Lloyd Alter
@lloydalter.bsky.social
Author of"The Story of Upfront Carbon," reformed architect and developer, teacher of sustainable design at Toronto Metropolitan University. https://lloydalter.substack.com
I recently wrote about how we should be building with Canadian materials, and I neglected to include stone because concrete is a local material. I have reconsidered; Ontario cement is made with US coal and petcoke, and rebuilding Canada's stone industry could create a lot of jobs.
Why we need a stone building renaissance in Canada
Canada is made of rock. If we are going to "build Canadian," we should rediscover and reinvent this very local material.
lloydalter.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:09 PM
I recently wrote about how we should be building with Canadian materials, and I neglected to include stone because concrete is a local material. I have reconsidered; Ontario cement is made with US coal and petcoke, and rebuilding Canada's stone industry could create a lot of jobs.
Reposted by Lloyd Alter
"Heating systems alone do not deliver warm, healthy or affordable homes."
As I keep hearing, we need to be very careful that installing low carbon heating doesn't end up making people's living conditions worse. @passivhaustrust.bsky.social
passivhaustrust.org.uk/news/detail/...
As I keep hearing, we need to be very careful that installing low carbon heating doesn't end up making people's living conditions worse. @passivhaustrust.bsky.social
passivhaustrust.org.uk/news/detail/...
Passivhaus News
Passivhaus News
passivhaustrust.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 5:25 PM
"Heating systems alone do not deliver warm, healthy or affordable homes."
As I keep hearing, we need to be very careful that installing low carbon heating doesn't end up making people's living conditions worse. @passivhaustrust.bsky.social
passivhaustrust.org.uk/news/detail/...
As I keep hearing, we need to be very careful that installing low carbon heating doesn't end up making people's living conditions worse. @passivhaustrust.bsky.social
passivhaustrust.org.uk/news/detail/...
@oliver-moore.bsky.social it's not just the Parking Authority, it is a higher authority like the Catholic Church, cleaning their own stairs with a vacuum, they are so perfect, but the minute you are out the gate? Everyone (including their parishioners) can pray they don't fall on the ice.
January 29, 2026 at 4:33 PM
@oliver-moore.bsky.social it's not just the Parking Authority, it is a higher authority like the Catholic Church, cleaning their own stairs with a vacuum, they are so perfect, but the minute you are out the gate? Everyone (including their parishioners) can pray they don't fall on the ice.
In Ontario they relocate hospitals out of towns and cities so that the only way you can get there is by car.
This Dutch hospital integrates active transportation into healthcare access, offering two large dedicated bicycle parking areas for patients traveling to appointments
January 29, 2026 at 2:06 PM
In Ontario they relocate hospitals out of towns and cities so that the only way you can get there is by car.
The US government is once again trying to make coal cute. It's a month late for Christmas, but 17 years ago during the Bush admin, cute coal sang Christmas carols. Through the wonder of youtube that never forgets (Unlike Treehugger), here is "deck the halls with clean coal"
January 29, 2026 at 1:24 PM
The US government is once again trying to make coal cute. It's a month late for Christmas, but 17 years ago during the Bush admin, cute coal sang Christmas carols. Through the wonder of youtube that never forgets (Unlike Treehugger), here is "deck the halls with clean coal"
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently announced a “buy Canadian” campaign, specifically calling out the construction industry and building materials. Here are some of the options, from hemp to straw to mass timber. Time to look at Euro standards for elevators, heat pumps and stairs too.
Mark Carney says,"Build Canadian!"Here's how.
We have the talent and all the building blocks that we need.
open.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently announced a “buy Canadian” campaign, specifically calling out the construction industry and building materials. Here are some of the options, from hemp to straw to mass timber. Time to look at Euro standards for elevators, heat pumps and stairs too.
Better version than my photo of the editorial page this morning.
January 26, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Better version than my photo of the editorial page this morning.
The editorial page of @theglobeandmail.com this morning is quite something: 1) a complete list of all the Canadians who died in Afghanistan while not “stepping back;” 2) The Board of Peace editorial cartoon.
January 26, 2026 at 1:13 PM
The editorial page of @theglobeandmail.com this morning is quite something: 1) a complete list of all the Canadians who died in Afghanistan while not “stepping back;” 2) The Board of Peace editorial cartoon.
Norman Mailer wrote, “Every moment of one’s existence one is growing into more or retreating into less.” On the third anniversary of working for me, I wonder which direction I am going and if I still matter. lloydalter.substack.com/p/happy-thir...
Happy third anniversary of my new life working for me
Do I still matter? I think so.
lloydalter.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Norman Mailer wrote, “Every moment of one’s existence one is growing into more or retreating into less.” On the third anniversary of working for me, I wonder which direction I am going and if I still matter. lloydalter.substack.com/p/happy-thir...
Yay Canada! exporting Roshel armoured vehicles to ICE and Doug Ford loves it! Time to cancel Dough Ford (typo, but I am leaving it!) globalnews.ca/news/1155832...
January 25, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Yay Canada! exporting Roshel armoured vehicles to ICE and Doug Ford loves it! Time to cancel Dough Ford (typo, but I am leaving it!) globalnews.ca/news/1155832...
@mark-carney.bsky.social says we should build with Canadian materials. I wrote a post earlier about this, calling for mass timber, missing middle housing, straw and wood fibre and more lloydalter.substack.com/p/how-canada...
January 25, 2026 at 5:55 PM
@mark-carney.bsky.social says we should build with Canadian materials. I wrote a post earlier about this, calling for mass timber, missing middle housing, straw and wood fibre and more lloydalter.substack.com/p/how-canada...
My granddaughter asks why pay to get two newspapers every day (she loves the comics) but today, the @theglobeandmail.com and the @thestar.com were both brilliant. Interesting times make for interesting papers…
January 24, 2026 at 10:25 PM
My granddaughter asks why pay to get two newspapers every day (she loves the comics) but today, the @theglobeandmail.com and the @thestar.com were both brilliant. Interesting times make for interesting papers…
Reposted by Lloyd Alter
David McGuinty, Canada's Minister of National Defence, has responded to Donald Trump's claim that America has "never really asked anything" of NATO, that the alliance sent only "some troops" to Afghanistan and that "they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines."
It's pretty blunt.
It's pretty blunt.
January 23, 2026 at 10:57 PM
David McGuinty, Canada's Minister of National Defence, has responded to Donald Trump's claim that America has "never really asked anything" of NATO, that the alliance sent only "some troops" to Afghanistan and that "they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines."
It's pretty blunt.
It's pretty blunt.
He's retweeting from 2018. @billmckibben.bsky.social answered then.
January 23, 2026 at 1:47 PM
He's retweeting from 2018. @billmckibben.bsky.social answered then.
The new Carbon Majors report is out, and I have my usual problem with it: Instead of blaming others, we have to look in the mirror, take personal responsibility, and do everything in our power to stop buying what they are selling.
Are 32 fossil fuel firms responsible for half the world's carbon emissions?
We have to look in the mirror, take personal responsibility, and do everything in our power to stop buying what they are selling.
lloydalter.substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 12:54 PM
The new Carbon Majors report is out, and I have my usual problem with it: Instead of blaming others, we have to look in the mirror, take personal responsibility, and do everything in our power to stop buying what they are selling.
What did Groucho say?” I wouldn’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member”
Trump: “Dear Prime Minister Carney:
Please let this Letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada’s joining, what will be, the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled, at any time.
Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Please let this Letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada’s joining, what will be, the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled, at any time.
Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
January 23, 2026 at 2:02 AM
What did Groucho say?” I wouldn’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member”
great stuff from @katewagner.wehwalt.net
"The Line’s reflective surface and wind-turbine farm basically created a bird-slaughtering machine along one of the world’s most important migratory route"
Such a good piece on the NEOM nightmare -->>>
www.thenation.com/article/worl...
Such a good piece on the NEOM nightmare -->>>
www.thenation.com/article/worl...
January 22, 2026 at 1:20 PM
great stuff from @katewagner.wehwalt.net
There is a line in the book “Is Paris Burning?” where General Dietrich von Choltitz, who disobeyed the order to destroy the city, says, “Hitler is mad. Are you blind? Didn’t you see him at Berchtesgaden?” I think you could write a modern version: “Didn’t you see him at Davos?”
January 21, 2026 at 3:10 PM
There is a line in the book “Is Paris Burning?” where General Dietrich von Choltitz, who disobeyed the order to destroy the city, says, “Hitler is mad. Are you blind? Didn’t you see him at Berchtesgaden?” I think you could write a modern version: “Didn’t you see him at Davos?”
My post and my lecture for today were written before Mark Carney's speech, but I revised both to include a paragraph describing how "A world of fortresses will be poorer, more fragile, and less sustainable.” It's a look at how we are slipping into more dangerous "Shared Socio-economic Pathways"
A fork in the road: Are current events pushing us into a hotter world?
World affairs are moving us from the "middle of the road" to a "rocky road." This all has implications for climate change, as predicted in IPCC reports.
lloydalter.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
My post and my lecture for today were written before Mark Carney's speech, but I revised both to include a paragraph describing how "A world of fortresses will be poorer, more fragile, and less sustainable.” It's a look at how we are slipping into more dangerous "Shared Socio-economic Pathways"
This morning I woke up and posted this, how I wanted to go back to bed. Tomorrow morning I am going to wake up proud to be a Canadian, knowing that there is an alternative to this horror story. Thank you Mark Carney.
I love the last line, “and it’s not even 10AM in Europe.” It’s not even 7AM in Toronto and I want to go back to bed and pull the covers over my head
January 21, 2026 at 12:15 AM
This morning I woke up and posted this, how I wanted to go back to bed. Tomorrow morning I am going to wake up proud to be a Canadian, knowing that there is an alternative to this horror story. Thank you Mark Carney.
Reposted by Lloyd Alter
In short, we just watched the US put a gun to its head and commit the equivalent of hegemonic suicide on the world stage. Nothing will be the same ever again.
"There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen"
"There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen"
January 20, 2026 at 6:36 PM
In short, we just watched the US put a gun to its head and commit the equivalent of hegemonic suicide on the world stage. Nothing will be the same ever again.
"There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen"
"There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen"
Carney's speech is brilliant. Here is a transcript. I suspect we will be feeling some serious pain in Canada shortly from the reaction
open.substack.com/pub/paulwell...
open.substack.com/pub/paulwell...
The Carney doctrine
Open comment thread on the PM's Davos speech
open.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Carney's speech is brilliant. Here is a transcript. I suspect we will be feeling some serious pain in Canada shortly from the reaction
open.substack.com/pub/paulwell...
open.substack.com/pub/paulwell...
@mark-carney.bsky.social is just killing it in Davos. "The old order is not coming back. We should not mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy. But from the fracture, we can build something better, stronger and more just."
January 20, 2026 at 4:21 PM
@mark-carney.bsky.social is just killing it in Davos. "The old order is not coming back. We should not mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy. But from the fracture, we can build something better, stronger and more just."
I love the last line, “and it’s not even 10AM in Europe.” It’s not even 7AM in Toronto and I want to go back to bed and pull the covers over my head
January 20, 2026 at 12:15 PM
I love the last line, “and it’s not even 10AM in Europe.” It’s not even 7AM in Toronto and I want to go back to bed and pull the covers over my head
SO EXCITED! I will be there!
Toronto! Tickets are now available to the general public for our live show on Thursday, February 5th at the Hot Docs Ted Rodgers Cinema, presented by @cycletoronto.bsky.social.
Take that, Doug Ford!
boxoffice.hotdocs.ca/websales/pag...
Take that, Doug Ford!
boxoffice.hotdocs.ca/websales/pag...
January 19, 2026 at 4:35 PM
SO EXCITED! I will be there!