Archived: Departmental Plan 2017 to 2018 report, Environment and Climate Change Canada, chapter 2

Plans at a glance

In addition to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) core mandate and services such as providing science-based advice and information, predicting weather and environmental conditions, providing forecasts, information and warnings to Canadians and globally, the Minister together with departmental officials will give particular attention to the following priorities.

Priority 1: Action on Clean Growth and Climate Change

The Prime Minister provided the Minister of Environment and Climate Change with a clear mandate to take the lead on effective action on climate change throughout the federal government and across Canada. In 2017-18, the Department will focus on:

• Implementing the Pan-Canadian Framework on clean growth and climate change, consistent with our international obligation to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% by 2030 relative to 2005 and our commitments under the Paris Agreement to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable low-carbon future.
• Continuing to develop and implement regulatory and other tools to reduce GHG and short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) emissions, in particular by accelerating the phase-out of traditional coal-fired electricity generation; regulating GHG emissions from heavy duty vehicles; phasing out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are the fastest growing and among the most potent GHG in the world; establishing performance standards for natural gas-fired electricity; and establishing regulations and standards to reduce emissions from fuels.
• Ensuring that carbon pricing systems aligned with the federal benchmark are implemented throughout Canada by 2018, working with the territories and engaging with Indigenous peoples to find solutions that address their unique circumstances.
• Contributing to the Government of Canada’s commitment to move to a low-carbon government by further reducing emissions from ECCC’s fleet, buildings and installations and supporting green procurement practices.

Priority 2: Preventing and Managing Pollution

The Department remains committed to further delivering on mandate commitments by:

• Developing regulatory and non-regulatory instruments and setting stronger air quality standards, monitoring of emissions and air quality, as well as continuing, through partnerships, the implementation of Canada’s Air Quality Management System.
• Continuing to work with partners to improve the health of Canada’s freshwater ecosystems, including through continued water quality monitoring and research and restoration and pollution remediation activities.
• Protecting the Canadian environment from harmful substances and waste through collaborative efforts, such as those with Health Canada to deliver the Chemicals Management Plan.
• Cooperating with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and other federal stakeholders by providing science-based evidence and information to support environmental assessments.
• Continuing to deliver the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan, which provides funding for the assessment and remediation of the highest-priority federal contaminated sites.

Priority 3: Conserving Nature

The Department will take steps to enhance the protection of species at risk and protected areas such as national wildlife areas and migratory bird sanctuaries by:

• Continuing to implement the Species at Risk Act (SARA) by responding quickly to science-based advice and by taking action to complete robust recovery plans.
• Protecting Canada’s species at risk through the implementation of ECCC’s three-year plan to seek listing and delisting for 149 assessed species.
• Conserving and protecting migratory birds and their habitat from major threats, and modernizing regulations to better manage migratory birds.
• Working in collaboration with other jurisdictions, Indigenous peoples and other partners to conserve and protect at least 17% of Canada’s terrestrial lands and inland waters through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.

For more information on Environment and Climate Change Canada’s plans, priorities and the planned results, see the “Planned Results” section of this report.