‘Wholly inappropriate’: Windsor’s Earth Day sponsorship draws ‘greenwashing’ criticism

Windsorites are criticizing a local Earth Day event for having Enbridge as a sponsor.

The Citizens Environment Alliance in Windsor is criticizing the decision to have oil and gas giant Enbridge as a sponsor of the city’s Earth Day event.

A news release today from the city shows the Calgary-based company as one of the vendors for the festivities set for Sunday at Malden Park.

“Given what Earth Day events are about, including highlighting urgent issues like climate change and pollution, we think it’s wholly inappropriate for a company like Enbridge to be a major sponsor for the event,” Derek Coronado, executive director of the CEA, told AM800’s Mike and Meg, on Wednesday morning.

Coronado described the decision as especially galling in the face of the city’s climate emergency declaration in 2019.

He calls the sponsorship a case of greenwashing, a term used to describe when greenhouse gas emitters associate themselves with environmentally friendly initiatives to blunt criticism of their climate impacts.

“Enbridge is one of the largest polluters around, including in Ontario,” said Coronado. “It’s listed as the largest hazardous pollution emitter by the Auditor General of Ontario.”

A 2021 report from the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario tracked the most frequently reported spillers, with Enbridge more than doubling the next closest perpetrator with 7,327 recorded spills from 2016 through 2020.

Earth Day began in 1970 to raise awareness around environmental concerns, including global warming trends and human’s role in them.

Windsor’s own event began in 1989.

“We really have a sort of hypocritical situation the city has put itself in, in terms of having a sponsor like that,” said Coronado.

In its 2024 Sustainability Report, Enbridge reports it’s made improvements of 40 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions intensity as well as a 22 per cent reduction in absolute emissions from its operations compared to its 2018 baseline.

Neither the city nor Enbridge responded to a CTV News request for comment by the provided deadline.

Earth Day celebrations

In a city news release, Mayor Drew Dilkens applauded the impact of Earth Day in the community as a driver of environmental awareness and action.

“For 37 years, our community has come together to celebrate Earth Day and reaffirm our shared responsibility to protect and sustain the place we call home,” reads the statement from Dilkens. “This year’s theme — ‘Our Power, Our Planet’ — reminds us that real change begins at the local level — with leadership, strategic partnerships, responsible investments, and everyday choices that shape a stronger city for all.”

The City of Windsor has advertised a list of free events being offered at its Earth Day festivities with an environmental focus:

• Clothing and book swap
• Zero-waste station
• Bike rodeo, bike repairs and bike valet parking
• Kids crafts and activities
• Planting activities
• E-scooter demonstrations
• Bird education and awareness presentations
• Environmental toonie trivia
• Face painting
• Fast meal and snack ideas
• Youcan the Toucan
• Interactive obstacle course
• Environmental theatre performances
• Fire trucks, recycling trucks, street sweepers
• Water refill stations

The city’s Earth Day event is set to run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Malden Park on Sunday.