Toronto Climate Week’s kickoff event, True North Rising, took place October 1-3, 2025. Four Brightspotters attended various events and got a preview of the inaugural week-long annual version of Toronto Climate Week slated for June 1-7, 2026.
I must admit I was surprised that it took us this long to envision our own Climate Week here in Toronto—one of North America’s largest cities. Thanks to the vision of Becky Park-Romanovsky, founder of Toronto Climate Week and co-founder of Climate North, this milestone moment finally took shape. I was thrilled to be part of an experience I didn’t realize I needed, one that felt essential in connecting with others across the climate and energy space. What stood out most to me was seeing how work in this area is unfolding from so many perspectives, from technological innovation and regulatory governance to human rights and community resilience.
The October event was simply a sampler for the full week planned in June 2026, yet this early edition already gave me hope for what might be possible when like-minded thinkers and climate enthusiasts come together to make change happen. One of the most memorable moments for me was the “Human Rights and the Energy Transition: A Round Table Discussion” event at the Centre for Social Innovation. This session brought together multiple thought leaders to explore why upholding human rights is essential for a successful energy transition — particularly when it comes to the critical mineral resources that underpin electrification. Through case study analysis and open dialogue, participants considered how human rights frameworks could be better integrated into strategic mineral supply chains, the implementation challenges across regions, and possible pathways to more equitable and just outcomes. This session alone opened my mind to new perspectives and approaches, and I’m excited to both contribute to and learn from the full Climate Week event in June.
True North Rising: TOCW’s Official Kick-Off (Opening Ceremony)
The opening ceremony brought together a dynamic group of climate innovators, policymakers, and community leaders, offering concise snippets of insightful perspectives on a broad range of climate topics.
One stand-out moment for me was the talk given by Michelle Li from Clever Carbon. I come from a background in filmmaking, and so I value the power of delivering a clear, engaging message that resonates with the audience and inspires meaningful reflection or action. Li’s talk centered the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, comparing pre-industrial levels to the CO2 levels of todays. While the concept itself was relatively straightforward, I was inspired by her ability to distill climate science into language that was both accessible and compelling. Using intuitively designed, visually hierarchical graphics, tangible comparisons and similes, and engaging, individualized audience interaction, she made the science approachable and digestible. Even in a room full of climate experts and enthusiasts, Li’s approach to messaging emphasized a critical point: climate ideas must be communicated in a way that everyone can understand—because everyone is implicated.
Climate communication is an area where many experts still struggle, despite the motivation to drive meaningful change. Over the past few decades, the public has been inundated with anxiety-inducing statistics or, conversely, overly optimistic, reductive, greenwashed narratives that ignore realistic limitations of our functioning society. As a result, many people have begun to tune out—what was once urgent messaging has turned into “green noise.” Li’s talk was a reminder that there are ways to finesse how we talk about climate issues. By doing so, we can cut through the noise and deliver messages that can reach and mobilize the broader public.
ReScene Mixer: Building Circular Solutions for Film & TV Sets
The film and television industry is fast paced. A production will take over a studio space, construct a whole world from the bottom up, shoot, and then tear it all down. But what happens to the physical materials used to build-out the temporary walls, floors, and entire sets that have a lifespan of only a couple short shooting weeks or months? Businesses like Wiseacre Rentals help divert post-production props and costume pieces from the landfill by accepting these items into their warehouse and making them available for future productions to rent, reducing the need to buy or build new materials. However, these rental warehouses have limited space, and don’t have the infrastructure to upcycle decommissioned construction materials that are often the output of film and TV production (think walls, windows, doors, flooring, etc.).
This TOCW event, hosted by Wiseacre Rentals, featured a panel discussion by ReScene, a Toronto-based collective tackling the film and TV industry’s waste problem. Part of the collective and panel was an individual representing Viking Recycling, a circular building material organization that accepts decommissioned flats (walls from studio sets), decking, doors, windows, stairs, carpets, furniture, plastics, and more. Viking Recycling is helping to reduce waste by testing, sorting, processing, and reintegrating film and TV waste materials into their manufacturing partner’s feedstocks.
Toronto is a leading hub for film and TV production. With the inception of Toronto Climate Week, Toronto also can position itself as a leader in driving climate solutions. As an avid movie-goer, it was inspiring to hear that tangible work is being done on the ground in my city to make film and TV production more sustainable.
The Ontario Grid 2.0: How to Build an Energy and Sustainability Strategy for 2026
Ontario’s electricity story is at a turning point—and it’s one Brightspot has been deeply interested in. The IESO’s Annual Planning Outlook paints a striking picture: electricity demand is set to rise 75% by 2050, driven by electrification, population growth, and decarbonization. But this growth comes with challenges, such as aging infrastructure, capital constraints, and a need for skilled labour to deliver the massive buildout of generation, storage, and transmission ahead. Mike Risavy, Director of Resource Planning, IESO reminded the audience that this isn’t just a technical problem—it’s a people problem. Behind every forecast and model are the engineers, planners, and trades who will make the transition real. Brad Duguid, President of AMPCO, underscored the financial strain facing large industrial users, noting a 165% increase in energy costs over the next three years as global adjustment shifts and market volatility grows. Nick Martin, Director of Electricity, Transition Accelerator, meanwhile, offered a hopeful lens through the “electro tech revolution,” where distributed energy resources (DERs), AI-driven grid optimization, and battery storage promise to reshape how Ontario produces and consumes energy.
What really captured my attention was the discussion and audience questions around public versus private collaboration in Ontario’s energy transition. The panel agreed that no single player can deliver what’s needed. Public entities bring stability, equity, and accountability, while private companies offer innovation, capital, and agility. True progress lies in collaboration across sectors—from utilities and regulators to industrial consumers, investors, and Indigenous communities—to create a smarter, more resilient, and inclusive grid. That’s exactly where Brightspot Climate fits in. By combining deep technical expertise with strategy and modeling, Brightspot helps clients interpret the Annual Planning Outlook[1], quantify risk, and design energy and decarbonization pathways that balance cost, reliability, and emissions. To me, this conversation captured what’s most exciting about Ontario’s energy future: the chance to turn complexity into opportunity through data, collaboration, and purpose-driven innovation.
Human Rights and The Energy Transition: A Round Table Discussion
Attending the discussion on human rights and the energy transition was both inspiring and humbling. While I assumed the concept of a Just Transition was simple enough to intuit, I quickly realized how complex and layered the idea of a Just Transition really is. The discussion brought together individuals with remarkable depth of knowledge. Wowza! I’ve got a lot to learn.
What stood out most in this session was the passion everyone brought to the table. It’s clear that there are people who not only care deeply about the ethical side of the energy transition but also understand how to navigate its legal, environmental, financial, and geopolitical challenges. I’m thankful that they and their dedication exist, and I look forward to deepening my understanding and my participation in these critical conversations—perhaps at the next Toronto Climate Week? I hope so!
[1] The IESO’s 2025 Annual Planning Outlook identifies system needs and planned actions from 2026–2050 to ensure the reliability, affordability and sustainability of Ontario’s electricity system.
