Media Contacts
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Jacqueline Nunes
Director of Marketing
Nature United
Email: jacqueline.nunes@natureunited.ca
The following is a statement from Amanda Reed, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Nature United:
“Today, the Government of Canada presented Budget 2021, which made several new commitments to combatting the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. Nature United welcomes the new commitment of nearly $3.3 billion for the protection of oceans, lands and freshwater to help Canada achieve its target of protecting 25% of Canada’s ecosystems by 2025. This funding will support Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and Indigenous Guardians to steward lands and waters. Across Canada, protected areas play a vital role in conserving natural places and the species that live in them, as well as supporting healthy communities.
Nature United is also pleased to see the Government’s increased ambition to tackle the climate crisis. This budget sets out a plan to help achieve greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions reductions of 36% from 2005 levels by 2030, on the way to net-zero emissions by 2050. Building on its $3.9-billion commitment in 2020 to Natural Climate Solutions, the Government is adding an additional $200 million for farmers and ranchers to accelerate emission reductions, “by improving nitrogen management, increasing adoption of cover cropping, and normalizing rotational grazing,” in addition to further investments in science and research.
Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and transitioning to a nature-positive economy will take action by governments, industry, and all Canadians. The Government is investing in this transition with an additional $5 billion for a Net-Zero Accelerator Fund for industry and issuing its inaugural green bond with a $5-billion target for climate and conservation actions.
Nature United is pleased to see the continued momentum from Canadian governments, politicians and the private sector to achieve net-zero emissions and 25% protected areas by 2025. This budget reflects the contributions of the Green Budget Coalition, of which Nature United is proud to be a member. Now, there’s much work to do to translate these commitments into action on the ground, partnering with provinces, territories and Indigenous governments. We look forward to working with these partners to achieve these ambitions for people and nature."
Nature United was founded as a Canadian charity in 2014, building on decades of conservation in Canada. Headquartered in Toronto, the organization has field staff located across the country. Nature United supports Indigenous leadership, sustainable economic development, and science and large-scale conservation, primarily in the Great Bear Rainforest, Clayoquot Sound, the Northwest Territories, and northern Manitoba. Our organization is also working to accelerate Natural Climate Solutions at national and regional scales. To learn more, visit natureunited.ca or follow @natureunited_ca on Twitter.
We are the Canadian affiliate of The Nature Conservancy, a global conservation organization with more than a million members and a diverse team that includes more than 400 scientists. Our global organization works in 76 countries—either directly or through partnerships—to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.
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