Check out the links below for project ideas, action toolkits and other resources to support your climate actions.
5- Travel LOW-CARBON
Biking, walking, car-sharing or taking public transit to school…
• Reduces vehicle emissions
• Improves air quality around the school
• Helps keep us active, healthy, and connected with our neighbourhood
Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA), the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA) and the Canadian Health Association for Sustainability & Equity (CHASE) | Active Travel Factsheet | Summarizes the health and climate benefits of investing in active travel.
https://chasecanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ACTIVE-TRAVEL-FACTSHEET-ENG-FEB-2021.pdf
Ontario Active School Travel | Walk & Wheel to School Events | Promote walking and wheeling by participating in these seasonal events celebrated by schools across Ontario every year
https://ontarioactiveschooltravel.ca/walk-and-wheel-events/ (English)
Ontario Active School Travel | Steps to Success | The Five E’s : Education, encouragement, engineering, enforcement, evaluation
https://ontarioactiveschooltravel.ca/steps-to-success-the-5-es/ (English)
Ontario Active School Travel | Lesson Plans (Ontario curriculum, English only)
https://ontarioactiveschooltravel.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/1.-ASST-Lesson-Plans-Grade-1-En.pdf
https://ontarioactiveschooltravel.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2.-ASST-Lesson-Plans-Grade-5-En.pdf
https://ontarioactiveschooltravel.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/3.-ASST-Lesson-Plans-Grade-9-En.pdf
Shake Up The Establishment | About Low-Emission Transportation
https://www.shakeuptheestab.org/climate/low-emission-transportation
Équiterre | My Connected Bus project helps school transport actors electrify their bus fleet to make the environment and health better for the kids
www.equiterre.org/actualite/promouvoir-lalimentation-saine-locale-et-ecoresponsable
4- Think about the FOODS you eat
Reducing food waste, avoiding disposable packaging, and eating more plant-based and locally-grown foods…
• Can mean fewer greenhouse gas emissions associated with food production
• Reduces use of plastics, which are made from fossil fuels
• Reduces methane emissions from landfills and conserves resources
Équiterre | Schools Take Root project helps schools fundraise by selling local and organic vegetables
www.equiterre.org/en/project/local-food-procurement/schools-take-root-for-healthy-local-and-sustainable-food
CEC | Food Matters Action Kit
http://www.cec.org/flwy/
Shake Up The Establishment
About Food Systems And Agriculture
https://www.shakeuptheestab.org/climate/food-systems-and-agriculture
About Waste And Pollution
https://www.shakeuptheestab.org/climate/waste-and-pollution
Waste Reduction Week in Canada
Food waste pledge for kids
https://wrwcanada.com/en/food-waste-pledge-kids
FOOD WASTE IN CANADA: THE FACTS
https://wrwcanada.com/en/get-involved/resources/food-waste-themed-resources/food-waste-canada-facts
6 WAYS TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE
https://wrwcanada.com/en/get-involved/resources/food-waste-themed-resources/6-ways-reduce-food-waste
3- Be ENERGY-WISE and support RENEWABLES
Conserving energy and supplementing the school’s heat/electricity with solar or other renewables…
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
• Reduces air pollution from burning fossil fuels
• Can improve indoor air quality
Green Communities | We Grow Sustainable Communities
https://greencommunitiescanada.org/
Shake Up The Establishment
Now is the Time For Renewable Energy
https://www.shakeuptheestab.org/post/covid-19-renewable-energy
Information on Energy
https://www.shakeuptheestab.org/climate/energy
2- PLANT IT for the PLANET
Planting trees and other vegetation in school yards and play spaces…
• Can help absorb carbon and other pollutants from the air
• Provides shade, protects against sunburn and heat stress, and reduces flood risk
• Helps keep kids (and grown-ups) connected with nature
For Our Kids | Replanting One Tree at a Time
https://www.forourkids.ca/one_tree_at_a_time
The Sustainability and Education Policy Network | Building Climate-Ready Schools in Canada
https://sepn.ca/resources/report-building-climate-ready-schools-canada/
Depave Paradise | Bringing Streets to Life
https://depaveparadise.ca/
1 – Make YOUR VOICE HEARD
Participating in a climate action event, writing to elected officials, urging your school to take climate action, or just talking about climate change with your friends…
• Shows you care about a healthy and sustainable future
• Builds leadership skills
• Can make a big difference
Fridays For Future | Your Responsibility to the World
https://fridaysforfuture.org/
Make It Better | Be Part of the Action
https://makeitbetterontario.ca/
Shake Up The Establishment
General Information
https://www.shakeuptheestab.org/politics
Active Learning Club
https://www.shakeuptheestab.org/alc
How to Contact your Political Representatives
https://www.shakeuptheestab.org/how-to-contact-the-government
What to Expect from Political Representatives
https://www.shakeuptheestab.org/post/expectations
For Our Kids | Take Individual Action
https://www.forourkids.ca/individual_action
Other Resources:
First Nations Caring Society | Shannen’s Dream
https://fncaringsociety.com/shannens-dream
The Sustainability and Education Policy Network | Ten Canadian Schools’ Stories of Climate Action
https://sepn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/CCUNESCO-ASPnet-Pilot-School-Stories-EN-2018-12-04-1.pdf
For Our Kids | Fighting for a better world for our kids and grandkids
https://www.forourkids.ca/resources
Foundation for Resilient Health | How You Can Protect the Planet
https://resilient-health.ca/how-you-can-protect-the-planet/
Raffi
Earth Songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpeaK2_pqgo
Young People Marching – Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB1OjSLdRDA