Opportunity
We are at a critical climate threshold. From the 2016 Fort McMurray forest fires, to droughts in many countries, to melting Arctic sea ice, we see increasing signs that humans are warming the planet and upsetting the balance that sustains life.
Recent government, marketplace and philanthropic sector changes in Canada have opened doors for strategic climate and energy work. It is no longer a question of whether we should take action for a low-carbon future, but how. Active, sustained collaboration from all parts of society, including philanthropy, is needed. By harnessing the power of collaboration and social innovation, we can move on the opportunities presented by a green economy and ensure a sustainable future for all people.
Our Approach
Canada’s challenge is to broadly shift, as quickly as possible, our energy systems and how our economy functions. Many actors are essential in driving this change, including municipal, provincial and federal governments, the private sector, civil society organizations and think tanks.
Our goal is to help ensure the long-term ecological health of the planet, while building social equitySocial equity: making sure everyone has equal access to community resources and opportunities such as housing, medical treatment, education, policing and transportation. and resilience. We can achieve this by encouraging low-carbon models in the corporate, community and public spheres, and by supporting effective national and regional climate and energy policies. Promising areas for development include energy efficiency, community energy systemsCommunity energy systems: networks for local production and distribution of low-carbon and renewable heat and power. and renewablesRenewables: energy that is collected from renewable resources, which are naturally replenished on a human timescale -- such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat.. Using our powers of convening, granting and investing, we aspire to test and scale innovations that accelerate the shift to a low-carbon economy.
Focus Areas
How We Support Change
Recent Grants & Investments
Impact & Lessons Learned
RENEW
RENEW aims to promote the long-term ecological health of the planet by encouraging low-carbon models in the corporate, community and public spheres, and by supporting effective national and regional climate and energy policies.
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