Nature is our most precious resource, and we need to do more to protect it. Biodiversity -  the animals, plants, and ecosystems that we value and rely upon - is at risk in Canada and around the world.

Canada is taking action through historic investments in conservation. We are doubling the amount of nature we protect across our lands and oceans.

Canada is also leading the way to ambitious action. In April 2019, Canada hosted the Nature Champions Summit in Montréal. Nature champions from around the world came together to build a new coalition to drive global nature protection forward. Participants included:

• governments
• major philanthropists
• business leaders
• non-governmental organizations
• youth
• Indigenous leaders
• United Nations agencies

The Summit focused on:

• identifying and exploring opportunities to enhance ambition on nature protection
• strengthening Indigenous partnerships and incorporating Indigenous wisdom in stewardship activities
• recognizing the synergies and co-benefits from actions on nature, oceans, and climate change
• exploring innovative financing for nature-based solutions

The Summit was also an opportunity to develop new partnerships, and a platform for important nature announcements from participants.

The Summit kicked off a series of meetings to build momentum toward 2020, when leaders from 190 countries will meet in China for the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. One week after the Summit, environment ministers attended the 2019 G7 meetings in France, where nature protection was a key theme.

Learn more about the outcomes of the Nature Champions Summit.

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