Resiliency

Net-zero energy, buildings, and infrastructure can drive Toronto’s economic development

10/2024 - With the Toronto's infrastructure, built environment, and electricity grid decades behind modernization, the time is right for the City of Toronto put net-zero at the core of its new economic plan.

Four ways the federal budget should boost the retrofit market

2/2021 - With Canada’s 2021 budget just around the corner, cue TAF’s refrain that investment in deep retrofits will hit the mark local job creation, carbon reduction, and numerous positive social outcomes.

Beyond financing: how workforce capacity can support big investments

10/2020 - As we seek to “build back better,” even capital markets have a role to play by investing in a fair, responsible recovery.

A throne speech worthy of the next generation

9/2020 - If we asked a child of the next generation to look back at vintage footage of Canada’s 2020 throne speech, from the era of pandemic and wildfires, what would they need to hear?

Big Canadian moment for climate: unique model goes national

9/2020 - With the increasing urgency of the climate crisis, it’s out with incrementalism and in with big investments. New tools and new hope just landed

On the path to recovery: how to “lock in” climate solutions

3/2020 - Achieving carbon neutrality will require leaving no stone unturned, no building un-retrofitted, and no emission reduction opportunity ignored.

Fall Economic Statement has benefits for urban climate action

11/2018 - New tax incentives from the federal government's Fall Economic Statement show promise for climate action. Plus, a national Social Finance Fund. Here's our summary on the TAF blog.

Towards net-zero communities: Announcing TAF’s new regional grant recipients

8/2018 - In our recent grant intake period, The Atmospheric Fund awarded two new grants to low-carbon projects by the City of Markham and ACORN Institute Canada. TAF has also recruited three new regional practitioners to our Grants and Programs Committee to better represent the new communities we serve.

Overheating no more: How smart thermostats improve the lives of over 1,300 residents

2/2018 - TAF's TowerWise project provides multiple benefits through energy retrofits such as jobs, health, and comfort. Smart thermostats give residents control over their comfort in a way that also maximizes the performance of these existing buildings - a win-win solution for building residents, carbon emissions, and energy savings.

TransformTO: Full funding is critical for climate action

1/2018 - When it comes to meeting Toronto’s climate targets, words are not enough. We need to invest to achieve our goals, starting now. That’s why the Council decision on the TransformTO 2018 operating budget is so important. Read TAF's letter to the City's Budget Committee.

Best bang for our climate bucks: Looking beyond cost per tonne

1/2018 - Would anyone ditch all fruits and vegetables and switch to a carbs-only diet because it's the cheapest? Obviously not. Likewise, governments shouldn't solely focus on cost per tonne of emissions reduced when it comes to investing public dollars in climate action. A nuanced approach is what we need.

The power of the neighbourhood approach

7/2017 - When it comes to public projects, does our big-thinking habit get in the way of excellence implementation as we fail to consider local-level impacts and aspirations? Our VP Mary Pickering looks at best practices from recent transit projects in Ontario.