Latest news with #TerraCarta
Montreal Gazette
6 days ago
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Opinion: Canada's climate strategy needs allies. King Charles may be one
Canada is waking up to a hard truth: We are not ready for the climate economy already reshaping the world. Wildfires are now a season. Once-in-a-century floods strike every few years. Meanwhile, the U.S. and China are racing ahead with clean energy manufacturing, critical minerals strategies and massive green industrial plans. If we don't act, Canada risks falling behind — not just environmentally, but economically and geopolitically. That's why Prime Minister Mark Carney's June 2 announcement to fast-track clean energy and infrastructure projects couldn't come at a better time. The plan signals a serious shift in our approach to building a green economy: Through carbon border adjustments, new industrial incentives and the creation of 10 national parks, we start to see the outline of a real climate industrial strategy. But for this plan to succeed, it must go beyond regulatory reform and economic opportunity. It must be rooted in environmental justice, Indigenous partnership and international collaboration. In this effort, Carney may find a powerful ally: King Charles III. Some Indigenous communities and provincial leaders have rightly raised concerns about the fast-tracking process. First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities are not just stakeholders — they are rights holders. Their legal authority and ecological knowledge are essential to shaping just and effective climate solutions. With the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) enshrined in Canadian law, meaningful partnership is not optional — it's foundational. This means co-governance, Indigenous-led conservation and direct investment in community-driven clean energy projects, not after-the-fact consultation. As Canada builds its climate strategy, King Charles III could be a valuable global ally. Long before it was popular, he championed environmental causes. Today, through the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) and the Terra Carta charter, he's directing billions toward biodiversity, regenerative agriculture and clean technologies. His message is clear: Finance must align with nature and long-term well-being. At the helm of the SMI is CEO Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, who has mobilized over 250 CEOs globally to drive systemic sustainability reform. Her operational strength and convening power are helping turn a bold vision into action. Carney, King Charles, and Jordan-Saifi have worked together before — notably at the Climate Finance Mobilisation Forum at Windsor Castle. Their shared values and credibility open the door to deeper collaboration. Canada could lead by proposing a Canada–U.K. Sustainable Finance Task Force, embedding Terra Carta principles into national partnerships, or co-developing funding for Indigenous climate innovation. The urgency is heightened by our evolving relationship with the U.S. President Donald Trump has reintroduced sweeping tariffs on Canadian imports, disrupting supply chains and driving up costs for materials essential to our clean energy future. Meanwhile, the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act is reshaping the clean tech landscape, favouring American interests and intensifying competitive pressure on Canada. Carney's push to reduce our dependence on the U.S. through strategic investments in domestic infrastructure and supply chains is crucial. Same with strengthening our alliances — with Europe, the U.K. and Indigenous nations — to move beyond being a supplier of raw materials and toward becoming a leader in clean technologies, sustainable jobs and climate innovation. Carney's plan lays the foundation for a cleaner, fairer and more resilient future. But how we proceed — particularly in upholding Indigenous rights, strengthening international partnerships and overhauling bureaucracy — will determine whether we lead or lag. We already have what we need: the global platform and moral clarity of King Charles, the lived knowledge of Indigenous communities and the economic insight of Carney. Together, they offer the leadership to drive a truly transformative climate agenda. The question is no longer what must be done — it's whether we have the courage to do it. Sarah Farahdel is a public scholar and sustainability expert with nearly a decade of industry experience. She earned her PhD in information systems engineering at Concordia University.
The Independent
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
King jokes with guests and views exhibitions at sustainability event
The King joked with Stella McCartney about getting her father Sir Paul to perform a gig for him as he inspected projects to solve environmental problems at a sustainability event. Charles welcomed executives and representatives of international government on Tuesday at Hampton Court Palace as part of the Terra Carta exhibition hosted by the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI). The SMI was set up by the then Prince of Wales in 2020 to accelerate the world's transition to a sustainable future. The King was welcomed by Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, chief executive of SMI, and Dr Andrew Forrest, executive chairman and founder of Australian tech company Fortescue, as the sun was setting over Clock Court. The Halo string quartet played covers of Wicked's Defying Gravity and Pink's What About Us as they shook hands. Charles was then shown Fortescue's electric Formula GEN3 vehicle, one of the world's highest-performing all-electric race cars, prompting him to say: 'God, this must accelerate to 100 in seconds. Terrifying.' The King was then led inside to meet a number of guests, including fashion designer McCartney, who has worked with SMI since 2021. She told him: 'I am loving being here. I love that you have included me, thank you.' Charles then asked after her father, Sir Paul McCartney, who is currently on tour. 'You should get him to come and do a gig here for you,' she quipped. He then met winners of the Terra Carta Design Lab, a global competition set up by SMI to challenge students to create sustainable solutions to environmental problems. Speaking about meeting the King, the US winner of the Terra Carta Design Lab, Felicia Neuhof, whose project turned discarded shellfish waste into furniture and fixtures, told the PA news agency: 'It's an absolutely surreal experience and it's extremely exciting and just engaging to know that his support is making this not just a concept but a real prototype for the future.' The King then joined guests in the Great Hall, where he watched a video on the work of SMI, which he launched in Davos in 2020. The King stood on the stage as Ms Jordan-Saifi gave a speech to guests. She said: 'As we think seven generations ahead, we must ask ourselves if we are doing enough, as CEOs and as leaders, we look to you, your majesty, for your vision, for your lifelong service, your moral courage and your relentless commitment to action.' Her voice began to break as she added: 'At this point in the journey, we would like to thank you and assure you that we remain committed and will continue to raise the bar. Thank you.'
