Photo by Chloë Ellingson.

In this issue

Editor's Letter by The Local

We’re in a Climate Emergency—It’s Time We Started Acting Like It

There is still time to mitigate the harms of climate change and build resilient communities in this city. But we need to start now.

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Feature by Inori Roy with photography by Christopher Katsarov Luna

As Toronto Temperatures Rise, Inequalities Widen

Climate change causes heat waves, but the city’s politics, policies, and design determine who suffers most.

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Perspective by Gargi Elizabeth Chatterjee

The Weight of Childbirth During a Climate Crisis

I enrolled in midwifery school in search of hope and purpose. But what does it mean to bring new life into a world that's becoming less liveable?

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Feature by Denise Balkissoon

A Brine Against Nature

Winter road salt finds its way into Toronto’s waterways all year long, harming wildlife, decreasing biodiversity, and damaging infrastructure.

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Feature by Steph Wong Ken with photography by Christopher Katsarov Luna

The Line Between ‘Invasive’ and ‘Native’ Blurs

Not all invasive plant species are damaging to Toronto’s ecosystems. Treating them like they are could do more harm than good.

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Feature by Emma McIntosh with photography by Carlos Osorio

How a Downtown Landfill Became an Accidental Bird Sanctuary

The Leslie Street Spit was a wasteland of rebar and construction materials. Now it’s an avian paradise and a crucial place for preserving biodiversity in the centre of Canada’s largest city.

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Feature by Emma McIntosh

The Drive to Reduce Car Pollution Hits Gridlock

Pollution from major roads causes premature death and illness, disproportionately affecting the low-income people who live next to them. Solutions are available, but the political will is not.

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Feature by Fatima Syed

The Great (Surprisingly Expensive) Outdoors

Introducing kids to nature is how you build the next generation of environmentalists. But how do you make outdoor education in Toronto affordable and accessible?

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Feature by H.G. Watson with photography by Christopher Katsarov Luna

Carving Out a Brand New Island

With Villier’s Island, the city aims to combat climate change, create a new mouth to the Don River, and add needed housing. But constructing a climate positive neighbourhood from scratch is no small task.