Allocate international climate finance

AI summary

Petitioners ask Canada to dedicate 50% of its public international climate finance to adaptation for developing countries and 15% to projects primarily targeting gender equality. The government responds that internal analyses show it has met or exceeded its adaptation and gender targets.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED Whereas: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that climate change will increase existing inequalities and vulnerabilities between men and women; Developing countries are already bearing up to 80% of the cost of climate change, including through food insecurity, loss and damage, compromised livelihoods and instability; Without urgent action, climate impacts could push an additional 100 million people into poverty by 2030; Developed country parties to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change have agreed to mobilize $100 billion per year by 2020 to help developing countries deal with the impacts of climate change, and for those resources to be balanced between adaptation and mitigation; Although investments in climate change adaptation are critical to promote gender equality, inclusive economic growth and social stability, and can unlock trillions of dollars in savings, they currently make up less than 20% of international climate finance; Less than 35% of Canada's international climate finance investments support adaptation projects, and only 0.2% includes gender equality as a principal objective; and The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development in April 2019 called upon the Government of Canada to increase the proportion of its climate finance funding that is dedicated to adaptation measures to 50%. We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to: Commit at least 50% of Canada's public climate finance for developing countries towards adaptation, and at least 15% towards projects that target gender equality as a primary objective.

Government response

Response by the Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature Signed by The Honourable Julie Dabrusin Climate change is amplifying existing gender inequalities and vulnerability patterns in many developing countries through heightened food insecurity, loss and damage, disrupted livelihoods, and increased instability. This is why Canada continues to engage actively to advance climate action domestically and internationally, reduce poverty, and build resilience where it is needed most. Canada’s most recent international climate finance commitment of $5.3 billion (2021 to 2026) had many complementary targets that addressed exactly the issues raised in the petition. The commitment included targets to allocate at least 40% of funding to climate adaptation and to fund a minimum of 80% of projects integrating gender equality, in line with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy. While final reporting on Canada’s climate finance commitment will be made public in due course, according to the latest internal analysis incorporating all investments to-date, Canada has surpassed these targets. Preliminary analysis shows that more than 45% of investments are targeting adaptation outcomes, and that more than 90% of projects are integrating gender equality. Furthermore, approximately 75% of projects either “fully integrated” or “targeted” gender equality as programming objective, meaning they aimed to achieve observable changes in behaviour, practice, or performance that will contribute to gender equality. As of March 2025, clients of Canada’s climate finance from the $5.3B commitment have adopted over 200 gender and inclusive measures. Finally, Canada’s $5.3 billion international climate finance commitment is expected to support 29 million people in developing countries by 2050 adapt to climate change. There are numerous programming examples to demonstrate how Canada supported adaptation and gender equality with its climate finance: Canada supports projects that boost the resilience of food production and mitigate food insecurity. Specifically, projects that promote the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices such as crop diversification and the reduced use of chemical fertilizers. These practices ultimately stabilize food production even in the face of climate threats. For example, Canada has supported Rural Women Cultivating Change in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania, implemented by SeedChange, a Canadian civil society organization. This project has played a key role in helping communities in highly vulnerable countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania mitigate the harmful effects of climate change. In all three countries, the project has supported women-led seed banks and farmer exchanges, which have safeguarded local seed diversity, providing farmers with access to drought-tolerant varieties that reduce harvest failure. Communities report reduced crop losses due to the adoption of indigenous seeds, intercropping, and organic soil fertility practices that protect against drought and pests. Canada supports projects that address loss and damage, by improving access to crucial finance in vulnerable communities. For example, Canada supports The Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative implemented by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Trust Funds. This project provides disaster risk insurance to vulnerable Pacific Island countries. Recognizing the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and girls, Canada’s climate finance also supports projects that actively address gender inequality. For example, Canada supports Gender-Centred Climate Resilience - Africa Climate Change Fund implemented by the African Development Bank. This project has strengthened coordination to ensure effective and gender-sensitive adaptation. The project amplifies the voices of women with disabilities to actively participate in climate change policy and negotiations. This has, in turn, supported the implementation of gender-sensitive climate adaptation actions in Burkina Faso and Togo. Canada also supports Nature for Climate Adaptation Initiative, implemented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, a Canadian civil society organization. The project has provided online training, webinars, and technical assistance related to gender dynamics in Nature-based Solutions. As a result, the project has increased awareness of and reduced incidents of gender-based violence; helped women increase their leadership skills to participate more as equal community members; and supported increased access by women to land and inputs required for their livelihoods. Canada actively engages in policy dialogue through the multilateral system, including to enhance climate finance delivery and to support efforts to strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change. Canada will continue to work with partner countries to deliver the New Collective Quantified Goal, calling on all actors to scale up climate finance to developing countries to at least 1.3 trillion United States dollar per year by 2035, with developed countries taking the lead on 300 billion United States dollar per year. This new goal speaks to the importance of gender considerations in climate finance, urging providers to promote the inclusion and extension of benefits to vulnerable communities and groups, including women and girls. More recently, countries also reaffirmed the need to scale up adaptation finance at COP30, calling for efforts from all actors to triple adaptation finance by 2035 in support of countries efforts to achieve the Global Goal on Adaptation. At COP30, the Government announced a $392 million investment in international climate finance – a commitment that aims to strengthen global efforts to cut emissions, build resilience and support the communities most affected by climate change. Canada recognizes that climate change knows no borders and efforts to deliver climate finance are integral to Canada’s strategy to build an economy that works for everyone and to tackle climate change at home and around the world. The Spring Economic Update 2026 proposes to provide $3.0 billion over five years on a cash basis, starting in 2026-27, to Global Affairs Canada, and $167.9 million over five years on a cash basis, starting in 2026-27, to Environment and Climate Change Canada to continue delivering climate-related supports to vulnerable countries. In addition, the Spring Economic Update 2026 proposes to provide $2.0 billion in paid-in capital for FinDev Canada, as well as $732 million over three years on a cash basis, starting in 2028-29, to expand FinDev Canada’s concessional finance facility. These measures will help to mobilize private capital at scale into climate-related businesses and projects in emerging markets and developing economies, including mobilizing over $3 in private capital for every $1 of public investment through FinDev’s concessional finance facility. Domestically, the Government has launched Canada’s first-ever National Adaptation Strategy to help protect communities from coast to coast to coast, with $1.6 billion in new investments and 84 focus actions. As Canadians feel the impacts of climate change – from extreme heat and wildfires to floods and storms – this is the moment to build resilient communities for a strong economy. Taking measures to adapt can save lives, avoid damage to communities, reduce economic shocks to supply chains, and spur innovative technologies and jobs. The Strategy also affirms that adaptation to climate change is a cost-effective and positive investment in the present and future. Every dollar invested in prevention and preparation can save up to 15 dollars in costs. Our government is working with all orders of government, the private sector, and Canadians to work together to build resilient communities and a stronger economy, to ensure Canadians continue to thrive into the future. This includes a dedication to engaging and working with Indigenous communities on climate policy, programming and planning to keep communities safe. Indigenous communities face heightened exposure and vulnerability to climate change, underscoring the need for targeted, community-led adaptation strategies. We continue to invest in climate adaptation and resilience in ways that directly support Indigenous-led initiatives and advance community priorities.