As we wind down for the year, Climate Caucus wishes you all a restful and joyous holiday season. Climate Caucus’ office will be closed from Dec 24th- Jan 1st inclusive.

We're jumping on the BlueSky bandwagon. Follow us there to get all of your Climate Caucus news! Find us on Blue Sky under the username Climate Caucus: buff.ly/3ZM1tPA P.s. Our X account will soon be inactive.

We are thrilled to welcome Zoe Grams to the Climate Caucus team as our new Executive Director! Zoe Grams is a strategist, entrepreneur and organization leader who has worked with non-profits, municipal governments, and Indigenous Nations for more than a decade.

Community Highlight: Transit ridership in the town of Orangeville, Ont., will, by the end of the year, have increased by 150 to 160 percent. The reason: Orangeville's buses became free in 2023 as a part of a test program, which the town just pledged to continue until 2027.

Brampton has become the first city in Ontario to endorse the Plant Based Treat. The motion recognizes the need to, “improve accessibility and promote the consumption of plant based foods in Brampton to help mitigate and adapt Brampton to the impacts of climate change...”

On Wednesday Vancouver city council reinstated the gas ban for new developments. After two days of deliberations and input from over 140 local residents, council members voted in favour of banning gas for space and water heating entirely.

Kitchener conducted community engagement in Chandlar Mowat neighbourhood, a lower-income area, to co-design a community canopy planting plan. The average canopy cover in this community is roughly 8.5%, much lower than the citys average of 27%. Learn more: buff.ly/4fuuIMq

Communities operate within the broader landscape of provincial/territorial and federal governments whose support for climate action can vary greatly. Future-proofing climate action is thus essential in guarding against shifting politics. Tune in on Monday to learn more!

📣 Calling all Ontario Councilors dedicated to Climate Action! Join us on Wednesday for an Ontario Climate Caucus call. If you're a local elected in Ontario and want to become a member, you can join by emailing Gaby at [email protected]

Deadline to apply to Tamaracks Adaptive and Resilient Communities Cohort is next week! 🌊🏠 check it out here: buff.ly/3V1LYA6... This 12-month cohort is designed for communities looking to overcome common challenges related local climate adaptation and resilience.