Nov 7, 2021 | International
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Climate change and biodiversity loss are intrinsically connected, which is why a coordinated approach to tackle them both is essential. Nature-based solutions, such as conserving carbon-rich natural areas and restoring wetlands, can help countries tackle both these challenges.
To address these interconnected crises, Canada will allocate at least 20 percent of its $5.3 billion climate finance commitment to nature-based climate solutions with biodiversity co‑benefits in developing countries over the next five years. This represents more than CA$1 billion. Earlier this week, the Prime Minister announced at COP26 that Canada would provide $15 million in support for the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance and the Global Fund for Coral Reefs. This funding will help developing countries build domestic capacity to take climate action, build resilience, and advance adaptation efforts while also increasing biodiversity.
As part of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People and the Global Ocean Alliance, Canada is leading the way to build support for an international target to protect 30 percent of our lands and oceans by 2030.
Canada’s climate finance commitments have already helped countries take nature-based action through initiatives such as the Pacific Initiative for Biodiversity, Climate Change and Resilience (Kiwa Initiative). This initiative is helping to make Pacific island ecosystems, economies and communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
Canada has been clear that we cannot solve the climate crisis without nature, nor solve the nature crisis without stabilizing the climate. Canada is championing the development of an ambitious post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework with clear targets and actions as a way of focusing the world’s collective efforts to stem the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of nature. Canada will continue its work with international partners towards a new Global Biodiversity Framework to be finalized at the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity COP15 next spring in Kunming, China.
“Canada’s new commitment to nature-based climate solutions in the poorest and most vulnerable countries makes it explicit: the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss must be tackled together. A nature-positive, net-zero future is the key to the fight against climate change. By all working together, we can provide nature with the support it needs for our collective survival.”
– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
“Nature is our ally to combat both climate change and biodiversity loss. Nature-based climate solutions are particularly important for developing countries that are at the highest risk yet are the least resourced to act. That’s why, when Canada stepped up and doubled its climate pledge to $5.3 billion over five years, it also increased its support for nature and nature-based solutions for those who need it most.”
– The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
“Canada was privileged to play a leading role in international climate finance, focusing on the twin crises or climate change and biodiversity. We have a responsibility to support the developing world in building a carbon-neutral, nature-positive world, and Canada, along with many international partners, is stepping up.”
– The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources
At the 2021 G7 Leaders’ Summit, the Prime Minister announced a doubling of Canada’s international climate finance commitment to $5.3 billion over the next five years.
Recent global assessments highlighted that biodiversity is declining at a rate unprecedented in human history, with up to one million species at risk of extinction. Climate change is one of the five main drivers of biodiversity loss.
Domestically, Canada is investing over $4 billion through the Natural Climate Solutions Fund to plant two billion trees and restore and improve the management of forests, grasslands, wetlands and agricultural lands. These actions will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration, while providing a host of biodiversity, climate change adaptation and human well-being co-benefits.
As part of its nature‑based solutions, the Government of Canada has also committed to promoting the rights, knowledge, and leadership of Indigenous Peoples in conservation, including by supporting Indigenous-led stewardship initiatives. These initiatives provide important cultural, health, and physical benefits for Indigenous communities, while supporting healthy ecosystems that provide conservation and climate benefits for all Canadians.
Nov 3, 2021 | International
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Climate change is a global crisis that requires global action to help those most in need. Today at the COP26 climate meeting in Glasgow, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, attended the African Adaptation Acceleration Summit where he announced that Canada will contribute $37.5 million to the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), up to $10 million to the Adaptation Fund that will support vulnerable countries against the devastating impacts of climate change, and up to $10 million for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network.
With the additional support to the LDCF, this Fund will continue to address the adaptation needs of the poorest and most vulnerable countries through critical, on-the-ground projects related to water, agriculture and food security, disaster risk management and prevention, and fragile ecosystems. The Adaptation Fund supports projects and programs that help vulnerable communities in developing countries to adapt to climate change. Increased funding to the NAP Global Network will continue to build on results achieved to date and advance gender responsive capacity building. Funding for these important initiatives comes from Canada’s $5.3 billion international climate finance commitment over the next five years. Minister Guilbeault also announced that Canada will increase its provision of funding towards climate adaptation to a minimum of 40 percent.
Adaptation finance is critical to the success of COP26, particularly for vulnerable countries in Africa still struggling from the COVID-19 pandemic while seeking to build back in a more climate-resilient manner. So far, the speed and scale of climate finance in Africa have been insufficient to meet the urgent needs of climate change impacts, such as extreme heat and drought.
Canada’s previous international climate finance commitment of $2.65 billion has been delivered over the past five years and projects are expected to result in benefits including reducing or preventing 222 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, helping 5.9 million people adapt to the effects of climate change in vulnerable communities, as well as contributing to the mobilization of additional climate finance investments from the private sector.
“The devastating impacts of climate change are being felt not only in Canada, but all around the world. Developing countries are uniquely vulnerable to extreme weather events linked to climate change. Severe droughts in the Horn of Africa are causing immense suffering and shine a harsh light on the urgent need for collective action on climate adaptation. Climate change is a global challenge that requires bold solutions, and Canada will continue to be there to increase the scope, scale and speed of climate action around the world.”
– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
“Canada recognizes the particular challenges faced by developing countries, especially Least Developed Countries, in adapting to the increasing threats of climate change. That is why we have committed to increasing our support to critical and concrete programs delivered by our partners on the ground, including in Africa. This will directly help communities most at risk adapt to climate change and build resilience the impacts of climate change.”
– The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development
Joanna Sivasankaran
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
819-790-1907
Joanna.Sivasankaran@ec.gc.ca
Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free)
media@ec.gc.ca
Sep 21, 2021 | International
The $200 million On-Farm Climate Action Fund (2021-2024) is one of the many important new initiatives being undertaken to promote environmental sustainability and economic resiliency in the agriculture sector.
The $200 million On-Farm Climate Action Fund (2021-2024) is one of the many important new initiatives being undertaken to promote environmental sustainability and economic resiliency in the agriculture sector.
Climate change is expected to compound many of the environmental challenges and risks associated with agricultural production, affecting including water quantity and quality, soil health, and biodiversity. Canada’s Changing Climate Report indicates that warming in Canada is approximately double the global average and even higher in Canada’s northern regions.
Taking immediate action against climate change is key to exceeding Canada’s 2030 emission reductions target, and setting the foundation for a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. The benefits of these actions to Canada’s economy and environment are clear, and producers are key partners in implementing climate solutions.
The On-Farm Climate Action Fund will support producers in adopting beneficial management practices (BMPs) that reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) and store carbon, specifically nitrogen management, cover cropping, and rotational grazing practices. These practices also provide other environmental benefits such as improved biodiversity and soil health.
Many producers have already begun implementing these and other BMPs. The Fund will address barriers to wider adoption, including up-front implementation costs, lack of risk protection, minimal or delayed returns on investment and limited availability of information and agronomic services.
The Fund will be distributed through delivery partners. Recipient organizations will propose ways in which that funding can be delivered, based on their experience with participating producers.
Activities eligible for funding include:
Nitrogen management: agronomic services to develop farm-specific nutrient management plans, equipment modifications for fertilizer application in fields, and soil sampling and analysis.
Cover cropping: payment-per-acre to cover adoption or related costs such as seeds and equipment.
Rotational gazing: agronomic services to develop grazing management plans, interior cross fencing, water system infrastructure, legume and forage seeds.
Other activities to support BMP adoption, like outreach, education, and training, will also be considered.
The Fund is part of the Government of Canada’s Agricultural Climate Solutions initiative under the Natural Climate Solutions Fund (NCSF). The NCSF is implemented by Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
To request the call for proposals form, please email aafc.acs-sac.aac@agr.gc.ca. The application process will run until September 26, 2021.
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Helping farmers to reduce GHGs and improve resiliency to climate change
Oliver Anderson
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
oliver.anderson@agr.gc.ca
613-462-4327
Jun 30, 2021 | International
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canadians are already feeling the impacts of climate change through more frequent and extreme weather events, including heat waves, wildfires, floods and droughts.
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Meteorological Service is continuing to warn Canadians about a dangerous and unprecedented heat wave, which is expected to persist in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and parts of the Northwest Territories this week. This event is already shattering longstanding temperature records, especially in British Columbia.
This severe weather event is bringing record temperatures well above 35°C (some exceeding 45°C) in several areas of western Canada this week. These extreme daytime highs are expected to persist well above normal right through July 1. Furthermore, the nighttime lows will not drop enough to bring relief to those in the most impacted areas.
Environment and Climate Change Canada is urging western Canadians to heed public health warnings and stay hydrated, avoid spending long periods of time outdoors, seek shelter, and check on neighbours and loved ones who may have pre-existing health conditions that make them more susceptible to heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
On June 28, 2021, Lytton, British Columbia, reached an all-time Canadian heat record of 47.9°C, beating the previous day’s record of 46.6°C. These 2021 heatwave temperatures broke the previous record of 45.0°C set in July 1937, in Saskatchewan. Other records broken across British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon and Northwest Territories include 91 daily maximum temperatures and 181 warm overnight low temperatures. Many of these daily records were exceeded by 5–10°C. Some other notable extremes include the following warmest all-time maximum temperatures observed in BC at the following locations:
Cache Creek, BC: 45.0°C (old record 40.1°C in 2015)
Lillooet, BC: 44.8°C (old record 39.8°C in 2015)
Kamloops, BC: 44.0°C (old record 38.2°C in 2015)
Trail, BC: 42.3°C (old record 40.6°C in 2015
Clearwater, BC: 42.3°C (old record 36.9°C in 2015)
Merritt, BC: 42.2°C (old record 38.0°C in 2015)
Osoyoos, BC: 42.0°C (old record 40.9°C in 2015)
Castlegar, BC: 41.5°C (old record 39.7°C in 2015)
Kelowna, BC: 41.5°C (old record 38.1°C in 2015)
Vernon, BC: 41.5°C (old record 37.3°C in 2015)
The extreme heatwave is caused by a significant atmospheric blocking pattern where a massive dome of hot air, reaching high into the atmosphere, remains stagnant over western North America.
Media Relations
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Jun 30, 2021 | Business
to expand on GMs previous climate commitments. Barra also announces the creation of a new $25 million Climate Equity Fund, dedicated to helping close equity gaps in the transition to electric vehicles and other sustainable technology.
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General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which will power everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at https://www.gm.com.
