Children everywhere are counting on us to re-charge stalled Bill C-73
CALI, COLOMBIA—A coalition of Canadian environmental organizations, including The ChariTree Foundation, is urging House leaders and the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development to prioritize Bill C-73, the Nature Accountability Act, which has been stalled since its introduction in the House of Commons on June 13, 2024. Advocates caution that additional delays could jeopardize the bill’s ability to honour Canada’s biodiversity commitments. Canada played a leading role at COP15 and has an opportunity to continue to lead.
“Just as we can’t wait to take action to protect nature, we can’t wait to protect our children’s future,” said Andrea Koehle Jones, The ChariTree Foundation’s lead Children’s Biodiversity and Climate Education Advocate.
The coalition expressed deep concerns that Bill C-73, An Act respecting transparency and accountability in relation to certain commitments Canada has made under the Convention on Biological Diversity, has not progressed since its introduction in Canada’s House of Commons on June 13, 2024.
The proposed legislation seeks to hold Canada accountable for its commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets targets for biodiversity protection by 2030. Environmental groups argue that Bill C-73 is essential for ensuring Canada meets these obligations during a time of global biodiversity crisis.
They are pushing for the second reading debate on Bill C-73 to take place at the earliest opportunity. and for the bill to be referred to committee for study this fall. They are also requesting that the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development initiate a pre-study of the bill and amendments necessary to strengthen it. This would help speed-up the process and keep the door open for the bill to be strengthened and passed in the House of Commons before the winter recess.
The call to action coincides with the Sixteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16) in Cali, Colombia, underscoring the urgent need for countries to implement and enforce the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Environmental advocates assert that advancing Bill C-73 will bolster Canada’s commitment to nature conservation and biodiversity.
Additionally, the coalition is advocating for amendments to the bill that strengthen its alignment with Canada’s international obligations and uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Our organizations have long advocated for a legislative framework, parallel to the Net Zero Emissions Accountability Act, to provide accountability for progress towards meeting Canada’s 2030 nature commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by
requiring robust reporting and complimentary domestic targets.While we welcomed introduction of Bill C-73 in June, amendments are needed to strengthen its accountability mechanisms and ensure the legislation delivers on its promise.The legislation must also recognize and respect
Indigenous Peoples’ rights to their lands and waters, and to govern and manage traditional territories in accordance with their knowledge and laws. We call on all parties to support moving this important legislation to committee where amendments can be considered.
This week, the Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) is taking place in Cali, Columbia. At COP 16, governments are tasked with reviewing the state of implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed to at COP 15 in Montreal two years ago. We are convinced that accountability legislation will be key to ensuring successful implementation of Canada’s
commitments under the framework. Parliament has the opportunity to heed the call of COP 16 and the imperative to address the global biodiversity crisis by advancing Bill C-73. People in Canada across the political spectrum share an appreciation for nature, and for the democratic principles of transparency and accountability. Close to 90,000 people in Canada have signed Greenpeace’s petition calling for a strong nature law. Please don’t let politics get in the way of establishing an accountability framework for Canada’s nature commitments. We urge you to make time on the legislative agenda for the second reading debate of Bill C-73 and refer it to committee as soon as possible.
As always, The ChariTree Foundation is watching closely to make sure COP16 highlights education. Koehle Jones says now more than ever, every child requires transformative, formal and informal biodiversity education at all levels, including science-policy interface studies and lifelong learning processes, that recognizes diverse world views, values and knowledge systems of indigenous peoples and local communities. She says when children understand climate change and how it impacts them and the world they depend on, they are more likely to make a lifelong commitment to protect the environment for themselves and future generations.
