Environmental Defence Canada is a 4-star charity with an above average results reporting grade. Its reserve funds are within Ci’s reasonable range and can cover just over one year of program costs. For every dollar donated to Environmental Defence Canada, 85 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.

Environmental Defence Canada (EDC) is a national environmental advocacy charity founded in 1984. It works to protect freshwater, farmland, and natural ecosystems, while promoting clean energy and reducing pollution.

EDC describes Canada's major environmental challenges. The financial sector invested approximately US$369 billion in fossil fuels in 2023, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. EDC reports that less than 9% of plastic waste is recycled, leaving most plastic to be landfilled, burned, or released into the environment. PFAS or "forever chemicals" are now found in water, soil, air, wildlife, and people across Canada, with associated health costs estimated at $9 billion annually. Canada is also losing farmland and faces growing threats to its freshwater resources from pollution and development. EDC works to address these issues through its five program areas: Climate & Clean Economy, Ontario: Yours to Protect, Ending Plastic Pollution, Kicking Out Toxics, and Safeguarding Freshwater. In F2025, EDC spent $6.3m on its programs.

Climate & Clean Economy was EDC’s largest program in F2025 and represented 77% of its program spending. It works to advance Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy by developing and advocating for policies that reduce emissions and shift investment away from fossil fuels. In F2025, it secured federal sustainable finance commitments from four of the five main parties, including transition plans in the NDP, Liberal, and Green platforms, as well as a climate-aligned finance act from the Bloc Québécois.

Ontario: Yours to Protect accounted for 12% of F2025 program spending and focused on improving land-use planning and environmental protection in Ontario. In F2025, it promoted mid-rise housing reforms because they increase housing supply while using land more efficiently. EDC aims to ensure Ontario’s growth occurs within existing communities rather than at the expense of ecosystems. The program also continued opposing Highway 413, which it says would lead to the loss of over 400 acres of the Greenbelt, more than 2,000 acres of prime farmland, and wildlife habitat. It also estimates the highway would add over 17 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and cause $1.4 billion in pollution-related damages.

Ending Plastic Pollution represented 5% of program costs in F2025 and works to reduce plastic waste across Canada. In F2025, it helped mobilize public support ahead of federal court decisions on plastics regulation and worked with partners to stop the Brampton waste incinerator expansion. It also advanced reuse and refill systems to reduce reliance on single-use plastics nationwide.

Kicking out Toxics accounted for 4% of program spending in F2025. This program aims to reduces exposure to harmful chemicals in everyday products by researching toxic substances and holding companies accountable for product safety. In F2025, it published the Retailer Report Card, a benchmarking tool that evaluates Canada’s largest grocery and lifestyle retailers on how well they manage and disclose chemicals in their products.

Safeguarding Freshwater represented 1% of F2025 program costs. This program’s focus is on protecting Ontario’s freshwater systems by researching threats and creating public awareness campaigns.