For immediate release – November 23, 2021 

Unceded Algonquin Territory

“Today’s speech from the throne rightly recognizes that our Earth is in danger yet fails to connect the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change and falls short of demonstrating specific ambition for Canada’s Nature priorities,” said Graham Saul, Executive Director of Nature Canada. 

“Nature Canada welcomes the throne speech commitment to protect land and ocean, advance reconciliation, strengthen partnership for Indigenous-led conservation and develop a National Adaptation Strategy to address the impacts of climate change. Missing from today’s speech, however, is the election platform commitment to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 and ensure nature’s full recovery by 2050.  

Reversing nature loss is an essential priority. Action must include protection of at least 30 percent of land and ocean, restoration of damaged ecosystems, nature-based climate solutions, and advancement of environmental justice, particularly for racialized communities.

The omission of these major Nature-positive priorities from the speech comes after 200 nature organizations from across Canada sent an open letter to the Prime Minister detailing why ambitious action to stop and reverse nature loss must be one of the first priorities for this session of Parliament. Nature Canada is eager to see increased ambition and concrete action for Nature in the new cabinet’s forthcoming ministerial mandate letters.”