Archived: Departmental Results Report 2017 to 2018: Department of Environment, chapter 1
Minister's message
As Minister of Environment and Climate Change, I am pleased to present the 2017-18 Departmental Results Report for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). This report provides an opportunity to highlight the many accomplishments of the department to protect the environment and grow the economy while moving forward on our commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
Climate change is one of the most important issues of our time. That is why we developed the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, Canada’s ambitious plan to fight climate change, increase our resilience to the impacts of the changing climate, and drive clean economic growth. In the past year, we have continued to make progress on turning our commitments under the Framework into action. In addition to playing a leadership role with our federal, provincial and territorial partners on this important and complex challenge, the department is delivering targeted measures to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. We have developed regulations to reduce emissions and air pollution from the electricity sector and heavy-duty vehicles, and methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, and are working to establish a pan-Canadian price on pollution by the start of 2019. ECCC is also delivering the nearly $2 billion Low Carbon Economy Fund to support provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities, private and not-for-profit organizations in undertaking projects that will reduce greenhouse gas pollution, stimulate innovation, and create jobs and cleaner, healthier communities. All of these effective measures, and others under the Framework, are reducing Canada’s emissions and moving Canada closer to its target. In fact, our latest projections of future greenhouse gas emissions show the biggest improvement in our outlook since reporting began.
We are already witnessing the impacts of climate change across the country in the form of wildfires, flooding, extreme weather, disappearing sea ice and thawing permafrost. The department has continued its efforts to help Canadians adapt, including the development of the Canadian Center for Climate Services to provide access to climate data, tools and information.
In support of reconciliation, ECCC has led the establishment of three distinct senior-level bilateral tables with each of the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. These tables support action on climate change and the continued implementation of the Pan-Canadian Framework, ensuring that Indigenous peoples are full and effective partners in this regard.
ECCC continued to contribute to action on clean growth and climate change by acting internationally. For example, by co-creating, with the United Kingdom, the Powering Past Coal Alliance, and by paving the way towards a successful Canadian G7 presidency. In response to the plastic waste crisis affecting our environment and oceans, ECCC launched the development of a national plastic waste strategy and action plan.
The department has significantly reduced the backlog of species eligible for listing under the Species at Risk Act and has established a timeline for future listing decisions. Budget 2018 invested $1.35 billion over five years in nature conservation. This historic investment provides a solid foundation for conserving 17% of Canada’s land mass and inland waters and transforming how we protect species at risk. It also provides a foundation for collaborative work with Indigenous peoples and other partners to establish new and expand existing national wildlife areas. The investment includes the creation of a five-year, $500 million Canada Nature Fund to enhance capacity to protect and recover species at risk while leveraging the contributions of our partners.
We have also collaborated with the Government of Alberta to renew our work on oil sands monitoring to better understand cumulative effects, and provided new funding to improve Great Lakes water quality with a focus on nearshore waters and the continued reduction of water pollution.
We continued to provide Canadians with timely and accurate information on air quality and 24/7 weather forecasts and warnings of severe weather, Air Quality Health Index information, flood potential information, and smoke dispersal information related to wildfires. In 2017, ECCC saw the successful installation of its first new weather radar that will give Canadians greater lead time to protect themselves from severe weather events. Our new state-of-the-art supercomputer will further advance the development of our capabilities to predict weather, climate and environmental conditions to protect the health and safety of Canadians.
You will find further details on these and other achievements in the following pages. I invite you to read the ECCC 2017–18 Departmental Results Report to learn more about the contributions ECCC is making to improve the environment, prosperity, and health of all Canadians.
The Honourable Catherine McKenna, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change
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