Author: david.laing

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Peel Region’s Biodiversity and Climate Change Strategy

Peel Climate Change Workshop 2013

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth in all its forms from single celled bacteria to complex organisms, to complete ecosystems. We depend on vibrant and healthy ecosystems to sustain us. According to the United Nations over 1/2 of global GDP is dependent on nature and over 1 billion people rely on forests for their livelihoods. Many millions more rely on the oceans for seafood and on pollinator organisms to grow crops.

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COP 30: Canada’s Progress on Climate Commitments

Reflections on Achievements and Next Steps After the 2025 UN Climate Summit

Introduction

The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP 30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), concluding in Belém, Brazil on November 21, 2025, marked a pivotal moment in the global response to climate change. This year’s summit brought together world leaders, scientists, Indigenous representatives, and civil society to review progress, set new targets, and accelerate climate action. For Canadians concerned about the environment and our country’s international commitments, COP 30 offered both milestones and ongoing challenges in the journey towards a sustainable future.

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BEA participates in School Parent Night

On October 29th, BEA members Rajbalinder and Aneet were at Harold M. Brathwaite Secondary School in support of their community engagement event that included parent interviews. Harold M. Brathwaite is a school of approximately 1,700 students with programs including: International Baccalaureate (IB), Specialist High Skills Major in Justice and Business Studies, International Student Program, Developmental Disabilities Program.

Aneet and Rajbalinder attend a community night at Harold M. Brathwaite SS.
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Repair Café: Fostering Sustainability Through Community, Advocacy and Legislation

Members of BEA and Plant Based Treaty with Caledon Councillor Early

Over the years, I’ve gained a reputation in my family for fixing things. Often, just a good cleaning or tightening a loose bolt is all that’s required to get an old appliance running like new. It turns out it is more about having the courage, (or stupidity) to take things apart and the patience to figure out how to put them back together again, than it is about knowledge or skill. I sometimes end up with an extra screw or two that I don’t know what to do with but if it works, what the heck!

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BEA Attends School Community Events

Ghazanfar, Yarim, Gunjan, and Rajbalinder attend Community Open House at W.G. Davis SPS

Members of the BEA attended two school community events earlier this month.

Gunjan, Noura Bacon, Yarim, Bill attend WG David SPS Community Open House event
BEA members, Gunjan, Yarim, Bill, pose with Noura from W.G. Davis SPS

On October 8th, Ghazanfar, Yarim, Gunjan, and Rajbalinder attended the W. G. Davis Senior Public School Open House. One-Planet Living and Plant-Based Treaty were among the topics discussed with students and parents.

Student spins the One Planet Living Pledge wheel
Student spins the One Planet Living Pledge wheel
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Ontario Climate Summit October 3-5, 2025

David Miller speaks at the Ontario Climate Summit
David Miller at Ontario Climate Summit
David Miller at Ontario Climate Summit

“The Science is real, the problem is urgent. Global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 50% by 2030 to avoid climate catastrophe”. Those were the words from David Miller, the keynote speaker at the Ontario Climate Summit held at the University of Toronto this past weekend, attended by four members of the BEA Board, Polly, Rhythm, Dayle and David.

David Miller is the Managing Director of the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy. The C40 Centre provides mayors, policymakers and city practitioners with the evidence, analysis and policy guidance needed to implement progressive and equitable climate action.

Mr. Miller went on to say that 80% of the people surveyed in Canada want governments to take stronger climate action, that people believe in the science but vastly overestimate the number and strength of the opposition. He said only 17% are climate deniers, the “drill baby drill” folks, but that their oversized voices tend to sway political discussions and policy making.

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Upcoming September Environmental Events

Welcome back! We hope you all had a wonderful summer and are refreshed heading into the cooler temperatures of the fall season. This summer once again will be amongst the hottest on record with accompanying wildfires and destructive storms becoming the new normal.

While we at the BEA are very concerned about the negative consequences of a changing climate, we remain steadfast in our focus on local environmental sustainability and the positive things that we can do to both to adapt to the new reality and do everything that we can to reduce the risk of things becoming worse.

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BEA Launches 2025 Bramalea SNAP Project

The BEA has once again obtained a grant from the TRCA’s SNAP Bramalea Program to engage residents in the E, F and K sections of Bramalea in community building activities. This is the second year that the BEA will partner with BikeBrampton and the folks from the Community Bike Hub Different Spokes to deliver bicycle safety and skills training to residents in the identified Bramalea neighbourhoods, (see post of last years program delivery). 

This year’s grant will be used for the following projects: 

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