Environmental coalition push Parliament to implement the Nature Accountability Act
CALI, COLOMBIA—Ecojustice, Greenpeace Canada, the David Suzuki Foundation and a coalition of environmental groups are calling on House leaders and the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development to prioritize Bill C-73, the Nature Accountability Act, which has stalled since being introduced in the House of Commons on June 13, 2024. Advocates warn that further delays could jeopardize the bill’s potential to support Canada’s biodiversity commitments.
The proposed legislation is aimed at holding Canada accountable to its obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets targets to protect biodiversity by 2030. Environmental groups say Bill C-73 is critical for ensuring that Canada meets these commitments amid a global biodiversity crisis.
“We are deeply concerned that Bill C-73 has stalled,” said Charlotte Dawe, government relations and campaign specialist at Ecojustice. “At COP16 it’s clear the public is demanding action, not words. Parliament must allocate time for a second reading this fall and refer the bill to the committee for further study. Without this accountability law, Canada’s progress toward its biodiversity goals is at risk.”
The call for action comes as the Sixteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16) takes place in Cali, Colombia, highlighting the urgency for countries to implement and enforce the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Environmental advocates say that by advancing Bill C-73, Canada can reinforce its commitment to nature conservation and biodiversity.
The coalition also seeks strengthening amendments to the bill to align with Canada’s international commitments and uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
“There is strong public support for this legislation, with nearly 90,000 people from across Canada calling for a robust nature law,” said Salomé Sané, Nature, Oceans & Plastics Campaigner, Greenpeace Canada. “A growing movement of people wants to make it clear to the federal government that protecting nature and the future of biodiversity is key to everyone’s wellbeing. It is essential that political interests do not obstruct the creation of an accountability framework to make this happen.”
“While Bill C-73 has stalled in Parliament, the biodiversity crisis rages on as more species become at risk of extinction and ecosystems continue to be degraded,” said Rachel Plotkin, boreal project manager at the David Suzuki Foundation. “COP16 should be a wake-up call to Parliamentarians. Canada still has a chance to make real progress for nature, but it will take political leadership to put legislation and funding in place without further delay.”
The environmental coalition is urging the government to initiate a second reading debate and move Bill C-73 to committee before the winter recess.
ENDS
For media inquiries, please contact:
Dina Ni, Communications Campaigner, Greenpeace Canada
[email protected], +1 416 820-2148
Shayoni Mehta, Communications Strategist, Ecojustice
[email protected], +1 604-685-5618, 1-800-926-7744 ext. 249
Brandon Wei, Communications Specialist, David Suzuki Foundation
[email protected], +1 778 772-6138
