Environment and Sustainable Development Agenda
An understanding of the complexity of environmental issues and the links between different environmental, economic and social factors that affect our well-being, is critical to setting a successful environment and sustainable development agenda. Environment Canada recognizes that achievements over the longer-term depend on an ability to find creative solutions that contribute not only to a healthy environment, but also to a prosperous economy and a vibrant and just society.
Environment Canada is working to ensure that sustainable development principles are integrated in a meaningful way within its own policy, programs and operations and by building capacity and commitment with partners in the public and private sectors and with Canadians. Environment Canada plays a leadership role in mobilizing the delivery of the federal government's environment and sustainable development agenda and works in collaboration with other countries and with international organizations to support sustainable development globally.
Critical to Environment Canada's policy agenda are the following:
- Knowledge (science, information and indicators) - to drive sound decision-making and management;
- Incentives, innovative tools and instruments - to promote changes in attitudes and behaviours, shift the focus to prevention, more fully value natural capital;
- Partnerships and strategic alliances - to achieve efficiencies, ensure effectiveness and attain concrete results; and
- International leadership - to work in collaboration with other countries and international organizations.
All of these areas are represented in Environment Canada's Sustainable Development Strategy. In accordance with Treasury Board guidelines, this Departmental Performance Report (DPR) provides performance information that provides Parliament with an overview of the implementation of Environment Canada's Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS), including reference to our efforts related to the Sustainable Development in Government Operations initiative.
Knowledge
A key ingredient for integrated decision-making towards sustainable development is having the right information, at the right place, at the right time. Improvements to our current information and knowledge base would enable us to provide a more solid foundation for informed public debate, as well as policy and program development and evaluation that fully integrates environmental, social and economic variables.
Specifically, the 2004 federal budget committed $15 million over the next two years to develop and report on better environmental indicators on clean air, water and greenhouse gas emissions, and to start to strengthen the information base to support these indicators.
Over the past few years Environment Canada has invested in more effective and innovative approaches to managing its knowledge. Internally the Department has taken a strategic, corporate approach to managing its data, information and knowledge. Communities of Practise have been developed in key areas including sustainable development indicators and geomatics; organizational learning tools have been created and a focus on on-going learning and innovation has been promoted.
For its clients, the Department has built on the recommendations of the Canadian Information Systems for the Environment (CISE) Task Force Report (2001) and completed components of a "dynamic" national multi-jurisdictional environmental information service. New methodologies to search, access, use and integrate environmental data and information across Canada have been developed and training opportunities have been provided to ensure continued innovation in this field.
The Department has demonstrated leadership in environmental indicators and reporting through projects such as the launch of Environmental Signals: Canada's National Environmental Indicator Series, the development of new reporting tools such as the Biodiversity Index and research into emerging issues such as Children's Health and the Environment indicators.
The Department continues to be engaged in many aspects of environmental monitoring, including support for credible citizen-based science through the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN). Examples in this area include the initiation of the Canadian Community Monitoring Network and the development of Nature Watch programs in partnership with the Canadian Nature Federation. EMAN is the 3rd largest collaborative Science and Technology initiative in the Government of Canada.
Initiatives in more effective knowledge management will lead to more credible assessments of the condition of the environment, better access to environmental information for decision-making and an improved ability to measure our progress.
Incentives, Innovative Tools and Instruments
Critical to advancing the environment and sustainable development agenda are market signals and incentives that account for environmental costs (externalities) and encourage activity that ensures that our environment is conserved and protected. Traditionally, this has been done through a command-and-control approach, i.e. regulations to address specific environmental problems. Internationally and domestically, there is a growing recognition of the need to broaden the mix of policy tools and to shift the balance towards more innovative, market-based instruments that reflect environmental costs in the price of goods and services.
Significant opportunities exist to build understanding and support for market-based instruments and other non-regulatory mechanisms to effect environmental behaviour change. While environmental regulation will continue to play an important role in ensuring the health and safety of Canadians and our natural environment, Environment Canada has been developing new policies and approaches that focus less on command and control or end-of-pipe solutions. These include voluntary programs and incentives such as Environmental Performance Agreements (EPAs) and Pollution Prevention (P2) Plans. Both of these tools were made possible by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) 1999, which gives the Department flexibility in terms of its approach to managing environmental issues including market incentives for pollution prevention, environmental emergencies, and compliance. (See the Clean Environment Section 5.1, Air Quality 5.1.2 and Toxics 5.1.3 sections for more detail.)
Environment Canada, in collaboration with the private sector and other government departments, is creating tools to increase the quantity and quality of corporate sustainability performance information. For example, in November 2003 the online Sustainability Reporting Toolkit was released to help Canadian companies report publicly on their sustainability performance.
Canada's response to climate change has provided an opportunity to implement a number of innovative approaches including a mix of regulation, covenants and trading. This recognition of the important role of market-based instruments in a high-profile policy area reflects work undertaken over a number of years within Environment Canada and other federal agencies in collaboration with the provinces, territories and stakeholders. Further work will focus on the details of the trading system, including institutional arrangements, links to international trading, and development of an offset credit system. Similarly, the Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement provides another opportunity for the Department to move forward with transboundary emissions trading with the feasibility study of cap and trade emissions trading of nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions. Environment Canada also continues to research policy options to expand the suite of market-based instruments and tools available to respond to emerging issues.
Partnerships and Strategic Alliances
Environment Canada believes that partnerships are the best way to manage a shared responsibility for environment and sustainable development work across jurisdictions (national, international) and various government portfolios and with First Nations.
The Department works with non-government organizations (NGOs) in a variety of ways (e.g., from core support for the Canadian Environmental Network (CEN) to ad hoc consultations and partnership arrangements), and that we also work with private sector at different levels (e.g., through major industry associations through voluntary initiatives, or with small enterprises through programs such as EnviroClub in Quebec). Representatives from these various stakeholder groups are often included on Canadian delegations to international meetings.
To mobilize the federal government to take action on environmental issues, the Department has been working with other government departments to implement mechanisms to facilitate inter-departmental co-operation and to give environmental initiatives more impetus. An environmental framework has been developed to help departments set environmental priorities. This document continues to evolve, as departments apply it. Highlighting the importance of the environment and sustainable development for the federal government, a Deputy Minister-level committee, co-chaired by Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada, has been mandated by the Clerk of the Privy Council Office to address environmental and sustainable development issues in a collaborative and coherent manner. These relationships have helped to co-ordinate a consistent, government-wide approach on issues such as clean air and climate change. In addition, bi-lateral relationships, such as collaboration with Health Canada, help to ensure an integrated approach to policy development on priority issues, such as environment and human health and the effects of environmental hazards on children.
The development of networks and partnerships to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Canadian environmental research activities is a priority for Environment Canada. The Department continues to work towards better integration of science and technology across science-based departments, and is implementing the Canadian Environmental Sciences Network (CESN). One regional network, the Atlantic Environmental Sciences Network (AESN) is well underway.
International Leadership
The Department is working internationally, both multilaterally and bilaterally, to advance its environment and sustainable development agenda. Post-WSSD, Canada continues to work within the United Nations system to ensure progress on sustainable development issues, such as water, sanitation and human settlements, particularly in the context of poverty alleviation, and meeting the Millennium Development Goals agreed to in 2000, through the UN Commission on Sustainable Development. Environment Canada continues to lead Canada's participation in the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council to advance Canadian objectives on key issues, including chemicals and international environmental governance.
In other multilateral fora, such as the Health and Environment Ministers of the Americas (HEMA), Environment Canada is advancing the priorities of the department in relation to health and environment. For instance, an inventory of health and environment initiatives across the Americas is being prepared, as well as an action plan identifying potential project ideas for hemispheric cooperation.
This was an important year for the Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC), with an independent review of the 10 years of operation of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) and the CEC. Canada was instrumental in increasing transparency and inclusiveness in the implementation of projects in areas of trade and environment, pollutants and health, biodiversity conservation, law and policy, as well as the adoption of the Strategic Plan for North American Cooperation in the Conservation of Biodiversity.
In 2003, an OECD review team visited Canada to conduct a peer review on Canada's environmental performance. A report, containing 41 recommendations was released on September 28, 2004. For example, the report notes significant improvements on environmental management in Canada. It mentions the enhanced legislative framework, the greater energy efficiency, the development of the Biodiversity Strategy and the progress in decoupling environmental pressures from economic growth. The areas for improvements include the use of economic instruments, strengthening compliance and enforcement and rationalizing water governance.
Environment Canada contributed to advancing Canadian environmental objectives and priorities at the G8 Environment Ministers Meeting, held in Paris, in April 2003, including on international environmental governance, sustainable production and consumption, and other international commitments made at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. The Department also contributed to the elaboration of the G8 Leaders' Action Plan on Water (focusing on Africa), adopted by Leaders in Evian in June 2003.
Environment Canada continues its established leadership in integrating environmental considerations into trade agreements and parallel environmental cooperation agreements in free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the Central American 4 (El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras) and with Singapore. Explicitly addressing environment in the context of trade negotiations, such as Canada has done in the NAFTA, with Chile and Costa Rica, capitalizes on an important preventive opportunity to strengthen environmental management systems and enhance the protection of global ecosystems.
On June 23, 2003, Canada and the United States announced that they would increase their cooperation to reduce cross-border air pollution by undertaking three major pilot projects that enable greater opportunities for coordinated air quality management between both countries. The Border Air Quality Strategy is designed to build on the success of the 1991 Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement, which established a framework for collaboration on science and emission reductions in both countries.
On July 31, 2003, at the Earth Observation Summit in Washington DC, Canada announced that it will contribute scientific and technical expertise to the development of the Global Earth Observation System.
In terms of Canada's bilateral relationships with other countries, one of the highlights was the official visit of the Minister of the Environment to China to advance the Canadian bilateral environmental agenda, promote Canada's climate change objectives, promote the importance of earth observations, and to encourage actions to reduce global mercury impacts. The highlights of the visit were the signing of the renewal of Environment Canada's "Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation" with the Chinese State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) and a "Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Collaboration" with the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department.
This important mission also paved the way for the signing of the "Canada-China Joint Statement on Strengthened Dialogue and Cooperation in Climate Change" in October 2003, in the presence of Prime Minister Chrétien and Premier Wen in Beijing. This statement reaffirms both countries' commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and to the Kyoto Protocol and confirms their mutual interest to enhance cooperation in climate change in areas such as policy dialogue, Clean Development Mechanism, clean technology, public awareness, energy efficiency and renewable energy, capacity building, climate science, impacts and adaptation and other climate change issues as mutually acceptable.
Canada and Chile continue to strengthen their relationship through the Canada-Chile Commission for Environmental Cooperation. In the last year, several activities were undertaken to strengthen environmental management in the context of a growing trade relationship. Notable activities include technical assistance in the area of biostatistics with a view to assisting Chile in the improvement of their air quality index and a round table discussion on corporate social responsibility between mining companies in Canada and Chile.
Legislation was passed to allow Canada to ratify the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the Madrid Protocol) to protect the Antarctic environment. Bill C-42 will allow Canada to ratify the Madrid Protocol and officially join its global partners to further prevent pollution and environmental degradation in the Antarctic. The Antarctic Environmental Protection Act, Bill C 42, received royal assent on October 22, 2003. Canada ratified the Antarctic Treaty on December 1, 2003. For further information, see the June, October or December 2003 press releases.
On October 23, 2003, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) came into force. Canada was a leader in developing the science that led to the regional protocol. The UNECE includes Canada, the U.S., countries in Eastern and Western Europe and Russia. For more information, see the press release.
Pursuit of Excellence in Science at Environment Canada
Science and technology (S&T) are essential for delivering on Environment Canada's mandate. S&T activities account for approximately 70% of departmental spending. These efforts enable us to better understand cause-and-effect relationships, to ensure early identification of emerging issues and to find the most effective and efficient solutions to environmental challenges. Environment Canada's S&T activities support the Department's ability to develop and implement policy, deliver important services to Canadians and develop new technologies for environmental purposes.
It is critical for the success of Environment Canada and for environmental management in Canada that the Department's science and technology be of high quality, aligned with departmental and federal government goals, linked to Canadian and international environmental science and technology capacity, and applied effectively to address the environmental and sustainable development needs of Canadians. The Department promotes excellence in its S&T through a clear and effective management system. It consists of the external S&T Advisory Board to the Deputy Minister, as well as several internal S&T management committees. Environment Canada also takes direction on the evaluation of the management and performance of its S&T programs from the principles of the Federal Science and Technology Strategy developed in 1996 and from the Council of Science and Technology Advisors (CSTA), which provides expert advice on internal federal government S&T. These elements of the management system serve as the mechanism by which the Department contributes to and implements federal S&T policies and management practices.
In addition to performing S&T, Environment Canada is also developing new and more effective ways of engaging with the wider science and technology system, both domestically and internationally, in order to leverage external resources and build synergies with other organizations. The Department already has built significant science and technology networks across the country and is exploring new models of partnership and collaboration involving universities, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations. Environment Canada is also working with other federal departments and agencies to advance the government's goal to strengthen government science, integrate its efforts across departments and disciplines, and focus on the priorities of Canadians.
Key S&T Accomplishments
Science Contributions
Key science contributions to the business lines during the planning period are reported in Section 4 under the individual business lines.
Ensuring Ongoing S&T Excellence
Environment Canada has taken many important steps to ensure the ongoing excellence of its S&T. Specific accomplishments include the following:
- Linkages were nurtured with universities and the granting councils to influence their directions and expand opportunities for a more coherent approach to research in the environmental sciences related to Environment Canada's needs. Environment Canada sponsored and participated in two workshops with university partners, as well as a workshop with Genome Canada to develop a national research agenda in environmental genomics.
- The Department initiated the formation of a federal research network on ecosystem effects of novel living organisms (EENLO). A highly successful workshop on EENLO research fostered the development of the network. Environment Canada is now looked to as a champion for this area interdepartmentally.
- The Department was strongly involved in the development of the Framework for Federal S&T - a response to the CSTA's BEST, STEPS and EDGE reports.
ADM Science and Technology Integration Board
In 2003, ten science performing departments and agencies established the interdepartmental Assistant Deputy Ministers' S&T Integration Board to better mobilize, focus and integrate S&T resources across departments and agencies to address cross-cutting issues important to Canadians. The challenge facing the Board is to create an environment where existing S&T resources are continually realigned and linked across departments to achieve new national goals. Since its inception, the Integration Board has developed a portfolio of horizontal initiatives that are based on an integrative collaborative approach. The Board began to strengthen S&T collaboration on 6 priority issues: water, invasive alien species, wildlife disease, climate change, ocean management, and northern S&T. Environment Canada is the lead department on water, invasive species, and wildlife diseases. |
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