2022-2023 Departmental Results Report: United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals
2022-2023 Departmental Results Report
United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals
| UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) | 2022‒23 planned initiatives | Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets | 2022‒23 results |
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SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages |
The Substances and Waste Management Program aims to reduce threats to the health of Canadians and their environment from harmful substances and waste through various actions and activities including stakeholder engagement, information gathering, research, monitoring, tracking, and reporting of harmful substances, and assessing and managing their risks to the environment.
The Air Quality Program aims to improve the quality of ambient air and to reduce outdoor air pollution and its effects on human health and the environment. The Program performs air quality science (research, monitoring, and modeling) and analysis, generates emissions data, and provides technical and policy advice. The Program develops Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards, monitors and reports on ambient air quality, and develops and administers regulations and other risk management instruments to reduce air pollutant emissions from industry, vehicles, engines and fuels, and consumer and commercial products. The Program collaborates with provinces and territories to implement Canada’s Air Quality Management System and works internationally to reduce transboundary air pollution.
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These ECCC programs contribute to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) ambitions:
Global targets:
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Substances and Waste Management Program: 100% of decisions or outcomes of the decision-making bodies -- the Conferences of the Parties (COPs), of the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Minamata conventions --reflected Canadian objectives. 93% of risk management actions were taken in a timely manner to protect Canada’s environment from chemicals found to be a risk to the environment. Implementation of Canada’s obligations under multilateral environmental agreements on air pollution. Air Quality Program: Daily air quality forecasts and alerts continue to be issued by ECCC meteorologists to help inform Canadians on the quality of the Air they are breathing and to enable them to better make health-based decisions. Additionally, ECCC- Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) has contributed air quality scenarios to further reduce air pollution related to marine emissions and volatile organic compounds. These model results are shared with partners to support the development of instruments for valuation and for the development of regulations. MSC has also provided model results to support the Canada-US Air Quality Agreement around transboundary air pollution. This helped support progress towards the targets and was used to define new pathways towards further ambient pollution reduction. |
SDG 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all |
The Water Quality and Ecosystems Partnerships Program aims to contribute to the integrated management of Canada’s priority ecosystems, including improving their water quality and restoring them to a healthy, productive, and sustainable state. Priority ecosystems include the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River system, Lake Winnipeg Basin, Other Major Basins (Fraser River, Mackenzie River, and St. John River), and other Regional Initiatives (Gulf of Maine and Atlantic Ecosystem Initiative). Key science activities include research on the effects of nutrients and other contaminants on aquatic ecosystems, and monitoring Canada’s freshwater and shellfish harvesting areas.
The Community Eco-Action Program aims at increasing Canadians’ participation in activities to protect, conserve and restore the environment. The Eco-Action Community Funding Program encourages local action-focused projects that will protect, rehabilitate, or enhance the natural environment, and build the capacity of communities to sustain these activities into the future. The Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) is a Specified Purpose Account (SPA) administered by ECCC to direct funds received from fines, court orders and voluntary payments to priority projects that will benefit Canada’s natural environment.
The Substances and Waste Management Program aims to reduce threats to the health of Canadians and their environment from harmful substances and waste through various actions and activities including stakeholder engagement, information gathering, research, monitoring, tracking, and reporting of harmful substances, and assessing and managing their risks to the environment.
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These ECCC programs contribute to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) ambitions:
Global targets:
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Water Quality and Ecosystems Partnerships Program: 6.6: In 2022–23, ECCC continued to focus efforts on improving, restoring, and protecting the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, Lake Winnipeg and other large lakes and rivers that are among Canada’s most important freshwater resources. The Department also continued to increase public engagement in conservation and restoration through citizen science, and to fund water conservation and protection activities through various ecosystems initiatives, such as:
ECCC distributed $431,046 in funding for 10 projects under the St. Lawrence Action Plan Community Interaction Program (CIP). These projects involved riverside communities, including First Nations. Specifically, the projects funded were intended among other things to protect important ecological systems (i.e., wetlands, rivers, coastal environments) and restore aquatic and riparian habitats. Additional funding of 500K$ under the Freshwater Action Plan in 2022-23, funded four community projects aimed at reducing non-point source pollution from agricultural land use, through activities such as revegetation. The projects involved 42 partners (including municipal and agricultural organizations) who leveraged $147,383 in additional investments for improving water quality. Community Eco-Action Program: In 2022-2023, the EDF contributed approximately 300 hectares of natural environments being restored and/or enhanced. The Substances and Waste Management Program: In 2022-2023, ECCC protected Canadians’ water through the administration and enforcement of the pollution prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act, and its regulations, including the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations, the Metal and Diamond Mines Effluent Regulations and the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations. In addition, ECCC advanced amendments to the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations and the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations. |
SDG 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all |
The Clean Growth and Climate Change Mitigation Program’s activities include supporting, coordinating developing and implementing Canada’s environmental and climate change policies, programs, regulations and plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). This program supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to meeting Canada’s GHG emission reduction target of 40 to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and putting Canada on a path to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
ECCC is consulting on the development of a Clean Electricity Standard to accelerate the transition to a net-zero clean electricity grid by 2035, and a 100% net-zero emitting electricity future. |
These ECCC programs contribute to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) ambitions:
Global targets:
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Clean Growth and Climate Change Mitigation Program: Advanced development of the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) to achieve a net-zero electricity grid by 2035. In July 2022, the Government released a regulatory frame document and worked with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners, as well as industry and civil society to inform the development of the Regulations. |
SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation |
The Clean Growth and Climate Change Mitigation Program’s activities include supporting, coordinating, developing, and implementing Canada’s environmental and climate change policies, programs, regulations and plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). This program supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to meeting Canada’s GHG emission reduction target of 40 to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and putting Canada on a path to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
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These ECCC programs contribute to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) ambitions:
Global targets:
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Clean Growth and Climate Change Mitigation Program: The Government announced new ambitious measures to support achievement of Canada’s GHG targets. This includes capping and reducing emissions from the oil and gas sector at a pace and scale necessary to achieve Canada’s 2030 and 2050 climate targets, reducing methane emissions from oil and gas by at least 75 percent by 2030, Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Regulations to achieve 20% ZEV sales by 2026, 60% ZEV sales by 2030 and 100% ZEV sales by 2035 and transitioning to a net-zero electricity grid by 2035 through clean electricity regulations and complementary investments.
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SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable |
The Clean Growth and Climate Change Mitigation Program’s activities include supporting, coordinating, developing, and implementing Canada’s environmental and climate change policies, programs, regulations and plans to reduce GHGs. This program supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to meeting Canada’s GHG emission reduction target of 40 to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and putting Canada on a path to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The Program includes the Green Municipal Fund (GMF), which provides funding to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to administer a revolving fund for grants, loans and loan guarantees to encourage investment in municipal environmental projects. The Substances and Waste Management Program aims to reduce threats to the health of Canadians and their environment from harmful substances and waste through various actions and activities including stakeholder engagement, information gathering, research, monitoring, tracking, and reporting of harmful substances, and assessing and managing their risks to the environment.
The Habitat Conservation and Protection (HCP) Program aims to secure, protect, connect, improve, and restore ecologically sensitive habitat, including wetlands, to contribute to the conservation and protection of migratory birds, species at risk and other wildlife.
The Air Quality Program aims to improve the quality of ambient air and to reduce outdoor air pollution and its effects on human health and the environment. The Program performs air quality science (research, monitoring, and modeling) and analysis, generates emissions data, and provides technical and policy advice. The Program develops Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards, monitors and reports on ambient air quality, and develops and administers regulations and other risk management instruments to reduce air pollutant emissions from industry, vehicles, engines and fuels, and consumer and commercial products. The Program collaborates with provinces and territories to implement Canada’s Air Quality Management System and works internationally to reduce transboundary air pollution.
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These ECCC programs contribute to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) ambitions:
Global targets:
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Clean Growth and Climate Change Mitigation Program: The Government announced new ambitious measures to support achievement of Canada’s GHG targets. This includes capping and reducing emissions from the oil and gas sector at a pace and scale necessary to achieve Canada’s 2030 and 2050 climate targets, reducing methane emissions from oil and gas by at least 75 percent by 2030, ZEV Regulations to achieve 20% ZEV sales by 2026, 60% ZEV sales by 2030 and 100% ZEV sales by 2035 and transitioning to a net-zero electricity grid by 2035 through clean electricity regulations and complementary investments. Substances and Waste Management Program: In June 2022, ECCC published the final Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SUPPR), which will prevent 22,000 tons of plastic pollution and 1.3 million tons of hard-to-recycle plastic waste over ten years. 93% of risk management actions were taken in a timely manner to protect Canada’s environment from chemicals found to be a risk to the environment. Implementation of Canada’s obligations under multilateral environmental agreements. Continue to reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) (many of which are also harmful air pollutants). Advancement of regulations to reduce air pollution emissions from various sources. Collaborate with provinces and territories to implement the Air Quality Management System (AQMS) Monitor levels of key air pollutants in collaboration with provinces and territories through the National Air Pollutant Surveillance Program. Develop, administer, and amend, where appropriate, regulations to reduce air pollutant emissions from industrial sources, vehicles, engines and fuels, and consumer and commercial products. Habitat Conservation and Protection Program: the Habitat Conservation and Protection Program (HCP) contributes to increasing Canadians access to nature in urban and near urban areas through the Connecting Canadians to Nature (CCtN) initiative. In 2022-23, over 200,000 people accessed ECCC CCtN sites. Additionally, HCP contributed to enhancing nature connectivity by protecting over 1,000km2 of ecologically sensitive lands, including grasslands, forests, lakes, and wetlands, through the Ecological Gifts and Natural Heritage Conservation Programs. Air Quality Program: Daily air quality forecasts and alerts continue to be issued by ECCC meteorologists to help inform Canadians on the quality of the Air they are breathing and to enable them to better make health-based decisions. More specifically, ECCC produces daily forecasts twice a day and calculates the expected Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) throughout Canada. The achievement of the CIF 11.3 target requires the timely delivery of the AQHI. MSC is also committed to deliver datasets to Health Canada to adjust and improve AQHI. During fiscal year 2022-2023, MSC readied the delivery of an Air Quality reanalysis data set, based on updated models and methods. The data is planned for delivery next fiscal year. |
SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns |
The Substances and Waste Management Program aims to reduce threats to the health of Canadians and their environment from harmful substances and waste and to reduce threats to Canada’s aquatic system and prevent marine pollution and contributes to ecosystem health in oceans and the Antarctic. ECCC works towards achieving Canada’s goal of zero plastic waste by 2030 and supporting the transition to a circular plastics economy. As the federal government member of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME), ECCC works with the provinces and territories, to implement the 2018 Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste, and its Phase 1 and 2 Action Plans. The comprehensive Strategy targets each stage in the lifecycle of plastics through a suite of activities described in its Action Plans. In particular, the CCME is developing guidance on consistent extended producer responsibility policies. Priorities for ECCC in 2022–23 include finalizing the ban on select harmful single use plastic products and developing recycled content requirements for plastic products.
Through the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP), the Government of Canada works with domestic and international partners to reduce the risks posed to Canadians and the environment by exposure to harmful substances. The CMP is conducting national consultations to help ensure that businesses and consumers have access to the information required in order to support sustainable products and sustainable decision-making by consumers, including through regulatory or other equally effective actions. Canada has championed the Ocean Plastics Charter since 2018. The Charter takes a unique and comprehensive approach to addressing plastic pollution by encouraging ambitious action by signatory governments, businesses, and organizations across the full lifecycle of plastics. In support of the Charter, Canada is delivering $100M to help address plastic waste in developing countries, spark innovation to beat plastic pollution, and support innovative private-public partnerships. More recently, Canada played a leadership role during the UN Environment Assembly negotiations (early spring 2022) and helped secure the mandate needed to move the world forward in establishing an international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution. Canada stands ready to work with all countries and partners towards developing this agreement and ending plastic pollution globally. The Clean Growth and Climate Change Mitigation Program’s activities include supporting, coordinating, developing, and implementing Canada’s environmental and climate change policies, programs, regulations and plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). This program supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to meeting Canada’s GHG emission reduction target of 40 to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and putting Canada on a path to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
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These ECCC programs contribute to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) ambitions:
Global targets:
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Substances and Waste Management Program: Following the 4th COP meeting in March 2022, ECCC staff have been participating in efforts to support the first effectiveness evaluation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, including contributing to a monitoring plan for assessing mercury levels in air and biota at the global scale. In June 2022, ECCC published the final SUPPR, which will ban six categories of harmful single-use plastics. The SUPPR will prevent 22,000 tons of plastic pollution and 1.3 million tons of hard-to-recycle plastic waste over ten years. Guidelines published by ECCC explain to businesses how to adopt more sustainable models to replace single-use plastics (e.g., reusable bags) In November 2022, ECCC co-hosted a multi-stakeholder Symposium on Reuse in partnership with the European Union’s “Reducing Plastic Waste in Canada” project. The Symposium showcased innovative reuse solutions and policies in leading jurisdictions and examined barriers and opportunities to inform the government’s path forward on advancing reuse. A What We Heard Report is available. As an inaugural member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, Canada has played a leadership role in negotiations to develop an ambitious and effective international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution and participated in the first session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee tasked with developing the global agreement, held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, from November 28 to December 2, 2022. Canada also contributed $4 million to the United Nations Environment Programme to help ensure an inclusive, equitable, and transparent negotiating process. 100% of decisions or outcomes of the decision-making bodies -- COPs, of the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Minamata conventions --reflected Canadian objectives. 93% of risk management actions were taken in a timely manner to protect Canada’s environment from chemicals found to be a risk to the environment. As of March 31, 2023, 100% of the existing chemicals were addressed within targeted timelines; 81% of new substances (chemicals, polymers, and animate products of biotechnology) were assessed within prescribed timelines; and 95% of the 4,363 existing chemicals that were prioritized under the Chemicals Management Plan were addressed. Clean Growth and Climate Change Mitigation Program: In April 2022, ECCC announced plans to develop guidance that will require proponents of new oil and gas production projects subject to a federal impact assessment to demonstrate that they will have “best-in-class” low-emissions performance. New projects would have to deliver emissions performance—the amount of greenhouse gas pollution it takes to produce a barrel of oil or cubic meter of natural gas—that is best in class, and all future oil and gas projects would have to be net zero by 2050. In August 2022, Canada launched the Net-Zero Challenge to encourage businesses with operations in Canada to develop credible and effective plans to transition their facilities and operations to net-zero emissions by 2050. The program was launched by Minister Guilbeault with 12 initial participants and grew to 68 participating businesses by March 2023. Participating companies benefit from technical guidance, best practices, a community of peer businesses, and the opportunity to highlight their commitment to achieving net-zero emissions. The Net-Zero Challenge includes participation tiers to encourage ambition in net-zero planning. In December 2022, ECCC published proposed regulations that set ZEV sales targets for manufacturers and importers of new passenger cars, Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), and pickup trucks. The regulations will require that at least 20 percent of new vehicles sold in Canada will be zero emission by 2026, at least 60 percent by 2030, and 100 percent by 2035. |
SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts |
The Clean Growth and Climate Change Mitigation Program’s activities include supporting, coordinating, developing, and implementing Canada’s environmental and climate change policies, programs, regulations and plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). This program supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to meeting Canada’s GHG emission reduction target of 40 to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and putting Canada on a path to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The Climate Change Adaptation Program coordinates action on the adaptation and climate resilience elements of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and Canada’s strengthened climate plan. Included here is climate science, modelling, and analysis to inform decision-making. This Program is also directly delivering on the commitment to establish a Canadian Centre for Climate Services to improve access to foundational climate science, information, and services.
The International Climate Change Action Program leads Canada’s efforts in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process with a focus on the implementation of the Paris Agreement and provides leadership, expertise, and advances Canada’s priorities in other international fora. The Program helps developing countries transition to sustainable, low-carbon, climate–resilient, nature-positive, and inclusive development through delivering on Canada’s international climate finance commitments. Financing is also provided to domestic and international organizations, and to climate science and other environmental organizations that work to advance global climate change action. The Program co-leads the negotiation of environmental commitments in Canada’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) including the promotion of substantive climate change provisions. The program is also responsible for the implementation of environmental provisions in FTAs and environmental cooperation instruments, as well as promoting the adoption of Canadian cleantech solutions globally to advance climate action.
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These ECCC programs contribute to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) ambitions:
Global targets:
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Clean Growth and Climate Change Mitigation Program and Climate Change Adaptation Program: The Government announced new ambitious measures to support achievement of Canada’s GHG targets. This includes capping and reducing emissions from the oil and gas sector at a pace and scale necessary to achieve Canada’s 2030 and 2050 climate targets, reducing methane emissions from oil and gas by at least 75 percent by 2030, and transitioning to a net-zero electricity grid by 2035. In April 2022, ECCC announced plans to develop guidance that will require proponents of new oil and gas production projects subject to a federal impact assessment to demonstrate that they will have “best-in-class” low-emissions performance. New projects would have to deliver emissions performance—the amount of greenhouse gas pollution it takes to produce a barrel of oil or cubic meter of natural gas—that is best in class, and all future oil and gas projects would have to be net zero by 2050. In August 2022, Canada launched the Net-Zero Challenge to encourage businesses with operations in Canada to develop credible and effective plans to transition their facilities and operations to net-zero emissions by 2050. The program was launched by Minister Guilbeault with 12 initial participants and grew to 68 participating businesses by March 2023. Participating companies benefit from technical guidance, best practices, a community of peer businesses, and the opportunity to highlight their commitment to achieving net-zero emissions. The Net-Zero Challenge includes participation tiers to encourage ambition in net-zero planning. In December 2022, ECCC published proposed regulations that set ZEV sales targets for manufacturers and importers of new passenger cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks. The regulations will require that at least 20 percent of new vehicles sold in Canada will be zero emission by 2026, at least 60 percent by 2030, and 100 percent by 2035. ECCC continued to work in close collaboration with Indigenous partners through the three distinctions-based senior bilateral tables on clean growth and climate change and launched engagement on the Indigenous Climate Leadership initiative that received $29.6M in federal funding in Budget 2022. The Low Carbon Economy Fund supports projects that cut emissions, build resilient communities, and contribute to meeting Canada’s 2030 emissions-reduction target. ECCC continues to work with partners, including provinces and territories, to maximize Low Carbon Economy Fund spending to drive greenhouse gas emissions reductions in support of Canada’s climate change targets. Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy (NAS): ECCC continued work in support of the Flood Hazard Identification & Mapping Program (FHIMP) led by Natural Resources Canada. The program will provide regulatory-quality flood hazard maps to help Canadians better plan and prepare for floods. In 2021, FHIMP was allocated $63.8M for a 3-year period. Through the NAS, funding has been extended to $164.2M over the next five years, starting in 2023-24. ECCC continued work with provinces and territories to develop hydrologic and hydraulic best practices for floodplain mapping in support of the Emergency Management Strategy. International Climate Change Action Program: In 2022-2023, Canada continued to play an active role in multilateral fora, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Canada fought hard at the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) to maintain the global resolve to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°Celsius, to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. As part of this resolve, countries agreed to accelerate efforts toward phasing out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and the phase down of unabated coal power—still the single largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions. Canada was an early advocate for the need for COP27 to make progress on the issue of loss and damage, and to include it on the formal agenda. At COP27, Canada rallied together with developed and developing nations to establish new funding arrangements for assisting developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, including to establish a fund for responding to loss and damage. Further work will be undertaken to elaborate these funding arrangements over the coming year. Canada is delivering on its $5.3B climate finance commitment, which plays an important role in meeting the collective USD100 billion goal. This commitment builds on the success of Canada’s previous $2.65B climate finance commitment and helps low and middle-income countries transition to sustainable, low-carbon, climate-resilient, nature-positive, and inclusive development. |
SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development |
The Substances and Waste Management Program aims to reduce threats to the health of Canadians and their environment from harmful substances and waste and to reduce threats to Canada’s aquatic system and prevent marine pollution and contributes to ecosystem health in oceans and the Antarctic. As part of its work towards achieving Canada’s goal of zero plastic waste by 2030, ECCC supports projects that help to capture and remove plastic pollution or prevent plastic waste from entering the environment including freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments. The Program also implements regulations to reduce and prevent environmental emergencies and responds to environmental emergencies 24/7, by providing scientific and technical advice and ensuring measures are taken to protect the environment.
Canada has championed the Ocean Plastics Charter since 2018. The Charter takes a unique and comprehensive approach to addressing plastic pollution by encouraging ambitious action by signatory governments, businesses, and organizations across the full lifecycle of plastics. In support of the Charter, Canada is delivering $100M to help address plastic waste in developing countries, spark innovation to beat plastic pollution, and support innovative private-public partnerships. More recently, Canada played a leadership role during the UN Environment Assembly negotiations (early spring 2022) and helped secure the mandate needed to move the world forward in establishing an international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution. Canada stands ready to work with all countries and partners towards developing this agreement and ending plastic pollution globally. The Compliance Promotion and Enforcement - Pollution Program works to minimize damage to the environment from pollution by promoting compliance and applying a risk-based approach to enforce environmental laws, regulations and other instruments administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
The Habitat Conservation and Protection Program aims to secure, protect, connect, improve, and restore ecologically sensitive habitat, including wetlands, to contribute to the conservation and protection of migratory birds, species at risk and other wildlife.
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These ECCC programs contribute to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) ambitions:
Global targets:
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Substances and Waste Management Program: In June 2022, ECCC published the final SUPPR, which will ban six categories of harmful single-use plastics. The SUPPR will prevent 22,000 tons of plastic pollution (including 2,505 tons of marine pollution) and 1.3 million tons of hard-to-recycle plastic waste over ten years. As an inaugural member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, Canada has played a leadership role in negotiations to develop an ambitious and effective international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution and participated in the first session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee tasked with developing the global agreement, held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, from November 28 to December 2, 2022. Canada also contributed $4 million to the United Nations Environment Programme to help ensure an inclusive, equitable, and transparent negotiating process. Compliance Promotion and Enforcement – Pollution Program: In 2022-23, the Enforcement Branch conducted 3,355 pollution enforcement activities under the requirements of environmental legislation and regulations administered by ECCC, to curb environmental violations and minimize damage to the environment from pollution. Habitat Conservation and Protection Program: ECCC continues to make important contributions towards meeting Canada’s marine conservation targets. As of the end of 2022, 31,072km2 of marine habitat are protected as ECCC National Wildlife Areas or Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. ECCC- Habitat Conservation and Protection Program is also making progress towards designating 3-4 additional marine National Wildlife Areas. |
SDG 15: Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss |
The Habitat Conservation and Protection Program aims to secure, protect, connect, improve, and restore ecologically sensitive habitat, including wetlands, to contribute to the conservation and protection of migratory birds, species at risk and other wildlife.
The Biodiversity Policy and Partnerships Program aims to conserve biodiversity and to develop and meet Canada’s biodiversity commitments and obligations, to influence international policy related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. As such, ECCC leads in the negotiation and implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and other conventions, including on resource mobilization and biodiversity financing. This work aims to ensure adequate financing for biodiversity policy in order to achieve the goals and targets under the SDGs related to the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of biodiversity and nature.
The Species at Risk Program aims to prevent wildlife species from being extirpated or becoming extinct, to provide for the recovery of wildlife species that are extirpated, endangered, or threatened, and to manage species of special concern to prevent them from becoming endangered or threatened. Independent actions on single species are complemented with strategic multi-species and ecosystems-based actions – focused on a set of shared priority places, species, and sectors with provinces and territories across Canada – through the implementation of the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada.
The Migratory Birds and Other Wildlife Program contributes to maintaining healthy populations of migratory birds and other wildlife by reducing threats to populations and by conserving, protecting, and enhancing priority habitats.
The Compliance Promotion and Enforcement – Wildlife Program works to conserve and protect the natural environment through compliance promotion and apply a risk-based approach to enforce the Species at Risk Act, Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act, Antarctic Environmental Protection Act and Canada Wildlife Act.
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These ECCC programs contribute to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) ambitions:
Global targets:
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Habitat Conservation and Protection Program: Through the Habitat Conservation and Protection Program, ECCC continues to lead the Government of Canada’s efforts of conserving 25% of lands and freshwaters by 2025, working towards 30% by 2030. Highlights from 2022-23 include the designation of two new national Wildlife Areas – Edéhzhíe and Big Glace Bay Lake, the signing of the Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement, and the establishment of the First Nations Guardians Network. Biodiversity Policy and Partnerships: ECCC played a leadership role in the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15) in Montreal in December 2022. COP15 resulted in the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), which is comprised of 4 goals and 23 targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and put nature on a path to recovery by 2050. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed to in December 2022 sets a range of targets that will support achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 15 and other SDGs. Within the Government of Canada, ECCC leads implementation of several KM-GBF targets, including Target 3 (Protected and Conserved Areas – Terrestrial), Target 4 -Species Recovery (Terrestrial), and Target 8. Climate Change and Biodiversity, among others. Species at Risk Program: Migratory Birds and Other Wildlife Program: ECCC continues to deliver on its obligation and commitments under the Migratory Bird Convention Act. The introduction of the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, helped increase clarity to the regulations by updating outdated language, incorporating current legal standards, eliminating errors, inconsistencies, and ambiguities, and restructuring the regulations by placing related information into distinct parts. It also recognized existing Aboriginal and treaty harvesting rights recognized and affirmed under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. With the coming into force of the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, ECCC has begun the process of evaluating and monitoring its implementation and continues to engage with stakeholders. Several regulatory amendment initiatives to the Migratory Birds Regulations are currently under consideration. Some are part of the regular process, such as the biennial migratory birds hunting amendments, while others are to deal with issues that have long, or recently, been identified as priorities. Compliance Promotion and Enforcement – Wildlife Program: In 2022-23, the Enforcement Branch conducted 4,253 wildlife enforcement activities under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act to curb illegal wildlife trade. |
SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development |
The International Climate Change Action Program leads Canada’s efforts in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process with a focus on the implementation of the Paris Agreement, provides leadership and expertise, and advances Canada’s priorities in other international fora. The Program helps developing countries transition to sustainable, low-carbon, climate–resilient, nature-positive, and inclusive development through delivering on Canada’s international climate finance commitments. Financing is also provided to domestic and international organizations, and to climate science and other environmental organizations that work to advance global climate change action. The Program co-leads the negotiation of environmental commitments in Canada’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) including the promotion of substantive climate change provisions. The program is also responsible for the implementation of environmental provisions in FTAs and environmental cooperation instruments, as well as promoting the adoption of Canadian cleantech solutions globally to advance climate action.
The Biodiversity Policy and Partnerships Program aims to conserve biodiversity and to develop and meet Canada’s biodiversity commitments and obligations, to influence international policy related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. As such, ECCC leads in the negotiation and implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and other conventions, including on resource mobilization and biodiversity financing. This work aims to ensure adequate financing for biodiversity policy in order to achieve the goals and targets under the SDGs related to the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of biodiversity and nature.
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These ECCC programs contribute to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) ambitions:
Global targets:
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International Climate Change Action Program: In 2022-2023, Canada continued to play an active role in multilateral fora, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. At COP27, Canada led and joined several strategic initiatives and partnerships to advance climate action including:
Canada also supported three Egyptian COP27 presidency-led initiatives:
Canada continues to mobilize funding for climate action in developing countries. To date, Canada has announced over $1.84B in climate finance initiatives as part of its $5.3B commitment through a variety of bilateral and multilateral channels. At COP27, Canada announced a number of practical initiatives totalling $84.25 million through its $5.3 billion international climate finance commitment and other sources of funding. In the lead-up to COP27, Canada and Germany released a Progress Report on the Climate Finance Delivery Plan that provides further transparency on what developed countries have been doing to deliver on their continued commitment to jointly mobilize US$100 billion in climate finance per year as soon as possible, while also highlighting key actions still required. Canada also is leading on global energy transition through its co-leadership in the Powering Past Coal Alliance and support for Just Energy Transition Partnerships with G7 partners and host countries. Biodiversity Policy and Partnerships: ECCC’s leadership at COP15 in December 2022, and the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, support Canada’s contribution towards SDG Goal 17. |