be supported for when monetary contributions are not enough.

  Emergency services must also be renovated. Greater resources and housing options should be available for vulnerable communities, especially as homelessness in Windsor grows (up 27% in 2021) and housing becomes increasingly unaffordable. Both the housing crisis and the climate crisis are closely linked, and the environment's worsening state will only exasperate these already present issues.

How will you undertake the promotion of community and individual level climate action?

On what steps they would take to promote eco-friendly action, candidates put an emphasis on education, green spaces, gardening, and neighbourhood hubs.

• What changes can we expect?

  • Support and creation of promotional programs, grass-root environment initiatives, environmental themed days/activities/festivals/events

  • Creation of neighbourhood hubs and more green spaces

  • More community gardens

  • Adjusted property tax in favour of more trees planted

• What results can we expect from these promised changes?

  • More opportunities to spend time outdoors and improve overall health

  • Lowered crime rates

  • Greater food security (through personal or public gardens)

  • Increased pollinator activity (Ontario pollinators have dropped in population, with some losses between 25-99%)

  • Savings for those partaking (on gas and groceries)

• Other proposed actions:

  • Responsibly developing waterfront areas

  • Making eco improvements to public spaces (like more trees for shade in the summer)

  • Making bikes and scooters less susceptible to theft

  • Organizing park clean-ups

  • Reducing waste and increasing sustainable recycling

• More information:

  Education is key in creating a sustainable future. Climate change is a globally acknowledged problem, but the ways in which it affects daily living, economy, equity, etc. are less recognized. Spreading awareness is the first step in making a change as well as in shifting towards a cultural rennaissance that prioritizes sustainability. Part of this shift will also be fuelled by changes in the way we live. By creating green spaces (open pieces of undeveloped land that are accessible to all (like parks)) and neighbourhood hubs (where all essentials are within walking distance), we're given greater opportunites to choose green living. As a more active option, planting gardens (private and/or communal) are also proposed.

What steps might you take to protect natural heritage, endangered species and ecologically sensitive areas?

To protect our ecology, candidates highlight the importance of supporting environmental protection programs, green spaces, and the planting of native plants.

• What changes can we expect?

  • Free native plants from greenhouses during the spring and fall planting seasons

  • Increased protection and support for green spaces

  • Tourism in Ojibway park

• What results can we expect from these promised changes?

  • Repopulation of species that are endangered or at risk

  • From tourism, more funds generated in favour of ecological preservation

  • Prevention of habitat loss

  • Greater interest in and knowledge of native wildlife

• More information:

  Protection programs and green spaces give nature a chance to heal itself without the trouble of human intervention. These programs include the Brownfields Redevelopment ("brownfields" meaning contaminated/underused properties), the Gordie Howe Bridge project, and the Herb Gray Parkway—all local. These projects redesign urban terrain to accommodate our modern needs while refusing to compromise on ecological health.

  As nature returns to these spaces, so do native plants. This revival can be multiplied with local efforts, by planting native species. As a result, falling pollinator populations and other animals will get a much needed boost. Conscious of the risk status of monarch butterflies, the University of Windsor planted milkweed in 2016 (which monarchs depend on) and saw the fruits of their labour within the year. The monarch-hosting milkweed plants native to Canada, among other native plants, will not only grow more easily (as they are adapted to the climate) but will also breathe life back into green spaces (and even city spaces) as wildlife returns.

How are you planning to promote Green development and construction practices?

As defined by the Clean Air Partnership, “Green Development Standards (GDS) are voluntary or mandatory measures created by municipalities to encourage environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable design.”

When commenting on green development and construction practices, candidates list power source, material choice, and recycling as important elements. 

• What changes can we expect?

  • Updated website information on recycling so it is easily accessible and very educational

  • Establishing community recycling days to increase accessibility

  • Promoting other lesser known forms of recycling, like grasscycling and composting

  • Investing in the hemp industry (hemp biodegradable plastics, insulation, and building materials)

  • New building projects inspired by new urbanism (in which houses are designed to be as passive as possible on the environment)

  • Harnessing the Detroit River's hydroelectric power

• What results can we expect from these promised changes?

  • Less waste and an increased rate of proper recycling

  • Reduced strain on our ecology

  • Renewable energy

• More information:

  Many respondents view electricity as the future. Though this kind of power may be intuitively considered green, that's not quite the case as it can be generated in an array of ways, including through the use of fossil fuels and nuclear power.

  As for material choices, builders and businesses should be given incentives to choose sustainable options. They should also be encouraged to engage in proper recycling. Though recycling seems like a well established practice that conserves resources, saves energy, and cuts down on landfill waste, it is far from perfect. Despite a recycling system that requires some major changes, proper recycling and waste management at the individual, communal, and business levels are vital.

When asked to rate the level of their commitment in promoting green development and construction practices, most candidates gave a high rating.

What steps might you take to support farming and manage the agriculture sector in a way that prioritizes land-use and environmental preservation?

To support farming and agriculture in a way that is in line with preserving environmental health and efficient land-use planning, candidates discuss farming practices, markets, and urban life.

• What changes can we expect?

  • Planting clover (which absorbs nitrogen from the air and infuses it back into the soil thus reducing need for nitrogen fertilizer)

  • Promoting no-till farming and other soil conservation practices

  • Opting for organic polycultures (the more diversity the more resilience)

  • Increasing the duration and visibility of farmer's markets

  • Partaking in CSA baskets (Community Supported Agriculture baskets) and food co-ops—two ways to buy local, seasonal food directly from local farmers with an array of benefits on both sides

  • Limiting urban sprawl (uncontrolled urbanization of land)

• What results can we expect from these promised changes?

  • Greater preparedness to climate change impacts on farming

  • Diversified on-farm uses

  • Strengthened local economy

  • Greater community strength and reliance

  • Improved connections with local farmers

  • Reduced power for monopolies

• More information:

  Many farmers are already doing great work by employing environmentally sustainable practices, such as crop rotation, rotational grazing for livestock, and composting manure. The goal is to support and incentivize these efforts, as well as introduce more sustainable actions.

  As for markets, there are two to watch out for: Farmers’ markets and supermarkets. Farmers’ markets put an emphasis on our local farmers, and thus should be supported so that farmers can increase profit locally. In this case, farmer's markets would see an increase in duration and visibility. As for supermarkets, they produce huge waste. In many instances, it's more profitable to throw away food than to donate. While this is a multilayered issue to tackle, one tactic would be to become self sustained (via personal and community gardens, as well as by shopping local) and reduce need for supermarket produce.

  While farming isn't at the center of urban life, city dwellers can also do their part by engaging practices that reduce reliance on supermarkets, give back to the farmers, and limit urban sprawl.

In conclusion…

Ultimately, our sustainable future relies heavily on prevention, preservation, and participation. We must adopt an ethics of care—centred around caring, sharing, and cooperating—to mitigate the effects of climate change as they manifest now and in the future. 

We would like to formally thank all candidates for their time in answering the questionnaire and their dedication towards building sustainable communities.

Looking for individual candidate responses for your municipality?

**Disclaimer: While not every climate issue addressed in the questionnaire is applicable to every municipality (as there are differences based on geography, industry, economics and current policies), most are relevant to Windsor-Essex and would fall under the purview of municipal governance and proaction.

Save the date! The Windsor-Essex municipal elections will be held on Monday, October 24th (with early polling having already begun in some municipalities). In preparation, we have sent candidates across all municipalities in the region a questionnaire to find out their stances on climate change and sustainability. 

We all have a role to play in the health of our local communities. Making sustainable choices in daily living is incredibly important, but elections create an opportunity for these mindful choices to extend past our front yards.

We all have the power to make a lasting positive impact on our communities. 

We want to highlight climate change issues and sustainability leadership at the community level and amplify its priorities and concerns. After all, municipalities are generally on the forefront of experiencing and responding to climate impacts, and our elected leaders can decide how well we can be prepared for them. Municipal governance influences an array of important topics - public transportation, natural heritage, land use planning, agriculture, resource use etc., and sustainability underlines all of them. A climate-forward council is healthier for the land and for the people on it, short-term and in the future.

Check out our questionnaire:

Read the questions on our survey and forward to a candidate that hasn’t responsed.

the results are in!

Your candidates have responded.

Check out the results from our questionnaire and use this as a tool to vote in a climate positive council this election season.

Listen to our interview on AM800:

Bird populations in Canada and across the globe have been in decline for a few decades now, some species falling faster than others, with about 3 billion less birds as compared to the 1970s. Birds are sensitive to changes in the environment, which means they can tell us a lot about habitat health; though their numbers are subsequently also prone to natural fluctuations. The current disconcerting, large-scale declines of bird populations and the rapid loss, fragmentation and degradation of native habitats show that the need for extensive bird monitoring programs is greater than ever.

This is where charitable organizations like the Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO) play an irreplaceable role. They are headquartered at the Holiday Beach Conservation Area (HBCA) in the Big Creek Marsh watershed, and are wholly dedicated to the “study and long-term monitoring of migratory bird populations during the spring and fall seasons” (HBMO, 2022) . The Big Creek Watershed also has tremendous ecological value - it has been designated an Important Bird Area and is owned and operated by the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA).

The HBMO strives to contribute to the greater understanding of migration and conservation of birds and insects and their habitats through their extensive research and education programs. Together with ERCA, the Holiday Beach Migration Observatory, will be hosting an event, the Festival of Hawks, on September 17th, 2022 in recognition of our unique wildlife and our role in preserving them.

Our Unique Wildlife

According to Gina Pannunzio, ERCA’s Partnership and Outreach Coordinator, the Essex region is home to some of the rarest and most biodiverse wildlife in Canada, and “to exceptional wildlife spectacles that include: the spring bird migration through Point Pelee National Park and Hillman Marsh Conservation Areas, the endangered herptiles (reptiles and amphibians) of Pelee Island, the fall raptor migration through Holiday Beach, Ontario’s largest heronries (heron nesting grounds) located on the islands of Lake Erie, and the fall gatherings of butterflies.”

Unfortunately, many avian members of our local ecosystems are at risk due to various impacts of climate change. 

A Bird’s Eye View: Why Counting Counts

Birds can tell us a lot about our environment.

Remember the canary in the coal mine adage? Due to their sensitivity to deadly carbon monoxide gas, canaries were carried into mines as alarms; when their singing stopped, it was a sign for miners to evacuate immediately (and get their canaries back to safety). 

Of course, birds’ abilities as environmental indicators extend further, highlighting the importance of conservation projects aimed at monitoring them and their populations. Hugh Kent, President of the HBMO says, “Ideally we should conserve all endangered species as they are all part of the food chain and the degradation of the food chain will affect us as well as all other animals. Nature cannot take its course as humans have significantly disrupted natural processes. We are already in an age of increased extinctions due to the effect of human activities on the natural world.”

Effective monitoring programs can tell us about certain areas, changes in food availability, changes in the use or health of a habitat, among other things. Besides that, studying birds in particular is widely useful as birds are found almost everywhere on earth, they’re not so nuanced as to become impossible to tell apart, and they mimic trends seen in other wildlife groups. 

Even without playing the role of economic indicators, birds are essential to human welfare. Whether they act as a living pest control, cleanup crew (scavengers), seed spreaders, etc., they provide invaluable ecosystem services. 

HBMO’s Hawk Migration Counting

At this time of year, the HBMO—ranked as the top hawk watching site in Canada by Audubon Magazine, and the third best in all of North America. — “runs hawk migration counting between September - November at Holiday Beach Conservation Area near Amherstburg, Ontario.” Hugh states that the birds are caught and tagged by members of HBMO so their travels could be documented and studied by researchers. This information helps them learn where they are coming from and where they’re going to, about their habitat and other things you can do to keep them coming back such as habitat restoration, enhancement and creation efforts.

At this time of year, the Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO)— ranked as the top hawk watching site in Canada by Audubon Magazine, and the third best in all of North America. — conducts hawk migration counting between September - November at Holiday Beach Conservation Area near Amherstburg, Ontario.

It’s done atop a 40-foot wooden tower, that HBMO persuaded Detroit Edison to donate in 1988. The tower has a great view of hawks arriving from the eastern horizon, the northern and southern horizons where birds pass westward during migration, as well as the northern shore of Lake Erie.

This cumulation of raptors is possible due to the geography of our lakes, as a funneling effect is created for migrating raptors who are reluctant to cross large bodies of water. 

Birds “are caught and tagged by members of HBMO so their travels [can] be documented and studied by researchers” (HBMO, 2022).

This information allows researchers to understand the birds, learn where they’re coming from, where they’re going to, about their habitat, and other things, including what can be done “to keep them coming back such as habitat restoration, enhancement and creation efforts.” 

These efforts are certainly worthwhile, as reported by CBC. Despite the falling populations, many other bird species are increasing in numbers—proof that sustained efforts in conservation (such as the 1960s ban of DDT (pesticide)) make a difference.

Slideshow images credit: ERCA

Although seen with an American Kestrel here, Hugh says that the broad-winged hawk is his favourite raptor! The numbers of these raptors passing through Holiday Beach and Essex county is truly amazing, up to 96,000 passing through in a single day!

Photo credit: HBMO

Bird counters like Nicole do important work at the HBMO - they keep track of hawks, song birds, water birds - any birds that go over the hawk tower!

Photo credit: HBMO

What You Can Do

If you choose to attend the Festival of Hawks this year, you will have the opportunity to help support the conservation efforts directly by “adopting” a banded hummingbird or raptor and releasing them into the sky. The adopter gets to track their bird by being notified any time their adoptee is caught in North America.

More generally, it’s important to stay informed. At the event specifically, there will be many opportunities to learn about conservation efforts and climate change - like at the Hawk Tower where official counters will be available to provide interpretations of what’s going on in the sky.

Other ways you can watch out for our avian friends is by creating healthy environments for them to rest and nest during migratory seasons - chemical-free gardens of native shrubbery, grasses and dense foliage (especially berry bushes) provide ample opportunities to forage and find shelter, especially insects which are very important as food sources for small birds, which are then in turn food for the raptors. Keep bird feeders and water fountains clean, and follow any local seasonal feeding guidelines. Taking up bird-watching is an excellent way to spend time in nature, observe local avian biodiversity, enjoy an interactive activity with your kids, and even become a citizen scientist by submitting bird observations and joining thousands across the world in monitoring birds. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, birdwatching is a gift that keeps on giving the more time you put into it.

The internet also provides many opportunities to stay updated on the status of climate change and its effect on our world and local communities. Follow sites and pages you trust to stay updated. Most importantly, make a change; whether you’re growing your own food, choosing to travel (carbon) light, or making any other sustainable daily changes, every bit matters when it comes to tipping the scales in their favour.

In the end, just as 1960s “dead” Lake Erie made a miraculous recovery following binational cooperation, our sustained efforts and organized action will help preserve the environment - so keep soaring on that sustainability high!

The Travel and Tourism industry has a significant impact on our environment, as our appetite for international globetrotting continues. We cannot go anywhere without leaving a footprint. From oceans and beaches, to forests, mountains, lakes and rivers—there isn’t a place we have not touched, and this long history of abusing the planet is finally catching up with us.

In today’s environmentally aware society, more people are seeking eco-friendly approaches to travel and welcoming the opportunity to learn about sustainability and green practices. As consumers, we have control over the choices we make and the size of the footprints we leave behind. Making responsible, sustainable choices will help center the global consequences of said choices. Our footprints are determined by the combinations of things such as the sustainability of the places we visit, the businesses and industries we support, and (most importantly) the means by which we travel. In other words: accommodation, transportation and consumer consumption. 

The world is full of brilliant ideas and eco-hacks to help reduce our carbon footprint—not only when traveling, but also in everyday life, and we don’t have to forfeit luxury or adventure for sustainability. Becoming a more conscious tourist can be one of the most progressive decisions we can make towards sustainability.

 With that in mind, read through our top travel tips that will help reduce our carbon footprint.

Things to take with you

As a must item for all travelers, reusable shopping bags mean traveling plastic and waste-free. We all shop, especially while traveling—for groceries, souvenirs, gifts, and more. On average, we use between 5-10 bags a day while we are out. Now, even if we use paper bags, we still create a large amount of unnecessary waste. A couple of foldable, reusable bags is all that’s needed to replace store-bought bags, whether paper or plastic. A small change in habits like these goes a long way in making an impact. Many stores across Canada and globally have also recognized this and eliminated plastic bags—one of the most recent of which being Walmart—encouraging customers to bring their own bags. Of course, this also means that eco-friendly bags are easy to come by; pop into nearly any store and you’ll find one if you need it! 

Second on the list of travel essentials is a reusable water bottle or coffee mug. Water extraction and plastic bottles are both contentious practices. Water is often extracted from the ground at very high rates, leaving the local populations with less water for their own consumption, or ecosystem destruction, or abuse of indigenous water rights, etc.

Bottled water is packed and transported from various countries which result in a high carbon footprint from travel. Then there’s the plastic; water bottles are made from cheap plastics that often bleed into the water inside the longer they sit on a shelf. Besides that, many places in the world don’t have proper recycling or disposal facilities, so a lot of plastics end up in the environment. For more information, check out this video:

Thirdly, when it comes to sustainability, we should stay clear of those tempting bathroom amenities found in hotels. An eco-friendly establishment will have soap and shampoo dispensers in the bathroom, but the best thing to do is bring our own. Several travel size, reusable silicone bottles containing shampoo, conditioner and lotion are all the travel essentials needed. We should never travel with full sized anything as full size products occupy a lot of space that can otherwise be used more productively—especially when trying to travel light—and these products can easily get left behind in favour of souvenirs. We should also abstain from using disposable travel size plastic containers - it’s always better to buy in bulk, which allows us to reuse and refill to reduce plastic consumption.  

Speaking of traveling light—hand luggage only when you can. Believe it or not, that checked bag has a carbon footprint of its own! After all, according to Natural Resources Canada, “the heavier the vehicle is, the more energy it needs to get moving,” which means greater fuel consumption and thus greater pollution. Reducing your luggage weight will also reduce the plane’s weight.  

Where you stay

As consumers, we have the power to decide who to support and where to spend our money. We have the choice to align ourselves with ethically sustainable businesses and destinations, and it’s our responsibility to research a destination prior to visiting and recognize who we are supporting. What are their sustainable practices and what makes them green and eco-friendly? Do they grow any of their own produce? Where do they source their produce and products from? We can also look into how the property manages their water, electricity and waste. Do they use solar power? Are they plastic free? What environmentally friendly resources or programs do they offer?

These are questions that would help in understanding the sustainability of a property and flushing out the greenwashing, which refers to false advertising that takes advantage of the green movement. It is not always easy to find the perfect eco-friendly hotel, but with a little due diligence, we can spot the eco-imposters. Many all inclusive resorts have also become Green Globe Certified, which verifies their green status—looking out for this certificate is another way to ensure an eco-friendly trip. 

How you get there

Transportation, especially flying has a very hefty impact on the environment. However, if we can mitigate the amount of CO2 we emit in a single trip, we are taking a giant step in becoming part of the solution. If we must travel by air, direct flights are a lot less carbon intensive than traveling to your destination with layovers. One advisable way to combat your air travel could be utilizing carbon offset programs to offset that next flight.

Train travel is a great alternative to flying, especially if in Europe. It is one of the eco-friendlier means of transportation, if the country in question uses clean energy for their railways. Besides that, consider visiting a city with great public transportation and subways, or use Uber or rideshare instead of renting a car.

What to do while you are there

Make it fun. If you like cocktails (who doesn’t really?), seek out a bar or restaurant with a menu of ‘seasonal cocktails,’ serving drinks made from whatever fruits, herbs or spices are in season and are grown in the area. Understandably this is not always an option, so instead look for a local microbrewery or winery. The point is to support something local. 

A local farm-to-table restaurant uses produce that comes from within a 50 mile / 80 km radius, which ensures freshness, supports the local economy and in turn has a very low carbon footprint. A tomato that is grown 50 miles away and delivered fresh, gives off almost 90% less CO2 than one coming from out of state or out of the country. Instead of farm-to-table, the latter option means “farm to producer, to warehouse, to wholesaler, to grocer to consumer.” 

In terms of making purchases, in buying a souvenir, buy local artesian goods instead of something made in China. Supporting local is one of the best ways to honor the sustainability of the places we visit. 

If you are vacationing in a beach community, look into participating in community beach cleanups. With the amount of plastic that is washing ashore these days, even the most pristine places are being polluted. Giving back to the host community, not only gives them a much-needed boost, but ensures the sustainability of the community and helps it to thrive for years to come. It’s also a good way to get involved with locals and learn about the country, city, and community more intimately. That said, you don’t have to wait to travel to be a sustainability steward. Following the same tips as a ‘domestic tourist’ will create the same effect, only locally. Next time you’re feeling adventurous, consider volunteering with an organization like the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup, who host a yearly cleanup in the summer. 

Sustainable choices, SMART CHOICES

San Francisco, California is considered the ‘greenest’ city in the USA, while Vancouver holds Canada’s top spot. When a city is tagged as green, it means that it is often rated high on a sustainability index. Cities are rated on their carbon emissions, the amount of green spaces offered, connectedness, Green Building Certified infrastructure, etc. How their water, waste and electricity is managed, how green is their public transportation, and how much of their resources run on renewable energy are important factors too. Knowledge of these efforts being undertaken across various travel destinations allows travelers to integrate sustainability into our travels, so it’s time to choose wisely.

While being carbon neutral or zero waste may be the ideal, it is difficult to achieve. However, it’s still possible to make a big difference with small actions. To get a better understanding of travel footprints, consider using a carbon calculator. And remember that eco-tourism is not always about the destination but more so about conscious individual actions taken throughout the trip; irrespective of where we come from and where we go, we are all citizens of the earth and as such we are all faced with the consequences of global warming. It is up to us to collectively ensure that we do everything possible to protect our environment and ensure a sustainable future for our planet, whether at home or away.

by Cameron Fioret, Ph.D.

The climate crisis and the recession of democracy are two huge entangled current issues that contribute to problems regarding freshwater access. Obtaining clean freshwater is fundamental to community health, and this access is facilitated by regulations from governments, agencies and institutions. Unfortunately, freshwater access is limited by several factors, like climate, geography, resources, and (prominently) political priorities, making it a complex and multifaceted issue resulting in this kind of “patchwork” governance.

As climate change worsens, it presents new challenges for these practices. According to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Earth’s temperature is guaranteed to increase by at least 1.5 degrees Celsius over the next 20 years. As a result, humanity will face severe water scarcity. Water use has grown twice as fast as the global human population over the last 100 years, and an increasing number of regions around the world are facing, or will face, water scarcity.

Four billion people already face it at least one month out of the year.

To deal with these challenges and ensure equitable access to clean freshwater, policymakers at multiple scales must think of ways to manage and share these resources. The difficulty is that it creates the potential for conflicting demands on water governance, as a balance will have to be struck between (1) the interests of institutions and (2) the communities that depend on these resources, in a mutually beneficial and sustainable way. 

This tension is particularly noticeable in the Great Lakes region—the largest freshwater system on Earth which makes up about one fifth of the world’s water supply. Long-standing governance arrangements between the federal governments of the United States and Canada, as well as State, Provincial, and municipal governments have allowed for shared management, to the benefit of the lakes. One such example of shared management, and perhaps the most important one, is the 1972 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA)—which turned 50 this year—was signed “for the purpose of restoring, protecting and enhancing the Great Lakes and the Great Lakes basin” in the wake of extreme pollution in Lake Erie. By the end of the 1960s, Lake Erie was dubbed a “dead lake” by journalists as it became saturated with algae, filled with dead fish, and even caught fire; fortunately, the collaborative effort resulting from the GLWQA saw the significant reduction of phosphorus (responsible for algae blooms) in the following decades, underlining the importance of binational cooperation.

Still, there is a growing demand for deeper local discussion and engagement on freshwater issues, as well as community and equity centered approaches to water governance in the region. For example, Caitlin Joseph and Kimberley Thomas, wary of current and continuing ecological degradation in these lakes, such as toxic blooms of cyanobacteria, call for a decolonized approach in protecting the Great Lakes.

In consideration of these demands, policy leaders in the US and Canada must identify these democratic tensions in transboundary watershed management (the democratic management of freshwater) and ask how concepts and innovative practices of democracy—such as centering decisions on freshwater ownership issues (like commodification) in communities, or granting “personhood” to water bodies in cases across the world—might develop new water governance structures that increase equity, recognition, participation, and the political voice of local communities.

In this process, experts might ask: What are the democratic ethics and tensions in transboundary watershed governance in the Great Lakes? How does citizen participation play a role in this framework? And how can domestic and international organisations and agreements, such as the International Joint Commission (IJC) and the Great Lakes Compact which established the Great Lakes Commission (GLC), better use democratic participation to support water equity and justice at the U.S-Canada border?

Cyanobacteria such as green algae can produce toxins that are harmful or fatal to humans. In August 2014, residents of Toledo, Ohio were advised to stop drinking tap water for three days after chemical fertilizer runoff triggered toxic algae blooms in the lake.

Image credit: Jeff Reutter/ Freshwater Stories

In 2019, for the first time in history, a body of water received the same legal rights as a U.S. citizen. As The Hill reports, voters in Toledo, Ohio passed the Lake Erie Bill of Rights in an effort to curb pollution in the lake.

Image credit: Susan Vineyard, iStock.com

A large group of opponents tried push to rip out and reroute an existing pipeline in Michigan - Enbridge Inc.'s aging Line 5, which crosses the Straits of Mackinac. They feared the pipeline will leak into the Great Lakes.

Image credit: Tim Burke/Michigan Department of Transportation/Handout via REUTERS

Answering these questions requires a lens on policy and governance that could leverage and transform existing organisations like the IJC, compacts like the GLC, and the proposed Canada Water Agency for more effective, deliberative, and encompassing democratic water governance. The Great Lakes region is a useful case for critically examining these questions related to transnational water governance because such organisations, compacts, and agencies are rooted in existing water governance frameworks and pluralistic value systems. However, governance of Great Lakes water has, at times, proven undemocratic and dominative, as evidenced in water shutoffs for citizens in Detroit and Chicago unable to pay for water, as well as long-standing drinking water advisories in the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, and the Oneida Nation of the Thames.

Politicians, policymakers, and the public alike must be alert to institutional inertia to see where they fall short in democratic principles and mechanisms. Though, we can all, also, look at how freshwater governance may support democracy, in strengthening our collective voice and binding communities to each other as well as the non-human natural world.

Further Reading: Check out this Primer prepared by the Great Lakes Commons on how to govern the Great Lakes across governments and organizations.

by Cameron Fioret and Niharika Bandaru

The COVID-19 crisis is the most severe global health emergency in a century. It also mirrors broader effects of climate change, having exposed deep-rooted social inequities and disclosed the gaps and needs of communities most at risk of social, economic, and environmental harm. Both COVID-19 and climate change reveal a lack of democracy within these gaps (discrepancies in access to resources and information based on population demographics, like economic status, racial differences, age, sex, class etc.), making it necessary that the post-COVID-19 recovery embolden local, grassroots organizations that bolster democracy through “bottom-up” leadership.

 The gaps and needs arising from both COVID-19 and climate change are clear in Windsor-Essex, and expose inadequacies in addressing the needs of marginalized and racialized communities. At a time of stringent need for safe living conditions and physical distancing, we saw stark examples of migrant workers in the region being housed in unhealthy, inadequate living conditions with a lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which led to a subsequent rapid rise of COVID-19 cases in their communities. In other parts of the world, it is frequently observed that communities of colour continue to be disproportionately affected by the pandemic. This is due to flaws in the distribution of public health measures, relief funds, ongoing food security issues, and a persistent legacy of structural racism and inequality. Systemic inequalities form the very heart of many societal issues that the climate crisis will worsen. 

Climate Change concerns all of us

Climate change is not merely a matter of sea level rise and melting polar ice caps. The impacts of global climate change vary based on: geography; local weather patterns; socio-economic and political structures; population size and demographics; policy and planning; and existing social issues. In Windsor-Essex, we can expect more heat, more severe and frequent storm events, and higher lake level variability. Are the residents of affluent areas affected in the same ways as people living in subsidized housing? Will, for example, the elderly and those with health issues have timely access to resources just like the average residents of the region?

Environmental risks cannot be consistently and uniformly distributed across various groups and communities in a population. Factors such as age, poverty, and minority status make certain groups disproportionately more vulnerable to environmental risk and disease. Moreover, researchers like Gochfeld and Burger have observed that minority and low-income communities have been statistically more likely to live in neighbourhoods exposed to toxic waste, landfills, highways, and other environmental hazards. Just across the river in Detroit, community health in Black and Brown neighbourhoods deteriorates due to Marathon Petroleum oil refineries, whose vapour releases and chemical leaks have resulted in increased rates of cancer and asthma. This stark reality compels us to ask whether current climate adaptation planning in Windsor-Essex considers systemic inequalities in its delivery and execution of climate change initiatives.

On a positive note, some local environmental policies informed by members of the community have given us great examples of intersecting climate solutions and social issues. Before the COVID-19 crisis, exciting initiatives had been developed, such as the announcement of a "climate emergency" and the creation of Degrees of Change - Windsor's Climate Change Adaptation Plan (an ambitious policy that intends to retrofit 80% of Windsor homes for emissions reduction and energy-efficiency by 2041). Both attest to Windsor’s progressive stance on climate change. These initiatives incorporate community involvement while considering the multifaceted nature of climate change—recognizing the scientific and social importance of the climate crisis and how solutions must also be intersectional.

What is intersectional environmentalism?

There are many people in Windsor-Essex actively working to make the post-COVID recovery more environmentally and socially equitable through an intersectional environmentalism lens (for example, the Canadian government’s “equity approach to COVID-19,” or (more locally) the implementation of environmentally friendly disinfection sprays).

This kind of approach means facing post-COVID recovery as something that crosses various and intertwined societal factors. In regards to climate change, an intersectional environmental lens will allow people (municipalities, community organizations, educational institutions and other stakeholders) in Windsor-Essex to address who will most be affected by climate change and subsequently have the least access to resources in the post-COVID, climate change-affected future, while focusing efforts on local civil actions and on strengthening municipal democracy.

The word around the block

Community leaders in Windsor-Essex speak to the importance of intersectional environmentalism and local community involvement in supporting local democracy. In an exclusive interview, Derek Coronado, Executive Director of Citizens Environment Alliance, says that the COVID-19 crisis has “shone a light on the work people do in the community that is not looked at very closely, on those who do not have organizing rights in Windsor-Essex and across the province of Ontario.” This fact highlights the importance of communicating environmental and social issues as they relate to each other. Additionally, “the expressions of dissatisfaction during COVID-19 – such as protests for Indigenous rights and the Black Lives Matter movement – is an expression of trying to hold powerful actors [accountable],” Coronado states. Strengthening democracy during and post COVID-19 is, then, to strengthen accountability and responsibility of political leaders through community engagement and communication.

 “For outlets such as Windsor of Change, responsibility lies in acknowledging the importance of lending an avenue for representatives of minority groups and specific vulnerable populations to tell their stories and voice their concerns,” states Prabarna Ganguly, Special Advisor of Windsor of Change. “Bringing the concerns of marginalized communities forward through appropriate representatives can be one of the most effective ways we can educate and inform decision-makers, elected officials, private and public officials, and the general public of the specific struggles of these communities.” 

Climate change adaptation and mitigation cannot be one-size-fits-all propositions, but strategies of tailored solutions to specific demographics, and one important step in devising these kinds of sustainable climate policies is to make to make them accessible to the public with language that both experts and non-experts can understand, so as to facilitate communication and discussion and subsequently increase community involvement.

In an age of environmental crises, apathy, and deep-seated cynicism, people's efforts in demanding environmental justice and in highlighting the importance of intersectionality undertake compelling models of resistance, regeneration, and resilience through an intersectional lens, including:

• Opening spaces for voices of diverse communities on the frontline of environmental impacts

• Highlighting impacts of local climate change on marginalized communities

• Top down vs bottom up climate policy (in which solutions are driven at the grassroots level more than from higher authority figures in an establishment)

• Making sustainability “front and centre” in policies, debates, and activism, according to Claire Sanders, Climate Change Specialist at Essex Region Conservation Authority.

  
  

Post-COVID-19 in Windsor-Essex has got to be a transformative period of combined community involvement supported by intersectional environmentalism and the strengthening of our local democracy.

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by Jeff Watson

The COVID-19 pandemic and climate change have two things in common; both events impact us all in disparate ways and leave us feeling at least uncomfortable about their presence. However, there is one notable difference: there is general optimism that the pandemic will end within a predictable time frame, but this is not so for climate change. 

The impacts of climate change on humanity are for the long haul.

In Climate Change - It's Driving Me Crazy, we talked about how this global disaster affects our emotions and our subsequent reactions to these effects. So, what do we do when afflicted with anxiety and even grief over this issue?

When we’re aware of something out of the ordinary or inconvenient, the normal response is to act. For example, a burnt out incandescent light bulb will be replaced with an LED bulb instead, a small thing but it makes a difference. Can making a difference in addressing a problem of a much larger scale really be that simple? No, but we are obliged to try.

As individuals, what can and should we do to lessen the impacts of climate change on ourselves and our community?

STEP 1: Educate yourself

Knowing that the climate is changing and impacting us in various negative ways is no longer sufficient. Similar to the response to COVID-19, every person must take measures to help minimize the impacts of climate change.

From the simple activity of sleeping to building a massive Olympic stadium, every activity requires the generation, transportation and consumption of energy—all of which have consequences. Just like how we know the effects of using fossil fuels (one of our largest energy sources), knowing the direct and indirect consequences of our life needs and lifestyle choices help us understand our impact on communities and society.

STEP 2: Act on your convictions

I drive an SUV, because my partner has mobility limitations. But we also own two televisions, a laptop and an iPad. While I have an energy-efficient house and furnace, I do not have a roof that is suitable for solar panels. Being a waterfront house, it must have air-conditioning and a crawl space dehumidifier to keep moisture levels low. In other words, I do not walk the walk. Yes, that is indeed troubling and plays on my conscience, and I am far from alone in such a situation. But small positive actions add up. I have an electric lawn mower, a rake, a broom and hand clippers. Gardening is now a therapeutic activity. I bike more and not just for recreation.

The challenging dilemma we face is the need to radically cut back on energy use, as individuals and as a society. We also know that time is of the essence in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, but there is a great degree of inertia in industrial societies to back off from such demands that conflict with rising consumption. Not every society has the benefit of surpluses in what is available to its people, but Canada sits amongst the top five per capita energy consumers and is in the top ten wealthiest per capita nations.

We are products of our culture and our built environments, but there are options. Ontario can achieve net zero emissions in electricity production. For example, switching to high efficiency electrical heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system should be promoted by local governments, developers and utility providers and acted upon by us. Think about the personal choice options set out in the graphic above.

STEP 3: Let your conscience be your guide

In the words of Sayadaw Pandita, one of the world’s most eminent Buddhist scholars:

We are conscious of the changing climate, of its negative impacts on society, and that it could all directly affect us. There is a relentless news cycle on climate crises around the globe, confirming this.

These stories affect our mental health in a variety of ways, not the least of which is the weight and guilt following the knowledge that we are contributing to the dilemma we all face. Making changes to our personal lives and influencing change in others, even just by example, can help to allay some of those thoughts, and, even better, bring a degree of self-satisfaction.

STEP 4. Acceptance

There is another necessary task that we need to undertake to achieve better mental health. To date, most of the damage we have done to our climate is due to the rapid growth of industrial societies in the last 50 years. If emissions were cut to zero today, it would be potentially 400 years before we saw a return to scientifically acceptable levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. That reduction in emissions will not happen any time soon, especially knowing that the rate of climate change and severity of the resulting impacts is increasing concurrently. very step towards fighting climate change is a step in the right direction. Change takes time; accept that and move forward. Learning to adapt will be challenging.

What changes Can We implement today?

How can we perhaps lessen our impacts to benefit society and our own mental health? Here are a few helpful tips:

Bruntlett, Chris and Melissa. "Can Windsor evolve into a cycling city?" Windsor Star, 2022.

Lass, Imke (Bloomberg). "Should There Be a Higher Bar to Call Products 'Sustainable'?" Windsor Star, 2022.

Reduce meat consumption whenever possible. Those impossible burgers are delicious!

Ciotoli, Adriano. "Where to Get Farm Fresh Food in Windsor-Essex." Windsor Eats, 2013. 

Trutchel, Thomas (Photothek via Getty Images). "A Transparent Look at Energy-Efficient Windows: Cost, Effectiveness, and More." realtor.com, 2022.

Photo by Harry Cunningham on Unsplash

Charlton, Lindsay. "First project with the help of Essex Shoreline Protection Program underway." Windsor CTV News, 2020.

If you do undertake long-haul journeys, purchase carbon offsets to mitigate your impact.

Hagen, Kevin (Getty Images). "Here Are All The Ways Plane Travel Affects The Environment—And How You Can Help." Bustle, 2019.

Did you know: By 2025, Windsor-Essex is expected to have a residential organic waste program in place? Read up on the “composting conflict” here. You can talk to your local municipality and elected officials to get this green bin program on the road! 

Photo by Lenka Dzurendova on Unsplash

"Huron Lodge Emergency Preparedness Plan 2022." The City of Windsor, 2022. 

Show up to city council meetings, hold your elected officials accountable, collaborate with local government agencies and even run for office.

"PHOTOS: Take A Look Inside Windsor's New City Hall." WindsoriteDOTcaNEWS, 2018.

Davies, Carolyn. "Amherstburg nurse helps Haiti earthquake victims." Windsor Star, 2021.

Hindi, Rob. "Video: Windsor Students Hold Rally to Fight Climate Change." iHeartRadio, 2019.

Hone your skills in effective collaboration and conflict resolution so you can make a positive impact on your community.

Abhayawickrama, Natasha. "Climate activism isn't making young people anxious. Climate change is." The Guardian, 2021.

About The Author

Jeff Watson is a Senior Policy Planner at the Town of Essex, Essex, Ontario, having previously worked as a Senior Planner for the City of Windsor. He is passionately involved in various community improvement programs and was recently honoured for his significant professional contributions to active transportation infrastructure with the Wheels of Change: Professional of the Year Award by the Share The Road Cycling Coalition. He is an avid kayaker and cyclist, who is deeply dedicated to promoting awareness about the impacts of climate change in the Windsor-Essex community and beyond.

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by Dane Fader & Alley Biniarz

In the words of the late Thich Nhat Hanh; only love can save us from climate change. We are firm believers that this is true.

Climate change and mental health and wellness are so deeply entwined.

As a society, we are stuck in a cycle of consumption in an attempt to heal ourselves. We think that we can ease our suffering through material objects: bigger houses, shiner cars, and more possessions, but there’s an exchange when we ask for more. Not only does this endless consumption of resources drain our planet through deforestation, soil degradation, and overall pollution, but we’ve also traded in our most precious resource: our time.

In pursuit of accumulation, we’ve left behind our loved ones and our homes that we work so hard for; we’ve left behind the outdoors and nature that we once felt so connected to.

So, what do we do? How do we stop the cycle and live a life that’s more connected to one another and our planet? On an individual level, we can begin to think about all of the things we “consume”. Do we need a walk-in closet full of clothes or a new iPhone every season? Think about why these feel like “needs”. What is actually missing from our lives?

When we asked ourselves this question, we knew a connection to each other and to nature was missing in our lives.

Growing our own food helped us to feel more connected to the land, guided us towards feeling more fulfilled by our “work”, and we gained that valuable time spent together. Growing our own food, in our opinion, is an amazing and simple way to become more sustainable, self sufficient, and connected. Whether that’s balcony gardening, gardening in a backyard, or through a community garden, growing nutritious food checks all of the “needs” boxes.

It’s a way to understand where our food comes from, to be a part of protecting and regenerating our soils, and to secure food for ourselves and our families through climate change. It’s also just so darn fun and rewarding!

We hope that if we can leave you with one thing, it’s that becoming more sustainable in life doesn’t have to mean buying or consuming your way there. Change is made through small actions made by many people. It’s made by silent revolutions. It’s made by switching from consumption to connection, and only then can the healing — for both planet and people — begin.

About The Author

Dane Fader and Alley Biniarz are Kingsville residents and owners of the full circle farming enterprise, GreenerFarms YQG - a local regenerative farming and composting operation elevating sustainable food production in our region.

by Cameron Fioret

Climate change is a stark threat to our ways of living.

As the recently released Sixth Assessment Report of the IPCC explains, the Earth’s temperature is guaranteed to increase by at least 1.5 degrees Celsius over the next 20 years. The UN warns that we are “firmly on track towards an unlivable world” if Paris Climate Accord goals, in keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius this century, are not achieved.

We may experience eco-grief or apathy when considering the climate crisis, but I delay in being a fatalist in the face of this most pressing issue. Yes, I feel sadness, anxiety and, sometimes, defeatism in the face of climate change, but the crises should steel our resolve to work together to reimagine our shared world and future, instead of alienating ourselves from each other and the natural world. In our communities, and with each other, is where hope lives. I hope to see us in Windsor-Essex always striving to create a better way of living with the natural world and with each other.

I hope we turn away from apathy and the status quo and move towards a concerted bottom-up model of environmental-community mobilization. In doing so, we in Windsor-Essex may realize a larger percentage of land devoted to greenspaces, expanded and more efficient public transit, and the enactment of the local municipal climate action plans, like the 2020 Climate Change Adaptation Plan adopted and released by the City of Windsor or the 2021 Climate Change Adaptation Plan by the Town of Essex.

Our politics influence our response to climate change; therefore, I also wish to see change socially and politically so as to change our climate change responses. By this I mean communities that are most vulnerable to climate change’s effects – those marginalized, racialized, and equity-seeking – are supported by our elected officials and enabled by our community at-large to spur change. I am confident this would allow us to revolutionize the way we think about these socio-environmental issues inherently connected to our climate crisis.

In working together to address climate change, the Windsor-Essex community can leverage its opportune location at a busy international border surrounded by the Great Lakes (all while existing in relative political stability) to make changes that build community, strengthen our politics and democratic ideals, and fortify environmental safeguards and justice.

About The Author

Cameron Fioret is a Windsor resident and currently a Visiting Scholar in the University of Michigan's Water Center in the Graham Sustainability Institute, as well as a Program Assistant at the Social Sciences and Humanities Resources Council.

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by Emma Bider

The conversation surrounding Canadian seniors and climate change has a very consistent tone. Seniors are vulnerable. They are at high risk when it comes to extreme heat — as we saw in British Columbia this past summer — and are likely to suffer more from air quality issues than others. Seniors will also have a more challenging time getting to safety during an emergency flood, tornado, or other climate-induced weather events. These remain valid concerns, and care for older Canadians is one of the areas that we must seriously invest in. But the fixation on seniors’ vulnerability, especially on the part of gerontologists, politicians, and even family members, puts them squarely in the category of passive victims. This is a disservice to the senior community, who are taking multiple actions to combat climate change. Instead of treating the said community as those without agency, environmental organizations would be wise to include this demographic as agents of change. 

Rise of the “Gray Greens”

In September 2021, The Washington Post published a piece about a group of “gray greens”, a group of older climate protesters who were willing to get arrested at a climate protest in London, UK. The seniors who spoke to the newspaper said they feared for their grandchildrens’ futures or felt partially responsible for the current crisis. They stood side by side in civil disobedience with younger generations.

A 2017 article by Dr. Rick Moody in the Public Policy and Aging Report argued that seniors indeed had to face up to the fact that, “They — that is, we — need to acknowledge that responsibility”. But it need not be all guilt and handwringing. Moody points out that seniors have power, including political clout as a demographic that votes in huge numbers. There is also something to be said for experiential knowledge, which younger generations may lack. 

In my own work as communications coordinator for Climate Legacy, a Canadian project of the Group of 78, we explicitly work to get seniors connected to climate action. Many of the people I work with have backgrounds in labour organizing and union participation or have been environmentalists for decades. They bring with them a wealth of knowledge about how to organize rallies, be heard by politicians, and write compelling op-eds. David Suzuki — Canada’s most prominent environmentalist — is a senior. There is growing research about seniors’ roles in environmental groups in Australia, the UK, and the US. Sadly, we only have anecdotal evidence in Canada that seniors impact the climate conversation. 

It is a shame that there is not more discussion of seniors’ roles in environmental movements in Canada because there is evidence that points to the value of senior climate participation. Many volunteer for community organizations. Take, for example, the Raging Grannies, who remain prominent at protests across the country and organizations explicitly made up of seniors, similar to Grand(m)others Act to Save the Planet, Seniors for Climate Action Now, and Eco-Elders for Climate Action Calgary. Each of these groups is advocating for change at local, provincial, and federal levels. Also, Indigenous elders across Canada are absolutely crucial to environmental stewardship and the maintenance of local ecosystem knowledge. We must follow their lead and encourage the participation of seniors across the country. 

In stark contrast to intuition, a 2021 report by HelpAge International found that while climate change was certainly a threat to older populations, getting involved in environmental issues can improve seniors’ psychological and sometimes physical well-being. Seniors can also benefit from volunteering or work that is focused on improving the world, thereby leaving behind a valuable legacy for future generations. 

Getting Seniors Involved 

Despite the wealth of knowledge, time, and energy that seniors can bring to the table,  barriers remain to seniors’ participation in climate work. According to HelpAge, seniors may feel hesitant to get involved because they feel like they lack the scientific expertise or deep knowledge about the issues. They will need — and this is an age-agnostic issue — basic educational training on initiatives and training on how to talk about these issues to others. 

Seniors are also less adapted to the Internet and online organizing tools. This has led many to steer clear of organizations that do most of their work online. However, a recent poll has found that 72% of Canadians aged 65 and over feel confident using current technology. But seniors will need more guidance when using tools like Slack and Zoom, or creating graphics online and analyzing web statistics, which are less commonplace abilities. Holding workshops or organizing webinars with groups like Connected Canadians can help seniors learn how to use these unfamiliar online tools. That, and offering alternative modes of engagement will benefit not only seniors but also others who have accessibility concerns. 

Although seniors are online more than ever before, environmental organizations are not necessarily targeting them for their volunteer opportunities. Working with retiree associations, retirement homes, or other clubs or groups that skew older persons is another way to reach this increasingly climate-aware demographic. 

From my own anecdotal experience, I can tell you that seniors are energized and excited to be a part of work that not only directly affects their communities but has global and long-term implications. The perceived passivity of seniors, or presumption that seniors are only victims of climate change, not actors in mitigating it, smacks of ageism when we have so many examples to the contrary. We need everyone on board to end the climate crisis. It’s time we see seniors as vital assets to the cause. 

About The Author

Emma Bider is a student and writer living in Ottawa. She has worked in communications for NGOs and start-ups for the last five years. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and African studies, and a Master’s in anthropology. Her doctoral work explores how local climate action and powerful environmental symbols can affect municipal policy change.

About Climate Legacy

Climate Legacy is a project to engage and mobilize older Canadians in climate action through their voice, their time and their money. Seniors comprise a significant force in combating climate change and are often overlooked in current mobilizing efforts. This is why we are establishing a climate action platform and resource dedicated to older Canadians. Windsor of Change is currently a part of Climate Legacy’s network, that helps encourage more seniors to join the climate movement.

This quarter, we bring you stories about family traditions around sustainable fashion, an important piece on climate change and the connection to mental health, a way for you to track your region's electricity emissions, local community events, and more!

Read The Breeze | Vol. 1

On the organizational front, Windsor of Change is proud to announce to its readers that we are officially a part of the Climate Legacy network. This will allow us to connect seniors to climate action in the Windsor-Essex region, as well as publish content specific to seniors and climate change on a more frequent basis!

We hope you enjoy Vol. 1 of The Breeze! Don't forget to share this newsletter with your family and friends via email and social media, and spread the word. We will also be delighted to hear your thoughts, comments, questions, or suggestions at info@windsorofchange.com.

Thank you!

- WOC

by Niharika Bandaru

Sofie Waters is a Grade 12 student at École Secondaire E.J Lajeunesse. Tomorrow, she will be one among several concerned residents of Windsor-Essex County bringing attention to Canada’s climate crisis and demanding emergency-level climate action from Canada’s Federal Government, at Dieppe Gardens. The call for civic momentum and community mobilization can be attributed to forces ranging from one of the worst wildfire seasons on record in Canada, to a newly declared “Code Red” moment in the latest UN IPCC report, and most importantly - an upcoming snap Federal Election on September 20th, 2021 that will determine the urgency of climate action in this country.

Tomorrow’s rally is a part of a nationwide day of action organized by 350.org, to bring attention to climate issues ahead of the federal leaders debate on Thursday. Sofie Waters, being one of the founding members of the Windsor Essex Youth Climate Council, and leaders of Wednesday’s event, gives us more details:

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF “CANADA IS ON FIRE”?

Wednesday’s rally is part of a nationwide day of action organized by 350.org, to put the climate crisis front and center ahead of the Federal Leaders debate on Thursday. The organization has named the event “Canada is still on fire”, alluding to the forest fires which have ravaged much of the country over the last couple of months. On Wednesday we will hear from multiple local climate activists and community organizers and make our voices heard by marching along the riverfront in Windsor. 

What do you demand from federal leaders?

We are demanding better climate policy from federal politicians. As it stands right now, Canada is not on track to meet its Paris Agreement targets, which is needed to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels and prevent the worst effects of climate change. Forest fires and floods are raging across Canada, and it’s time our leaders acted like it. We are calling on politicians to ensure a green and just recovery from the pandemic, which means ending fossil fuel and animal agriculture subsidies, and transitioning workers from these industries to jobs in a low carbon economy where their same skill sets will be needed. Our leaders must work closely with Indigenous Communities who are some of the hardest hit by the consequences of climate change and who have been protecting our land and water for centuries.

How can the residents of Windsor-Essex County get involved? How can their voices be amplified?

There are many ways that Windsor-Essex residents can get involved, one of them being attending our rally and sharing the event on their networks!

It is also crucial that constituents reach out to their elected officials and candidates in their ridings to voice their concerns and put pressure on them to be stronger on climate. One huge thing that people in our region can do is to get out and vote, and encourage others to do the same. We need to elect people who understand the severity of the issues we’re facing and are committed to doing everything in their power to fight for our futures.

What is the ultimate message voters and leaders need to pay attention to?

The goal of this rally, and the parallel ones happening across the country, is to put climate on the ballot. Canadians have seen this summer what happens when we ignore the existential crisis facing us all. With the recent IPCC report that came out in August, it is clear that the situation is even more dire than previously thought, and we want our politicians to do something about it.

Readers can join the rally tomorrow by signing up for the event here and sharing the details on social media. Organizers request attendees to bring face masks, friends, and signs at 3:30 PM at Dieppe Gardens on the Riverfront in Downtown Windsor.

About The Interviewee:

Sofie Waters is a Grade 12 student at École Secondaire E.J Lajeunesse. She is a founding member of the Windsor Essex Youth Climate Council, where she is the treasurer and co-head of Research and Advocacy. The WEYCC is committed to advocacy and education on intersectional environmentalism and climate action, governmental climate action, and facilitating youth participation in political decision-making in Windsor and Essex County.

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by Amber Lively

I grew up in a wonderfully matriarchal family structure. 

My mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother all played a role in my upbringing. There were numerous skills and trades passed within four generations of women. Some of my favorite memories of my great-grandmother revolved around the sewing machine, as she sewed and mended everything that came across her table.  My mother followed this tradition; she sewed many of my childhood clothes.  My sister and I would always look forward to  picking out patterns, fabrics, and threads for our wardrobe updates.  Most of our dresses had hand-stitched labels that read, “Made With Love By Mom”, and I still smile thinking about those tags.

Between grade school and high school, the convenience of catalog ordering and the thrill of mall shopping took hold and more of my clothing started to have a company label instead of my mother’s hand-stitched tag. Years passed by, and at some point, I stopped thinking about the tags or who made my clothes. 

Then, on April 24, 2013, as I treated myself to a shopping spree, I looked at the television mounted above the rack of clothes I was browsing and saw news of the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh. This eight-story building was home to manufacturing facilities that supplied garments to fast fashion brands such as Joe Fresh, Primark, The Children's Place, Mango, Matalan, Bonmarche, and Benetton. The garments I was wearing, as well as the ones I was holding in that shop when I saw the news, were made in workshops like Rana.

Half a world away, Rana Plaza and the garments produced within its walls had never crossed my mind. And that is the essential problem.  When nearly all Western garments are produced abroad, we as consumers lose the connection to the process. 

Spinning out of control

There are more opportunities for the supply chain to become less transparent, and less accountability for exploitive or unethical practices for brands. Fifty years ago, more than half of all garments purchased in North America were produced domestically. Many families, like my mother's, created their own dresses and work clothing, considering it an act of love for the household. With today's garment production, the thought of who made the clothes we are wearing isn't necessarily imparted upon us as consumers, thereby concealing the conditions in which garments are produced. 

In the case of Rana Plaza, an inspection of the building a day before the collapse resulted in the building's closure due to structural cracks.  Inspectors cited the top floors ⁠— those used for manufacturing ⁠— as being incorrectly permitted as the building's intent was for shops and apartments. Nevertheless, workers were forced to return the day after the building was officially closed only to have the structure collapse; presumably from the weight and vibrations of machines on the manufacturing levels. The owner of the building, along with several brands, retailers, and distribution companies that utilized the garment factories, were criticized for placing profits over the people who worked in the facility. More than 1,100 people lost their lives and another 2,600 people were injured in the Rana Plaza collapse, but many of the brands responsible have yet to commit to any actionable change regarding worker compensation or safety.

Despite such warnings, garment consumption habits continue to increase exponentially. Fast fashion has increased clothing cycles from two per year to new micro-cycles every 1-2 weeks. With the advent of online shopping through mega-platforms such as Amazon, consumers have access to inexpensive trends with free express shipping. It is very easy to find inexpensive garments that can be conveniently shipped to your door. For those who look at their “cost per wear”, a $10-20 item can feel justified with such a model. The numbers don't lie: people are buying clothing at record rates. In 2017, the World Resources Institute reported that people purchased 60% more clothing in 2014 than in 2000 but kept each garment only half as long as previous years.  

Many, like myself, may be guilty of thinking that all of our pre-loved garments will find a new home through thrifting, but only about 20% of donated clothing make their way to a new home. Most clothing end up in landfills, and given that these items contain an abundance of synthetic fibers such as polyester and rayon, they will not biodegrade. Instead, they will continue to shed microfibers into the soil and waterways.

Since the Rana Plaza collapse, I have been learning the human and environmental costs of the fashion industry, which has consequently brought me back to those labels from my mother and great-grandmother’s handmade clothes. When I knew who was making my clothing, I took particular care of them. I mended holes, tears, and snags as soon as they occurred in order to lengthen the lifespan of the garment. I treated any potential stain on the spot, and I took care to wash them on the correct cycles. I wanted the love that my mother put into each garment to be reflected in how I wore it, and I was proud to know I had ownership in the creation of each piece.  

Threading with care

As a consumer, I have a responsibility to know not just who made my clothes, but under what conditions those garments are produced. Now, I look at the websites of brands to see if they have published information on their corporate and environmental stewardship. Are they transparent about the wages they pay their workers? Are the facilities held to a standard that I would feel comfortable having a loved one work there? Does the company use harmful dyes? How do they dispose of the waste generated throughout the manufacturing process? 

This may sound like a lot to ask, but most of this information is easily accessible on websites of clothing companies. Brands like People Tree, Tonle, Known Supply, Conscious Clothing, The Girlfriend Collective, and more have transparent practices available for consumers to read and feel the goodness that comes from their purchase. Just asking questions about the company and the people who are responsible for making my clothing has changed the way I think about my wardrobe all over again. A while ago, I needed a basic black t-shirt to replace an old Hanes one that had become threadbare from years of wear. I was excited to replace this beloved clothing with another made from a sustainable and ethical clothier.  

As consumers, we all have the power to vote with our pockets, and support companies that invest in their workers and in the environment. Such actions send a strong message that these are the types of companies we want to endorse. It is true that items from some sustainable companies cost more than what may be found in many popular retailers or on Amazon, but that cost is an investment in the person and who made the garment. 

If we circle back to the cost per wear, I've found that investing in quality pieces has also helped me live with less in my closet. I now wear each item way more frequently  than their fast fashion counterparts. Why?  Because they last longer. Because I have less “stuff” to sort through. When the up-front cost is higher, it makes me think about whether I actually need the item. Will it be something I want to wear more than 30 times? How about 50 times? Is it timeless or would I have not given it a second look two years ago?  

What's incredible about slow fashion brands is that many of the pieces that I have in my closet have a label that includes the name of the person who made it. While it may not say “Made With Love By Mom”, it still makes me smile.

About The Author

Amber Lively is a resident of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA, where she lives with her partner and their two dogs. An avid environmentalist, Amber is passionately involved with several local and National nonprofits that aim to restore waterways and conserve wildlife. She also serves as President of her local chapter of Graduate Women in Science and uses her platform to promote underrepresented voices in STEM fields. In addition to advocating for slow fashion, Amber works to encourage sustainable actions and mindsets within her local community.