The Oakville Community Foundation, alongside Halton Environmental Network and Sheridan College, collaborated to produce a report on the issue of climate change in our community.
The report is split into sections that look at the health impacts of climate change on our community, at ourselves and at possible future projections in a world where no or limited action is taken to address climate change.
Help us plant a lot of trees in Oakville— take the Tree Pledge, and help us build up Oakville’s Tree Canopy.
Thank you to our partners for their support.
The Alma Fund
The Report identifies Small but significant actions that everyone can take. How many have you checked off?
Click the list to support local tree planting.
Severe Summer Storm Flooding
On July 16 2024, Conservation Halton issued a statement, notifying residents that all watercourses and shoreline areas should be considered dangerous during this time.
“Conservation Halton is asking all residents to stay away from watercourses, shorelines and structures such as bridges, culverts, dams and break walls. High water levels, fast flowing water, and slippery conditions along stream banks and shorelines make these locations extremely dangerous,” the statement said.
Video Credit: Hannah Wade.
Photo: Oakville Marina (Reddit)
Photo: Glen Abbey Golf Course (Reddit)
Photo: Bronte Trail (Frances Pace)
Photo: Oakville Park (Town of Oakville)
Examples of Local Climate Action
Read about The Church of the Incarnation’s Journey to Geothermal.
Oakville Community Foundation Signs Canadian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change
The Oakville Community Foundation is proud to be a signatory to the Canadian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change.
The Canadian Philanthropy Climate Commitment, is a joint initiative of Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), Environment Funders Canada, Philanthropic Foundations Canada, and The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada and calls on all funders, from coast to coast to coast, to come together and commit to act on climate change, regardless of their mission. Canada is already experiencing the drastic effects of climate change including wildfires, droughts, storms and melting permafrost.
This commitment makes clear that while provinces, territories, municipalities and communities across the country face different challenges, we must work together to address climate change. While Canada is a large emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG’s) due to its energy sector, a long-term solution needs to consider a robust transition to a cleaner economy for all stakeholders.
In fact, the Responsible Investment Association of Canada (RIA) recently put forward its Investor Statement on Climate Change and my organization, NEI Investments, was extremely proud to be a founding signatory.
Climate change impacts the work that funders are doing to advance other aspects of our communities, like equity, health, poverty alleviation and Indigenous and human rights. Philanthropic foundations and funders have the power to encourage and enact change.
In leading our internal review process, with the help of other volunteers and their skills, The Foundation has signed on as part of our commitment to our own identified UN Social Development Goal priorities, one of which is SDG #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, our focus on Community resiliency and charitable sector recovery.
As part of the commitment, signatories commit to seven key action-areas. The Commitment allows us to think about our current range of activities as part of a comprehensive plan:
- Education and Learning
- Commitment of Resources
- Integration
- Endowments and Assets
- Operations
- Influence and Advocacy
- Transparency
The Canadian Call to Action builds on the International Commitment which called on international philanthropic organizations to use their resources, independence and influence to act on the growing climate crisis.
To learn more about the Canadian Philanthropy Climate Commitment, click here.
The Oakville Community Foundation is aligned to five UN Social Development Goal priorities that include: SDG #4: Quality Education; SDG #8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG #10: Reduced Inequalities; SDG #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; and SDG #17: Partnerships for the Goals.
The Oakville Community Foundation’s approach to deepening their climate action
By: Erika Miller
Almost five years ago, a handful of UK funders, with the support of the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF), launched the Funder Commitment on Climate Change, with the aim of providing a simple – yet holistic – framework for foundations to consider their agency within the context of the climate emergency. Today, this has grown into #PhilanthropyForClimate, a diverse movement of nearly 800 foundations across the globe with a shared commitment to urgent climate action.
Through annual progress tracking, we see that foundations are steadily making progress towards integrating climate across various aspects of their work – from their governance to their grantmaking. For foundation signatories of the commitments, although differing in size, mission and geographic location, the framework helps spark, structure, strengthen, and sustain their climate awareness and action, whether they are just getting started or are ready to demonstrate leadership in the field.
Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Photo credit: Unplash
Sparking their need to act
In 2019, the Canadian municipality of Oakville declared a Climate Emergency due to rising extreme weather events, threatening infrastructure and affecting residents’ lives. This announcement reinforced the then-recent inclusion of climate change as a strategic focus area for the Oakville Community Foundation (OCF), whose fundholders’ and donors’ interests in such initiatives were quickly increasing.
Investments at the beginning of their journey
As a community foundation, OCF builds local resilience through philanthropy, focusing on charitable activities including health, youth, gender equality, and education. Partnering with local donors and organisations they ensure long-term investments for the community’s future strength and prosperity. Given the threat of climate change to their investments, it became increasingly clear that they needed to incorporate climate considerations into their planning to sustain returns on endowed assets.
While the OCF adopted ESG monitoring, began small environmental impact investments, and required Investment managers to sign the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment, the team recognised that they needed a more comprehensive approach to climate action.
In addition to including climate considerations in their investment practices, OCF’s partnership with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation encouraged them to reflect on Oakville’s history and Indigenous perspectives of land stewardship and relationships with the natural environment.
At this point, OCF learned about the Canadian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change through its membership with Community Foundations of Canada and signed the commitment in October 2021 to rally national support for local climate action.
‘Initially, we were concerned that we did not have the staff resources to undertake and report on our efforts appropriately. However, through strategic recruitment of volunteers, committee and board members with the appropriate expertise, we were able to apply the commitment framework which helped us identify our current organisational actions and gaps,’ said Wendy Rinella, OCF’s CEO.
With their commitment signed, and the resources in place to support the implementation, OCF quickly got to work.
Structuring a unified approach to climate action
The #PhilanthropyForClimate framework helped OCF adopt a new perspective. As Rinella put it, ‘It provided a framework that facilitated considering climate across the entire organisation rather than in an ad hoc approach in separate areas.’ The Foundation realised the need for climate action in all operations including granting, investments, administration, procurement, and its direct programmes.
An active and supportive Board
The Foundation’s Board strongly supported this shift, integrating the commitment into organisational policies. They created a Climate Sub-Committee, led by a local climate leader who reviewed The Foundation’s operations. The outcomes were integrated into The Foundation’s Investment and Procurement policies, and the sub-committee was folded into the Governance Committee which now conducts this review and publishes it annually as part of its work plan, ensuring accountability and transparency.
Expanding their climate considerations
In an effort to walk the talk, The Foundation leveraged its #PhilanthropyForClimate commitment to integrate a climate lens for organisational transformation, while also encouraging their partners and wider community to learn and act alongside them. For example, they began purchasing carbon offsets through direct grants to local environmental charities like OakvilleGreen’s tree planting initiative. Their GIVEoakville project’s applications were amended to encourage the intersectionality of the applicant’s proposed project focus on climate change. The Foundation expanded the Debwewin project in their Community Classroom Initiative so that students learn about Oakville’s Indigenous history and traditional perspectives. In 2022, OCF began working on a locally-focused climate report in partnership with Oakville-based Sheridan College and the Halton Environmental Network, looking at the climate change impacts on their community with original research on local youth climate anxiety. It suggests tangible actions all community members can take to ensure a healthy and sustainable community legacy and inspire shared efforts.
Strengthening their commitment through governance and reporting
To increase their ambition and strengthen their work on climate, OCF integrated their commitment into their governing policies. Given the interconnectedness of their investments and their impact, transforming their practices was essential. The organisation’s Investment Manager, who made a Net Zero Asset Manager commitment in 2023, is a member of Climate Engagement Canada and includes commentary on ESG and Sustainability risks of the investment pool in their regular reporting. Climate change and adaptation have become a key area of focus for OCF’s Impact Investment portfolio.
Recognising the value of networks and learning communities, OCF joined Tamarack Institute’s Community Climate Transitions to advance its expertise and identify where to apply a climate lens for greater impact. They are keen to showcase the work they have done to support other organisations’ climate transitions.
Sustaining a long-term climate commitment
OCF is always thinking about the future. As managers of community endowments, they must continue to generate revenue to meet the needs of their community today and tomorrow. As they increasingly understand the complex effects of climate change on their community, The Foundation is focused on ensuring their efforts to increase the capital available for their local grantmaking do not worsen existing challenges.
OCF plans to improve its monitoring tools for climate factors related to investments to shift more of its portfolio towards climate action. They plan to allocate more resources to climate-related initiatives, providing education and support for Oakville residents to learn about climate change and adaptation, and take action.
Looking ahead, Rinella said that ‘[OCF] is transitioning from being reactive in climate action to becoming a leader in helping other organisations transition to more sustainable operations.’ Their commitment to climate action underscores the Oakville Community Foundation’s long-term strategy to address the climate crisis and ensure a healthy community legacy for future generations.
We invite you to commit to climate action and join our growing global community of foundations! Learn more about #PhilanthropyForClimate here.
Oakville seniors demand climate action: ‘Later is Too Late’ at rally
The rally, held in front of Oakville Public Library’s central branch at Navy Street, was part of a larger movement encouraging seniors to advocate for immediate climate action to protect the planet for future generations.
“All over the world, the heating of our atmosphere is supersizing storms, floods and droughts,” said co-chair of GASP, Louise Brownlee.
“On July 16, the Greater Toronto Area received in three hours the amount of rain normally received in a month. In Halton, the rain caused basement flooding in nearly 2,000 homes,” she continued.
“Expensive clean-up for fellow residents. Where we are meeting today, just behind the library, flooding waters washed a dock – with a dozen boats still attached – down 16 Mile Creek into Lake Ontario.”
Brownlee explained that Tuesday’s event coincided with National Seniors Day, traditionally a time when people visit their grandparents.
This year, however, 70 groups of seniors across the country took to the streets to celebrate the launch of a national Seniors for Climate community.
“We are seeing wilder, windier and warmer weather,” said Carole Holmes, GASP co-founder. “We GASPs are motivated by concern for the future generations. We want to see climate solutions implemented now. The tagline for this campaign is ‘Later is too late’.”
“Our generation has acknowledged that we have been part of the problem with our lifestyle choices,” continued Holmes. “We have a sense of responsibility to leave our grandchildren with clean air, water and a sustainable environment.”
GASP is a grassroots, non-partisan group of grandmothers and “grand ‘others'” who are demanding climate action from the government.
“Seniors don’t have anything to lose,” said Brownlee. “The power of seniors is that we don’t have a vested interest in the status quo. We don’t have to worry about upsetting colleagues at work. We can follow our conscience.”
“The fossil fuel industry has given us so much. But the industry is causing serious harm as the pollutants generated by burning fossil fuels stay in the atmosphere,” she continued.
“These pollutants are the primary cause of the extreme weather we are seeing locally and all over the world. It’s past time for a switch to renewables. We seniors have the courage and duty to demand a change.”
