Sign up to receive TEA's newsletter
Subscribe to TEA's e-newsletter to get news and updates on urgent environmental issues in Toronto.
Overall the 2026 budget makes modest investments in the right direction. To make the transformative changes we need, federal and provincial governments need to be engaged to make Toronto greener for all.
For more updates, sign up for TEAβs newsletter here: www.torontoenvironment.org/newsletter_s...
12.02.2026 17:34 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
β Where weβre behind: More than half of the climate pollution in Toronto comes from buildings. While Toronto has good building decarbonization loan programs, we need more cooperation between all governments to fund and enable retrofits at the scale they have all committed to.
12.02.2026 17:34 β π 5 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0
β
#Affordability for home energy: The Toronto 2026 Budget continues retrofit loan and support programs, including heat pump installation supports and low-interest loans for large and small buildings.
12.02.2026 17:34 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0
β
Waste and #CircularEconomy: The Toronto 2026 budget includes funding for new staff to work on the Circular Economy Roadmap passed in 2025. This includes key actions to cut waste, reduce carbon emissions, and support the local economy, like construction waste reuse and reusable foodware programs.
12.02.2026 17:34 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0
β
Community climate action: The Toronto 2026 Budget funds more community #climateaction grants, including new funding for Black-led climate action grants. This increase will spark more neighbourhood-level projects like gardens, bike repair workshops, and an increased heat wave response.
12.02.2026 17:34 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0
β
Transit: Budget 2026 increases #TTC service, which is key to Torontoβs climate action plan, and will improve transit service/affordability, meaning more people using transit & polluting less by:
-Fare freezes for the 3rd year in a row
-Funding a cap for the total # of fares a rider pays per month
12.02.2026 17:34 β π 3 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0
β
Protection from extreme weather: The Toronto 2026 Budget expands the pilot program providing indoor cooling units to vulnerable tenants, while continuing much-needed incentives to green properties to absorb more stormwater, and more grants to prevent basement flooding.
12.02.2026 17:34 β π 4 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0
Toronto City Council just passed its 2026 Budget. Hereβs our run down: both the good, and the not-so-good:
Ready? Here we go!! β¬οΈ #topoli
12.02.2026 17:34 β π 8 π 3 π¬ 1 π 1
FUND OUR CITY
2026 Toronto budget rally
Tuesday, February 10, 12 - 2 p.m.
Toronto City Hall (100 Queen St. W)
ACORN Toronto;
Campaign 2000;
The Centre for Independent Living in Toronto;
Don Valley Community Legal Services;
Family Service Toronto;
Federation of Metro Tenants Association;
North York Harvest Food Bank;
Progress Toronto;
Social Planning Toronto;
South Asian Womenβs and Immigrant Services;
TNG Community Services;
Toronto and York Region Labour Council;
Toronto Community Benefits Network;
Toronto Environmental Alliance;
Toronto Public Library Workers Union Local 4948;
TTCriders;
YWCA Toronto
New sponsors have been announced for our 2026 Toronto Budget Rally!
Join us at City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 10 from 12 - 2 while City Council votes on the 2026 budget. It's time to send a strong message: we need to fund a city where everyone can thrive.
socialplanningtoronto.org/fundourcity
05.02.2026 19:41 β π 2 π 1 π¬ 0 π 0
Torontoβs leading environmental organization is seeking an Executive Director
A Greener City for All
Non-profit leaders & changemakers, please share!
TEA is recruiting a new permanent, full-time Executive Director to lead us. We are sad to see our current ED Emmay Mah leave us, but we are happy for her as she starts a new phase in her career.
Find more info and here: https://loom.ly/m76NdNM
05.02.2026 14:55 β π 2 π 3 π¬ 0 π 0
Some great environmental news for Canada today! The ban stays, more regulation is possible, & we won't see a return of plastic bags, straws & six pack rings to Toronto's streets & parks.
Most importantly, science, environmental protection & health has prevailed βthe Big Plastic industry didn't!
30.01.2026 21:05 β π 14 π 2 π¬ 0 π 1
Krissan Veerasingam, Director and Co-Founder of Scarborough Environmental Association (SEA) speaking to Councillors and city staff in Scarborough
Sarah Buchanan, Campaigns Manager at the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) speaking to Councillors and city staff in Scarborough
TEA joined friends @ttcriders.bsky.social & Scarborough Environmental Alliance to speak up about the City's annual budget in #Scarborough this week. You can read our budget analysis here: www.torontoenvironment.org/breaking_dow...
23.01.2026 16:23 β π 4 π 1 π¬ 0 π 0
Partially frozen Lake Ontario with ice in the foreground and the City of Toronto skyline in the background. Text reads: Our Analysis of the City's 2026 Budget
Want to know what the City's 2026 draft budget does (or doesn't do) for our environment? We've broken it down for you: www.torontoenvironment.org/breaking_dow...
15.01.2026 21:03 β π 4 π 1 π¬ 0 π 1
Sign up to receive TEA's newsletter
Subscribe to TEA's e-newsletter to get news and updates on urgent environmental issues in Toronto.
The City of TO released the draft 2026 budget, TEA is particularly pleased to see expansion of the pilot project providing cooling to vulnerable tenants to keep them safe as summers get hotter
Stay tuned for more budget analysis updates next week & sign up www.torontoenvironment.org/newsletter_s...
09.01.2026 20:17 β π 3 π 1 π¬ 0 π 0
This system will only work if governments sets strong, clear rules. Instead the Ford government caved to lobbying and weakened the rules at every turn.
Corporations arenβt going to fix these rules, itβs the provinceβs job. Ford needs to step up and fix the mess they made.
#onpoli
08.01.2026 19:03 β π 3 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
A Toronto blue wheelie bin with a circular materials sticker on it. Text from a Toronto Star article reads, "Ontario's new blue bin system starts today. Why some fear it will be a 'disaster'. Beginning New Yearβs Day, Ontario municipalities will no longer be responsible for curbside recycling, sparking fears of more waste going to landfill.
βCircular Materials, along with producers, have done a lot of advocacy to narrow the scope and slow down Ontarioβs regulations, which is the main cause of the problems, along with ongoing changes that have made it impossible for municipalities to plan.β
Residents are learning what they can put in their bin and who is picking it up, Alfred said, βbut the bigger issue is that this is part of a systematic erosion of recycling and all waste programs in Ontario.
βWeβre expecting the new blue box system in Ontario is going to be a disaster.β βTEA Senior Campaigner, Emily Alfred"
Ontario's new Blue Box system is a mess. Behind the scenes, it's even worse. Circular Materials is run by big corporations like McDonalds & Coca-Cola who are focused on weakening regulation and protecting their profits, not on reducing waste.
www.thestar.com/news/ontario...
08.01.2026 19:03 β π 6 π 2 π¬ 1 π 0
Ontarioβs Blue Box regulations are going from bad to worse - and cities are going to suffer.
A Greener City for All
Wondering what's going on with the shift away from City #BlueBox collection on Jan 1st? Here's our blog to answer your questions! β¬οΈ
www.torontoenvironment.org/ontarios_blu... #ONpoli #bluebin
28.12.2025 18:11 β π 6 π 3 π¬ 0 π 0
Green buildings policies are a game changer β Torontoβs climate plan & thousands of green jobs are on the line
A Greener City for All
City Council voted unanimously for Torontoβs next TransformTO 5-year plan, a plan that was almost missing a critical policy to green existing buildings.
Thanks to thousands of people speaking up & a motion from @paulafletcherto.bsky.social the policy is back on the table! Learn more: loom.ly/Uy1n1yE
18.12.2025 15:28 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 1
We thank everyone who spoke up to demand strong climate action - you changed your city for the better! And we thank @MayorChow for a motion to bring back a vote on a max temperature bylaw to protect renters even sooner, in May. We'll see you back at Council then!
17.12.2025 18:43 β π 3 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
City Council voted yesterday to take meaningful steps to protect us from extreme heat. TEA & allies have been advocating for some of these steps for years - like a bylaw setting a max temperature in rental units, a better Heat Relief Strategy, & long-term climate resilience steps. #topoli
17.12.2025 18:43 β π 4 π 0 π¬ 1 π 1
A split screen graphic of a mother and daughter, on one side is a hot room with the text, 'Extreme heat and wildfire smoke put Torontonians at risk.' The other side of the split is a cool room with the text, 'Heat pumps cool and improve air quality.'
A green buildings policy in Toronto would spur heat pump adoption across the city, making homes safer, healthier, & less polluting.
Send a quick email to your city councillor telling them to vote for this important green buildings policy at City Hall this week! β‘οΈ act.stand.earth/page/88238/d...
15.12.2025 16:26 β π 2 π 2 π¬ 0 π 0
City Hall Toronto sign with a graphic of a headline from a Toronto Star article that reads, 'Two key Toronto climate policies appeared set to be shelved. Then, the public spoke up' and a quote from the article reading, 'After the building emissions standards were revived, Councillor Saxe addressed the dozens of speakers who showed up, saying their support refuted the idea that βpeople donβt careβ about climate change.
βI do want to say thank you to the passionate people whoβve given up β what are we at now, seven, eight hours of their day? β to come here and tell us why this is important. We have survey after survey telling us that the majority of people do care about this, and want to see real action."
1000s of people sent emails, made phone calls and Dec 4 and 9 dozens of people spoke at City Hall asking them to step upβthey listened! Toronto's climate plan is still intact and we sped up plans for to protect tenants from extreme heat.
We did this! β‘οΈ https://loom.ly/cuTJLno #topoli
10.12.2025 10:59 β π 2 π 1 π¬ 0 π 1
Green buildings policies are a game changer β Torontoβs climate plan & thousands of green jobs are on the line
A Greener City for All
Councillors on the Infrastructure & Environment Committee voted to direct staff to report back in 2027 on a plan to implement building emissions performance standards, with economic & legal studies to support it. You can find out more about why these standards are so important here: loom.ly/Uy1n1yE
08.12.2025 20:59 β π 2 π 1 π¬ 0 π 0
A picture of some of the people who deputed at City Hall about this issue, standing in City Hall.
Last week, Toronto kept an important tool on the table to anchor the Cityβs climate plan. Thanks to the thousands of people who spoke up online and at City Hall supporting building performance standards, and to the Councillors who heard them!
08.12.2025 20:59 β π 3 π 0 π¬ 1 π 1
Crowd laughing at the entertainment at the 2024 Greener City Celebration
Spread of delicious food at a long table at the 2024 Greener City Celebration
Did you know that the Greener City Celebration is less than two weeks away?!
We have some incredible food vendors again this year (the shrimp dumplings are back π₯³) and a professional comedian!
More updates coming soon, get your tickets before they're gone!
β‘οΈ https://loom.ly/AugyPlQ
21.11.2025 12:50 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
Urban Wildfires: Next Stage in the Climate Crisis
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
Today, @petertabuns.bsky.social tabled an act in the Ontario Legislature to better protect communities from urban wildfires.
We're seeing toxic wildfire smoke in Toronto. Our governments need to be proactive, because wildfires donβt respect borders.
Learn more: loom.ly/u7asy34 #onpoli
20.11.2025 20:44 β π 10 π 5 π¬ 1 π 0
Join us on Thursday, December 4th for TEAβs Greener City Celebration!
This is TEA's annual end-of-year event that brings together our community of supporters and collaborators for an evening of good fun, conversation, and entertainment. Get your tickets now!
β‘οΈ https://loom.ly/AugyPlQ
11.11.2025 13:02 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 1 π 1
Tell City Hall: We need to green Torontoβs buildings
Make your voice heard
9 in 10 Torontonians want our local government to protect us from climate change by making buildings greener and safer.
Join them by speaking up here: https://loom.ly/CJbVPvA #topoli
11.11.2025 08:30 β π 7 π 4 π¬ 0 π 0
Your source for news, culture and more!
π© news@nowtoronto.com
www.nowtoronto.com
Muppet Queen, Recovering Lawyer
(Itβs an honorary title the Order Muppets came up with. The Chaos Muppets would never tolerate a real monarchy. So we compromised on an anarcho-syndicalist federation with a symbolic head of state for the fancy parties etc.)
Organizing & Storytelling with Green Majority, Stories We Don't Tell, Harbinger Media Network, Toronto Climate Action Network (he/him)
Climate campaigner at Stand.earth (Canada) and environmental justice organizer. Engaged in municipal, provincial (Ontario), and federal climate policy. Into political economy. She/her.
Author, Wheeling Through Toronto, A History of the Bicycle and Its Riders (UofT Press); enviro lawyer; road safety advocate, community organizer. Posts @bikewaysto.bsky.social + @crashcoaltion.bsky.social
Our Canada-wide coalition is pushing govts to stop the proliferation of dangerous pickups & large SUVs. See our Apr 2024 report & recommendations: https://windsorlawcities.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Oversized-Report.pdf
He/him. Fighter, writer, work-all-nighter. Ace. Progressive. Raver. ADHD. Toronto. Organizer, not organized. #HappyHardcore keeps me going. Democracy first and always. Canada strong. Skeets are my own and do not reflect my employer's views.
Sustainable transportation NFP. Better regulations for Uber/Lyft will improve public safety, transit, job quality & lower emissions.
Read Legislated Poverty, our latest report: https://ridefair.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Legislated-Poverty.pdf
Union roots, community shoots. Researcher/campaigner @Metstrat; Board of RideFair, Fairbnb Canada
urban geographer | researcher and campaigner | co-founder of https://metstrat.ca | doer of things
Climate justice organizer and climate/ energy policy analyst. Et mΓͺme chose en franΓ§ais. Toronto-based, Oxford-bound soon.
Greenpeace Canada climate campaigner capable of boring you about energy transitions, climate solutions and the history of oil industry perfidy. Part-time prof at U of Toronto. Sci-fi aficionada.
Climate activist wearing too many hats - interested in climate justice education & municipal climate strategy. Co-chair Toronto Climate Action Network. For Our Kids Toronto. Environmental Education Ontario. Independent scholar (Ph.D. history, UC Berkeley)
Opinion editor at The Maple.
Website: https://davidemastracci.com/
Articles: https://www.readthemaple.com/author/davide-mastracci/
Healthy Living Reporter at The Globe and Mail. Wellness, travel, and disability. Host of Short Sighted for CBC Podcasts. Writer for Sight Unseen on CW. Words: GQ, VICE, Hard Times, The Beaverton, etc.
City man: Spacing magazine editor, walking, messy urbanism, Renaissance urban history. Also freelance editor. dylanreid.ca