Leading Country Climate NGOs: Environmental Defence, Canada

Environmental Defence has been a leading non-partisan Canadian environmental advocacy organization for 35 years. It works with government, industry, and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate, and healthy communities.  Major issues this organization has tackled include Canada’s $18.6 billion in fossil fuel subsidies, carbon capture and storage not being the solution, the need to end plastics pollution, toxic chemicals and toxic waste spills, addressing transit cuts, and more as facilitated and monitored by a team of 43 staff.

During 2023, Environmental Defence raised over $5 million as follows:                                        Corporations    $141,668

Foundations     $2,653,357

Governments    $3,000

Individuals    $2,569,107

Other               $33,235

Totalling        $5,400,367

After expenses, Environmental Defence had a surplus before other income of $921,201. Monies were directed to campaigns in 2023, including 176,000 calls and letters to government and industry, 17 key environmental protection wins, and engagement of its 336,000 members.  Some of these protection wins included new rules from the federal government to end public financing for overseas oil and gas projects, the release of the first comprehensive road map to a sustainable financial system for Canada setting expectations for regulating climate finance, success at COP27 pushing Canada to change its position and call for a phase-out of fossil fuels, lobbying for a continued strong cap on oil and gas emissions including a petition signed by over 80,000 Canadians, as well as defending Canada’s Impact Assessment Act at the Supreme Court level –legislation that considers climate impacts of new projects such as mines, fossil fuel extraction and pipelines.

This organization has also been successful recently in working with community groups and businesses in Ontario to oppose new and expanded fossil gas-powered plants and report on and educate the public on the issue of toxic tailing waste from oil production in Alberta.

Part of Environmental Defence’s agenda and wish list for 2024 is the elimination of all Canadian fossil fuel subsidies and public financing, including carbon capture and hydrogen, and Canada’s introduction of ambitious rules to cut emissions from the oil and gas sector.

Environmental Defence is a vital member of the Canada Climate Action Network, a network of over 150 organizations working toward climate justice. Climate Scorecard Canada is also a proud network member and has had past correspondences with Aliénor Rougeot, Defence’s Program Manager for Climate and Energy.

A recent April 2024 report from Environmental Defence discusses why investments in ‘natural’ gas supported by some members of Canada’s government and the finance sector as sustainable are not compatible with limiting global warming to below 1.5C degrees. These progressive statements on Canada’s path to a sustainable future are why Climate Scorecard would welcome a partnership with Environmental Defence in future efforts to reduce climate change impacts.

This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Canada Country Manager Diane Szoller.

 

 

Tim Gray is the Executive Director. He can be reached by email at tgray@environmentaldefence.ca or by phone at (416) 323-9521. Environmental Defence is located at 33 Cecil Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1N1.

 

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