Each week we hear corporations announcing net-zero carbon targets with nature playing an important role. When its employees spoke up, Amazon announced a net-zero target and US$100-million to restore forests and wetlands. The global airline industry is setting emission reduction targets and offsetting carriers’ remaining carbon. Maple Leaf Foods and Canadian Natural Resources have comprehensive plans including nature-based solutions to support their own net-zero commitments.
How can Canada lead? We can continue to set high standards for sustainable forestry, protect and restore our southern forests, wetlands and grasslands, and work with Indigenous and local communities in the north to conserve large areas of natural habitats. We could collaborate with our world-leading banks, insurers and pension funds to create deal structures that are compelling to our landowners. We might even create a carbon offset market that’s trusted, transparent and efficient.
One challenge is ensuring we don’t sacrifice emissions reductions by enabling organizations and individuals to simply offset their footprints. But set aside the challenges. We should jump on this now. If one large, sparsely populated country can demonstrate how to leverage nature for solutions, we can improve the planet’s prospects and create a new, clean industry at the same time.
Albert Einstein famously said that “we shall need a substantially new way of thinking if humanity is to survive." He also said “look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better." When it comes to nature, Canada is poised to lead the way.
globebusiness yes.. now they get it.. plant trees save the planet.. we keep ripping them out of the earth to build factories and houses.. we need to put them back
globebusiness Trudeau showed up late for that event, kept people waiting then shuffled in, grabbed a shovel to shovel his BS. Got his photo taken and Then he left.
globebusiness Why are you using a photo of the laziest and most ill-equipped PM in Canadian history? More political leg humping?
globebusiness What a lousy article.
globebusiness good if people with different orientations go towards the same goal