Ottawa - A network of leading non-governmental organizations has made a people's submission to the United Nations on behalf of over 150,000 Canadians who have signed the KyotoPlus petition on Canada's climate change commitments. The submission was made in light of the January 31st deadline for countries to indicate what they will be pledging to do under the Copenhagen Accord."The Canadian government has been consistently out of step with the majority in Parliament, the Canadian public, and provincial governments when it comes to climate change," says Dale Marshall of the David Suzuki Foundation. "For this reason we feel that it is important to make a submission to the UN on what Canada really wants to do, which is contribute to ... continue reading.

ALTERNATIVES JOURNAL – CALL FOR QUERIES *Innovation in Education* Submissions due February 15, 2010 Alternatives Journal is looking for articles for the next annual Education issue, and we invite you to submit story ideas that explore every angle of environmental education. How has environmental education changed in today’s increasingly accessible world? What should be a part of every person’s educational background, but currently isn’t? How do applied skills such as farming, gardening, and building complement more theoretical environmental learning methods? Story ideas for Alternatives’ Education issue could answer these questions, or they could involve a critique of the current education system in Canada, and propose ways to improve it. However, we’re also looking for stories that involve a looser definition ... continue reading.

A message from the Avaaz.org team. Dear friends, It's been a tough ending to an amazing week. In all-night negotiations, leaders have reached a weak agreement in Copenhagen that fails to set the emissions targets needed to prevent catastrophic global warming. The agreement was stronger on funding, but it was not binding, and set no urgent deadline to sign a real climate treaty. Big polluters like China and the US wanted a weak deal, and potential champions like Europe, Brazil and South Africa didn't fight hard enough to stop them. But while leaders failed to make history, people around the world did. In thousands of vigils, rallies and protests, hundreds of thousands of phone calls, and millions of petition signatures, ... continue reading.

A message from Ricken, Laryn, Anne-Marie, Iain and the Avaaz Canada team. Dear friends, Canada is blocking crucial UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen and secretly rolling back our efforts to fight climate change. A massive national outcry has stopped Harper before, the planet needs us now: Sign the Petition. Enough is enough. As the world mounts a desperate effort to stop catastrophic global warming in Copenhagen, Canada should be leading the way. Instead, we're receiving global "fossil awards" for wrecking this crucial summit! And new leaked documents show that while the entire world is increasing cuts to carbon emissions, the government is secretly planning roll back ours. At the Bali climate summit in 07, a massive national outcry forced Harper ... continue reading.

A giant polar bear ice sculpture in the centre of Copenhagen draws the crowds for the opening of WWF's Arctic Tent. For more information please visit the WWF Arctic Programme's website:http://www.panda.org/arctic ... continue reading.

Ottawa - Over forty leading organizations working on climate change are urging Members of Parliament to fast-track the Copenhagen Climate Bill (C-311), to pass it before international talks in December. An open letter supporting the bill was read aloud in the House of Commons Tuesday afternoon by MP Bruce Hyer.The letter, signed by Sierra Club Canada, Climate Action Network, NUPGE and many others was addressed to all Members of Parliament and asks them to act swiftly to pass the bill before international climate talks in Copenhagen, December 7-18.The bill, introduced by Hyer in February, would set national greenhouse gas emission targets needed to avoid dangerous climate change."This is the last chance for Members of Parliament to give direction to the ... continue reading.

In a joint statement released yesterday, a unique partnership of industry and environmental organizations have outlined the key elements for an effective Canadian cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions.The initiative, called the "Canadian NGO-Industry Cap-and-Trade Dialogue," brought together nine companies and eight environmental groups to discuss the design of a cap-and-trade system for Canada. The Pembina Institute assisted in facilitating the dialogue process. Over the past five months, the group has found common ground on several key policy questions. The result is a joint statement that the group has shared with government officials."We want to see regulation that will achieve the environmental results without distorting markets or undercutting investments that have already been made," said Lyn Brown, Vice President Corporate ... continue reading.

WWF Canada has just released one of the most captivating and moving video clips I have ever scene. Theme song by Cold Play, "Fix You" On March 27th, 2010 - let's do it again Canada. Switch off your lights for one hour and let people know you are voting for the Earth. Indeed, it is "the biggest environmental movement in history". Related tools and web sites: WWF Canada - Earth Hour WWF Canada - Earth Hour Tool Kit Official Earth Hour web site Earth Hour Plugin for WordPress - BraveNewCode Inc. ... continue reading.

Aviva Community Fund competition empowers Canadians to strengthen individual communities from St. John's to Victoria. October 21, 2009 (Toronto, ON) - Today Aviva Canada Inc. announced the launch of the Aviva Community Fund - a unique competition that will seek to lead, empower and support positive change in communities from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Victoria, British Columbia.  Supported by a significant $500,000 pledge from Aviva, the Aviva Community Fund provides a forum where individual Canadians can band together to really make a difference today. Running until December 16, 2009, the heart of the Aviva Community Fund is centred around an online portal - www.avivacommunityfund.org - where Canadians can submit ideas and vote for things that they would like to ... continue reading.

Ottawa - Canada must quickly reverse its obstructionist position to break the deadlock and secure a strong agreement at the UN Climate Summit in December, according to the David Suzuki Foundation and scientist-author Tim Flannery."For the sake of all the world's people, economy, and environment, we need an effective global climate treaty now," says Dr. Flannery, scientist, author of Now or Never and The Weather Makers. Dr. Flannery is also chair of the Copenhagen Climate Council, a global collaboration between business and science founded by the leading independent think tank in Scandinavia, Monday Morning, based in Copenhagen.This December Canada will join representatives from countries spanning the world for a crucial UN summit on climate change in Copenhagen. This summit is ... continue reading.