Sign the Parliamentary petition urging the federal government to establish a new biodiversity accountability law.
Across Canada, nature and wildlife are facing intense pressures – including the loss of forests and wildlife habitat, harmful industrial activities, pollution and climate change. Despite international commitments to safeguard biodiversity, our current laws and policies simply aren’t cutting it when it comes to protecting the species and places we hold dear.
In December 2022, Canada joined global allies in signing the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework at the Convention on Biological Diversity in Montréal (COP15), which sets binding international targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by protecting 30% of land and water by 2030. At the conference, federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault also stated his intention to introduce new legislation that enshrines accountability for achieving those targets here in Canada.
Despite these commitments, the government has not yet announced a firm timeline for delivering this key nature law.
With the support of West Coast Environmental Law, Greenpeace Canada and Ecojustice, MP Richard Cannings sponsored a Parliamentary petition – Petition e-4673 – calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to follow through on the government’s promises and introduce federal biodiversity legislation in early 2024.
A federal biodiversity accountability law, developed in partnership with Indigenous peoples, will be essential to meeting our nature protection goals.
Similar to Canada’s climate accountability legislation, this new nature law should require the government to establish detailed plans for meeting its biodiversity targets, and regularly report on progress. The legislation must recognize and affirm Indigenous rights and jurisdiction in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and should support Indigenous leadership in nature conservation.
With significant new investments in conservation and Indigenous-led stewardship, Canada has a chance to show leadership in global efforts to protect nature. Enacting biodiversity accountability legislation is our best shot at meeting our commitments and ensuring a healthier future for the species and ecosystems we rely on.
Please join us in taking action: Sign the petition today!
Top photo: Monica Max West via Pixabay