Blog

A heart like a whale and the beginning of COP27

Members of Sierra Club have created key ambitious goals for the upcoming meetings on climate change in Egypt and biodiversity in Montreal. Our members will be attending both meetings in person to bear witness and call for action.

Plastic Free July 2022 Wrap Up

Our third annual Plastic free July has finished and I want to thank everyone who joined us in the challenge. Whether you had a plastic free picnic, joined us for the Twitterstorm, hosted a clean up in your community or made some changes to plastic use in your household — we appreciate your hard work! 

We ended off the month with a beach clean up at Cherry Beach in Toronto. We had a great turnout and beautiful weather! Thank you to everyone who came out! 

The top items we found during the clean up were cigarette butts and plastic bottle caps. 

Whales are smart, too!

World Whale Day is also an opportunity to remind ourselves of their current conservation status and to address the many challenges they face.

Your moment of holiday optimism

If you're reading this then chances are, no matter what your holiday plans, at some point the topic of conversation will shift to the environment... and ouf, yeah, it's been a year. But there are a lot of victories worth celebrating at the dinner table that would not have been possible without your support.

What do we do now that we’ve done too much?

As I write this, British Columbia - my home - is underwater and affected by an ‘atmospheric river’. Just months ago, it was on fire and experiencing a heat dome that killed hundreds. I was in Australia just before the devastating fire season of 2019, and its subsequent floods. Days ago, I was in a London cafe hearing news about an unprecedented cold snap about to hit the UK. I was in Glasgow during COP26. It is hard not to have a heavy heart.

The Origin: What are the Rights of Nature? 

Globally, the Rights of Nature is becoming a familiar topic in many parts of the world. In Canada, we are starting to explore and discuss the Rights of Nature.  The Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature has a working understanding of Rights of Nature that includes "the recognition and honoring that Nature has rights."

Prospects for New National Urban Park in Greater Edmonton Region Spark Excitement

Version française à suivre

By Lindsay Boucher

This summer Johnathan Wilkinson, Former Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, announced a new program to create national urban parks across Canada. Seven cities were being considered, including the greater Edmonton area.  This announcement aligns with Sierra Club Canada Foundation’s goal of providing access to nature for all, protecting wildlife and habitat, and mitigating climate change with nature-based solutions.

When, Where, and Whale: Welcome Home Right Whales!

Right whale mother and calf

I can see it now: the vast blue horizon where the sky meets the ocean, the rolling waves as water ebbs and flows below, and in the distance a distinct v-shaped plume of mist. Can you see it? Can you hear it? The powerful exhale of the right whales coming home.