Action on climate and nature is more relevant than ever
Action on climate and nature is more relevant than ever in 2025, even if it isn’t front page news. Climate change and biodiversity loss don’t ask for our opinion, and they don’t wait for politics – they propel forward regardless of our human dramas. Climate change may be accelerating more quickly than we anticipated, and we need to act. Environmental progress is deeply tied to the other concerns that are top of mind for Canadians, including economic uncertainty and national security. After all, our lives, economy, and country are able to exist and thrive because of nature.
This Earth Month, here are four reasons why action is as urgent as ever – and why momentum on climate and nature promises improved prosperity and well-being for us in Canada.
1. Canadian economic prosperity and national identity rely on nature and investing in a climate-smart economy fit for the future
Nature has been called Canada’s hidden economic powerhouse. Forests and nature are critical to Canadian identity, and are battleground zero for the threats from the U.S. to take Canada’s resources. As Canada weathers this storm and works to fight back, protecting and caring for nature become survival strategies. In a flurry of tariffs and threats to Canadian sovereignty, and as Canada seeks to diversify its economy, investing in forests matters deeply. Longer-term, the world is moving to an electric future, and momentum to fight climate change will only continue. Forests will be key later this year not only in the COP conference that discusses biodiversity, but also in the COP conference that focuses on climate, showing the ever-increasing importance of nature on the global agenda.
2. Businesses showing progressive leadership are attracting attention and customers
In the wake of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) rollbacks, many consumers are boycotting even major brands, causing reputational damage and negatively affecting their bottom line. At the same time, conscientious consumers are rewarding progressive brands, with many leading companies sticking with their DEI commitments and calling them good for business. While there might be some short-term uneasiness around environmental commitments in an uncertain 2025 world, ultimately climate change is showing up on everyone’s doorsteps in the here-and-now, and people want to support companies that take measurable environmental action. Canada’s Forest Trust Corporation Smart Forests are one way that eco-conscious Canadian companies can plant and protect trees and tailor solutions to their business, like at the point-of-sale. These stewards can measure their impact on a portal, report to stakeholders on metrics like how many trees they’ve planted, and share these successes with employees and customers. With almost nine-in-ten consumers reporting they are experiencing the disruptive impacts of climate change in their lives, many are increasingly prioritizing sustainability in their consumption habits and are willing to pay a sustainability premium – even in a time of inflation and cost-of-living worries.
3. Nature and a healthy climate make our livelihoods possible
Our supply chains and economy rely on nature and intact ecosystems to function. Look at the recent report that found British Columbia old growth forests could yield $10.9B in benefits – and that number could quadruple to $43.1 billion over the next century if 100% of old growth trees were protected in the Okanagan and Prince George areas. The large dollar value placed on protecting these old growth trees comes from the forests’ capacity to sequester carbon in the trees and soil, and failing to do so would worsen climate change. What would happen if those trees were cut down? Knock-on effects include shifts in agricultural productivity, damage to human health, property destruction from increased flood risk, and disruption of energy systems. Forests are essential to our agriculture, soil health, biodiversity, climate regulation, and clean water, all of which lay the foundation for a strong economy and a good life.
4. We need to think years and generations ahead, not four years at a time
Elections and government changes come and go, and while they are deeply important, forests – and people – live on longer timescales. We need to learn from Indigenous wisdom and think generations ahead, instead of being short-sighted. A powerful way to do this is to engage youth in environmental action. We recently launched Cool Climate Club, designed by and for Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and Millennial consumers, with a goal of helping retailers expand forests in Canada. We are also the new national sponsor and planting partner for Scouts Canada, supporting their goal of planting and protecting up to 1,000,000 a year trees across Canada by 2035. This is one of the ways we are working to transform young Canadians’ eco-anxiety into action. Planting forests is one of the most powerful ways we can invest in our future – one that is green, equitable, prosperous, and safe.
Canada’s Forest Trust Corporation is taking the long view. We are doubling down on our commitment to nature and climate. More than ever, we are focused on making it easy for Canadian businesses and organizations to have impact. We see commitment to nature not just during Earth Month but every day with customers who steward trees with us. We are grateful to every organization that puts their trust in us, so that together we can plant and protect forests in Canada.
