Aug 7, 2026
Rashid Sumaila Appointed to CExpert Taskforce on Natural Capital Accounting and Nature Financing
On August 7, the Government of Canada announced the creation of a new Expert Taskforce on Natural Capital Accounting and Nature Financing. Among the distinguished group of experts selected to lead this initiative is Solving-FCB Scientific Director Dr. Rashid Sumaila, who brings world-renowned expertise in bioeconomics, marine ecosystem valuation, and interdisciplinary research at the food, climate, and biodiversity nexus to the federal advisory body.
Bridging the Food, Climate, and Biodiversity Nexus in Nature Financing
Section titled “Bridging the Food, Climate, and Biodiversity Nexus in Nature Financing”Announced by Environment and Climate Change Canada, the new Taskforce brings together leaders across nature conservation, finance, economics, public policy, and Indigenous-led conservation. Its primary mission is to provide independent recommendations to the federal government on how to properly measure, value, and account for nature within economic decision-making.
This objective directly mirrors the vision of Solving-FCB, working to solve sustainability challenges at the intersection of food security, climate change, and biodiversity loss.
While healthy ecosystems underpin Canada’s long-term prosperity, traditional economic frameworks often overlook the true value of natural capital, such as wetlands, forests, oceans, and coastal ecosystems. By applying the multi-dimensional framework our researchers and scholars are applying in their work for the Solving-FCB project, the Taskforce aims to bridge this gap by developing policies and financial instruments that mobilize public and private investment into nature-positive initiatives without compromising community livelihoods or food security.
Translating Solving-FCB Science into Federal Policy
Section titled “Translating Solving-FCB Science into Federal Policy”Dr. Sumaila’s appointment highlights the vital role of transdisciplinary academic research in shaping national environmental and economic strategies. As Scientific Co-PO of Solving-FCB and Director of the Fisheries Economics Research Unit (FERU) at UBC, Dr. Sumaila has pioneered research on the economic impacts of overfishing, climate change on global fisheries, and marine ecosystem valuation.
Through Solving-FCB, Rashid and the rest of the team works to ensure that food security, climate mitigation, and biodiversity protection are tackled together rather than traded off against one another. His role on the Taskforce ensures that marine and aquatic ecosystems, critical pillars of Canada’s natural wealth, are fully integrated alongside terrestrial natural capital in future national accounting frameworks.
Furthermore, Solving-FCB’s commitment to community-led research, including our ongoing partnership with the Tla’amin First Nation in British Columbia, offers valuable insights into how natural capital accounting can respect Indigenous rights, support self-determination, and strengthen local resource stewardship.
Over the coming months, the Taskforce will engage with Indigenous partners, industry stakeholders, and financial leaders to formulate actionable recommendations. Informed by the integrative approaches of Solving-FCB, their guidance will help shape federal policy, drive private capital toward conservation efforts, and build a sustainable economy that accounts for the true value of Canada’s living assets.
- Government of Canada Taskforce Announcement
- Dr. Rashid Sumaila at: