Stories about Climate
The Flow of Money: What Southern Ontario’s Nature Is Worth
Talk about a green economy might evoke images of solar panels and carbon capture. But work to conserve and restore ecosystems is already driving economic activity
Enbridge Gas Is ‘Fighting For Its Survival’—That Means Keeping Ontario on Fossil Fuels
The energy giant is lobbying Ontario municipalities to ensure efforts to reduce emissions don't threaten its bottom line.
More Electric Vehicles Are Coming to Toronto’s Streets, But Who Gets to Fix Them?
As the federal government introduces ambitious goals for all new cars to be zero-emissions by 2035, mom-and-pop garages are wrestling with EV manufacturers and dealers over the right to repair them.
What We Found at Three Canadian GFL Locations
Dead fish in North Stormont, conflicting stories in Abbotsford, and a mysterious, unbearable stench in Hamilton.
Toronto Homes Can’t Go Carbon-Neutral Unless Developers Get On Board
Buildings are Toronto's largest source of greenhouse gases. The city has ambitious plans to fix that, but developers are balking at the price tag.
Royal Bank of Canada on the Defensive Over Criticism of Fossil Fuel Financing
Accused of being Canada’s biggest financial backer of fossil fuel projects, the bank is feeling the heat—even if it doesn’t say that publicly.
GFL Says It’s ‘Green For Life’—Its Neighbours Disagree
The GTA waste management company projects a green image. But a history of fires, water contamination, regulatory violations, and the complaints of neighbours from North Carolina to Hamilton tell another story.
Toronto’s Green-ish Economy
If we want to write about the environment, we need to write about business.
A Mississauga Factory Is Using a Known Carcinogen. Residents Had No Idea
High levels of ethylene oxide were detected near a now-closed Scarborough plant owned by Sterigenics, which has agreed to pay over US$400 million to claimants alleging cancer in the U.S. The company has since moved to Mississauga.
Toronto Needs a Mayor Who Can See Through the Smoke
Climate change is an urgent municipal issue. Here are the mayoral hopefuls taking it seriously, the deniers posing as delayers, and the long-shot candidate with the best environmental platform.
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?
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?
A Brine Against Nature
Winter road salt finds its way into Toronto’s waterways all year long, harming wildlife, decreasing biodiversity, and damaging infrastructure.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As Toronto Temperatures Rise, Inequalities Widen
Climate change causes heat waves, but the city’s politics, policies, and design determine who suffers most.
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.