From Canada to Brazil, CNLA Grows Climate Hope Through Plants.

Growing Canada’s Climate Leadership

BELÉM, Brazil – November 11, 2025 — The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) is representing Canada’s green industry at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, following its participation at the C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro earlier this week.

These international gatherings bring together city leaders, scientists, and policymakers from around the world to accelerate climate action through collaboration and innovation.

CNLA Vice President and Climate Adaptation Committee Chair Alan White (centre) with Canadian delegates outside the COP30 venue in Belém, Brazil. CNLA is representing Canada’s green industry at the 30th Conference of the Parties, advocating for ornamental horticulture and living green infrastructure as nature-based climate solutions.

At COP30, CNLA is advocating for ornamental horticulture and living green infrastructure as practical, science-based, nature-based solutions. Plants and managed landscapes store carbon, reduce heat, improve air and water quality, and enhance both ecological and human health while supporting biodiversity and community resilience.

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Plants are the most accessible form of climate technology we have. They capture carbon, manage stormwater, cool our cities, and strengthen mental and physical well-being. As I often say, plants are the lungs of our cities. And Canada’s horticulture sector is ready to help governments integrate nature into every level of climate planning.

Alan White, CNLA Vice President, Chair of the Climate Adaptation Committee, Turf Systems Inc.

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With $14.4 billion contributed to Canada’s GDP and more than 220,000 jobs supported, the horticulture sector demonstrates that green infrastructure is climate infrastructure. Investments in green spaces yield up to $15 in environmental, social, and health returns for every dollar spent.

At COP30, CNLA is amplifying Canada’s leadership in sustainable landscape practices and reaffirming that the path to a resilient, nature-positive future starts with plants.

A wide view of an international panel discussion at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Delegates from around the world are seated at a long conference table beneath a canopy, with a large presentation screen behind them highlighting climate adaptation programs from Cape Town, South Africa. The scene captures active dialogue, global collaboration, and the exchange of ideas on urban sustainability and climate resilience. — Delegates participate in a global dialogue on climate adaptation during COP30 in Belém, Brazil. The session featured international examples of nature-based urban solutions, including strategies to integrate green infrastructure into city planning—aligning closely with CNLA’s advocacy for ornamental horticulture as a key component of climate resilience.

Delegates participate in a global dialogue on climate adaptation during COP30 in Belém, Brazil. The session featured international examples of nature-based urban solutions, including strategies to integrate green infrastructure into city planning—aligning closely with CNLA’s advocacy for ornamental horticulture as a key component of climate resilience.

https://www.cnla.ca/benefits-of-landscaping

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