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The Canadian Climate Institute asserts that climate policy can no longer be the sole responsibility of Environment and Climate Change Canada, as it now impacts multiple ministries including agriculture, transport, and natural resources. The author argues that current ministerial silos lead to inefficient policies and recommends the creation of a dedicated Cabinet committee on climate issues, increased resources for the Privy Council Office's climate secretariat, and strong executive leadership from the Prime Minister. The text highlights that successful whole-of-government models have been used historically in Canada during WWII and more recently in British Columbia, the UK, and the US.

The Canadian Climate Institute asserts that Canada requires a whole-of-government approach to climate change to ensure that all departments work collaboratively rather than in silos. While some structures exist, such as a climate secretariat in the Privy Council Office, the author recommends establishing a dedicated cabinet committee for climate change, expanding the Privy Council Office's secretariat, and implementing a 'climate lens' for all government decision-making. Success depends on sustained executive leadership from the Prime Minister, buy-in across the public service, adequate resources, and external accountability through advisory bodies.

The document advocates for a 'whole-of-government' approach to climate change in Canada, defined as the use of governance structures (like cabinet committees) and processes (like mandate letters) to coordinate action across departmental silos. Through case studies of the UK, US, and British Columbia, it identifies that success depends on sustained executive leadership, adequate resources, and empowered personnel. It warns that such structures are fragile and can be easily dismantled by changes in government. For Canada, the brief recommends establishing a Prime Minister-chaired Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and Net Zero, supported by a high-level coordinating Secretariat in the Privy Council or Prime Minister's Office.

The author views COP26 as a success because it produced concrete roadmaps and integrated climate action into global trade, foreign aid, and finance. Key examples include a US-EU agreement on steel and aluminium decarbonization, a multi-billion dollar partnership to help South Africa phase out coal, and a private finance coalition mobilizing $130 trillion for 2050 net-zero targets. The author notes that if these commitments are realized, warming could be limited to 1.8 °C. For Canada, the author emphasizes the importance of the federal net-zero law requiring a national emissions reduction plan by the end of December 2021.

The author contends that traditional cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is ill-suited for climate policy as it focuses on incremental change and fails to account for long-term investments, new market entrants, technology learning curves, and the economic value of policy certainty. Using the automotive sector as an example, the text argues that CBA may discourage the early investments in electric vehicles necessary for Canada's long-term competitiveness. The document proposes transitioning to 'risk-opportunity analysis,' which evaluates portfolios of policies under various plausible scenarios and accounts for qualitative risks and positive feedback loops.

The document emphasizes the urgency of COP26, noting that global warming is occurring faster than expected and that Canada is warming twice as fast as the global average. It highlights the human cost, citing 569 deaths in British Columbia from a heatwave, and the economic risk, noting that climate-related catastrophes have cost Canada 5-6% of its annual GDP growth since 2010. The author argues that achieving global carbon neutrality by 2050 is essential to limit warming to 1.5 °C and protect Canada's export economy as global investments shift away from carbon-intensive sectors.

The author asserts that COP26 is a pivotal moment to act on climate change, noting that global warming is accelerating and Canada is warming twice as fast as the global average. The text highlights the human cost, citing 569 deaths in British Columbia from a heat wave, and the economic risk, noting that weather-related disasters have cost Canada 5 to 6 per cent of annual GDP growth since 2010. It emphasizes that achieving net zero emissions globally by 2050 could still limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The document critiques the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and the 'A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy' plan for failing to engage Indigenous peoples beyond tokenism. It asserts that these policies entrench settler colonial relations and exclude Indigenous rights holders from decision-making processes. The author emphasizes that meaningful climate action requires repairing relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people, respecting generational knowledge, and shifting toward Indigenous-led policy initiatives.

The document critiques the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and the 'A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy' plan for failing to establish genuine nation-to-nation relationships with Indigenous peoples. It asserts that current consultation processes are superficial, structurally exclude Indigenous voices from working groups, and ignore the role of the fossil fuel industry in violating Indigenous rights. The author emphasizes that integrating Indigenous knowledge systems—which view the Earth as a living, sacred entity—is essential for addressing the climate crisis. To remedy these failures, the document proposes a shift toward community-level engagement and the creation of an expert advisory council representing Canada's five biomes to ensure territory-based solutions.

The document introduces Indigenomics as a model for economic development that centres Indigenous rights, knowledge, and stewardship. It argues that a successful low-carbon transition in Canada requires economic reconciliation and the integration of Indigenous worldviews, which are described as the original 'green' and 'circular' economies. The author highlights several Indigenous-led initiatives, including the Great Bear Forest Carbon Project and the Indigenous Guardians Program, as evidence of leadership in climate action and environmental justice.

The essay introduces 'indigenomics' as a framework that blends traditional Indigenous principles—such as circular, regenerative, and gift economies—with modern business practices. It asserts that Indigenous knowledge systems and rights are essential for effective climate adaptation and mitigation, as Indigenous peoples manage vital carbon-storing ecosystems and possess long-term territorial memory. The author highlights several leadership initiatives, including the Great Bear Forest carbon project and Indigenous Protected and Conservation Areas, to demonstrate how Indigenous governance can drive environmental justice. The document concludes that a successful transition to a green economy in Canada requires economic reconciliation and the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge in national climate and economic strategies.

The briefing outlines five critical areas for success at COP26: increasing the ambition of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), mobilizing international climate finance for developing nations, prioritizing global climate adaptation, finalizing rules for international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and aligning private investments with climate goals through standardized financial reporting.

The document advocates for the recognition of Indigenous stewardship and the expansion of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and Guardian programs as essential tools for climate mitigation and biodiversity preservation in Canada.

The document outlines how Indigenous-led conservation, specifically through Guardian programs and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), provides a scalable model for climate resilience and carbon sequestration in Canada. Using the Heiltsuk Nation's 14,000-year history of stewardship as a foundation, it advocates for a convergence of traditional knowledge and western science to manage ecosystems. The author highlights the critical role of the boreal forest in storing carbon and recommends that Crown governments provide long-term investment in Indigenous-led stewardship to achieve national conservation targets.

The author, Tabatha Bull, asserts that the clean energy transition in Canada will stall unless policymakers and proponents prioritize Indigenous partnerships and ownership. Drawing on her experience with Ontario's Feed-In-Tariff and Large Renewable Procurement programs, she highlights how targeted policy measures—such as lower security payments, equity-based pricing, and capacity-building funds—successfully increased Indigenous participation in the energy sector. The document details specific projects like the Peter Sutherland Sr. Generating Station and the Oneida Energy Storage LP as models of successful collaboration. Bull concludes with three recommendations for future partnerships: allowing more time for relationship building and community engagement, investing in community capacity to prepare for project proposals, and maintaining open, honest communication to overcome cultural and systemic barriers.

The author warns that Canadian investors and infrastructure owners are operating in a world that no longer exists, as the financial risks of a warming climate remain underpriced. Citing a Canadian Climate Institute report, the text highlights that annual flood damage to homes and buildings could reach $4.5 billion to $5.5 billion within 30 years. The document contends that a lack of open-access climate risk data leads to flawed financial analysis and calls for regulators to mandate the disclosure of climate risks to prevent a systemic financial shock.

Following the 2021 federal election, all major Canadian political parties have committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and carbon reductions by 2030. The document highlights the importance of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, which mandates five-year milestones and established the Net-Zero Advisory Body. It emphasizes that achieving the 2030 target requires scaling 'safe bet' solutions—such as energy-efficient buildings and clean electricity—while calling for a comprehensive emissions reduction plan that addresses carbon pricing, emerging technologies, and a just transition for workers.

The document highlights a unique moment of political alignment in Canada where all major parties commit to net-zero by 2050. It emphasizes the importance of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act in providing a legal framework for emissions reductions and calls for a detailed 2030 emissions reduction plan focusing on proven technologies like energy-efficient buildings and clean electricity.

The document examines three climate adaptation projects by the W8banaki Nation: lake sturgeon habitat restoration, medicinal plant preservation, and riverbank erosion assessment. It highlights the importance of integrating traditional Indigenous knowledge with western science and argues for flexible, long-term, community-led funding models over rigid, top-down provincial programs.

The document examines how the W8banaki Nation integrates traditional knowledge with science to adapt to climate change in the Ndakina territory. It highlights three projects: the conservation of the lake sturgeon, the management of medicinal plants and invasive species, and the assessment of riverbank erosion. The study argues that successful adaptation requires 'bottom-up' planning, flexible and stable funding, and the active involvement of knowledge holders to ensure cultural continuity and territorial integrity.