Fight climate change

We all know that climate change is The League of Trees’ biggest enemy, and greenhouse gases are one of the biggest contributors to a warming climate. But what else can you do to help fight against climate change?

Things you can do every day

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Focus on reducing waste. There are simple habits you can develop that will allow you to consume less and make more environmentally friendly choices, including:

Buy products with less packaging
Take a reusable bag with you when you shop
Avoid using disposable items
Donate gently used clothing and household items to charitable organizations
And always recycle or compost as much of your household waste as possible

Drive an Electric Vehicle

Did you know that more than 30% of Ontario’s carbon emissions come from transportation?

One of the League of Trees’ best climate change fighting sidekicks are electric vehicles, or EVs as they are more commonly referred to as. In fact, a battery EV purchased today and powered with Ontario’s clean electricity will generate about 95% less CO2 emissions over the next 8 years than a comparable combustion engine vehicle. Plus, they’re quiet and more fun to drive! With more EV’s on our roads, trees can breathe a sigh of relief.

Talk about climate change

Climate change can be difficult to understand. Having climate change conversations with your family and friends will help cultivate action and help us all work together to find climate change solutions. Here are some helpful tips to get you started:

Start with one thing that matters to you
Tell stories, not facts
Try to find common ground, as building trust will help advance the conversation
Advocate for climate related issues that matter to you within your household and community

Eat sustainably

Eating sustainably allows us to not only choose foods that are healthy for our bodies, but that are also healthy for our environment. Here are some simple ways you can eat more sustainably:

Eat fewer animal products
Buy local, seasonal produce
Start a little vegetable garden of your own

Increase your active transportation

When you choose to walk or cycle to get from place to place in your daily life, you not only reduce carbon emissions, you gain health benefits as well! Follow these tips:

try to replace short car trips with walking or cycling instead
take a safe cycling course and always follow the rules of the road
enjoy a mindful walk in the woods, otherwise known as "forest bathing"

Lend a helping hand

The League of Trees could use your help! See how you can lend a hand by volunteering or donating to Nature Conservancy of Canada, LEAF or Bruce Trail Conservancy. Learn how they protect and grow the League below.

Find out how you can help!

Nature Conservancy of Canada

NCC protects and stewards more than 13,300 hectares (32,800 acres) of forests in Ontario – from the edge of the boreal forest in the north to the Carolinian forest in the far south. In the Maitland River Valley they are planting more than 29,000 trees on what were once farm fields – increasing native biodiversity, providing a refuge for species at risk in Ontario and creating a diverse landscape that is more resilient to a changing climate. Learn more at natureconservancy.ca/leagueoftrees

LEAF

LEAF offers a subsidized Backyard Tree Planting Program for private property owners in Toronto, York Region and some municipalities within Durham. We help people plant the right tree in the right place and provide it with the right care! In addition, we offer various educational workshops and training sessions, guided tree tours, youth engagement programs and volunteer opportunities such as community tree planting events. Learn more at yourleaf.org

Bruce Trail Conservancy

Bruce Trail Conservancy cares for thousands of acres of forest along the Niagara Escarpment and work every year to protect more forests, and other important habitats from development or degradation.

The Bruce Trail Conservancy is one of Ontario’s largest and most active land trusts. They acquire land – through purchase or donation – in their mission to establish a conservation corridor along the Niagara Escarpment that can be explored along the Bruce Trail.

The Bruce Trail Conservancy protect and steward Niagara Escarpment forests by:

Establishing protected natural areas
Creating natural corridors for wildlife
Planting trees
Restoring former tree plantations
Monitoring and removing invasive species
Identifying and monitoring Species-at-Risk

Learn more at brucetrail.org

Ontario Power Generation

OPG is a climate change leader and the largest clean energy electricity generator in the province, providing almost half of the power Ontarians rely on every day. It is also one of the most diverse generators in North America, with expertise in nuclear, hydroelectric, biomass, solar and natural gas technologies.

Over the years OPG has helped plant more than 7 million native trees and shrubs and has restored more than 175 hectares of wetlands and wildlife habitats through their world-class biodiversity program. Learn more at OPG.com.