Rainy January days are a worry; they remind us that our winters are warming. Climate is a common conversation theme, and we all feel the urge to move beyond worry to action. When we explore ways to lighten our personal carbon footprints, our travel choices are key. Air travel especially, is an outsized contributor to the carbon footprint of many Canadians. According to the David Suzuki Foundation, “the total carbon impact of a single flight is so high that avoiding just one trip can be equivalent to going (gasoline) car-free for a year.”
Yet air travel trends continue to rise. International air passenger activity more than doubled in 2022 compared to the previous year, closing the gap with pre-Covid levels, as reported by the International Energy Agency.
We can be part of the solution by resolving to fly less often. Luckily, we can skip the flight and still enjoy great nature experiences! Toronto offers hundreds of kilometres of beautiful trails; along ravines, parks and shorelines.
For a fun way to connect with nature in Toronto, why not start 2024 with a TFN membership? Each month – even in winter – we offer members 10 or more guided nature walks in the Toronto area. Almost all our walks are TTC accessible. We also offer public walks each month, free to all. No pets, please. We also encourage our members to get active as volunteers; in caring for ravines, in outreach, in advocacy, and as emerging nature guides.
Mark your calendar; on Sunday afternoon, April 7, TFN will host an expert panel on climate change and Toronto ravines; details coming soon on our TFN lectures page.
Ellen Schwartzel, Chair of TFN Take Action Committee.
Below a gallery of images of areas where TFN provides guided walks.
