Nature United Applauds Federal Government Commitment of $3.89 Billion to Nature-Based Climate Solutions

The Government of Canada announced its commitment to invest $3.9 billion for nature-based solutions in its Fall Economic Statement. These are critical investments needed to implement a uniquely Canadian approach to fighting climate change and building back a stronger and more resilient economy.

“Realizing the full potential of natural climate solutions in Canada is a critical step in achieving Canada’s ambitious net-zero commitments,” said Hadley Archer, Executive Director of Nature United. “The policy vision for Natural Climate Solutions outlined in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement is a huge step toward an equitable and sustainable economic recovery and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.”

Nature United commends the Government for its 10-year fiscal commitments:

• $3.16 billion to meet the government’s goal of planting 2 billion trees
• Up to $631 million to conserve and restore grasslands, wetlands, and peatlands
• $98.4 million to establish a new Natural Climate Solutions for Agriculture Fund

These investments are in line with recommendations that Nature United made as part of the Green Budget Coalition. They stand to bolster Natural Climate Solutions in the forest and agriculture sector and will almost certainly create new jobs as part of a just, sustainable economy.

Further, we are pleased to see that the government’s commitment highlight the importance of Indigenous leadership and support for communities that are at higher risk from the impacts of climate change.

“Tackling climate change through actions to protect, manage, and restore forests, grasslands, agricultural lands, and wetlands will result in avoided and captured greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,” said Archer. “Ongoing partnerships with crown governments, Indigenous governments, provincial governments and the corporate sector are critical to furthering market-based approaches, and to securing the financing that has the potential to make nature-based climate solutions a reality.”

The Fall Economic Statement builds on the potential of Bill C12 - An Act respecting transparency and accountability in Canada’s efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050. This legislation takes the important step of putting into law Canada’s ambitious climate change targets and rightfully highlights the role nature-based solutions can play in mitigating Canada’s current level of emissions.

Nature United will continue our work to support Indigenous-led conservation and advance nature-based climate solutions. We know from experience that partnership is at the core of meaningful action. Policymakers, Indigenous leaders and communities, ranchers, farmers, foresters, and the corporate sector are all critical to reaching Canada’s ambitious targets. We look forward to sharing our expertise to enable adoption, implementation and funding of Natural Climate Solutions.