Canada’s school grounds touch every community in the country. Here’s why transforming them may be our most overlooked climate opportunity.

There are over 16,000 of them in communities all across Canada. They are the most significant daily connection that kids have with nature. And yet many school grounds are little more than asphalt and brown grass struggling against a warming climate.

Kids in Canada Are Missing Out on Nature

All of us—but kids and youth especially—need nature. Regular time spent outside is associated with better physical and mental health, better attention spans, a reduction in stress, improved cognitive function and socio-emotional learning in kids. Only about half of Canadian children and just 21% of Canadian youth are meeting recommended physical activity levels. Fresh air and sunlight are in decline while screen time is on the rise.

It’s an equity issue. Not every child has access to resources that ensure experiences in nature.

Climate change is making this worse. Extreme heat and storm intensity are pushing kids indoors. Grey infrastructure accelerates the problem, absorbing and radiating heat instead of cooling it. With Canada warming at twice the global rate, hot days are only going to become more common.

Canada’s Most Underused Climate Asset

A solution is hiding in plain sight. Canada’s school grounds represent one of the most significant public land holdings in the country — reaching every community, every neighbourhood. When designed well, they can mitigate flooding, cool high temperatures, support biodiversity, and provide the daily access to nature kids need. Right now, most of that potential is hidden under pavement.

Nature-based solutions like this are 50% more cost effective than grey alternatives. Yet only four of Canada’s 700 school boards have a climate action plan. The gap between what school grounds are and what they could be may be Canada’s most overlooked climate opportunity.

A Proven Approach to Climate-Ready Schools

With over 30 years experience leading 6,000+ school ground greening projects across the country, Evergreen Canada is ready to take up this challenge. School grounds designed with communities—not just for them—can solve multiple problems at once.

As Heidi Campbell, Senior Designer, Climate Ready, Child-Friendly Public Spaces at Evergreen, puts it: ” When we reimagine school grounds as parks, learning landscapes, and living ecosystems, they become powerful spaces for climate resilience, deeper learning, and community well-being.”

In 2022, Evergreen launched Canada’s first Climate-Ready School at Irma Coulson Public School in Milton, Ontario, transforming 4.5 hectares of barren, flood-prone asphalt into a lush, shaded space designed to absorb rainfall, support biodiversity, and get 1,000 kids outside. Seeing the results, the Halton District School Board has since completed 27 additional school ground greening projects and 5 master plans for new schools. Evergreen’s work has scaled nationally, with three more climate-ready school grounds already in development in Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Toronto.

The work is just beginning. As Irma Coulson Principal, Cheryl Hayles reflected: “It’s an equity issue. Not every child has access to resources that ensure experiences in nature.” Canada’s school grounds can change that — one community at a time.

To learn more about how climate-ready school grounds can benefit your community, visit evergreen.ca.

The post Canada’s School Grounds Are a Climate Solution appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Sophia Kianni shares how translating climate information, empowering young leaders, and building inclusive communication systems can strengthen climate action worldwide. 

What problem in the climate movement led you to build Climate Cardinals, and how has that mission evolved as the organization has grown?

Climate Cardinals addresses language barriers in climate communication. How do gaps in access to information shape who gets to participate in climate action—and who gets left out?

Where do you think youth-led climate movements are most effective today, and where do they still face real limitations? 

With climate urgency increasing alongside public fatigue, what approaches do you believe are most effective in sustaining meaningful engagement and long-term action?

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Through his lens, Paul Zizka invites people into fragile wilderness and reflects on how art, restraint, and firsthand experience can inspire stronger environmental stewardship.

How has spending time in remote and fragile environments shaped your view of nature and our responsibility to protect it? 

How do you hope your images inspire people to take action toward conservation and protecting the planet? 

How do you ensure your photography practice respects these environments, and what lessons can other creatives take from this approach when engaging in nature?

What advice would you give for fostering a deeper connection with nature, and how can this inspire more sustainable choices in everyday life? 

The post Why Experiencing Nature Is the First Step to Protecting It  appeared first on HiveInnovates.

In this Q&A, Kathryn Kellogg discusses composting, responsible consumption and why personal action must go hand in hand with larger policy and industry change.

What are the top three practical changes people can make today to reduce waste and live more sustainably? 

How can individuals and businesses work together to move toward a circular economy, particularly in fashion and consumer goods? 

Which emerging technologies, products, or initiatives excite you most in the zero-waste space?

Last year, I toured Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, and I also went to the WM Phoenix Open. I’ve been to that event several times, and it is so amazing to see how WM is innovating and working through these massive, large-scale events to create zero waste. 

It all starts at the top, and I think this is something that so many different companies and businesses, from small to large, can implement. They’re really, really thoughtful about what enters the course, making sure that every product that is there already has a designated end-of-life plan. 

For instance, all of the plastic film that comes in already has a designated recycling spot where it’s being used to create park benches. The only drink cups that are allowed on site are certified compostable or recyclable, and they already have partners lined up to take all of those materials. It is so smart, and it makes it a no-brainer. 

All of the compost bins and the recycling bins have cutouts to make it more intuitive for people to put their waste, or their products, when they’re done with them. 

I want to see more of this. I want to see more thoughtfulness in design, and I want to see businesses making it easier to make the right choice. At Climate Pledge Arena, they include public transit in your ticket price, making it a no-brainer. 

As climate and environmental challenges accelerate, what role do individuals play in driving systemic change, and how can personal choices create broader impact? 

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Canada’s forests are powerful allies in the fight against climate change but only if managed responsibly. FSC is helping Canadians understand that sustainable forestry is a real climate solution.

Canada’s forests are more than landscapes — they are our identity, our climate allies, and our legacy. From coast to coast, forests sustain wildlife, regulate water, and store immense amounts of carbon. Yet their future depends on one crucial factor: how responsibly we manage and source products that come from the forest. 

That’s where the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) comes in. For over 30 years, FSC has set the global gold standard for responsible forestry ensuring that wood, paper, and other forest-based products bearing the FSC check-tree logo come from forests where biodiversity, Indigenous rights, and worker well-being are safeguarded. 

How to Recognize an FSC-Certified Product 

Look for the check-tree logo. The FSC symbol appears on everything from lumber to furniture to paper. It means the product came from responsibly managed forests verified by independent audits. 

There are three label types: 

1. FSC 100% – products which are made of 100% virgin material from FSC-certified forests. 

2. FSC MIX — products which are made with a combination of FSC virgin fibre, and/or recycled materials with controlled virgin fibre. 

3. FSC Recycled — products which are made with 100% recycled fibre, including both pre- and post-consumer waste. The mobius loop in the top left-hand corner identifies the percentage of recycled fibre. 

How FSC is adding quantifiable data to forestry as a climate solution 

Responsible forestry isn’t just an ethical choice; it’s a climate solution. Research commissioned by FSC Canada and FSC US shows that forests in Canada managed to FSC standards store 0.28 Tonnes CO2e per acre more carbon than forests managed with common practices. Natural Resources Canada further recognizes that improved forest management and increased carbon storage in forests and wood products are important tools to help meet Canada’s greenhouse gas reduction goals on the path to netzero emissions by 2050. 

Through programs such as  Verified Impact, FSC helps forest managers and investors measure, validate, and communicate real environmental impacts — like carbon storage, water protection, and biodiversity conservation. This transparency strengthens accountability and helps businesses demonstrate how their actions contribute to tangible climate outcomes.  

Indigenous leadership and knowledge are also integral to FSC Canada’s work. By weaving traditional ecological practices with scientific methods, these collaborations are redefining what forest resilience looks like. 

Choosing FSC-certified products is one of the simplest and most meaningful ways Canadians can protect forests. Whether building a home, buying furniture, or choosing paper products, the FSC logo signals that your purchase helps sustain forests that, in turn, sustain us. 

This Earth Day, and every day, Canadians can take one small but powerful step: choose products marked with the FSC logo. Because every choice, and every forest, matters for the future of our planet. 

Buy FSC-certified wood and paper products. Learn more today.  

The post Forests for the Future: Canada’s Path to Climate Resilience  appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Recycle My Electronics programs offer safe, secure electronics recycling for Canadian residents, businesses, and the environment.

As an award-winning, industry-led, not-for-profit organization, the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA) has been setting the standard for safe, secure electronics recycling in Canada for the past 15 years through its Recycle My Electronics programs. 

Recycle My Electronics programs have recycled over 1.4 million tonnes of electronics, diverting them from landfill and illegal export. Whether it’s providing residents with convenient drop-off locations or offering customized electronics recycling solutions for businesses, EPRA helps Canadians make a positive impact on the environment. When it comes to recycling electronics and small countertop appliances, the message is simple: Bring It.

A national collection network

EPRA’s Recycle My Electronics programs continue to make electronics recycling convenient for Canadians, regardless of where they live. With an extensive network of over 3,200 drop-off locations across the country, the programs make recycling electronics safe, secure, and easy for both residents and businesses. 

“Recycle My Electronics programs offer accessible electronics recycling through a national network of approved drop-off locations, as well as special collection events and business pick-ups,” says Cliff Hacking, the founding president and CEO of EPRA. “Accessibility is central to our mandate, whether it’s in an urban centre or a remote community.” 

Responsible recycling and compliance

Recycling with EPRA ensures devices are diverted from landfills and recycled responsibly for sustainable material recovery, including plastic, glass, gold, silver, and copper, all of which can be recovered and reused without losing their properties and reintegrated back into the manufacturing supply chain.

Many Recycle My Electronics programs are also expanding their list of obligated products accepted for recycling. This ensures diversion of e-waste from landfills and contributes to the circular economy.

EPRA has been named a SERI Champion of Electronics Sustainability, a designation that highlights the company’s industry-leading commitment to responsible electronics reuse, recycling, and circularity. The recognition reflects EPRA’s longstanding work to integrate the Responsible Recycling (R2) standard into its recycling operations, ensuring used electronics are managed with environmental and data security compliance. 

To learn more about what and where to recycle, visit recyclemyelectronics.ca.

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Forests Canada is creating a National Working Group on Post-Fire Forest Recovery Practices to improve outcomes for Canada’s forests.

Canada’s forest landscapes are experiencing unprecedented impacts from wildfire, creating urgent and complex challenges for post-fire recovery, regeneration, and long-term forest resilience. To support coordinated national action, knowledge exchange, and the development of best practices for forest resilience, national charity Forests Canada is establishing a National Working Group on Post-Fire Forest Recovery Practices. 

Last year, Forests Canada supported the planting of over four million trees across the country, with more than two million being planted to restore forests ravaged by storms, invasive species, and wildfires.  

“There is a need for national dialogue to share best practices and new approaches to ensure we are creating the most resilient forests possible,” Jess Kaknevicius, Chief Executive Officer, Forests Canada, says. “There are so many questions this national working group will explore: How are we prioritizing what gets planted after wildfires? Are species selections changing and can the supply chain handle it? What unique training do planters need? How are planting plans evolving to ensure better long-term outcomes?” 

In the last three years alone, the demand for Forests Canada’s restoration expertise, science-based data analysis, and investment in forest recovery efforts has increased significantly – and one of the driving factors of that increase has been the devastating impacts of recent wildfires.  

“With this new National Working Group, we will be able to gain new insights from a diverse group of participants so that we can all work together to help create lasting and positive outcomes for Canada’s forests,” Val Deziel, restoration ecologist and Director of Restoration Ecology and Research, Forests Canada, says.

To support the health and sustainability of Canada’s forests, including post-fire restoration initiatives, visit www.ForestsCanada.ca.

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As sustainability expectations rise, waste-to-landfill is no longer just an operational issue: it’s a matter of accountability and oversight.

For many organizations, their recyclable materials disappear the moment a truck pulls away from the loading dock. But that journey — and whether the material is truly recycled — often remains cloudy and largely invisible to the businesses that generate it.

Across Canada’s commercial sector, companies are increasingly expected to account for their environmental footprint. While the government continues to introduce more environmental regulations, such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), responsibility for properly diverting recyclable materials from landfills is still being passed on from facility to service providers. In practice, many businesses and institutions frequently rely on service providers to manage the process with little verification or documentation.

“It may just be that these organizations that generate recyclable materials aren’t thinking about it at all,” says Tullio Bugada, CEO of Toronto-based waste and recycling management company, Waste Reduction Group. “They’re either knowingly or unknowingly handing off responsibility and accountability to their service provider.”

The accountability gap

That lack of oversight can create a gap between intention and outcome. Businesses often invest a lot of time and resources into sorting recycling internally, only for those materials to be consolidated and disposed as waste further down the chain. Because waste moves through a network of collectors, transfer stations and processing facilities, its final destination can become difficult to trace. 

The challenge is particularly evident with materials that are harder or more expensive to recycle — such as mixed recyclables (metal, glass, and plastics) and organic waste. While high-value materials like scrap metal or cardboard are almost always recovered because of their inherent financial value, other recycling streams can be more complicated. 

“Certain materials are simply more expensive to process properly than to send to landfill,” Tullio explains. In major urban regions such as the Greater Toronto Area, limited infrastructure can further complicate matters. Facilities capable of processing mixed recyclables or organics are relatively few and far between, meaning material handling costs are higher, and hauling the material is more time-consuming and costly. In fact, the cost to recycle materials or compost organics can be up to 50 per cent higher than waste-to-landfill.

At the same time, the regulatory environment is evolving quickly. Government Policies such as the Environmental Protection Act and the recently introduced Extended Producer Responsibility Act are intended to place greater accountability on the organizations that generate waste in the first place. As sustainability reporting and ESG commitments expand, transparency around waste and recycling streams is increasingly becoming a matter of governance and risk management — not simply environmental optics.

Making recyclables visible

For businesses, the first step toward accountability is understanding where their materials actually go. According to Tullio, organizations should be able to verify where their waste and recycling material is delivered and request documentation from their service providers to confirm that the loads reach legitimate recycling or composting facilities.

“Real responsibility and leadership starts with asking more from your waste and recycling service providers,” he says. “They should be sharing contamination photos and material delivery tickets, and arrange site visits to recycling facilities.”  

Providing that level of transparency and assurance is central to the approach taken by Waste Reduction Group for the past 25 years. The company works with some of the most sustainable organizations, ranging from universities, hospitals and commercial property owners to small businesses, helping them design custom waste diversion programs and tracking where their materials ultimately end up. By providing their expertise, guidance, traceability, and documentation on proper sorting and contamination standards, Waste Reduction Group helps clients ensure that waste, recycling and organics programs function as intended.

As expectations and public accountability around sustainability continue to grow, analysts say businesses can no longer afford to treat recycling and waste management as an afterthought. The organizations that ask the right questions — and demand clear answers — won’t just meet expectations; they’ll set a new standard for accountability in how recycling is managed.

For organizations looking to better understand and take responsibility for all of their waste streams, visit wastereductiongroup.ca.

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Air travel didn’t always get attention for its negative climate impact. In fact, for decades, emissions were minimal.

Things changed in the late 1930s when commercial planes allowed more people to fly and cargo planes became common, then jet planes came in the 1960s, and deregulation in 1978 stopped the government from controlling airlines’ prices and routes, allowing more airlines to compete and reducing airfare costs. Suddenly everyone was in the air and aviation waste and carbon emissions skyrocketed. Today, aviation produces roughly 2–2.5% of global carbon dioxide and about 4% of human-caused warming. 

A stark reality is that in much of Canada, flying is essential. From northern communities to cross-country business routes, aviation keeps the nation connected. The challenge we seek to mitigate isn’t whether Canadians will fly; it’s how to make those flights cleaner and smarter. 

Put Your Emissions Where Your Engines Are 

One thing we don’t talk about enough is how much progress is being made. Modern aircrafts are about 70% more fuel-efficient than they were 40 years ago, and over the past decade we have found ways to make planes 20% more efficient. 

Many Canadian airlines are also taking big steps to reduce their emissions. For instance, Air Canada is aiming to cut 20% of emissions from flights and 30% from airport operations by 2030, as they pursue the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. They are putting their money where their mouth is, with a $50 million fund supporting cleaner aircraft, carbon reduction strategies, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF); a lower-carbon alternative that can cut emissions by up to 80%. 

The hurdle? SAF still makes up less than 1% of global jet fuel, so scaling it will take more investment and infrastructure. 

Fueling Change on the Tarmac 

Canada’s airports are stepping up, too. Operators are upgrading heating and cooling systems to be energy efficient, swapping diesel vehicles for electric ones, recycling construction materials, and using safer firefighting foams that no longer contain PFAS; “forever chemicals” that can build up in our bodies and are linked to a plethora of health issues. Twenty Canadian airports are participating in international carbon accreditation programs, measuring emissions, reporting publicly, and taking action to reduce their footprint. 

Passenger Power 

The people who make planes and airports are trying to help, but they cannot do it alone. That’s where consumers have power. Choosing non-stop flights, flying economy, packing lighter, or combining trips sends clear signals to airlines and policymakers that we value less emissions and waste in our air travel. 

That’s why the 2026 Earth Day theme from EARTHDAY.ORG is “Our Power, Our Planet,” a reminder that environmental progress can be made when people work together. 

Aviation keeps Canada connected, and Canadians can help make those connections cleaner and smarter, one decision at a time. 

Learn more at EARTHDAY.ORG.

The post Cleared for Climate : Canada’s Airways Take on Clean Flight  appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Sophie Boisvert

Director of Asset Durability, Norda Stelo

One of Canada’s leading engineering firms is advancing an approach to infrastructure that’s grounded in asset durability, data-driven decisions, and long-term sustainability.

Canada’s infrastructure is aging rapidly. With only 55 per cent of core assets rated as being in “good” or “very good” condition and an estimated $300 billion needed for repairs and replacement, the situation is dire.  

Norda Stelo, a purpose-driven engineering and consulting firm, champions a new approach to closing Canada’s infrastructure investment gap — one grounded in creating not just economic value, but also social and environmental value.

“Assets are reaching a point where failures can disrupt services, and that’s a big risk for our society,” says Bernard Gaudreault, Norda Stelo’s Director of Asset Management. “The cost of failure can also be 5 to 15 times the cost of doing the work before it fails.”

“We cannot build anew every time,” says Sophie Boisvert, Norda Stelo’s Director of Asset Durability.

Instead, the greatest value is found in extending the life of assets, acting early to avoid major failures, and preventing unnecessary replacements. This route has a significantly lower carbon footprint, supporting sustainability goals.

The approach is rooted in asset durability — infrastructure’s capacity to deliver reliable service throughout its lifecycle while meeting safety, resilience, and performance standards.

Data also plays a central role, and its quality and consistency are crucial. 

“Data lets us assess risks in aging infrastructure and make smarter decisions and investment planning,” says Boisvert.

Closing Canada’s infrastructure investment gap isn’t about building more; it’s about better management through disciplined prioritization, resilient design, and long-term value-based decisions.

To learn more, visit norda.com/en/our-solutions/asset-management.

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