Canada steps up with new funding to protect biodiversity in developing countries

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

December 16, 2022 - Montréal, Quebec - Global Affairs Canada

The vast majority of the world’s biodiversity is found in developing countries, where the greatest impacts of the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change are being felt.

As Canada hosts the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Montréal, Quebec, from December 7 to 19, 2022, it continues to demonstrate its commitment to working with domestic and international partners to protect nature, halt biodiversity loss and build a sustainable future for generations to come. Yesterday, Canada joined like-minded countries to support a joint donor statement that sets out billions of dollars from the international community, including multilateral development banks, to protect and restore nature.

Today, at COP15, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, announced $255 million to help developing countries build a strong future, including by fighting climate change, protecting nature and supporting resilient local economies.

The funding is allocated primarily to the Global Environment Facility—the funding mechanism of the United Nation’s Convention on Biological Diversity—making Canada its 7th-largest donor country. Funding will also go to the Feminist Climate Action in West Africa project; the United Nations Development Programme’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative; and the Moroccan Forestry Strategy. Canada’s support will help developing countries scale up their financing to protect nature and improve climate resilience.

The funding announced today builds on the $350 million in funding announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the beginning of COP15 to support developing countries in advancing biodiversity efforts and to support the implementation of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

The majority of the funding announced today is new, with some coming from Canada’s $1-billion commitment to leverage nature-based climate solutions and contribute to the protection, conservation and restoration of nature, which is part of a 5-year, $5.3-billion climate finance commitment made by Canada in 2021.

Quotes

“Climate change and biodiversity loss know no borders. Canada recognizes the importance of and need for direct engagement among countries and partners across society and local communities if we are to press on together to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.”

- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“Our ambitious nature and conservation goals require equally ambitious financial commitments to achieve them. We have heard from those countries that are stewards of the majority of the world’s biodiversity, but which require assistance to protect it. Canada is saying clearly that we who have the means are ready to help with substantial resources and a plan to reach the goal of protecting the 30% of lands and waters that science tells us are needed for the future of our planet.”

 - Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

“We urgently need to work together to halt and reverse the alarming loss of biodiversity worldwide. We have a shared responsibility to support inclusive climate and biodiversity action in the most vulnerable regions of the world. Canada will continue to take strong action and work with our partners to protect the health of the only planet we call home for ourselves and our communities, as well as for future generations.”

- Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada

Quick facts

  • Canada has supported the Global Environment Facility since it was founded 3 decades ago.

  • In 2021, Canada announced a doubling of its international climate finance funding, from $2.65 billion for fiscal years 2015 to 2021, to $5.3 billion for fiscal years 2021 to 2026.

  • To further strengthen its ability to help developing countries transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient, nature-positive and inclusive sustainable development, Canada also announced that it will: 

    • allocate a minimum of 20% of climate finance funding to projects that leverage nature-based climate solutions and projects that contribute biodiversity co-benefits
    • continue to support women’s leadership and decision-making in climate action and ensure that at least 80% of climate projects integrate gender equality, in line with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy

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Contacts

Adrien Blanchard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Adrien.Blanchard@international.gc.ca

Kaitlin Power
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
819-230-1557
Kaitlin.Power@ec.gc.ca

Haley Hodgson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development
Haley.Hodgson@international.gc.ca

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