Billed as a climate-competitiveness strategy, Budget 2025 instead gutted key programs, delayed regulations, and expanded fossil-fuel subsidies. Canada now risks falling behind economies that are moving faster to cut emissions and capture the clean-energy boom.

Bill Gates argues we should worry less about climate targets and focus more on human welfare. It’s a comforting message — and a dangerous one. As record storms, deadly heat, and collapsing ecosystems show, this is no time to relax. The world’s operating system is already running hot.

This week’s climate news offered a stark warning: Earth’s systems are breaking down, the damage is accelerating, and those in power are still looking away. As scientists sound the alarm and impacts mount, will Canada’s leaders finally act — or continue to stand by in the face of a clear and present danger?

Three major scientific reports released this week deliver a stark message: the climate crisis is accelerating faster than expected. From collapsing coral reefs to slowing forest growth and record-high CO₂ levels, the evidence is clear—climate change is no longer a warning. It’s here, and the need for action is urgent.

Working with McGill’s Sustainable Growth Initiative, we set out to explore how Canadian businesses could take stronger, more credible climate action. What we learned from dozens of conversations with corporate leaders was eye-opening—and revealed a lot about the moment we’re in, and where real progress might come next.

This week ended with Thanksgiving, so I’m reflecting on how far we’ve come in the fight against climate change—and how much we have to be grateful for. From courageous leaders and breakthrough technologies to bold policies and legal victories, there’s real progress to celebrate. Gratitude, after all, can be a powerful source of hope.