The family foundation’s commitment to the Climate Champions initiative is a call to action for other funders to adopt a climate lens and grant in this space. Lorne Trottier offers three reasons why they should.
Science and innovation have always been my passions. From co-founding Matrox, which has provided innovative hardware and software solutions for an array of high-tech industries over the last five decades, to my work promoting science literacy, to my interest in space exploration and astrophysics, I believe that science holds the key to solving the most pressing issues facing humanity and bettering the lives of all.
When my daughter Sylvie first approached me in the early 2000s about the urgency of climate change, I took a closer look at the science. I began to grasp the scale of the challenge. I also saw that, despite its daunting nature, climate change is a problem that is solvable through science and innovation.
Climate change is a problem that is solvable through science and innovation.
Lorne Trottier, Trottier Family Foundation
My personal commitment to climate action came from an understanding of the potential impacts on my children and grandchildren, and the urgency for immediate action. It is a commitment that drives the work of the Trottier Family Foundation today. Recently, our foundation committed $150 million to drive Canada’s climate transition, partnering with leading foundations through the Climate Champions initiative to fund climate solutions and secure a strong net-zero future in line with what the science tells us is required.
Our commitment to this initiative is also a call to action for others to grant and invest in this space. Below are three compelling science- and researched-based reasons why other philanthropists should join me and my family in funding solutions to solve climate change.
The science is clear and the time to act is now
The rapid buildup of greenhouse gases from human activities has altered the earth’s climate balance, putting ecosystems, health, and global stability at risk. As a result, our planet is at a tipping point, with fires, floods, and rising seas already disrupting lives globally.
Leading scientists, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, have provided clear evidence: without urgent, bold action, the consequences of climate change will be severe and irreversible. While outright climate denial has decreased, a more subtle form of resistance remains. Some argue that transitioning to renewable energy is too expensive, impractical, or unreliable. However, science tells a different story. As Bill Gates writes in his book How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, we already have many of the tools we need to address the climate crisis. Viable net-zero solutions, such as mass electrification and grid integration, electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, and building decarbonization, are already being implemented to some degree today.
So what can we do? We can go bigger, and we can go faster. We can take bold action today to fund, scale, and de-risk early-stage innovation and ensure that these clean technologies can make a meaningful impact across sectors.
Decarbonization is a massive economic opportunity
Shifting to clean energy is more than an environmental necessity; it is a once-in-a-generation economic opportunity. For example, a recent report from Deloitte found that inaction on climate change could cost the global economy US$178 trillion by 2070, while accelerating the transition to net-zero would see a US$43 trillion boost to global gross domestic product over the same time period. Furthermore, a Clean Energy Canada report found that if Canada reaches net-zero, there will be 700,000 more Canadian energy jobs in 2050 than exist today.
With targeted investment, Canada has the potential to become a global leader in the clean economy.
To seize this economic opportunity, countries worldwide are positioning themselves to compete in the clean economy, focusing on sectors like zero-emission vehicles, low-carbon hydrogen, and heavy industry. It is crucial that Canada also meet this moment, to ensure a prosperous future and set itself up to compete in key sectors.
This is why the Trottier Family Foundation is focused on supporting sectors critical to both Canada’s decarbonization and economic growth, such as through our support for accelerating the adoption of electric school buses and our work to help decarbonize the cement and steel industries. With targeted investment, Canada has the potential to become a global leader in the clean economy.
Climate philanthropy can have an enormous impact
Finally, climate philanthropy can have an outsized impact in funding solutions to help solve climate change. This is because philanthropic capital can have a domino effect, unlocking other forms of public and private capital.
Consider the case of Low Carbon Cities Canada. An initial grant of $400,000 from our foundation laid the groundwork for what became a $183-million government investment to establish low-carbon city centres in cities across Canada, spurring additional investment. This is just one example of how climate philanthropy can de-risk innovative projects and catalyze growth.
Philanthropic capital can have a domino effect, unlocking other forms of public and private capital.
However, despite the significant promise of climate philanthropy to help secure a strong net-zero economy, a recent insight piece from Clean Economy Fund shows that in 2022, Canadian climate philanthropy amounted to only $106 million. This represents just 0.9% of total philanthropic giving in Canada and is well below the already-low global average of 1.6%.
RBC’s 2024 climate action report also paints a stark picture. While investment in climate action from public and private sources has grown by 50% since 2021, it must reach $60 billion a year for the rest of the decade for the economy to be on a course to reach net-zero by 2050.
Our recent climate-champions announcement has made a difference, but more climate philanthropy is needed, and we cannot do it alone. We need other Canadians to join us!
Uniting for impact: Every philanthropic cause is touched by climate change
Although I first became involved in climate philanthropy through my strong interest in science and technology, it is important to note that climate philanthropy intersects with many other interests and issues. This is simply because there is no issue today that climate doesn’t touch. Those who fund health, education, equality, or food security will find that climate solutions are also solutions to help solve these critical problems.
That’s why I’m calling on philanthropists – no matter what your priority charitable cause is – to consider adopting a climate lens. By joining me and my family in committing to the Climate Champions initiative, you can have a major impact on ensuring a strong future for Canadians and a powerful legacy of supporting the change and action we need.
Together, we can build the future we desire, not only for future generations but for Canadians living and working today who deserve safe and healthy lives, good jobs, and a strong economy. I believe there is no cause more deserving of attention and funding today.
