Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 2023-24 Departmental results report: At a glance

A departmental results report provides an account of actual accomplishments against plans, priorities and expected results set out in the associated Departmental Plan.

Read the full Departmental results report


Highlights

In 2023-24, total actual spending (including internal services) for ECCC was $2,362,129,456 and total full-time equivalent staff (including internal services) was 8,571. For complete information on ECCC’s total spending and human resources, read the Spending and human resources section of the full report.

The following provides a summary of the department’s achievements in 2023-24 according to its approved Departmental Results Framework. A Departmental Results Framework consists of a department’s Core Responsibilities, the Departmental Results it plans to achieve and the performance indicators that measure progress toward these results.

Core responsibility 1: Taking Action on Clean Growth and Climate Change

Actual spending: $570,748,742

Actual human resources: 1,056 FTEs

Departmental results achieved

Key highlights from ECCC’s efforts in 2023-24 include continuing to ensure effective delivery of carbon pollution pricing across the country. Notably, the Department continued to manage the federal Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS) Proceeds Fund to return proceeds collected through the carbon pollution pricing system back to jurisdictions of origin through the Canada Carbon Rebate, while continuing to implement the OBPS for industrial emitters; ensure all carbon pollution pricing systems align with the strengthened minimum national stringency standards; implement Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) Offset Credit System launched in 2022; and return a portion of fuel charge proceeds to small and medium-sized enterprises and Indigenous recipients. ECCC also continued to deliver the Low Carbon Economy Fund and the Climate Action and Awareness Fund to promote and facilitate action on clean growth.

ECCC also continued to develop a series of transformative climate regulations, including publishing proposed regulations to achieve a 75 percent reduction in oil and gas methane by 2030, and engaging Canadians on the regulatory design of Canada’s oil and gas emissions cap. In August 2023, the Department published draft Clean Electricity Regulations and updated it in February 2024 in response to considerable feedback received from consultations. Finally, ECCC published the final Electric Vehicle Availability Standard in December 2023 to achieve 100 percent electric vehicle sales by 2035. The Department continued to encourage companies to join the Net-Zero Challenge, with an impressive response and participation from the business community.

ECCC pursued its work with other federal organizations to deliver on over $2 billion of new investments for climate change adaptation and resilience under the Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan (GOCAAP). This work advances Canada’s first-ever National Adaptation Strategy–supporting community-based adaptation in municipalities and providing authoritative science and knowledge of climate change affecting Canada. The Department continued to deliver climate services to Canadians and worked with provinces, territories and Indigenous partners to enhance climate services. The Department also led efforts in developing a new Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment, which modernizes environmental and economic analysis in the development of policies, programs, and regulations.

In 2023-24, ECCC contributed to ambitious climate policies and action internationally through multilateral and bilateral fora and initiatives. The Department negotiated and implemented ambitious and comprehensive environmental provisions in its free trade agreements and bilateral mechanisms, and maintained its work with international partners to implement the Paris Agreement, ratified by Canada in October 2016. In addition, ECCC supported developing countries in their transition to sustainable, low-carbon, climate-resilient, nature-positive, and inclusive development, underpinned by bilateral cooperation. The Department also continued implementation of Canada’s $5.3 billion climate finance commitment in close collaboration with Global Affairs Canada.

More information about Taking Action on Clean Growth and Climate Change can be found in the ‘Results – what we achieved” section of the full departmental results report.

Core responsibility 2: Preventing and Managing Pollution

Actual spending: $471,476,416

Actual human resources: 2,334 FTEs

Departmental results achieved

To protect Canadians and the environment from harmful substances, ECCC continued to deliver Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan in collaboration with Health Canada. The aim of this plan is to reduce the risks to Canadians and the environment posed by chemical substances.  As of March 31, 2024, the two departments have addressed 4,326 (99 percent) of 4,363 chemicals identified in 2006 as priorities for attention.

The Department also worked towards putting in place amendments to the Cross-Border Movement of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations. This would position Canada to accept the e-waste amendments to the Basel Convention Controlling transboundary movements of hazardous waste for their disposal and to ratify the Basel Ban amendments to prohibit most exports of hazardous wastes to developing countries.

ECCC implemented new initiatives under the modernized Canadian Environmental Protection Act, as amended by the Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act. This included the development of a framework to guide implementation of how the right to a healthy environment will be considered in administering the Act. In 2023-24, ECCC launched consultations with interested Canadians on the implementation framework, to be published by June 2025.

The Department worked with provinces and territories through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment to implement the 2018 Canada-wide Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste. The Department also continued to play a leadership role globally in leading federal efforts to develop an ambitious, effective, and legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution. This involved working collaboratively with other federal departments and all levels of government, Indigenous Peoples such as First Nations, Inuit and Métis, industry, civil society, and the public.

The Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and Lake Winnipeg are among Canada’s most important freshwater resources. In 2023–24, ECCC continued to focus efforts on improving, restoring, and protecting these and other waterbodies of national significance as part of the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan. This includes undertaking the science necessary to measure improvements to water quality, and to track the effectiveness of efforts to conserve and enhance aquatic ecosystems in these vital watersheds.

Air pollution contributed to approximately 17,400 premature deaths in Canada in 2018, with the monetized cost of all health impacts estimated to be $146 billion annually. To protect the environment and health of people living in Canada, ECCC continued to implement the Air Quality Program in collaboration with its federal partners. In 2023-24, ECCC continued to develop, administer, and amend regulations to reduce air pollutant emissions from industrial sources; vehicles, engines, and fuels; and consumer and commercial products. A key achievement is the publication of the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard in the Canada Gazette, Part II on December 20, 2023. These regulations require 100 percent of new passenger cars and light trucks offered for sale in Canada to be electric vehicles by 2035, with interim targets of 20 percent by 2026 and 60 percent by 2030.

The Department continued its collaboration efforts through 2023-24 to address air quality concerns. Notably, ECCC participated in a summit meeting with the Aamjiwnaang First Nation and the Province of Ontario and began the work to establish a partnership table to address the air quality concerns of the community. ECCC continued to collaborate with Health Canada to implement the Air Quality Health Index, to support informed decision-making by Canadians about their exposure to air pollution to protect their health. It also continued to work with provinces and territories to implement the Air Quality Management System – a collaborative approach to reducing outdoor air pollution.

In 2023-24, ECCC continued to protect fish and fish habitat and Canada’s waters by administering and enforcing the Pollution Prevention Provisions of the Fisheries Act. The Department worked with Indigenous Peoples, the public, and industry to protect fish and fish habitat and to establish protective limits for releases from oil sands and coal mining operations..

More information about Preventing and Managing Pollution can be found in the ‘Results – what we achieved” section of the full departmental results report.

Core responsibility 3: Conserving Nature

Actual spending: $720,108,036

Actual human resources: 1,568 FTEs

Departmental results achieved

In 2023-24, ECCC worked domestically and internationally to provide leadership in implementing the new Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which will guide nature protection and conservation efforts until 2030. The Department worked with federal partners to engage provinces and territories, Indigenous groups, and stakeholders to develop Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy. This whole-of-government and whole-of-society work contributes to Canada’s goal of halting and reversing nature loss by 2030 and achieving a full recovery by 2050.

The Department’s existing programming plays a significant role in advancing the GBF domestically. It places particular focus on expanding the network of protected and conserved areas by working with other federal departments, provinces and territories, Indigenous partners, key industry sectors, environmental non-government organizations, and private landowners and trusts to conserve 30 percent of lands and oceans in Canada by 2030. In 2023-24, this included negotiating Nature Agreements with provinces and territories and providing support to Indigenous leadership in conservation through the advancement of Project Finance for Permanence conservation projects. In doing so, the Department further supported Indigenous leadership in conservation through such measures as: Indigenous Guardians initiatives, including establishing the First Nations Guardians Network; enabling partnerships with Indigenous Peoples to protect and recover species at risk; and establishing Indigenous-led conservation areas that respect the unique rights, interests, and traditions of Indigenous Peoples.

ECCC continued to administer existing legislative and regulatory frameworks (and advancing related policy and improving programs) including the Species at Risk Act (SARA), Migratory Birds Convention Act, and Canada Wildlife Act to support the conservation and recovery of terrestrial species at risk and migratory birds.  The Department led on the creation of protected areas through expanded National Wildlife Areas, and collaborated with provinces and territories, Indigenous Peoples, and other partners to protect private lands, recover species at risk, maintain and restore healthy populations of migratory birds, and protect and conserve lands and freshwater — including vital ecosystems and habitats. The Department also continued to implement the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada in order to support SARA implementation through stewardship and broad collaboration throughout priority species, places and sectors.

More information about Conserving Nature can be found in the ‘Results – what we achieved” section of the full departmental results report.

Core responsibility 4: Predicting Weather and Environmental Conditions

Actual spending: $281,191,207

Actual human resources: 1,733 FTEs

Departmental results achieved

In 2023-24, ECCC continued to improve its weather and climate prediction services through innovations in technology, infrastructure, and services. The Department placed a special focus on meeting the growing demand for timely, accurate and reliable information about weather, environmental and climate-related risks and emergencies. This included information about wildfires, flooding, extreme temperatures, storms, and other major atmospheric events. The record-breaking 2023 wildfire season, the poor air quality resulting from wildfire smoke, and the landfall of post tropical storm Lee in Atlantic Canada in September 2023 all caused significant damage, negative health impacts and loss of life, driving home the importance of timely and accurate forecasts and warnings for the health and safety of Canadians.

ECCC completed the Government of Canada’s $180.4 million Canadian Weather Radar Replacement Project to replace outdated technology with 33 new state-of-the-art radars. Radars are the primary tools used by meteorologists to forecast short-term severe weather events associated with thunderstorms, tornadoes, ice storms, and blizzards. The new radars use the most modern technology available to provide more detailed information on precipitation type and storm structure and will allow ECCC to give Canadians greater lead time to protect themselves and their property. The Department also continued to advance its weather and environmental prediction models, and to modernize public forecast services and products, which included the development of tailored communications products to better inform Canadians on the weather. 

ECCC developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Road Map that provides a vision for the integration of AI into weather and environmental prediction systems. The Department also evaluated new technologies for ECCC’s monitoring networks that help meet evolving requirements and improve services in key areas, such as high-impact weather and flooding. In addition, ECCC continued to modernize its hydrometric infrastructure and put in place new technologies to monitor, manage, and analyze water information. The Department also continued to explore ways to improve engagement and collaboration with Indigenous groups in the context of reconciliation.

More information about Predicting Weather and Environmental Conditions can be found in the ‘Results – what we achieved” section of the full departmental results report.

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