Description

Climate change is a complex issue with diverse and far-reaching impacts on our environment, economy, and social well-being. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will affect how we drive our cars, build our cities, operate our industries, and manage our forests and agricultural lands. Paramount was the need to take early action and raise general awareness about the scientific background and possible impacts of climate change among Canadians, stakeholders, and decision makers.

The Government of Canada has made a significant financial and human resource investment in the issue of climate change. Since 1997, $1.7 billion has been dedicated to addressing climate change. This dedicated funding to climate change also leverages additional funding and activity by industry, other levels of government, and non-governmental organizations.

In just five years there has been progress not only in understanding climate change, but also in refining our response to it-that is, the combination of policies, international positions, and other actions we must take to address it. The approach formulated by Canada and its provinces and territories is multi-faceted: flexible, to adapt to new knowledge; inclusive, to engage all partners; and integrated, to ensure maximum results from each and every effort. It makes climate change better understood, identifies it as a real issue on the country’s agenda, and defines a clear set of actions and path forward to implementation.

Shared Outcome(s)

The framework will help make it possible to assess and measure the extent to which:

• Technological advancements and behavioural change have made a difference in emissions, and whether the difference is significantly linked to the choices of Canadian consumers;
• Federal funding has made a difference in levering additional monetary and in-kind support from partners and stakeholders in both the public and private sectors;
• The co-benefits of investing in climate change are understood, communicated, and achieved, so that Canadians can clearly see the results of their actions; and
• Canada is working to develop the knowledge base needed for future climate change negotiations and to help Canadians adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Governance Structures

While responsibility for specific program and service delivery continues to rest with each federal department or agency, there is increasing emphasis on horizontal coordination and partnership. Inclusive interdepartmental committees - most chaired by the Climate Change Secretariat - have been established to provide policy and program direction and advice, particularly for initiatives such as the Climate Change Action Fund and Action Plan 2000. Overall governance of climate change issues rests with the Deputy Ministers Committee on Climate Change, which is co-chaired by the Deputy Ministers of Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada. Ongoing policy and programming direction is provided primarily through the Climate Change Management Committee, which is composed of assistant deputy ministers of policy from Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Privy Council Office, and Finance Canada. Assistant deputy ministers with corporate or program responsibilities related to Action Plan 2000 make up the Interdepartmental ADM-level Management Committee (IMC), which serves as the Plan’s Board of Directors. Other horizontal interdepartmental committees are established as necessary at various levels and within specific functions to oversee the federal initiatives.

Partners

Federal departments/agencies

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
• The Canadian International Development Agency
• The Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade
• Environment Canada
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Health Canada
• Industry Canada
• Natural Resources Canada
• Transport Canada

Contact

For more information, please refer to the Government of Canada’s Climate Change Website:
http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/
For further information on the climate change initiative, please refer to the Climate Change Comprehensive report 1997-2002:
http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/english/actions/what_are/comprehensive/pdf/43862-E.pdf