Nature Investment Hub proudly welcomes six new partners: Capital for Climate, EcoAdvisors, Finance Montréal, Forests Canada, IISD, and Nature Focus.
“The growth and calibre of our partners is a testament to the critical importance of nature finance in Canada,” said Priya Bala-Miller, Managing Director of the Nature Investment Hub. “Over the past year, our rapid expansion from six to over 25 partners also speaks to a growing awareness that investing in nature is a powerful solution.”
“The new partners represent many parts of the nature finance ecosystem in Canada and beyond. Regionally, Finance Montréal brings representation from Québec's financial services industry. Nationally, new partners include an investment advisory firm, a leading environmental organization, and an independent think tank. We’re also connected internationally through a nature-based investment platform that will spotlight Canadian opportunities on the global stage, as well as a nature-based solutions developer actively supporting projects here in Canada. Welcome—and let’s get to work on our nature finance agenda.”
Read on to meet our newest partners, and hear what they have to say about joining the Nature Investment Hub.
Investment platform and investor community: Capital for Climate
Capital for Climate is a nature-based solutions (NbS) finance investment platform for large-scale investors leading the transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. They bring to the Hub knowledge about turning commitments into opportunities, and expertise in a suite of tools and offerings including an investor community, a digital pipeline and intelligence, and advisory and transaction services. As a pipeline partner of Capital for Climate, the Nature Investment Hub commits to bringing opportunities in Canada that require funding for listing on their NbS Investment Platform.
"It is a pleasure to partner with the Nature Investment Hub in accelerating investment into Nature-based Solutions,” said Tony Lent, Co-Founder of Capital for Climate. “This strategic collaboration is key to scaling NbS projects and our collective commitment to forging a new economy rooted in decarbonization and nature protection."
Impact investment strategies and advising philanthropy, corporations, and government: EcoAdvisors and EcoInvestors Capital
EcoAdvisors builds robust, multi-partner sustainability programs in the philanthropic world, advises leading global corporations on sustainability integration, advises governments on policy, regulations and programs, and designs impact investment strategies. Their sister company, EcoInvestors Capital, is an emerging investment management firm that leverages this expertise to invest for sustainability at scale.
“EcoAdvisors is proud to join the Nature Investment Hub and collaborate with partners committed to advancing nature finance in Canada,” said Hari Balasubramanian, Founder of EcoAdvisors and EcoInvestors Capital. “We are eager to contribute to shaping policy discussions, raising awareness of the value and urgency of investing in nature, and supporting the scaling of both public and private capital to drive lasting, positive impact for nature and people.”
Major finance centre expertise: Finance Montréal
Finance Montréal is a leader in Quebec’s vibrant financial sector. Their mission is to develop and promote Québec’s financial services industry by bringing together stakeholders and influential players from the world of finance. They act as a hub for players in the financial industry to join forces to make Québec’s financial industry more competitive and prosperous. Finance Montréal played an active and important role at COP15 in Montréal in 2022, helping mobilize the financial sector. They continue to engage and mobilize financial institutions in Quebec on biodiversity-related issues.
“Finance Montréal is pleased to join the Nature Investment Hub to help scale investment-ready, nature-based solutions, with interest in those co-developed with Indigenous communities,” said Jacques Deforges, CEO of Finance Montréal. “This collaboration reinforces our commitment to aligning financial innovation with biodiversity outcomes, and to fostering cross-sector capacity to embed nature into mainstream capital flows.”
Planting and stewarding forests: Forests Canada
As Canada's tree planting charity, Forests Canada brings to the Hub decades of knowledge and experience that they apply on a national scale to achieve the greatest possible outcomes for Canada’s forests from coast to coast to coast. From the annual collection of viable tree seeds ensuring a reliable and consistent future supply, to supporting local jobs and economies through tree planting and stewardship, Forests Canada works with a trusted network of partners to ensure the long-term health and resiliency of forests.
“Forest health and resilience are top of mind for us. The ability of forests to recover after natural disturbances such as wildfire and extreme weather is critical to support the social, environmental and economic success of communities across Canada,” said Jess Kaknevicius, CEO of Forests Canada. “We are excited to collaborate with the Nature Investment Hub in bringing our expertise, research and growing network to help ensure the greatest possible outcomes for Canada’s forested landscapes.”
Canada’s voice for sustainable development: IISD
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning independent think tank working to create a world where people and the planet thrive. One of IISD’s five programs is economic law and policy, which works to enable economic policy-making in support of sustainable development, including investment, trade, public procurement, infrastructure financing, and sustainability standards, with sector-specific practices in agriculture and mining. Their work includes the exploration of the holistic value of nature through the lens of sustainable development, building an evidence base that can mobilize practical approaches to address these challenges. This includes nature-based infrastructure, and in Canada specifically natural infrastructure for water solutions.
"We’re excited to partner with the Nature Investment Hub and be amongst a great network of organizations in the nature finance space in Canada," said Marina, economist and senior policy advisor at IISD, “Sustainable financing for nature is essential in Canada to support its diverse and rich ecosystems that sustain populations both locally and globally. We must reimagine our financial and policy systems to create stronger incentives for nature-based investments across the country. And to do this, we need partnerships at all levels.”
Traditional knowledge of the land and 21st century technology: Nature Focus
Nature Focus connects the traditional knowledge of the land and 21st century technology to build a more nature-focused world. They empower action by working directly with landowners, investors, corporations, and consumers, with more than 15 projects in various development stages in six countries on two continents. In Canada, their work focuses on wildfire mitigation and First Nations forestry. Nature Focus is also one of three core partners delivering First 30x30 Canada.
“With one-quarter of Earth’s wetlands and nearly a tenth of its forests inside Canada’s borders, decisions made here echo worldwide, locking in—or releasing—gigatons of carbon,” said Jeffrey Brown, Co-Founder/Chief Development Officer of Nature Focus. “And because the IPCC warns that global emissions must crest before 2025 to keep 1.5 °C alive, we face a stark fork in the road: act together at speed and scale, or accept damage our grandchildren can never undo.”
Momentum with new partners opens door for further partnerships
Advancing the work of the Nature Investment Hub requires the active involvement of capital providers, working in step with organizations and leaders across the nature finance ecosystem. Reach out to Courtney Kehoe, the Hub’s Director of Partner Engagement, if you are working to move more capital into nature in support of healthy landscapes and resilient communities, and want to be part of something practical, ambitious, and action-oriented.