JOIN A CAMPAIGN

• Participate in a climate event organized by a local group

• Help the City of Toronto promote TransformTO using some of the resources included in the Climate Change in Toronto section [hyperlink] of this guide

• Participate in tree planting events in parks and conservation areas being organized by the City of Toronto, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) or another community group

• Volunteer for a community garden project being implemented near your school

• Sign climate action petitions being circulated by climate action groups (e.g., 350.org, Stand Earth) and share with your networks on social media

• Invite a group to make a presentation about clean, green technologies, e.g. The Clean Air Partnership’s campaign to promote heat pumps as an alternative to fuel based furnaces

• Perform an energy and/or waste audit at your school and report your findings to the school community

• Organize/participate in a climate action event at your school (e.g. National Sweater Day, Earth Hour, International Walk to School Month) 

If you want to have a successful campaign that meets your own targets as well as those of the organization you are joining, it’s best to make a plan! You may want to use the Community Climate Action Plan template to guide your work (make a copy in your own Google account or print out). 

Think carefully about what kind of campaign you can successfully pull off with the time, people and other resources available to you. Here are a few questions to consider:

• What kind of climate action is your group most interested in? Do you have a particular area of focus (e.g., energy, waste, transportation, food, education, policy)? 

• What group(s) already have a campaign that you can tap into, that matches up with your interests and local needs? What resources do they have that you can use and adapt to your school or community?

• What do you want the campaign to achieve? 

• How will you spread word of your campaign?

• How will you delegate tasks among the members of your group?

The climate campaigns landscape is dynamic with new initiatives cropping up all of the time. You will have to do a little research to find out what climate groups are currently doing and how you can participate. Check out the Work with Partners section of this guide for more information about climate action groups that may have ongoing campaigns you can tap into.

The TDSB’s Environment, Energy and Climate Action website includes a list of annual environmental events and activities you can join and help organize at your school or in your community.