THE DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION
The David Suzuki Foundation (DSF) has been a leading non-partisan Canadian environmental advocacy non-profit organization since 1990, headquartered in Vancouver, with offices in Toronto and Montreal.
Through evidence-based research, education and policy analysis, their team works to address climate issues, protect the natural environment, and help create a sustainable Canada by regularly collaborating with non-profit and community organizations, all levels of government, businesses and individuals. Major climate goals include cutting carbon pollution in half by 2030 and eliminating carbon pollution and use of 100% renewable energy by 2050.
Some examples of their efforts include: 2019 Support for 15 youth from six provinces and a territory to stand up for their future and take the federal government to court for contributing to perpetuating climate change.
“Zeroing in on Emissions: Charting Canada’s Clean Power Pathways,” a report published with 10 strategies for Canada to reduce emissions to or near zero by mid-century.
DSF was in court in Regina and Toronto to support Ottawa’s ability to apply effective climate policy solutions nationally. Both cases were decided in the federal government’s (and DSF’s ) favor.
CliMate launched — a chatbot to coach climate conversations, provide innovation to encourage people to talk about climate change, and build skills to listen, be empathic and find common ground.
2020 Montreal C40 Climate Project built a climate plan to become carbon-neutral by 2050. DSF signed off the Climate Advisory Committee’s final submission to the mayor on March 31.
DSF and more than 230 national, provincial and local organizations united to urge Canada’s prime minister to make nature central to a green, just recovery from COVID-19.
Reconciling Ways of Knowing, Indigenous knowledge and science forum begins. These dialogues, including David Suzuki, built relationships and open pathways to live in greater balance with the planet.
2021 On March 25, the Supreme Court ruled the federal Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act as constitutional. DSF, represented by Ecojustice lawyers, intervened in lower court proceedings in Saskatchewan, Ontario and Alberta as the first Canadian organization to argue climate as a national emergency that the federal government must have the power to act on.
DSF alongside other ENGOs and countless supporters pushed for stronger environmental laws, leading to the Canadian Net-Zero Climate Accountability Act becoming law on June 29.
DSF launched Future Ground Network / Réseau Demain online organizing hubs as platforms for local groups to gather, start local initiatives, promote their work, host events and push policy.
2022 Quebec banned fossil fuel development, the first jurisdiction on Earth to close the door on oil, gas and coal extraction given relentless pressure from activists, DSF, other ENGOs and Indigenous Peoples.
DSF partners with the National Healing Forests Initiative helped establish green spaces throughout the country to promote reconciliation, rewilding and the healing power of nature.
DSF’s report “Shifting Power: Zero-Emissions Electricity across Canada by 2035” modeled research — describing an affordable, reliable national electricity grid with 100% zero emissions using renewables, connections between utilities, energy efficiency and innovations in storage — without fossil fuels, nuclear or new hydro.
Studies by DSF and partners used choice modeling for Toronto and Ottawa residents’ preferences for an urban forest management approach to provide greater resilience to climate change.
DSF has most recently successfully driven major climate policies in Canada by securing legal precedents, pushing for methane regulations, driving Canada’s clean energy transition, securing landmark plastic pollution regulations, advocating for ambitious federal climate budgets, and shifting municipal and provincial priorities. Their advocacy has influenced both federal legislation and grassroots community transitions toward a zero-carbon economy. Kudos to their team and all their efforts.
This post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Canada Country Manager, Diane Szoller.