Nature Canada Brings Together Over 90 groups Calling for Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Focused on Nature
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Unceded Algonquin Territory – Ottawa, ON – July 13, 2022
Nature, climate, faith, and Indigenous groups from across Canada are urging Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault to put the protection of nature at the centre of the federal government’s forthcoming climate adaptation strategy.
Public consultations on the strategy close this week and the final plan is expected in the fall.
The open letter from nature groups released today urges the federal government to ensure that its climate change adaptation strategy aligns with Canada’s commitment to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030.
“We are speaking with one voice to ensure the government’s plan addresses the threat that climate change poses to all species and ecosystems, upon which our survival depends,” says Graham Saul, Nature Canada’s Executive Director. “This strategy will help define Canada’s climate response and if nature protection and restoration aren’t up front we’ll be repeating the same mistakes that are leading the world towards ecological collapse.”
The letter also outlines short-term actions to protect human communities and natural ecosystems, including increased funding for indigenous-led conservation, investment in natural infrastructure and nature-based solutions, and better protection of ecosystems threatened by climate change.
The release of Canada’s new National Adaptation Strategy later this fall constitutes a key opportunity to further the necessary transformation in our relationship with nature, bringing our economy back into balance with the planet’s natural systems.
The letter points out that healthy forests, grasslands, wetlands, and coastal areas are not only critical habitats for wildlife. These ecosystems are also crucial to protecting human communities from heat waves, droughts, wildfire and intense rainfalls associated with climate change. And, by capturing and storing millions of tonnes of carbon, the preservation of these ecosystems help stop global warming from happening in the first place.
The letter was signed by over 90 nature, climate, faith, and Indigenous groups from across the country including:
Adventure Canada
Against Port Expansion
Alberta Wilderness Association
Alliance for Intergenerational Resilience
Anarres Natural Health
Bert Miller Nature Club
BFC Regina
Biodiversity and Climate Action Collective Niagara
Bird Friendly Hamilton Burlington
Burke Mountain Naturalists
BurlingtonGreen Environmental Association
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment
Canadian Environmental Law Association
Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society (National)
Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society (CPAWS Yukon)
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society of BC
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Northern Alberta
Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation
Climate Action Sarnia Lambton
Climate Caucus
Climate Network Lanark
Conservancy Hornby Island
David Suzuki Foundation
Echo Ecological Enterprises LTD
Ecology Action Centre
Endangered Ecosystems Alliance
EnviroMuslims
ENvironnement JEUnesse
FLAP Canada
For Peat’s Sake – Protecting Northern Saskatchewan Muskegs
Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society
Georgia Strait Alliance
Green 13
Green Communities Canada
Green Teams of Canada
Green Ummah
GreenUP
High Park Nature
Hike Nova Scotia
Hope for Wildlife Society
Imaginons la Péninsule acadienne autrement
Kawartha Wildlife Centre
Land Trust Alliance of British Columbia LTABC
LEAF (Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests)
Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc.
London Environmental Network
Mayne Island Conservancy Society
Mind Your Plastic
Nature NB
Nature Newfoundland and Labrador
Nature Nova Scotia
Nature Québec
Nature Regina
Nature Saskatchewan
Nature Vancouver
Neighbours United
New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance
North American Megadam Resistance Alliance
Ocean Park Beautification Committee
Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance
One School One Farm Shelterbelt Project
Ontario Biodiversity Council
Ontario Nature
Ontario Rivers Alliance
Ontariogreen Conservation Association
Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre
Owen Sound Field Naturalists
Pelee Island Bird Observatory
Public Pastures Public Interest (PPPI)
Réseau de milieux naturels protégés
Saugeen Nature
Sea Smart
Seedlings Forest Education
SEIZE
Sky Harvest Inc.
SNAP Québec
Society for the Protection of Sargeant Bay
Society of Ecological Restoration – Ontario
South Peel Naturalists’ Club
Sustainable Orillia
Target Climate
The Couchiching Conservancy
The Starfish Canada
Toronto Wildlife Centre
Trees Please Winnipeg Coalition
Trumpeter Swan Coalition
Vancouver Avian Research Centre
Vermilion River Stewardship
Water Watchers
Waterloo Region Nature
Wildsight Creston Valley Branch
WWF-Canada
Yukon Conservation Society
Nature Canada is Canada’s voice for nature. For 80 years, Nature Canada has helped protect over 110 million acres of parks and wildlife areas in Canada and countless species. Today, Nature Canada represents a network of over 130,000 members and supporters and more than 1,000 nature organizations.
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For more information contact:
Scott Mullenix
media@naturecanada.ca