{"id":9629,"date":"2025-01-09T05:00:04","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T05:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbc.com\/en\/thought-leadership\/canadian-business-leaders-see-themselves-on-the-frontlines-of-climate-action\/"},"modified":"2025-03-26T04:54:39","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T04:54:39","slug":"canadian-business-leaders-see-themselves-on-the-frontlines-of-climate-action","status":"publish","type":"rbc_tl","link":"https:\/\/www.rbc.com\/en\/thought-leadership\/climate-action-institute\/canadian-business-leaders-see-themselves-on-the-frontlines-of-climate-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadian business leaders see themselves on the frontlines of climate action"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Slide 1 of 10<\/div>\n

Canadian business leaders see themselves on the frontlines of climate action<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

As Canada seeks to make headway toward its ambitious climate targets, businesses\u2019 role in driving emissions reductions has never been more critical. To understand how organizations are navigating this transformation, the Climate Action Institute surveyed over 100 public and private sector executives in collaboration with Kantar Canada<\/a>. This report captures their insights on the challenges, priorities, and strategies shaping climate action within the Canadian economy.<\/p>\n

The results show a complex system where government policies, business and consumer demands, and market dynamics intersect. While businesses recognize their role in climate strategy, the path forward is far from linear with regulatory hurdles, resource demands, and the need for collaboration between the various stakeholders across sectors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Slide 2 of 10<\/div>\n

Key Findings:<\/h2>\n
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    The key to progress: Subsidies, funding, and leadership<\/strong>
    Over half of executives identified government subsidies (55%), internal funding (53%), and C-suite buy-in (50%) as the most significant factors for driving emissions reduction in their organizations.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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    A shared responsibility for change<\/strong>
    While 42% of leaders see governments as primarily responsible for climate action, 40% believe businesses share equal responsibility. Customers ranked third, at just 16%.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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    Heavy industry faces regulatory headwinds<\/strong>
    Leaders in oil and gas, electricity, and heavy industries cite regulatory uncertainty as the greatest barrier to implementing effective climate strategies.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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    Boardroom advocacy is growing but limited<\/strong>
    Only 36% of organizations have a senior executive dedicated to environmental issues, highlighting a need for stronger leadership in this area.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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    There\u2019s a need to align goals with incentives<\/strong>
    A third of respondents believe linking climate targets to executive compensation is a key motivator, while 63% think embedding climate objectives into short- and long-term strategic goals will drive progress.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
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    Slide 3 of 10<\/div>\n

    Nearly 9 out of 10 business leaders are familiar with Canada\u2019s emissions reduction target<\/h2>\n