Federal lobbying efforts by natural resource companies to influence nature and biodiversity policies.
A new investigation released today by Greenpeace Canada reveals a united industry front pushing for federal offset policies that would allow them to pay-to-pollute, instead of urgently needed measures like strong nature protections and absolute emissions reductions.
Through Access to Information requests and analyzing the federal lobbyist registry, the investigation identifies the powerful logging, mining, agribusiness and oil interests lobbying the government to prioritize both “carbon offsets” and “biodiversity offsets” schemes.
This includes minutes from a June 2023 roundtable hosted by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to discuss with major resource companies the implementation of the landmark Kunming-Montreal Nature Agreement.
The investigation also documents a huge increase in these and other offsets proponents lobbying key federal ministries responsible for setting environmental policy. According to our research, lobbying of these departments has increased by a stunning 222% since the Trudeau government was elected. Further, at least one ECCC staffer met with DevvStream, a carbon credit investor linked to a deal that cheated Indigenous communities in Bolivia.
Shell Canada, in particular, emerges as a key offset backer in the lead-up to the new federal Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System, despite recently taking down its own offsets advertisements in the face of a Competition Bureau complaint questioning their veracity.
The environment minister must pass legislation that respects Indigenous rights and safeguards biodiversity.
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