Honourable Steven Guilbeault
Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mediaplanet sat down with the Honourable Steven Guilbeault to learn about some of the most pressing environmental challenges we face today and how they’re working with all stakeholders to drive our transition to a sustainable, just, and secure Canada for future generations.
How is the government leveraging nature-based solutions such as natural carbon sinks to address climate change? Additionally, how does the government plan to protect and restore natural ecosystems in Canada by supporting conservation efforts?
The year 2023 marks another big step forward, heralded by the global biodiversity conference, COP15, hosted in Montreal this past December. Coming out of COP15, Canada and the world are working toward conserving 30 per cent of lands and waters by 2030, as agreed upon in the historic Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework. The dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss are intrinsically connected and we must tackle them together. Since 2015, Canada has committed over $120 billion and introduced over 100 measures to support climate and environmental action, and nature-based climate solutions are an important part of our plan. Wetlands, forests and grasslands work to store carbon, filter our water, handle coastal storm surges, deter flooding, shade our communities, and more. Nature is one of our greatest allies in the fight against climate change, helping protect communities against its impacts. Knowing nature is one of our greatest allies, we are continuing our work on conservation alongside the public and private sector to reach 30 per cent — the minimum required to effectively halt and reserve biodiversity loss. That’s why we’re finalizing Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy, supported by the Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan, to help build healthy communities and strong economies for generations to come. We are embracing the power of nature to reduce the effects of, and adapt to climate change, all while supporting biodiversity, by investing more than $5 billion over 10 years (2021–2031) in the Natural Climate Solutions Fund. The Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund initiative is to reduce Canada’s net GHG emissions using natural climate solutions, while providing benefits for biodiversity and human well-being. NSCSF activities during 2021-22 to 2030-31 will seek to reduce 2-4 megatons of GHGs per year from 2030 to 2050 and onwards. Ecosystems will continue to sequester carbon for many years after the initial investment ends. When we protect and invest in nature, we can allow it to protect us.
The year 2023 marks another big step forward, heralded by the global biodiversity conference, COP15, hosted in Montreal this past December. Coming out of COP15, Canada and the world are working toward conserving 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030 as agreed upon in the historic Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss are intrinsically connected and we must tackle them together. Since 2015, Canada has committed over $120 billion and introduced over 100 measures to support climate and environmental action, and nature-based climate solutions are an important part of our plan. Wetlands, forests and grasslands work to store carbon, filter our water, handle coastal storm surges, deter flooding, shade our communities and more. Nature is one of our greatest allies in the fight against climate change, helping protect communities against its impacts. Knowing nature is one of our greatest allies, we are continuing our work on conservation alongside the public and private sector to reach 30%, the minimum required to effectively halt and reserve biodiversity loss.
That’s why we’re finalizing Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy, supported by the Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan, to help build healthy communities and strong economies for generations to come. We are embracing the power of nature to reduce the effects of, and adapt to climate change, all while supporting biodiversity, by investing more than $5 billion over 10 years (2021–2031) in the Natural Climate Solutions Fund.
The Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund initiative is to reduce Canada’s net GHG emissions using natural climate solutions, while providing benefits for biodiversity and human well-being. NSCSF activities during 2021-22 to 2030-31 will seek to reduce 2-4 megatons of GHGs per year from 2030 to 2050 and onwards. Ecosystems will continue to sequester carbon for many years after the initial investment ends. When we protect and invest in nature, we can allow it to protect us.
What is your message to Canadian businesses and industries about the importance of investing in nature-based solutions to help reduce their carbon footprint?
The Government of Canada is laying the groundwork, in collaboration with businesses across the country, to achieve a more prosperous and more sustainable Canada.
Over the last ten years the conversation has evolved from not whether and how to reduce emissions, but how fast can we do it and how we can position a net-zero transition as an economic advantage. And we have reached a tipping point with technology: Renewable energy, like solar or wind, can be cheaper than convention alternatives; electric vehicles will be at price parity with internal combustion engines in a matter of years, and already we are at almost 10% of all new cars that are electric; heat pump technologies for home heating are at the stage where large scale adoption is very commercially viable; hydrogen power is already being installed in many industrial facilities for things like steel and aluminum production.
At the same time, we now have a much better understanding of the magnitude of changes that are needed to reach net-zero by 2050. All sectors of the economy now understand that moving forward, what is critical is eliminating emission sources to the greatest extent possible, and we see widespread commitment in doing so among the private and financial sectors.
We’ve made some major announcements to create those incentives:
Fall economic statement we announced a 30% tax credit for clean energy that applies to renewable power generation, energy storage, low-carbon heating and cooling equipment like heat pumps, and industrial zero-emission vehicles. We announced a 40% tax credit for adoption of clean hydrogen. Budget 2022 included a tax credit for CCUS that will cost $2.6 billion over five years and about $1.5 billion every year to 2030. $15 billion Canada Growth Fund will be used to foster Canadian clean energy innovation.
Canada can do this. Investing in a clean economy opens the doors to an unprecedented degree of opportunity, and it will also command an unprecedented commitment to innovation. As a government, we must think very carefully and send clear signals to help shape long-term market decisions.
This is true for large household decisions, like car purchases and heating systems. It is particularly important for major capital projects, which can lock in capital for decades. The race is on. Canada has all the required components to run it well and win, but run it we must.
How will your government work with Indigenous communities to support their role in protecting and restoring natural ecosystems, and to ensure that their rights and knowledge are respected in these efforts?
Indigenous Peoples have long been leaders in environmental stewardship, sustainable development, and management of natural resources. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Indigenous-led conservation initiatives, such as the Indigenous Guardians and Indigenous Protection and Conservation Areas, to help protect ecosystems, species, and cultures for future generations. The voices and leadership of Indigenous Peoples as a whole are vital to the creation and implementation of nature-based solutions.
Indigenous Guardians are the “eyes and ears on the ground” in Indigenous territories. They monitor ecological health, maintain cultural sites and protect sensitive areas and species. It is clear that nature-based solutions must advance, and not diminish, indigenous rights.
By focusing on nature, we’re also on a journey of Indigenous reconciliation. Indigenous-led conservation is one of the most important pathways for achieving Canada’s biodiversity goals and sustaining long-term conservation and climate gains. At COP15, the Government of Canada announced up to $800 million to work with up to four Indigenous partners to identify and realize shared goals for protecting nature, halting biodiversity loss and realizing co-benefits.
Co-management agreements with Indigenous communities will also help us develop 10 new national parks by 2025. Our goal is to establish 10 new national marine conservation areas (NMCAs) by 2025, conserving an additional 4.1 per cent of Canada’s waters within five years.
And we’re ensuring nature is brought closer to Canadians by committing to 15 new national urban parks in metropolitan areas by 2030.
