The Green Budget Coalition welcomed the federal government’s multi-billion dollar investments in Budget 2022 that advanced the Coalition’s recommendations, particularly for energy-efficient buildings, zero-emission vehicles, and nature-based climate solutions. However, without effective use of such existing funding and further investments, Canada will not hit our targets for 40-45% reductions below 2005 levels in GHG emissions and protecting 30% of Canada’s land and water by 2030, nor contribute our fair share to global emission reductions and achieve full nature recovery by 2050.

Building on the Green Budget Coalition’s expertise, this document provides a comprehensive package of timely budget and fiscal recommendations whose adoption would advance progress on climate, nature, and equity, while creating jobs and protecting individual and collective health.

The Green Budget Coalition is featuring five recommendations for Budget 2023:

1. Advancing a Zero-Emissions Electricity Grid Based on Renewables
   Essential steps towards the major transformational investments required in the generation, transmission, and demand side of electricity, including remote Indigenous communities ($18 billion plus $3 billion in tax benefits over five years).
2. Renovation Wave: A plan for Jobs and Climate
   Upgrading the energy efficiency and comfort of Canada’s residential building stock, including low-income households, Indigenous communities, and skills development for the retrofit economy (in partnership with the provinces: $10-15 billion per year for 10 years).
3. Delivering on Canada’s Land and Ocean Protection Commitments
   Integrating Indigenous-led conservation, permanent funding for protection and stewardship, ecological connectivity, and NGO collaboration ($18 billion over eight years).
4. Advancing Sustainable Agriculture
   Key recommendations to help producers and Canada be leaders in sustainable and innovative agriculture with a resilient and diversified food system ($3.5 billion over five years).
5. Institutionalizing Environmental Justice
   Establishing an Office of Environmental Justice ($130 million over five years) and committing an appropriate portion of benefits from climate and clean energy spending to disadvantaged communities.

The Green Budget Coalition is comprised of 21 leading Canadian environmental and conservation organizations and is co-funded by the Catherine Donnelly, Echo, Gosling, Ivey, McConnell, McLean, Metcalf, and Willow & Grace foundations in addition to support from coalition member organizations.