Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature
by Yasir Naqvi MP, Ottawa Centre
Nature has always been part of Canada’s identity and will be for generations to come. Locally, from Ottawa and Rideau rivers, to the NCC Greenbelt and Gatineau Park, to our tree-lined streets and the Rideau Canal, nature shapes our everyday lives. But it is increasingly under threat from climate change, with real consequences for our communities and our economy. Protecting it is both a responsibility and a necessity. That’s why the federal government has introduced a renewed Nature Strategy to help safeguard our environment and meet our commitment to protect 30 per cent of our land and water by 2030.
This effort is part of a global push. In 2022, at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, Canada joined 195 countries in pledging to protect 30 per cent of the world’s land and water by 2030. This is crucial because nature is disappearing globally, taking with it the natural systems that help shield us from the impacts of climate change. Scientists agree that protecting at least 30 per cent of land, freshwater, and oceans by 2030 are essential to tackle both biodiversity loss and climate change.
Last month, Prime Minister Mark Carney launched a new nature strategy to protect Canada’s natural environment. The strategy, “A Force of Nature: Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature,” will invest $3.8 billion to protect and restore critical habitats, ensure industrial strategies complement our conservation efforts, and mobilize new capital for nature.
Protecting Nature in Canada
The first component of the strategy focuses on protecting nature here at home. Over $1.6 billion will support land and freshwater conservation, and $444 million will protect marine areas, safeguarding more than 1.6 million km²— that is, over six times the size of the United Kingdom. In partnership with Parks Canada, we will create at least 10 new marine protected areas, 10 new national parks and freshwater conservation areas, and 15 new urban parks. We will also support Indigenous-led conservation with over $230 million for Guardian Programs, helping to create meaningful local jobs. These efforts will raise terrestrial conservation from 14 per cent to 30 per cent and marine protection from 15 per cent to 28 per cent by 2030.
Building Canada Well
The second component of our Nature Strategy focuses on building Canada sustainably, because we cannot protect our economy without protecting nature. By mapping carbon- and biodiversity-rich landscapes, we can take a smarter approach to conservation and project planning, giving investors and regulators the tools they need to reduce environmental impacts, avoid delays, and promote responsible development. To protect fish and their habitats, we are investing over $326 million to offset development impacts, along with $283 million to identify priority habitats and help species at risk recover. The Canada Water Agency will work with Indigenous, provincial, and territorial partners to create Canada’s first National Water Security Strategy, protecting freshwater for our communities’ prosperity, and security.
Valuing Nature and Mobilizing Capital
Building on these efforts at home, the final component of the strategy focuses on valuing and mobilizing capital for nature. Public-private collaboration is essential to attract investment, and innovative financing models in Canada are helping close the gap. An Expert Taskforce will recommend ways to boost private investment and integrate nature’s value into decision-making. Already, at least $1.5 billion in private funding has been leveraged. Mobilizing these investments is crucial to protecting ecosystems and securing a prosperous future for generations to come.
Local Action to Protect Nature
A strong national strategy works best when we lift up local voices, especially the young people who will inherit our planet. That’s why locally, as your MP, my team and I are excited to have launched our first Ottawa Centre Environmental Youth Council. Young people will disproportionately feel the impacts of climate change in their lifetime and deserve a platform to engage with policymakers and help make a real difference in our community. If you live or go to school in Ottawa Centre and would like to get involved, we would love to hear from you.
Protecting nature benefits Canadians today and our youth for future generations, yet we are not doing this for ourselves alone. As one of the most nature-rich countries on Earth, our actions at home has global consequences. By upholding our commitment to protect 30 per cent of our land and waters by 2030, we help preserve a significant share of the planet’s remaining intact ecosystems. In a fragmented world, we are bridging divides and inspiring other countries to follow our lead, showing that pragmatic, partnership-based conservation can meet the urgency of the moment.
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