Leadership and support for the Sectors international activities is spearheaded through the International Division. It is responsible for coordinating efforts and monitoring issues related to trade and investment, enhancing the use of Canadian Earth sciences knowledge and technology in supporting sustainable development of developing countries through private sector involvement, and providing guidance to the Sector in business practices. The Division works with all ESS programs to ensure that their international activities carried out in support of their domestic programs fully support the government's international and domestic priorities.

Part of the responsibility of the International Division includes the development of the Sector's International Strategic Framework . The goal of the framework is to provide an overall strategic direction for ESS' international activities - to maximize the effectiveness of the Sector's international work and to help reinforce Canada's knowledge, technology, leadership and influence in the area of earth sciences. As part of this Framework, the Global Opportunities Program was developed with a main purpose of contributing to Canada's foreign policy objectives by promoting opportunities for Canadian earth sciences industries overseas. This program focuses on initiatives that support the sustainable development of developing countries in areas where Canada has a comparative advantage.