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​Below, you'll find suggestions from our Environmental Action Group for activities and actions you can take that will enrich your life while you do your part to avert climate catastrophe and move us all towards a just and sustainable future.

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Check out our list of environmental organizations active in Canada, choose one you would like to support, and become a volunteer or make a donation.
In 2020, the City of Ottawa published Energy Evolution, Ottawa's primary strategy to fight climate change.
It's enactment is at risk due to budget pressures and implementation delays. The 2022 draft budget prioritizes road expansion and transit fare increases, which will increase carbon emissions, over climate action.
Join with Ecology Ottawa: Demand of our new City Council sustained funding and direct action follow-through for our climate goals. Protecting, funding and implementing Energy Evolution is vital to achieving Ottawa's Green House Gases emission reduction targets.

Make a change in your kitchen

While the two biggest ways to reduce your household carbon footprint rely on (a) changing how - and how efficiently - we heat our homes, and (b) limiting our reliance on low-occupancy gas-powered vehicles, other ways to curb your carbon emissions can happen in your kitchen:
  • Choose produce grown close to home to reduce you "food miles" - and encourage a robust and resilient local food shed.
  • Support local farmers who raise pasture-finished livestock, if you eat meat.
  • Whether you eat meat, or are already vegetarian, enjoy more vegan meals through your at home menu.
To help with that last option, the Environmental Action Group has put together a recipe book of simple snacks, soups, salads, and one-pot meals to get you started - or to add to your pre-existing vegan recipe library.

Click the image to the right to open the PDF for download.
A book cover featuring various cartoon vegetables against a light blue background. The title

seasonal suggestions - small actions have big impacts

Check out this series of Enviro-Actions you can take to prepare your yard or garden for Winter - without disrupting your four- and six-legged neighbours' habitat!
Read our ​November Shift Suggestions for transition-season actions you can take to insulate your home and lower your emissions.
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Looking for ways to green your gift-giving or make holiday decorating less dependent on plastic? Climate Action offers this selection of Holiday Hints for a Green Christmas that can be applied to birthdays, and other festive occasions, too.
The global fashion industry produces about 4% of global emissions, 30% of-which come from retail operations,  personal  use, and eventual disposal of items. Click HERE to download our tips on Lowering Your Fashion Footprint.
Food waste is serious problem increasing both global warming and social injustice. Want to decrease food wastage in your own home? Click HERE for some tips and tricks!

RELATED: Choosing locally farmed food is a great way to reduce your kitchen's carbon footprint while helping to maintain your region's foodshed. Click HERE for a list of farmers whose fruit, veggies, meat, eggs, honey, maple products, and dairy are available at Ottawa Farmers' Markets.


Taking an environmentally mindful approach to gift giving is about bringing thought and care  not only to the person to whom we are giving, but to what we are giving and its effects on the environment.  This means looking at the life history of the gift: What materials it is made of, where it was made, who made it, how long it will be used, and how will it be disposed of.

Week 4 Action: If the gift is travel to be with friends and family, what actions can you take to limit your emissions? If loved ones live across distances, you could reduce travel miles by finding a central location to come together. If you must travel by air: fly economy; take direct flights whenever possible; choose to go to one destination and stay longer; fly during the daytime;  choose airlines carefully; and invest in high quality carbon offsets. Check out this Green Holiday Guide for more!

Week 3 Action: Become a thriftmaser: for those who love Christmas but hate the waste you can celebrate Thiftmas! That's where you source everything you want for the season second-hand, from presents and clothing to decorations. Some families have extended the idea and live as thriftmasers all year long! Read on for ideas!
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Week 2 Action: In this season's Spire, page 10, we included an article talking about how we might participate in clutter free giving. This week's action is to take a look at that article. You can probably think of many more ideas which you could share and you can always check out our To Act page for even more ideas.

Week 1 Action: Spend an hour on this very useful webinar, Plastic Free Presents: Mindful Gifting for Healthier Holidays. It is well worth your time to hear the presenters: Lots of information and ideas. Check it out HERE.
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​30 Cleary Ave   K2A 4A1   
613-725-1066
  
uuoffice@firstunitarianottawa.ca

"We acknowledge that our campus is located on traditional, unsurrendered and unceded Algonquin Anishinabeg Territory;
and that the work of reconciliation is a responsibility of our congregation, and of all Canadians.  "Our goal is to educate ourselves and all
who have ears to hear, to be of service to those who are at risk, and to advocate for justice.


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  • Welcome
  • What's Happening
    • calendar
    • Congregational Focus - Climate Action >
      • Green Sanctuary Accreditation
      • AJASHKI Garden Project
      • EARTH SPEAKS FORUMS
    • Pandemic Safety Protocols
  • About Us
    • Our Ministry Team
    • About Unitarian Universalism
    • Our Campus >
      • Affordable Housing
      • Cleary Detour
    • Member Information >
      • Steps to Membership
      • Members' Page
      • Campus Planning Member Page
      • Governing Documents
      • Death Notices and Memorial Details for Members
    • Renewal
  • Worship
    • Sunday Service FAQ
    • Past Sermons
    • Children's Religious Exploration
    • Youth
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer with us
    • Embracing Diversity
    • Music
    • Lifespan Learning
    • OWL
  • Social Justice
    • Climate Action
    • Truth and Reconciliation
  • Communications
    • eUU Weekly Newsletter
    • Archives
    • Lectures and Presentations >
      • HOLTOM LECTURES
  • Contact Us
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Ceremonies and Rentals >
      • Weddings, Memorials, Child Dedications and other Rites of Passage
      • Facility Rentals
  • Make a Donation
    • Legacy Giving