Two years ago our Environment Program launched Carbon Landscapes, a funding stream designed to complement our two other areas of climate focus, Cycle City and Climate Blueprints.

Back then, Metcalf and other climate funders were primarily focused on reducing emissions from top emitting sectors (i.e. transportation, buildings, industry, electricity). This work was and remains critically important, but we were noticing at the time that nature-based solutions to climate change were under-represented in climate strategies across the country. We consulted sector partners, colleagues, and community leaders, and identified an opportunity to help grow this latter area of focus while linking it with parallel efforts to protect biodiversity and sustain livelihoods. In short, we landed on a goal to advance natural climate solutions across Canada, and Carbon Landscapes was born in 2017.

Needless to say, we are heartened by the growing interest, attention, and support for advancing natural climate solutions that sustain people and wildlife, and help to maintain a stable climate here on Earth. Over the past two years, with many of you, we have celebrated new national and sub-national commitments to natural climate solutions. And we are encouraged by recent government investments in efforts to protect, restore, and steward globally significant ecosystems — in particular, support for Indigenous-led conservation from coast to coast to coast.

But we recognize that this work needs to be ramped up.

We are pleased to announce our Environment Program is deepening its commitment to advancing natural climate solutions across Canada. Starting in 2020, we will be directing 100% of our Environment Program funding to Carbon Landscapes, in support of work at the intersection of climate, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods.

Our first Carbon Landscapes funding deadline in the new year is January 29. More information about our Environment Program and how to apply can be found here.