Author: thf_admin

As an organization focused on driving solutions to the climate crisis, The Houssian Foundation’s partnership with Clean Energy Canada exemplifies the value of working within existing structures to shape climate and energy policy with ideas and collaboration across sectors. 

Clean Energy Canada’s impact can be seen in the following three critical areas.

Clean Energy Canada helped to inspire the new B.C. government’s mandate letters and a key commitment is the development of a “climate aligned energy framework.” This framework will integrate energy planning, climate action, and economic strategy across the province. Clean Energy Canada is positioned to play a key role in working to align stakeholders to build consensus around this framework over the next 18 months. 

Work is underway to update the B.C. Zero-Emission Vehicles Act with more ambitious targets (26% by 2026, 90% by 2030, and 100% by 2035). B.C. now has one of the highest rates of zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) uptake in North America, with an accompanying rapid increase in the build-out of charging infrastructure. B.C. is a Canadian leader on this file, and Clean Energy Canada has played an ongoing role in both provincial implementation efforts, as well as in getting the federal government to announce and develop a draft regulation for a national sales target for ZEVs that is expected to be finalized this year. 

The largest opportunity for future progress on the electrification of transportation in B.C. now lies in addressing medium- and heavy-duty (MHDV) road transport, which contributes 33% of B.C.’s total transport emissions. During 2022, Clean Energy Canada invested in the capacity needed to take on this complicated issue.

There has been meaningful and positive progress across a range of sectors over the past two years. However, moving from announcements to policy development and implementation requires continuous engagement with governments and stakeholders while building the evidence to ensure that these policies will be durable over time as governments change.

At the same time, we must work continuously to keep these issues top of mind in the media. 2022 was Clean Energy Canada’s second-best media year to date: they achieved 4,630 media mentions in outlets across the country.

For the past three years, The Houssian Foundation has deepened our partnership with Nature United in support of their Indigenous-led conservation work across British Columbia.

Nature United’s impact in the following areas of  work has particularly resonated with the Houssian Foundation’s goals this year.  

In February 2023, Nature United unveiled a blueprint for a network of marine protected areas across the Great Bear Sea. This marks an important step towards protecting a globally rare ecosystem and supporting the resilience of coastal communities and marine-based economies. 

This significant milestone was the product of more than ten years of science and collaboration that the Houssian Foundation helped support.

The team at Nature United partnered with Nanwakolas Council and Coastal First Nations as they market carbon credits generated by the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement. Nature United provided ongoing capacity support and are actively making connections to introduce potential buyers to these credits.

Nature United is supporting emerging Indigenous leaders across the North Pacific coast. They continue to support five programs in-community, that engage youth out on the lands and waters of their territories, and published a report documenting why these programs are so important for Indigenous Peoples and our planet.

“The land and the water have a special kind of cell memory or a familial recognition that spans generations that is eternal. When I go into the forest in my homelands all the plants, trees, and mycelia know who I am, they know what family I am from, they know my lineage, they remember me. The water has this recognition too. Water is fused with our tears, our blood, our sweat, our sensual fluids, the vibration of our songs. To return to the land and the water is to return home. In some cases – return to a home we didn’t know we had.”

Ximiq (Dionne Paul), Nuxalk Nation and the shíshálh Nation 

And finally, Nature United provides technical expertise and shared resources with over 35 Guardian programs stewarding lands, waters and wildlife across Canada. After the success of an initial two-year pilot, our Indigenous Guardians Technical Support Team has continued to host webinars, develop and share new resources, and provide direct support in the form of in-person workshops and one-on-one strategy calls.

Urgent Action Fund is one of the most knowledgeable and responsive feminist funders in the world. The Houssian Foundation is proud to be their only Canadian funder as part of our gender equality portfolio.  

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Urgent Action Fund (UAF) has awarded more than 160 grants and nearly $3 million to feminist organizations and activists impacted by the war.

UAF grants over the past year have supported immigrants, refugees, sex workers, LGBTQI+ communities, people with disabilities, and rural women. Many grants have assisted those evacuating the country, helped those remaining get access to essential resources, and provided funding for care, connection, and community-building necessary to get through these difficult times.

Among the grants the UAF has awarded, funding has gone to:

• An organization working with victims of sexual abuse by Russian soldiers. Since the cases of rape grow daily, there is the need for additional funding to bring psychologists and arrange accommodations for clients with special needs. The funds will cover psychological rehabilitation, relocation, and travel expenses.
• An Ukrainian feminist media outlet to continue its work. Due to the Russian invasion, the group lost its main source of income, which came in through advertisements.
• A Polish feminist group organizing a queer summer camp to welcome and offer safe spaces for Belarussian and Ukrainian queer activists resettled in Poland. 

These grants, while serving as just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the help and support needed in Ukraine, have made a difference in the lives of thousands living through a devastating and overwhelming period of conflict.