COP26 assembled our global leaders in Glasgow to tackle the climate crisis. On Saturday, November 6, nature and sustainable land use take center-stage as critical components in our global action toward climate change.

Research in 2020 by the World Economic Forum found that US$44 trillion of economic value – more than half of the world's total GDP – is dependent on nature and the services it provides. The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) is calling nature loss “a planetary emergency”.

In this episode of ESG Insights, I am joined by Gary Zed, Founder and CEO of Canada’s Forest Trust. Gary is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, corporate director, and advisor.

Canada’s Forest Trust (www.canadasforesttrust.ca) was created to take bold action in the face of climate change. It has committed to reforest millions of acres of Canadian land — and protect it forever. Through its turnkey Smart Forests program, CFT engages corporations, schools, Indigenous communities and individuals to build, track, and manage forests on deforested land across the country. This investment will reap dividends for Canada as it captures millions of tonnes of CO2, rehabilitates ecosystems, and boosts our economy.

Welcome as we discuss the role of nature in addressing our climate crisis and explore how a nature-based approach can support our communities, enhance engagement with First Nations and other stakeholders, and drive the involvement of businesses and governments in this solution.