In September 2019, people in Toronto and across the world took to the streets to call for climate justice. The strike really put climate on the public and political agenda! For example, The City of Toronto declared a climate emergency soon after. With continued activism by FFFTO and others, the city also moved net-zero goals ahead by a decade (now two decades ahead of the University of Toronto’s net zero goals) and we’ve seen other commitments that will speed climate justice. 

We would like to see this sort of engagement from the University of Toronto. It has been three years since the strike and the window for limiting global warming to 1.5C is closing quickly as heat melts tarmac and threatens lives. Island states and others who face wildfires, drought and rising seas continue to plead with institutions like ours to make and follow through on stronger climate pledges. The University of Toronto has the chance to be a leader on this issue but right now their plan is unambitious - lagging behind even the City of Toronto - as Steve Easterbrook explains in his fantastic op-ed. He states: “If we don’t lead the way, it’s hard to see who else can”.