Building on the International Commitment, the Canadian Philanthropy Climate Commitment calls on all funders in this land, regardless of their mission, to come together and commit to act on climate change.

The 2021 IPCC report serves as a ‘code red’ for humanity. Canada is the third largest per capita emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the world and our emissions reductions lag behind. We recognize that these trends are rooted in the reality that the Canadian economy has been significantly fueled by the extraction of natural resources.  The exploitation of Indigenous land has amplified this reality.

At the same time, Canada is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world. We are  already experiencing the drastic impacts of climate change, from wildfires in the West, and  droughts in the Prairies, to melting permafrost in the North and storms in the East. These impacts will continue to amplify and impact the wellbeing of  our communities and our entire planet. We thus recognize that we have a moral and practical responsibility to do our fair share to reduce global emissions.

The transition to a socially just and ecologically sustainable world presents an opportunity and an imperative for us to invest in building inclusive, local well-being economies that generate long-term community wealth, are regenerative and sustainable, and fundamentally improve the lives of large numbers of people. We must work to ensure that those most vulnerable to climate impacts, particularly Indigenous, marginalized and racialized groups and communities, are invited to the table, and are given the resources they need to respond to the climate crisis.

We recognize that Canada has much to learn from Indigenous stewardship and we support the essential role of Indigenous leadership by acknowledging Indigenous title, rights, and sovereignty. Notably, Indigenous Peoples comprise 5% of the global population, but protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity – demonstrating the critical climate mitigation and life-sustaining value of Indigenous stewardship. Uplifting Indigenous-led climate action is a pivotal act of respect and a step toward justice.

We recognize our fundamental obligations to Indigenous Peoples — First Nations, Inuit and Métis – and actions under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as well as our commitments as a signatory to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. A community’s choice to give, or withhold, their free, prior and informed consent to a project or activity planned to take place on their land is a recognized right of Indigenous Peoples under both national and international law. Upholding inherent and Treaty Rights and Indigenous sovereignty  is critical for climate action.

We recognize that different provinces, territories, municipalities and communities across the country face different circumstances and impacts. Nevertheless, we must work together as a federation to deliver bold, ambitious change from coast to coast to coast. Philanthropic actors in Canada are well-positioned to initiate system shifts required to both move our greenhouse gas emissions in the opposite direction as well as support and empower communities in this transition.

With the above background serving as an urgent Call to Action, we invite Canadian funders to support the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change.