Al Gore and Climate Reality Project bringing training event to Vancouver as a part of global effort to drive climate action

The Climate Reality Project Canada is hosting the sole Canadian stop on The REALITY Tour, a global series of in-person training events and an online experience to build the political will for ambitious climate progress. Nearly ten years after the signing of the Paris Agreement, this bold public advocacy initiative is part of a planet-wide effort to meet the changing geopolitical context, supported by an international network of 3.8 million and growing.

The tour launches in Paris on March 27 and, for the first time, a series of distributed training events will take place across five continents within the same week, organized by the international network of Climate Reality branches. This includes a one-day training hosted by Climate Reality Canada in Vancouver on March 29. Trainings will also take place in Brazil, the Philippines, South Africa, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan and Mexico. Al Gore will join these events via video broadcast to compliment a program tailored to the local context in support of local advocacy. The program is designed to equip participants with the know-how, skills and networks to drive real change in their communities while pushing their governments for ambitious commitments in the lead up to COP30, the United Nations’ conference on climate change to be held in Brazil later this year.

“This is where global ambition meets local action,” says Ashley Anthony, Education and Community Engagement Manager at Climate Reality Canada.

“This event is about showcasing the people who care about protecting the climate, why it’s relevant to their lives and inspiring advocacy for lasting solutions. The moment we’re in is a challenging one, to put it mildly, but we’re going to meet it with solidarity, care and collaboration.”

The speaker line -up represents a cross section of civil society, including seasoned activists and organizers based in British Columbia with experience in a diversity of campaign and public engagement approaches. In addition to a marquee panel discussion on “Organizing for sustainable housing, communities and climate,” the sessions will also address tackling disinformation, dealing with climate grief, applying a social justice lens to climate action and effective community organizing. Al Gore will also deliver via video stream the 2025 update of his landmark presentation from An Inconvenient Truth, sharing the latest on climate science, impacts and solutions across the globe.

“Concern about climate change remains high. Support for climate action is widespread. Overcoming the polarization and disinformation fueling climate delayism needs to be met with multi-stakeholder, grassroots engagement,” says Executive Director, France Pomminville. “Climate action is an imperative. We’re working to build momentum for community-led and science-informed climate solutions that are fair, effective and contribute to improving quality of life for all.” She will be joining program staff in Vancouver for the event. “I’m looking forward to meeting local advocates and discussing the particular challenges of climate progress in British Columbia. Many are worried about backsliding on the progress that’s already been made and want to see the climate crisis to be taken seriously.”

Speakers include:

• Wade Grant (he/him). Intergovernmental Affairs Officer to the Musqueam First Nation; Board Chair for the First Nations Health Council and New Relationship Trust
• Yasmine Abraham (she/her), Co-Founder, Kambo Energy Group and Empower Me
• Clara Prager (she/her), Manager of Civic Engagement & Advocacy, Women Transforming Cities (WTC)
• Sunil Singal (he/him), Climate Campaigner - SAFE Cities Canada, Stand.Earth
• Andrea Reimer (she/her), Adjunct Professor, UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs
• Kevin Lindsay (he/him), Chair, Nanaimo Climate Action Hub
• Al Gore (he/him), Founder and Chairman of The Climate Reality Project, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and former US Vice President (via video broadcast)

The event is free, open to anyone who is concerned about climate change and motived to take action or who is already advocating for just and effective solutions in their community. Participants will become members of the global Climate Reality Leadership Corps and benefit from tailored resources and networking support.

“Climate is a very broad issue and means many things to many people. This is a chance to take climate science and solutions and make them relevant, inspiring, and even fun, to people in your community,” says Sherry Wu, who manages Climate Reality Canada’s network of Community Climate Hubs that includes nine active local groups across British Columbia. “People don’t want to lose all the hard faut progress made so far, so we’re always looking for new ways to engage with people.”

Event details

March 29, 2025
9:00am – 5:00pm PT (followed by a reception)

VanDusen Botanical Gardens
5251 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC

Attendance in-person only, free at attend
Some sessions will be recorded and published on YouTube

Apply to attend and view full schedule: climatereality.ca/vancouver2025

Contact
Adam Sommerfeld
Director of Communications
email: asommerfeld@climatereality.ca

About Climate Reality Canada

We are a registered charity in Canada and one of ten international branches of The Climate Reality Project, a planet-wide network founded by Nobel Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore. We are mobilizing Canadians to decarbonize their communities while building a more just and equitable society by facilitaitng peer-to-peer education, supporting grassroots mobilization and fostering democratic participation. To put it simply, think of us as the DIY supercentre for local climate advocacy.