Make informed, climate-conscious decisions at home to contribute to a sustainable future by attending the Earth Day Clean Energy Fair at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre on Earth Day, April 22.

That’s the message from Seniors for Climate, a group presenting the Earth Day event in partnership with 50by30 Niagara and NOTL’s Amnesty International Group 137. The fair will focus on clean and renewable energy sources in the home.

“The Ontario government is currently giving rebates of up to 30 per cent on clean energy installations such as heat pumps, solar panels, insulation, and smart thermostats,” said Lidija Biro, a member of  Seniors for Climate in Niagara, and environmental lead of NOTL’s Amnesty International group.“This was our inspiration for the theme of our Earth Day event.”

“There’s a lot of talk about clean energy options in the home such as heat pumps, but it’s hard to make the leap away from conventional products.”

Canada’s 2025 Earth Day theme is Our Power – Our Planet.

Herb Sawatzky of the environmental group 50by30 Niagara will share his knowledge about the pros and cons of clean energy options. 50by30 Niagara aims to see the Niagara Region and its twelve municipalities reduce emissions 50 per cent by 2030, with a goal of eliminating emissions by 2050.

Kassie Burns, NOTL’s new climate adaptation coordinator, “will talk about her job and how it will impact NOTL’s residents and communities,” said Biro. Burns is helping the town develop a plan which focuses on including sustainable, environmentally-friendly and climate-resilient options across all its activities.

A short documentary, Two Degrees: How to Pave the Way to Renewable Energy, will be screened at the fair. It traces one nation’s journey towards one hundred per cent clean energy use.

“In the end,” Biro said, “in this new political era when so much seems beyond our control, there are still some things in our lives where we can make a difference. What we do at home and in our communities is at the heart of moving Canada towards a sustainable environment.”

“Whatever’s going on around us, we can still plan for a better future by making smart choices everyday towards a stable climate for future generations.”

Seniors for Climate in Niagara is part of a country-wide movement of seniors advocating for urgent action to reduce climate change. They support national and provincial initiatives and work locally and regionally to encourage climate-friendly practices for individuals and municipalities.

Amnesty International believes that, similar to other human rights violations, the climate crisis a matter of human rights. It’s the greatest human rights challenge of our time, compounding and magnifying existing inequalities.

The Earth Day 2025 Clean Energy Fair takes place on Tues. April 22, 7 p.m. at the NOTL Community Centre, 14 Anderson Lane. Attendance is free and open to all.