The Canadian Climate Institute formally launched in January 2020 following the Canadian government’s Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and subsequent call to establish an arm’s-length organization of Canadian experts providing independent research and policy advice on clean growth and climate change for decision makers across the country.
Initially branded the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices, the institute was established to perform a similar role to independent advisory bodies in other countries, such as the United Kingdom’s Climate Change Committee and France’s Haut Conseil pour le Climat.
The proposal was supported by 15 organizations—including universities, environmental groups, and research institutes—and selected through a competitive process, resulting in a contribution agreement with Environment and Climate Change Canada.
The Canadian Climate Institute became a registered charity in 2021.
The following organizations contributed to the development of the Canadian Climate Institute:
- ACT (the Adaptation to Climate Change Team), SFU
- Alberta Innovates
- Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission
- Canadian Energy Systems Analysis Research (CESAR)
- Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER)
- Evergreen
- Foundation for Environmental Stewardship (FES)
- Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation
- L’Institut de l’énergie Trottier (IET)
- Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change
- Ivey Foundation
- Labrador Institute
- MaRS Discovery District
- McConnell Foundation
- National Consortium for Indigenous Economic Development
- Northern Climate ExChange, Yukon College
- Ouranos
- Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS)
- Prairie Climate Centre
- Smart Prosperity Institute
- SWITCH (L’Alliance pour une économie verte au Québec)
- Trottier Family Foundation
- World Resources Institute (WRI)