Opportunity

Climate science warns that we only have until 2030 to cut global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in half if we want to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The impacts are widespread and worsening: wildfires and flooding are disrupting communities; insect infestations and droughts are devastating prairie farmers; and warming oceans are destroying salmon runs and Canada’s North is facing the loss of up to 70% of current infrastructure due to melting permafrost. The Canadian Medical Association is calling climate change the public health priority of our time, and reports mounting public health costs associated with heat-related conditions, such as cardiorespiratory illness, infectious disease outbreaks and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Canada’s GHG emissions have been increasing since 2009. We are not on track to meet our obligations under the UNFCCC Paris Agreement to achieve a net-zero carbon economy by mid-century. By implementing ambitious and innovative climate solutions across all economic sectors to rapidly reduce carbon pollution, we can build more livable communities, grow our economy and improve quality of life for all.

Our Approach

Our theory of change is: by applying a social justice framework to our granting and investments, and by advancing systemic change, we can contribute to Canada transitioning to a net-zero carbon economy in a way that ensures productive, equitable outcomes for all. This also includes global equity, meaning that Canada will contribute its fair share of the global efforts required to keep the global temperature rise below 1.5C. Canada can and needs to do a lot more.

The Foundation wants to support those who are currently marginalized or excluded from the transition to a net-zero carbon economy, and support those who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

The solutions needed to tackle climate change should and can also improve health outcomes, reduce income inequality, advance Indigenous rights, address energy poverty, create good jobs for Canadians, improve the resiliency of our food production and allow Canadian companies to seize new market share in the global climate economy.

Note: In this context, we will achieve net-zero carbon economy when any remaining human-caused greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) are balanced out by activities removing carbon from the atmosphere in a process known as carbon removal. First and foremost, human-caused emissions — like those from fossil-fuel production and its use in homes, transportation, farming and industry — should be reduced as close to zero as possible. Any remaining GHGs would be balanced with an equivalent amount of carbon removal — for example, by restoring forests, or sequestering carbon in soil.

Impact Areas

Innovative climate mitigation solutions are being implemented through effective collaboration among all sectors of society.

All sectors of society can contribute to reducing carbon emissions. We support projects that address systemic barriers to reducing carbon emissions such as effective climate communications and public policy changes.

We will support organizations and coalitions advancing climate mitigation projects in a collaborative manner. Specifically, we require that organizations and coalitions communicate the economic or societal sector they are operating in, quantify the emissions reduction potential associated with that sector and how their project advances a pathway to net-zero by 2050.  Sectors may include renewable energy generation, energy retrofit of buildings, sustainable mobility solutions, regenerative and climate resilient agriculture, training and other transition support for labour force in those sectors.

The inclusion of marginalized, racialized, underrepresented or vulnerable people ensures that climate solutions deliver equitable and sustainable outcomes for all.

An equitable transition to a net-zero carbon economy requires that those individuals, groups and populations that have been traditionally excluded, marginalized or underrepresented in climate solutions, and those who are most vulnerable to the impact of climate change, be resourced and empowered to participate in climate solutions that affect them.

We want to strengthen organizations who represent marginalized and vulnerable groups and support a greater diversity of individuals to participate in the net-zero carbon economy transition.

This may include organizations representing:

  • Racialized individuals
  • Youth
  • New Canadians
  • Women
  • Workers in fossil fuel industries
  • Communities who depend on fossil fuel industries for employment and tax revenues
  • Northern communities who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change
  • Canadians facing energy poverty
  • Indigenous communities
  • Agricultural producers impacted by drought, flooding, insect borne diseases.

Sustainable finance tools and knowledge are increasing the flow of private capital to fund an equitable transition.

Canada cannot reach a net-zero carbon economy without significant investments of capital from the private sector. In addition, climate change poses significant risks to Canada’s financial sector including physical risks of intensifying weather events, the financial risks of stranded assets, and wider risks to the system of increased volatility and unpredictability.

This transition requires major shifts in the flow of  capital investment and risk management across different sectors, including renewable energy, sustainable mobility systems, building energy efficiency, climate resilient agriculture and clean technologies.

Currently, knowledge and data gaps in Canada prevent asset managers, public pension funds managers, financial institutions from making these sustainable finance investment decisions at the scale that is needed. Meanwhile, the rest of the world is moving ahead rapidly in strengthening climate risk disclosure practices, decarbonizing their investment portfolios and attracting private capital investment in their clean technology sector. Canadian companies need to seize these new market opportunities and attract capital investors in Canada if we are to remain competitive and prosper in the new global climate economy.

The Foundation will support projects that advance climate risk disclosure across the financial sector and that address specific barriers, data and knowledge gaps needed for financial institutions, asset managers, pension fund boards and corporate boards to advance sustainable finance.

How we support change

Funder

We provide charitable grants to not-for-profit organizations advancing climate solutions in Canada. We also leverage philanthropic investments by contributing to two funders’ collaborative, the Low Carbon Funders Group and the

We provide charitable grants to not-for-profit organizations advancing climate solutions in Canada. We also leverage philanthropic investments by contributing to two funders’ collaborative, the Low Carbon Funders Group and the Clean Economy Fund, and we are open to new partnerships focused on climate solutions.

Investor

We are making a conscious effort to explore impact investment opportunities that accelerate and amplify the impact of our granting and initiatives. We are particularly interested in mobilizing financial resources

We are making a conscious effort to explore impact investment opportunities that accelerate and amplify the impact of our granting and initiatives. We are particularly interested in mobilizing financial resources and testing new financial models in the Foundation’s initiatives.

Strategic Learning Partner

We are a member of Environment Funders Canada and actively contribute to the philanthropic sector learning how to best support organizations working on climate change. We strive to learn from

We are a member of Environment Funders Canada and actively contribute to the philanthropic sector learning how to best support organizations working on climate change. We strive to learn from our grantees of challenges and opportunities to further reduce carbon emissions in Canada in an inclusive and equitable manner.

Convenor

We often convene other foundations to learn about initiatives or projects that we believe will make a difference, and we are always interested in participating in groups convened by others!

Advocate

From time to time we support calls to action for public policy change, changes to philanthropy and engage directly with governments to accelerate the transition to a net-zero carbon economy.

Recent Funding & Investments

Indigenous Climate Action Network (ICA)

The Indigenous Climate Action Network will use this grant to deliver climate action training to Indigenous communities and hire a youth engagement coordinator.

$ 300,000

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Climate Action Network Canada, Réseau Action Climate Canada (CAN-Rac)

With this funding CAN-Rac, a national network of over 100 organizations, will advance the Supporting a Just Transition for all Canadians project, which involves just transition planning across strategic economic [...]

$ 400,000

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Canada’s Climate Law Initiative (CCLI), University of British Columbia

The CCLI educates corporate boards on responsible governance in the era of climate change, with a focus on fiduciary responsibility and climate risk disclosure. A grant from the Foundation will [...]

$ 450,000

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West Coast Environmental Law Research Foundation (WCEL)

WCEL’s Climate Law In Our Hands initiative will continue to work with community partners across BC to press local governments to ensure that global fossil fuel companies share local climate [...]

$ 300,000

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Shift Action for Pension Wealth (MakeWay)

The Shift Action for Pension Wealth project will focus on creating a self-sustaining pension holder movement supporting action and accountability by pension funds on climate risk.

$ 300,000

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