Archived: Departmental Results Report 2016 to 2017, Department of Environment, chapter 4
Operating context and key risks
Operating context
The economy and the environment go hand in hand. Growing the economy and protecting the environment is a collective challenge, but also an opportunity for Canada. Taking action on clean growth and climate change, preventing and managing pollution, conserving nature, and predicting weather and environmental conditions, require the commitments of not only Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), but also all of its partners, including the provinces and territories, Indigenous peoples, other stakeholders and Canadians. It is for these reasons that ECCC emphasizes building, maintaining and strengthening these strategic partnerships. Ensuring effective engagement helps to advance policies, regulations, and services, and provides for a coordinated approach to achieve results for Canadians relating to the environment.
Science and technology form the foundation of ECCC’s work. For instance, ECCC is relied upon to provide science-based weather and environmental information and services so that Canadians can make informed decisions relating to their health and safety.
In 2016–17, the Department took concrete actions to manage and mitigate its three key risks:
Key risks
| Risks | Mitigating strategy and effectiveness | Link to department’s programs | Link to mandate letter commitments or to government-wide and departmental priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Many of the measures required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are not under the responsibility of ECCC or the Government of Canada more generally. | In 2016–17, ECCC reduced this risk through the deployment of effective mitigation strategies. For instance, through horizontal collaboration with provincial and territorial partners, the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change (PCF) codified the intended outcome of growing the economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Under the PCF, three senior-level tables will be established with First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis Nation, in order to ensure an inclusive Indigenous engagement in efforts to combat climate change. On the international front, Canada collaborated with other countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to start implementation of the Paris Agreement. Grounded in science, ECCC developed and implemented regulatory measures to reduce short lived climate pollutants and phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol. |
Climate Change and Clean Air | Develop a plan to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions Renew nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples, based on recognition of rights, respect, cooperation, and partnership Develop an ambitious North American clean energy and environment agreement |
| Failure of ECCC’s facility infrastructure and Information Technology systems may impede the Department’s capacity to monitor and predict severe weather and other programs to Canadians. | In 2016–17, ECCC mitigated this risk through a number of strategies. The Department conducted business continuity planning, which included risk analysis in order to inform priority setting and decision making. ECCC also continued to make investments in infrastructure and upgrades to Information Technology systems, in order to maintain and enhance its capacity to deliver timely and accurate weather warnings to Canadians and to protect the health and safety of Canadians. |
Weather and Environmental Services for Canadians Weather and Environmental Services for Targeted Users |
Make available weather and climate information to Canadians |
| Population, industrial and economic growth may continue to put stress on the environment. | In 2016–17, ECCC took a number of effective actions to mitigate this risk. For example, the Department issued protection orders and made efforts to clear the species at risk recovery backlog, in order to protect the species and their environment. As part of the efforts to reduce pollution of water basins, ECCC also used sound scientific evidence to monitor water quality and provide hydrometric information services to decision-makers. Finally, in collaboration with its partners, the Department enhanced its weather warning systems and climate information tools (e.g. the Air Quality Health Index), in order to ensure the availability, timeliness, and accuracy of weather and climate information to Canadians. |
Biodiversity – Wildlife and Habitat Water Resources Sustainable Ecosystems Compliance Promotion and Enforcement – Wildlife Substances and Waste Management Weather and Environmental Services for Canadians Weather and Environmental Services for Targeted Users |
Enhance protection of Canada’s endangered species Renew our commitment to protect the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River Basin and the Lake Winnipeg Basin Make available weather and climate information to Canadians |
In 2016–17, ECCC continued to monitor its corporate and program-level risks, and took mitigation actions when necessary. Going forward, ECCC will revise its corporate and program-level risks, in order to align to a new departmental results framework for future years.
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