Canada can’t protect what it doesn’t commit to. It’s time to make nature protection the law.
The Endangered Ecosystems Alliance (EEA) is working hard to ensure that Canada lives up to its international conservation commitments — and that we move urgently to protect our most endangered ecosystems before it’s too late.
Before the 2025 federal election, the Canadian government introduced the Nature Accountability Bill - landmark legislation that would enshrine Canada’s international protected areas commitments (currently, a target of protecting 30% of lands and waters protected by 2030) into law.
Unfortunately, political delays by the Opposition prevented the bill from passing before the election.
Why this matters:
Alarm bells are worn out from ringing. Scientists warn that one million species face extinction within decades. At the same time, experts agree that the world cannot stay within the 1.5°C climate limit without protecting and restoring natural ecosystems that store vast amounts of carbon.
By protecting and restoring forests, grasslands, and wetlands, Canada can dramatically increase its ability to draw down atmospheric carbon into native ecosystems while conserving biodiversity. Research shows that being in nature is essential to our health, well-being, and prosperity - and that protected areas help create more diverse, resilient and sustainable regional and national economies.
Canada’s commitments — and the gap we must close:
Canada has committed to protecting 30% by 2030 of land & marine areas. Only 12% of the total land area is protected and 14% of our oceans have some degree of protection right now.
What needs to happen:
Reintroduce and pass the Nature Accountability Bill to make Canada’s 30x30 targets legally binding.
Strengthen the bill to include ecosystem-specific protection targets that ensure our most endangered and least-represented habitats are prioritized.
Directly cite Canada’s 30% by 2030 target and also establish interim targets to ensure appropriate progress is made towards 2025 and 2030 biodiversity protection goals.
Improve accountability and transparency measures, to ensure protection targets are met.
Support the creation of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas legal designations with strong protection standards and that advance the equitable inclusion of Indigenous peoples in conservation decision-making.
Ensure adequate resourcing, including conservation financing solutions that ensure economic development funding for First Nations engaged in protecting lands and waters.
The federal government needs to help inform and mobilize Canadians to demand that all parties in Parliament commit to protecting nature — for climate, for biodiversity, and for future generations.
TAKE ACTION!
Please SPEAK UP to your federal parliamentary representative. Tell them you support strong, enforceable protected area commitments and the reintroduction of the Nature Accountability Bill, with the strength needed to protect Canada’s most endangered ecosystems.