Our people

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) employs 7,162^{Footnote 1}  employees (can vary throughout the year) distributed across the country as follows:

ECCC employees deliver:

• weather forecasts, including conducting research and providing information about the past, present and future conditions of the atmosphere, climate, water, air quality, ice and related environment. For example, every year more than 1,500,000 public forecasts, 200,000 marine and sea state forecasts, 500,000 aviation forecasts, 10,000 severe weather warnings, and 9,000 ice condition products are provided
• scientific research, support field-work, impact assessment, enforcement operations and a host of other critical work to support the roles and responsibilities of the Department, the Government of Canada, provincial, territorial, municipal and Indigenous governments and numerous other stakeholders. The number of scientists, inclusive of biologists, chemists, engineers, mathematicians and others, in the Department has remained steady over the last 10 years and is currently 2,820^{Footnote 2}  or 39.4% of ECCC’s total workforce
• essential services to safeguard environmental quality and human health and security by conducting research to better understand wildlife, biodiversity, water, air, soil, climate, environmental prediction and environmental technologies as well as enforcing all legislation and regulations respecting pollution and the protection of wildlife and habitat administered by the department. ECCC employees monitor Canada’s ecosystems to understand what is changing, and to evaluate emerging threats
• enforcement of regulations to safeguard the environment. Enforcement is spear-headed by 270 badged officers who work in 26 district offices across Canada. ECCC’s enforcement officers (which include 180 environmental enforcement officers and 80 wildlife enforcement officers) have peace officer powers to empower their activities in safeguarding the environment
• implementation of legislation, regulations and other policies and programs that protect the health of Canadians and their environment, while maintaining a vigorous economy
• support to Canada's negotiation and implementation of international environmental agreements, as well as strategic advice to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Deputy Ministers and senior management on international relations and activities when the environment is concerned.
• development and implementation of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy
• effective management of resources and assets in supporting the delivery of policies and programs for a clean, safe and sustainable environment for the present and future generations