Science, one of the most authoritative journals in the world, published an article in January 2023 providing solid evidence that Exxon Mobile and other fossil fuel corporations had clear knowledge of the harm they were causing. Their modelling was excellent. They knew all along that they were largely responsible for global warming yet they buried the results and carried on with their business plan to profit from ruining the climate.
From the introduction to the article:
“For decades, some members of the fossil fuel industry tried to convince the public that a causative link between fossil fuel use and climate warming could not be made because the models used to project warming were too uncertain. Supran et al. show that one of those fossil fuel companies, ExxonMobil, had their own internal models that projected warming trajectories consistent with those forecast by the independent academic and government models. What they understood about climate models thus contradicted what they led the public to believe.”
—H. Jesse Smith for Science Magazine
Check out this video from Environmental Defence for a great overview of why we need to phase out fossil gas as an energy source.
Hamilton 350 issued a statement of support for the McMaster University student members of the McMaster Divestment Project who staged a hunger strike in March 2023 in an attempt to have the university administration agreeing to completely divest from fossil fuels and remove the gas-powered electricity generators under construction next to Cootes Drive.
GFL Environmental is proposing to install High Temperature Metal Recovery (HTMR) Electric Arc Furnace Dust (EAFD) recycling technology at its Brant Street facility in Hamilton. The stated purpose is to “receive, store and recycle Ontario waste class 143 (residues from steel making) solid hazardous waste”.
Our mission is to oppose the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructures. We are currently monitoring some significant applications to the Ontario Energy Board and we are involved in a province-wide campaign to phase out fossil fuel electricity generation.
In the past, we have coordinated with other organizations to successfully stop an Enbridge pipeline which would have crossed through the Beverly Swamp in rural Hamilton, and are still monitoring the situation.
Ongoing actions include staying up to date with Wet’suwet’en, Coastal Gas Link, and TMX, as well as solidarity with protesters peacefully opposing destructive pipelines.
Statement of the Hamilton 350 Committee, endorsed by ACORN Hamilton, Environment Hamilton, the Hamilton and District Labour Council and the Hamilton Council of Canadians
The extreme temperatures Hamilton has already endured and may face again this summer demand immediate relief action for those in our community who lack access to air conditioning. We know that extreme heat can severely damage health and even have fatal consequences.
Fortunately, the city has large mobile air-conditioned units better known as buses. The Hamilton 350 Committee, ACORN and Environment Hamilton propose they be used to provide emergency heat relief.
Specifically, on days when the city declares a heat emergency, we propose that the city supplement its cooling centres by making HSR and DARTS fare optional.
Buses are already available across the entire urban area that is most affected by extreme heat events, and are available for at least 18 hours a day, much longer than other cooling centres.
This temporary relief program would allow residents to minimize their heat exposure when getting to where they need to go, or just to obtain temporary relief from the heat. We would expect that the financial cost of this program would be minimal by encouraging regular transit users to continue to pay fares, and hopefully that the number of heat emergency days are limited.