Advisory Council on Climate Action

About

Canadians understand that a clean environment and a strong economy go hand in hand. The Government of Canada is committed to growing the economy, creating good middle class jobs, and taking action that ensures a safe climate, healthy environment, and prosperous future for our children and grandchildren.

The new Advisory Council on Climate Action will support the Government of Canada’s commitments under the Paris Agreement by helping the Government identify further opportunities to reduce carbon pollution in the transportation and building sectors, building on the commitments in Canada’s national climate plan, and in a manner that creates opportunities for businesses and workers and leverages sustainable finance.

The Advisory Council will be led by two Co-chairs and will report to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of Finance.

Reports

• Interim report
• Final report

Terms of reference

Context

Canada is tackling climate change, the largest global challenge of our time, and accelerating clean growth consistent with our commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Canada’s plan – the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change – outlines the measures that federal, provincial and territorial governments, working with Indigenous peoples, have committed to take in order to reduce emissions, adapt to a changing climate, and build a competitive clean growth economy that provides Canadians with good jobs.

The Advisory Council on Climate Action, announced in the context of the Government’s 2018 Fall Economic Statement, will identify opportunities to reduce carbon pollution and encourage economic growth, with a specific focus on two important sectors of Canada’s economy: the transportation sector and the built environment sector. Together, these two sectors account for over a third of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The Advisory Council will support the Government of Canada’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, by advising the Government on additional actions in the transportation and built environment sectors that can help Canada move towards a low-carbon economy by mid-century.

Mandate

The Advisory Council on Climate Action will identify cost-efficient opportunities for the Government of Canada to deliver on its commitments in the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, specifically actions within federal jurisdiction that:

• further reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation and built environment sectors; and,
• advance clean economic growth in Canada, including opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers and sustainable finance.

The Government of Canada may ask the Advisory Council for advice on green infrastructure priorities and other related policies that support emission reductions in the transportation and built environment sectors. The Advisory Council may also provide recommendations on areas for further research.

The Advisory Council on Climate Action will not make recommendations related to pricing carbon pollution, as the overall approach to pricing pollution will be reviewed in 2022 to confirm the path forward.

Membership

The Advisory Council will comprise two part-time Governor-in-Council appointees, to serve as co-Chairs. They will hold office during pleasure for a fixed term of six months.

The Governor in Council may appoint additional Council members as appropriate to support the Council’s mandate.

Secretariat

Environment and Climate Change Canada will provide secretariat support to the Council, including policy, administrative and technical services. This includes access to economic analysis and emissions modelling expertise.

Finance Canada, Transport Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Infrastructure Canada and other implicated departments will provide their specialized policy expertise and support to the Council, as required, through the Secretariat.

Reporting relationship

The Advisory Council will report to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of Finance for the duration of its mandate.

Engagement and communications

The Advisory Council may engage with the public and communicate publicly. Views expressed by the Advisory Council are their own.

Deliverables

The Advisory Council will provide options and recommendations, within areas of federal jurisdiction, to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of Finance, in the form of a report by the end of its term.

Related links

Canada’s action on climate change

Sustainable and efficient homes and buildings

Our low carbon transportation future