Our Affiliate Partner, Canada Climate Law Initiative (CCLI), recently released A Just Transition: A Guide for NGO and Civil Society Members to Provincial Regulation of Directors’ Duties Concerning Climate-related Risks.

Non-governmental organizations (NGO) and members of civil society continue to press for effective legislation to meaningfully address the causes and impacts of climate change, including environmental protections, mitigation and adaptation measures, climate accountability, and net-zero carbon emissions strategies. More recently, they have recognized that the transition to net-zero emissions requires a whole-economy approach, which means that companies, financial institutions, and pension funds must make a meaningful contribution to the transition if we are to avoid the catastrophic consequences of climate change.

The myriad of statutes and regulators that govern the behaviour of corporations, pension funds, banks, insurers, and other financial institutions can be confusing. Yet it is critically important that the voices of civil society members are heard in the active policy discussions that are currently occurring. That’s why CCLI produced this guide for NGO and civil society members with the aim of aiding stakeholders in exploring policy changes in corporate and financial services law that will support the transition to a net-zero carbon emissions economy.

The guide offers:

  • A description of key governance elements under corporate law, securities law, financial services law, and pension law that create fiduciary duties for directors and other fiduciaries
  • A summary of key provincial statutory provisions governing the conduct of these entities in Ontario, Québec, British Columbia, and Alberta
  • Key statutes and regulatory authorities in the other six provinces, current to March 2024

Download the guide: A Just Transition