<html><head></head><body><div class="EnvironmentalPerspective" id="environmentalperspective"><h4 id="the-environmental-perspective">The environmental perspective</h4><p>Canada needs to build resilience to current and potential climate change impacts that threaten our communities, our health and our well-being. This chapter's focus on Canadians' preparedness for natural disasters and emergencies directly supports <a target="_blank" href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal1" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">SDG Global Indicator Framework</a> Target 1.5: by 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and strengthen their capacity to respond to and recover from climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.</p><p>As the frequency and severity of climate-related disasters rise, impacts of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services threaten the foundations of our economy, food security, health, and quality of life. Poverty and climate-related disasters are interlinked: although natural disasters can affect all Canadians, various social factors (including income, education, employment, and living conditions) may accelerate their impacts on individuals and communities, as well as affect their capacity to prepare and adapt. Poverty can <a target="_blank" href="https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2020/goal-01/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">worsen</a> the impacts of a disaster, while disasters can cause or exacerbate poverty. Over the last 20 years, the world has experienced more floods, wildfires, and other climate-related disasters than in any other documented 20-year period in history. This has affected communities, the environment and the resources it provides, as well as overall poverty levels.</p><p>Despite substantial progress in reducing poverty over the past several years, in 2019 <a target="_blank" href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/daily-quotidien/210323/dq210323a-eng.pdf?st=OaofGbfw">about 1 in 10 people</a> continued to live in poverty in Canada. Groups such as single people, persons with disabilities, lone parents, recent immigrants, First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis Nation are more likely to have low incomes and face systemic barriers that affect their ability to prosper.</p><p>Extreme events such as heat waves, floods and storms are causing costly damage to Canadian communities, as well as injury, illness, death, and longer-lasting impacts on people's mental health. Across Canada, health facilities have been flooded, procedures have been canceled due to extreme heat or power losses from storms, and facilities have been evacuated due to wildfires. An increased frequency and intensity of multiple climate extremes in a region may lead to compounding or cascading extreme events affecting populations, communities and health systems, and outstripping their ability to respond.</p><p>According to the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ibc.ca/on/resources/media-centre/media-releases/severe-weather-in-2021-caused-2-1-billion-in-insured-damage" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Insurance Bureau of Canada</a>, insured damage for severe weather events across Canada reached $2.1 billion in 2021, ranked as the year with the sixth-highest loss. Further, during the prolonged heatwave in southwestern British Columbia in 2021, more than 569 people were reported to have died due to the heat, and 79% of the deceased were over 65 years old.</p><p>First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis Nation face disproportionate health risks from climate change and remain some of the groups most vulnerable to a changing environment. These populations experience unique challenges due to the remote geographic location of many communities, disproportionate fiscal and population pressures, a legacy of sub-standard infrastructure, limited access to services, and a heavy reliance on the natural environment. For example, Inuit communities are experiencing the effects of thawing permafrost, including damaged homes, schools, roads and other infrastructure. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation are also reducing access to traditional food sources such as seals, caribou and fish. For example, a declining caribou herd population in the Arctic is currently affecting food security for Indigenous groups in northern Quebec and Labrador.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="where-the-government-of-canada-is-going">Where the Government of Canada is going</h4><p><a target="_blank" href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters">Mandate letters</a> released in December 2021 outline the Government of Canada's direction and policy priorities. Selected commitments related to Sustainable Development Goal 1 are listed below.</p><ul><li>Strengthen the governance and service delivery for First Nations emergency preparedness, management and recovery (Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario; Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations; Minister of Northern Affairs; President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness).</li><li>Develop a whole-of-government planning and preparedness strategy to ensure the Government of Canada is fully prepared to protect lives and livelihoods from the catastrophic impacts of climate change (President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness).</li><li>Take action to help Canadians be prepared for, and recover from the impact of floods in high risk areas, by:<ul><li>Creating a portal informed by mapping to provide centralized access to information on flood risks as well as resources and suggestions on how best to protect their homes and communities (President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness; with support from the Minister of Natural Resources);</li><li>Creating a low-cost national flood insurance program to protect homeowners who are at high risk of flooding and do not have adequate insurance protection (President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness);</li><li>Developing strategies to lower insurance premiums and identify cost-effective ways to protect communities and homes from climate impacts (President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness); and</li><li>Co-Chairing the joint Committee of British Columbia and Government of Canada ministers on disaster response and climate resilience, ensuring effective coordination across all orders of government, including with Indigenous communities, and that lessons learned from the recent climate-related floods and fires are translated into effective policy action (President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness).</li></ul></li><li>Protect homes and communities from the impacts of climate change by completing work to develop flood maps for higher-risk areas, advancing work to complete flood mapping nation-wide, supporting the development of a portal to provide centralized access to information on flood risks, and expanding the eligibility requirements of the Canada Greener Home Grants to include more climate resilience measures (Minister of Natural Resources).</li></ul></div><div class="CanadaContributes" id="canadacontributes"><h4 id="how-the-government-of-canada-contributes">How the Government of Canada contributes</h4><p>Vulnerable populations that may experience the impacts of natural disasters more acutely are supported by programs such as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/poverty-reduction/reports/strategy.html">Opportunity for All - Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy</a>. Opportunity for All established an official measure of poverty—Canada's Official Poverty Line—and set ambitious and concrete poverty reduction targets, including a 50% reduction by 2030, which, relative to 2015 levels, will lead to the lowest poverty rate in Canada's history.</p><p>Emergency management and disaster risk reduction are shared responsibilities. Provincial, municipal, and territorial governments and Indigenous peoples lead within their respective jurisdictions. The Government of Canada provides leadership at the national and international levels, including on lands and properties under federal responsibility.</p><p>In 2019, federal, provincial, and territorial governments endorsed the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/mrgncy-mngmnt-strtgy/index-en.aspx">Emergency Management Strategy for Canada: Toward a Resilient 2030</a>. This strategy helps fulfill the Government of Canada's commitment under the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.undrr.org/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction</a> for a pan-Canadian disaster risk reduction strategy. Its purpose is to build resilience in Canada by guiding governments, and their respective partners, in carrying out priorities aimed at strengthening Canada's ability to assess risks and to prevent/mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. It recognizes that pre-existing socioeconomic disadvantages tend to amplify the negative impacts of climate-related disasters.</p><p>The Government of Canada supports programs that strengthen community resilience to extreme weather events. For example, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/dmaf-faac/index-eng.html">Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund</a>, launched in 2018, is a national program for communities across Canada that aims to reduce the socioeconomic impacts of climate change. Meanwhile, the First Nation Infrastructure Fund supports structural mitigation projects to make communities more resilient to natural hazard events. The Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program is also investing in the unique and wide-ranging infrastructure priorities of small, rural, and remote communities. </p><p>In June 2021, Canada joined the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdri.world/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure</a>, a partnership of 26 countries and 7 international organizations, the private sector, and knowledge institutions. The coalition aims to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="emergency-management-in-indigenous-and-northern-communities">Emergency management in Indigenous and northern communities</h4><p>Indigenous peoples living in remote northern areas are among those most at risk in Canada to extreme weather events and the slow onset impacts of climate change. Many communities lack year-round road access (all-season roads) and rely on small airports and seasonal winter roads that operate for a few weeks per year as vital links for the delivery of diesel fuel for heat and electricity, bulk non-perishable food and construction materials, and large equipment. Winter roads, especially segments built over water bodies (ice bridges) are especially susceptible to climate change impacts. Winter road seasons are opening later and closing earlier with more frequent mid-season disruptions due to warm spells.  Disruptions to transportation infrastructure due to wildfires, floods, storms, or the increasingly unpredictable availability of winter ice roads, can cause this disproportionately poor segment of Canadian society to experience even greater economic hardship.</p><p>The Government of Canada recognizes this reality and seeks to strengthen programs that help equip Canadians with resources, information, and data that improve adaptation, and allow for effective preparation and emergency management services in the most remote of locations in the country. As the knowledge and expertise of Indigenous peoples is vital to emergency management, the Government of Canada is committed to developing multilateral service agreements that make Indigenous peoples full and equal partners in the design and delivery of emergency services.</p></div></body></html>

Emergency management in Indigenous and northern communities

SDG 1: No poverty

<html><head></head><body><div class="EnvironmentalPerspective" id="environmentalperspective"><h4 id="the-environmental-perspective">The environmental perspective</h4><p>Canada's food system helps to provide safe and healthy food for Canadians and ensure long-term food security. This chapter's focus on a healthier and more sustainable Canadian food system directly supports <a target="_blank" href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal2" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">SDG Global Indicator Framework</a> Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.</p><p>Canada's food system is grounded in nature and depends on a healthy environment, including clean water, healthy soils, and stable pollinator populations. Both agriculture and aquaculture are important contributors to Canada's economy. In 2020, the agriculture and agri-food systems, including food retail and food services, contributed $139 billion to Canada's gross domestic product, while in 2019, Canada produced 187,026 tonnes of <a target="_blank" href="https://lop.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications/202103E" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">aquaculture products</a>, valued at more than $1.2 billion.</p><p>Sustainable agricultural practices, innovative food policies, food security and resilient food systems have never been more critical. Canadian farmers and ranchers are stewards of the land and continue to help identify solutions to climate change and species at risk recovery. Canada's agricultural practices and food policies support efforts to achieve food security, improve nutrition, reduce food loss and waste, and promote sustainability. Farmers and ranchers must be resilient to climate change, extreme weather events, invasive alien species, and other risks to continue producing a consistent supply of food for Canadians while maintaining a decent income and standard of living.</p><p>Aquaculture is the world's fastest-growing food production sector. It represents almost 20% of total seafood production in Canada, and about a third of the total economic value of fisheries. In the coming decade, a shortfall in wild-caught fish and seafood is projected that can be met by increased sustainable aquaculture production.</p><p>Wild capture fisheries are a lifeline in Canada's coastal communities, providing food security and well-being, as well as cultural continuity and economic development. This is especially the case for Indigenous communities that are more dependent on fish for food than non-Indigenous communities. In 2019, 9.14 kilograms per person of sea fish, shellfish and freshwater fish products were available in Canada for consumption.</p><p>Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Food insecurity is the inability to have access to enough quality or quantity of food in socially acceptable ways, or the uncertainty that individuals will be able to do so. As of 2018, nearly 1.2 million Canadian households experienced food insecurity due to financial barriers.</p><p>For Indigenous peoples, access to safe and nutritious food includes both store-bought and traditional or country food. Indigenous peoples have much higher rates of food insecurity compared to the general Canadian population. The high rates of food insecurity among northern and Indigenous populations can be explained by factors such as the relative remoteness and isolation of their communities, financial hardship and socioeconomic inequities, climate change and environmental dispossession and contamination. For example, the effects of climate change significantly impact the availability and sustainability of traditional food sources. The Government of Canada is advancing efforts towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples by strengthening traditional food systems, recognizing the importance of food to Indigenous culture and well-being, and, in so doing, supporting Indigenous food self-determination and food sovereignty.</p><p>Maintaining the resilience of Canada's food systems includes managing the spread and introduction of invasive plant and animal species that could pose a risk to Canada's livestock, crops, and overall agricultural production. Promoting compliance and carrying out enforcement activities at Canada's borders limits the introduction and spread of invasive species.</p><p>For Canada's food system to be resilient and contribute to food security, it must be environmentally sustainable. Canada's agriculture sector is adopting innovative technologies and practices to improve environmental performance—for example, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, storing carbon in soils, protecting water resources, and supporting wildlife habitat. The agriculture sector can continue to improve its environmental sustainability by efficiently using fertilizers, adopting clean technologies, implementing practices to conserve and recover species and ecosystems, and improving soil health. Biomass produced on agricultural land can also be used to generate bio-energy and replace fossil fuels.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="where-the-government-of-canada-is-going">Where the Government of Canada is going</h4><p><a target="_blank" href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters">Mandate letters</a> released in December 2021 outline the Government of Canada's direction and policy priorities. Selected commitments related to Sustainable Development Goal 2 are listed below.</p><ul><li>Update business risk management programs, including by integrating climate risk management, environmental practices and climate readiness. Ensure that producers, including Indigenous, young and women farmers, have the opportunity to contribute (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food).</li><li>As part of a green agricultural plan for Canada, increase support to farmers to develop and adopt agricultural management practices to reduce emissions, store carbon in healthy soil and enhance resiliency; triple funding for clean tech on farms, including for renewable energy, precision agriculture and energy efficiency; and work with farmers and stakeholders to reduce methane and fertilizer emissions in the agricultural sector (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food).</li><li>Continue to work on a responsible plan to transition from open net-pen salmon farming in coastal British Columbia waters by 2025 and work to introduce Canada's first-ever <em>Aquaculture Act</em> (Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard).</li><li>Continue to improve food security in Inuit Nunangat, including through the Harvesters Support Grant and the Nutrition North Canada program, amended to make it more transparent and responsive to Inuit needs (Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency; Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations).</li></ul></div><div class="CanadaContributes" id="canadacontributes"><h4 id="how-the-government-of-canada-contributes">How the Government of Canada contributes</h4><p>The Government of Canada contributes to sustainable food systems by supporting sustainable agriculture and aquaculture production systems, including through science-based decision making and enhanced policies, programs, and regulations. Canada is committed to eliminating hunger through actions and policies that support sustainable agricultural and aquaculture sectors and strengthen the security of its food systems.</p><p>Food systems in Canada are a shared responsibility between federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments. Federal authority is used to enact and enforce laws, regulations, and policies for land use and soil management, fisheries and fish habitat, water and air quality, biodiversity and ecosystem health. Legislation related to Canada's food systems includes, for example, the <a target="_blank" href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/f-14/"><em>Fisheries Act</em></a>and <a target="_blank" href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2018-108/index.html"><em>Safe Food for Canadians Regulations</em></a>. The government uses a number of tools to support aquaculture management, including regulations, policies, scientific research, monitoring, enforcement, engagement and collaboration.</p><p>Canada is also investing in ways to increase production, access, and consumption of safe and nutritious food, while continuing to develop programming that promotes food security in Indigenous and remote communities through financial assistance for local and community initiatives. Working toward sustainable food systems and food security requires collaboration. For example, in partnership with provinces, territories, civil society and industry, as well as Indigenous governments and organizations, the Government of Canada developed <a target="_blank" href="https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/about-our-department/key-departmental-initiatives/food-policy">A Food Policy for Canada</a>to tackle food issues that matter to Canadians. The Food Policy serves as a roadmap to a healthier and more sustainable food system for Canada with a vision that all are able to access safe, nutritious and culturally diverse food.</p><p>Similarly, the <a target="_blank" href="https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/about-our-department/key-departmental-initiatives/canadian-agricultural-partnership">Canadian Agricultural Partnership</a> is a federal-provincial-territorial shared agricultural policy framework that shows how cooperation among governments guides environmental programming. The Canadian Agricultural Partnership will expire in 2023, so work on the next agricultural policy framework has begun. </p><p>Meanwhile, through the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-funding/programs/nature-smart-climate-solutions-fund.html">Natural Climate Solutions Fund</a>, the Government of Canada is investing in the development and adoption of environmentally-friendly farming practices that store carbon and mitigate climate change while helping protect biodiversity, improve water and soil quality, and strengthen farmers' bottom lines.</p><p>Investing in science and innovation, the environment and climate change, public trust, and risk management helps the agriculture and aquaculture sectors grow sustainably, manage risks, and create better opportunities for fishers, farmers, businesses and Canadians.</p><p>Internationally, Canada plays an active and constructive role in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.unccd.int/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification</a>, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbd.int/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity</a>, and the <a target="_blank" href="https://unfccc.int/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change</a>. Canada takes part in global conservation programmes such as the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fao.org/cgrfa/en/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture</a> chaired by the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fao.org/home/en/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization</a>. Canada supports initiatives under the United Nations World Food Program and has co-sponsored a World Trade Organization statement committing to not using export restrictions or prohibitions on non-commercial humanitarian food purchases by the World Food Programme, which will help to ensure that trade rules support progress toward SDG 2.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="food-security-in-indigenous-and-northern-communities">Food security in Indigenous and northern communities</h4><p>The legacies of colonial policies in northern and Indigenous communities in Canada have contributed to a reliance on market foods from the south. High levels of food insecurity are present in Indigenous, northern, and isolated communities, where a lack of access to traditional and market sources of nutritious food is exacerbated by climate change. For example, degrading permafrost and volatile weather patterns disrupt traditional hunting and fishing practices of Indigenous communities and have contributed to an increasing reliance on the transportation of less nutritious and more costly food from southern Canada.</p><p>To address this complex issue, the Government of Canada offers programs that aim to improve food security through subsidies, nutrition education initiatives, emergency funding, infrastructure and capacity building, and is committed to working with Indigenous partners to address food insecurity, including through programs developed collaboratively with Indigenous peoples.</p><p>A key partnership is the Inuit-Crown Food Security Working Group, a sub-working group of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee as part of the Permanent Bilateral Mechanism process. This working group was established in 2019 to provide a whole-of-government approach to the issue of food security and to leverage the contributions of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the 4 regional Land Claim Organizations, Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, and the National Inuit Youth Council, as well as multiple federal departments and agencies.</p></div></body></html>

Food security in Indigenous and northern communities

SDG 2: Zero hunger

<html><head></head><body><div class="EnvironmentalPerspective" id="environmentalperspective"><h4 id="the-environmental-perspective">The environmental perspective</h4><p>Air pollution and the release of chemicals into the environment pose risks to human and animal health and the environment. This chapter's focus on addressing air quality and protecting Canadians from harmful substances directly supports several <a target="_blank" href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal3" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">SDG Global Indicator Framework</a> targets, including 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management; and 3.9: By 2030 substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.</p><p>In 2021, it was estimated that air pollution contributes to 42 out of 100,000 premature deaths in Canada every year. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/air/about-air" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Air pollution</a> also worsens health issues, such as asthma, for millions of Canadians. The total economic cost of all health impacts attributed to air pollution is an estimated $120 billion per year from issues such as medical cost and reduced workplace productivity.</p><p>About one third of Canadians live in areas where air quality does not meet one or more national standards. Children and those with pre-existing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are more vulnerable to detrimental effects from air pollution.</p><p>Air pollution also reduces the growth and productivity of crops and contributes to the decline of certain forests. These environmental impacts in turn threaten food security, land use, and cultural activities, which can further impact the mental and physical health of people living in communities across Canada.</p><p>Canadians depend on chemical substances for everyday life. Some chemical substances are made deliberately, while others are by-products of chemical processes and still others occur naturally in the environment. Unfortunately, some <a target="_blank" href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/chemicalsandwaste" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">chemical substances</a> can negatively affect Canadians' health and environment. Exposure to toxic substances may lead to serious health issues including cancer. Harmful substances can also affect wildlife, traditional and country foods, and the quality of Canada's air, soil and water.</p><p>Climate-driven infectious diseases also affect the health and well-being of Canadians. As the climate changes, certain pathogens and vectors for infectious diseases can establish in new areas, expand and shift in geographic range, or become more abundant. </p><p>As temperatures in Canada rise, Canadians will experience growing risks associated with tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease (which is already moving northward into Canadian communities), mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus, other zoonotic infectious diseases, and foodborne and waterborne illnesses. When Canada loses natural habitats, or they become degraded and altered, there will continue to be an increased risk of infectious disease emergence and re-emergence.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="where-the-government-of-canada-is-going">Where the Government of Canada is going</h4><p><a target="_blank" href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters">Mandate letters</a> released in December 2021 outline the Government of Canada's direction and policy priorities. Selected commitments related to Sustainable Development Goal 3 are listed below.</p><ul><li>Enact a strengthened <em>Canadian Environmental Protection Act</em> to protect everyone, including people most vulnerable to harm from toxic substances and those living in communities where exposure is high (Minister of Environment and Climate Change).</li><li>To ensure Canadians are protected from risks associated with the use of pesticides and to better protect human health, wildlife and the environment, modernize and strengthen the <em>Pest Control Products Act</em> to ensure it supports transparency, use of independent scientific evidence and input to the decision-making process (Minister of Health).</li><li>Identify, and prioritize the clean-up of, contaminated sites in areas where Indigenous peoples, racialized and low-income Canadians live (Minister of Environment and Climate Change).</li></ul></div><div class="CanadaContributes" id="canadacontributes"><h4 id="how-the-government-of-canada-contributes">How the Government of Canada contributes</h4><p>The Government of Canada is committed to improving air quality, protecting Canadians and the environment from harmful substances, and increasing communities' resilience to infectious disease challenges. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-protection-act-registry/related-documents.html"><em>Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999</em></a> provides the basis for a range of federal environmental and health protection programs, including activities to address air pollution and assess and manage chemicals.</p><p>The Government of Canada's Air Quality Program focuses on domestic and international work to improve air quality and reduce the effects of outdoor and indoor air pollution on human health and the environment. It helps to inform Canadians about the health risks of outdoor and indoor air pollution and encourages personal actions to reduce these risks.</p><p>Working with provinces and territories, the Government of Canada also helps to improve air quality through the Air Quality Management System. A key element of this approach is the <a target="_blank" href="https://ccme.ca/en/air-quality-report" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards</a>, which are in place for 4 air pollutants—sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, fine particulate matter, and ground-level ozone—to protect human health and the environment and to drive continuous improvement in air quality across Canada. </p><p>The Government of Canada also works to address air pollutant emissions from industrial sectors and equipment, the transportation sector, and consumer and commercial products that are used every day.</p><p>The Government of Canada works with other countries to address air pollution originating from outside its borders through international agreements such as the Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/corporate/international-affairs/partnerships-organizations/gothenburg-protocol-air-pollution.html">Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, and the Gothenburg Protocol</a>. Canada is also party to other international treaties that address chemicals and greenhouse gases such as the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.unep.org/ozonaction/who-we-are/about-montreal-protocol" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer</a>, and the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.unep.org/ozonaction/resources/factsheet/kigali-amendment-montreal-protocol-hfc-phase-down" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol</a> to reduce the consumption and production of hydrofluorocarbons.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="differences-in-exposure-to-air-pollutants">Differences in exposure to air pollutants</h4><p>Canadians are exposed to varying levels of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-indicators/air-pollution-drivers-impacts.html">air pollution</a> that depend on factors such as the proximity to emissions sources and the long-range transport of pollutants by wind. The highest concentrations of most <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-indicators/air-quality.html">air pollutants</a> are found around Canada's Census Metropolitan Areas, with the Windsor to Québec City corridor generally having the highest levels of air pollution. This is primarily due to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2017003/article/14781-eng.htm">large concentration of population</a> and associated emissions sources, such as cars, trucks and industry, as well as the transport of air pollutants over long distances by wind from the United States. Exposure to air pollutants is particularly felt amongst visible minority and immigrant populations living in Canada's largest cities. Additionally, those living in areas impacted by wildfire smoke can experience higher levels of air pollution.</p></div><p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/federal-contaminated-sites/action-plan.html">Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan</a> was established in 2005 to reduce environmental and human health risks from known federal contaminated sites and associated federal financial liabilities, while focusing on the highest priority sites. Since the beginning of this program, assessment activities have been conducted at 10,930 sites, while remediation has been completed at 1,100 sites.</p><p>Meanwhile, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemical-substances/chemicals-management-plan.html">Chemicals Management Plan</a> aims to reduce risks posed by chemicals, polymers, and organisms. These substances are assessed for potential effects on human health and the environment. Risk management actions are developed and implemented to mitigate these impacts if substances are found to be harmful to human health and/or the environment.</p><p>Finally, the Infectious Disease and Climate Change Program and Fund delivers actions such as increasing the capacity of public health professionals to respond to the rising demands posed by climate-driven infectious diseases, and enabling access to information and tools to better understand risks and measures to prevent infection. It helps improve adaptability and resiliency to the health impacts of climate-driven infectious diseases through surveillance and monitoring activities and access to education and awareness tools. It also helps to advance work under the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/publications/diseases-conditions/lyme-disease-canada-federal-framework/lyme-disease-canada-federal-framework-eng.pdf">Federal Framework on Lyme Disease and Action Plan</a> by supporting projects that enhance surveillance and monitoring efforts and develop new education and awareness resources and tools for the public and health professionals.</p><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="indigenous-communities-and-northern-contaminated-sites">Indigenous communities and northern contaminated sites</h4><p>Lands across the North have been subject to resource extraction, infrastructure development, and other industrial operations for decades. This has resulted in contaminated sites and other brownfield lands that pose a risk to the environment and human health. These sites have a disproportionate effect on Indigenous peoples and communities through their impact on cultural lands and water and soil quality, affecting access to clean drinking water and traditional and country foods.</p><p>Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada's Northern Contaminated Sites Program is responsible for managing 162 contaminated sites in the North, to reduce risks to human health and the environment, decrease federal liabilities, and maximize socio-economic benefits for Indigenous peoples and Northerners. Remediation projects are managed in partnership with Indigenous and territorial governments, and the private sector. The 8 largest abandoned mine projects in Yukon and the Northwest Territories are funded through the department's Northern Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program, while the remaining sites are funded through the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan.</p><p>Other federal organizations contribute to addressing contaminated sites, such as Indigenous Services Canada's Contaminated Sites on Reserve program which is responsible for more than 2,000 sites south of the 60<sup>th</sup> parallel. Since 1992, this program has successfully remediated over 2,400 contaminated sites on reserve, resulting in additional land available for community or economic development.</p></div></body></html>

Differences in exposure to air pollutants

Indigenous communities and northern contaminated sites

SDG 3: Good health and well-being

<html><head></head><body><div class="EnvironmentalPerspective" id="environmentalperspective"><h4 id="the-environmental-perspective">The environmental perspective</h4><p>Canadians need knowledge and information about the environment to take action on sustainable development. This chapter's focus on sharing research, knowledge and data for sustainable development with Canadians supports <a target="_blank" href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal4" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">SDG Global Indicator Framework</a> Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://en.unesco.org/themes/education-sustainable-development/cce" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Climate change education</a> is recognized as a priority in the Paris Agreement and the SDGs. Effective climate change education is fundamental to overcoming climate denial, increasing climate literacy and supporting climate action. <a target="_blank" href="https://lsf-lst.ca/research-policy/survey/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">The Canada Climate Change and Education report</a>, released by <a target="_blank" href="http://lsf-lst.ca/media/National_Report/National_Climate_Change_Education_FINAL.pdf" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Learning for a Sustainable Future</a> in 2019, showed that while the majority of Canadians are concerned about climate change, 86% indicated that they need more information.</p><p>Schools, universities and other educational institutions are <a target="_blank" href="https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cjeap/article/view/42371" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">taking action</a> for sustainable development. For example, a Canada-wide census by the Sustainability and Education Policy Network in 2019 showed that 43% of school divisions had participated in a sustainability certification program, and 25% had sustainability staff. Further, in a 2018 survey undertaken for Canada's 6th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, 10 out of 10 participating provinces and territories reported that biodiversity had been incorporated into elementary and secondary school curricula.</p><p>The report also underscores the importance of Indigenous Knowledge in contributing to the effectiveness of Canada's various biodiversity initiatives, providing information regarding the sustainable use of plants and animals, as well as the relationships and current stresses in ecosystems.</p><p>Moving toward sustainability will require action across Canadian society, including informal education beyond the classroom.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="where-the-government-of-canada-is-going">Where the Government of Canada is going</h4><p><a target="_blank" href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters">Mandate letters</a> released in December 2021 outline the Government of Canada's direction and policy priorities. Selected commitments related to Sustainable Development Goal 4 are listed below.</p><ul><li>Develop a climate data strategy to ensure that the private sector and communities have access to data to inform planning and infrastructure investments (Minister of Environment and Climate Change; Minister of Public Safety; President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness; Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry). </li><li>Support innovation ecosystems across the country to support job creation, technology adoption and scale-up. This includes safeguarding Canada's world-leading research ecosystem, as well as our intellectual property intensive businesses (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry; Minister of Public Safety).</li></ul></div><div class="CanadaContributes" id="canadacontributes"><h4 id="how-the-government-of-canada-contributes">How the Government of Canada contributes</h4><p>In Canada, provinces and territories are responsible for organizing, delivering and assessing all levels of education. One way in which the Government of Canada contributes to sustainable development knowledge and education is by funding research, through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for example.</p><p>The Government of Canada is implementing the Science Literacy Promotion Initiative with Environment and Climate Change Canada scientists to improve understanding of the science behind environmental issues related to a changing climate and what our future climate will look like. The Scientists-at-Large activity under this initiative will connect scientists with the Canadian public through speaking opportunities and other communications activities to allow the government to communicate science in a meaningful way.</p><p>The Government of Canada is working to build knowledge through research in areas such as water-related sustainability, sustainable fisheries, clean technology, plastic pollution and waste prevention, lands and forests management, wildlife species recovery, coastal and marine ecosystems and marine protected areas. It also plays a role in providing information about and raising awareness of sustainable development. This includes enhancing public awareness of and preparedness for natural disasters, providing information about local outdoor air quality and harmful substances, as well as supporting sustainable choices. </p><p>For example, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/canadian-centre-climate-services.html">Canadian Centre for Climate Services</a> provides information to improve Canadians' understanding of how the climate is changing and how those changes could affect them, as well as guidance and resources to make climate-smart decisions. The government also provides information on how to assess and improve the energy performance of old and new homes that they can implement through government programs and incentives to consume less energy, save money and fight climate change, such as the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/homes/canada-greener-homes-grant/23441?utm_campaign=eccc-eccc-our-environment-sem(post-elec)-21-22&#x26;utm_medium=sem&#x26;utm_source=bing&#x26;utm_content=ad-text-en&#x26;utm_term=greener%20homes&#x26;adv=2122-217850&#x26;id_campaign=396602777&#x26;id_source=1250145306622887&#x26;id_content=78134227287961&#x26;gclid=1d412233d8f41a0f8c414027387f2457&#x26;gclsrc=3p.ds&#x26;">Canada Greener Homes Grant</a>. Through its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-insider/22813">Energy Efficiency Insider</a>, Natural Resources Canada provides newsletters with tips on managing energy usage for commercial and institutional buildings.</p><p>The Government of Canada is implementing the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/063.nsf/eng/h_97992.html">Roadmap for Open Science</a>. This will make the scientific research process more inclusive and accessible to scientists and Canadians through making data and publications open and making research understandable and useful.</p><p>In addition, the government has conducted a national assessment process of how and why Canada's climate is changing, the impacts of these changes on communities, environment, and the economy and how Canadians are adapting. The assessment resulted in a series of <a target="_blank" href="https://changingclimate.ca/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">reports</a> that raise awareness of the issues facing the country and provide information to support sound decisions and actions that address climate change and adapt to its impacts. For example, the <a target="_blank" href="https://changingclimate.ca/national-issues/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">National Issues Report</a> was released in June 2021. Environment and Climate Change Canada has also undertaken preliminary research that will be used to support the government's ongoing communication with Canadians about climate change and its impacts. The key results from this survey show an increase in: knowledge and awareness of climate change, environmental and nature conservation topics; the perception that individual actions have a positive impact on environmental change; and actions taken to help fight climate change, conserve nature and achieve a cleaner and safer environment.</p><p>The Government of Canada works with provinces and territories through the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmec.ca/en/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Council of Ministers of Education in Canada</a> (CMEC). <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmec.ca/147/Programs-and-Initiatives/Education-for-Sustainable-Development/Overview/index.html" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">This council</a> provides leadership in education at the pan-Canadian and international levels. CMEC has included education for sustainable development as one of the key activity areas in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmec.ca/Publications/Lists/Publications/Attachments/187/CMEC-2020-DECLARATION.en.pdf" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Learn Canada 2020</a><em>,</em> its framework to enhance Canada's education systems, learning opportunities, and education outcomes.</p><p>Canada also demonstrates leadership internationally. As a member state of the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.unece.org/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">United Nations Economic Commission for Europe</a>, through CMEC, the Government of Canada has committed to incorporate sustainable development themes into formal, non-formal, and informal education and to report on its implementation. The Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada has also funded the Monitoring and Evaluating Climate Communication and Education Project that supports a global network working to improve the quantity and quality of climate change communication and education.</p><p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://impact.canada.ca/en/behavioural-science/parca">Program of Applied Research on Climate Action</a> was launched in 2021. It is a multi-year research initiative into the application of behavioural science insights and methods accompanied by robust policy analysis. It aims to provide data, knowledge and insight to support policy, program and communications efforts that will advance climate and environmental action.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="indigenous-knowledge-in-environmental-research">Indigenous Knowledge in environmental research</h4><p>Indigenous peoples have used Indigenous Knowledge in decision making about environmental management for millennia. While there is no single definition of Indigenous Knowledge, the term refers to a set of complex knowledge systems based on the worldviews of Indigenous peoples. Indigenous Knowledge reflects the unique cultures, languages, governance systems and histories of Indigenous peoples from a particular location. Indigenous Knowledge is dynamic and evolves over time. It builds on the experiences of earlier generations and adapts to present conditions. First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation each have a distinct way of describing their knowledge. Knowledge-holders are the only people who can truly define Indigenous Knowledge for their communities.</p><p>Many international agencies and instruments have addressed Indigenous Knowledge, including the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbd.int/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity</a> and the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples.html" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples</a>. Many sections of the Declaration work together to protect Indigenous Knowledge. The Declaration recognizes “that respect for Indigenous Knowledge, cultures and traditional practices contributes to sustainable and fair development and proper management of the environment.” Canada is obliged to respect and protect the rights articulated in the Declaration. Indigenous Knowledge is defined in article 31 as: the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, Traditional Knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, as well as the manifestations of their sciences, technologies and cultures, including human and genetic resources, seeds, medicines, knowledge of the properties of fauna and flora, oral traditions, literatures, designs, sports and traditional games and visual and performing arts. Indigenous peoples also have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, Traditional Knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions. <a target="_blank" href="https://fnigc.ca/ocap-training/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Guides</a> such as the First Nations Principles of ownership, control, access, and possession (OCAP<sup>®</sup>) can be used to ensure that Indigenous peoples have more control over their intellectual property.</p><p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/declaration/index.html"><em>United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act</em></a> mandates Canada to implement the Declaration in cooperation with Indigenous peoples in a whole-of-government approach. Indigenous Knowledge helps federal organizations improve their understanding of Indigenous worldviews, Indigenous cultures, the environment, issues affecting the environment, impacts those issues are having now and in the future, and ways to address them. The Government of Canada is working to renew its relationship with Indigenous peoples based on a recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership. This work includes collaborating with Indigenous Knowledge Holders on research projects. Working with Indigenous partners, the Government of Canada is beginning to understand the importance of Indigenous Knowledge systems that have been handed down since time immemorial. The Government of Canada will continue to collaborate with Indigenous partners and Indigenous Knowledge Holders to ensure that Indigenous Knowledge systems are supported and considered in all stages of environmental research and monitoring activities.</p></div></body></html>

Indigenous Knowledge in environmental research

SDG 4: Quality education

<html><head></head><body><div class="EnvironmentalPerspective" id="environmentalperspective"><h4 id="the-environmental-perspective">The environmental perspective</h4><p>The impacts of climate change, biodiversity use and loss, and other environmental issues can be experienced differently by women, men, and gender-diverse people due to pre-existing social inequalities based on social identity factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, and many others. This chapter's focus on increasing Canadian women's participation in the environmental and clean technology sector to advance gender equality in decision making related to the environment and climate change supports <a target="_blank" href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal5" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">SDG Global Indicator Framework</a> targets 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere; 5.5: Ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life; and 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels. </p><p>In Canada, there are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.iucn.org/news/gender/202103/new-data-reveals-slow-progress-achieving-gender-equality-environmental-decision-making" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">gendered differences</a> in attitudes concerning the environment, biodiversity use and loss and climate change that can affect support for mitigation and adaptation efforts; substantial differences in participation in environmental governance and employment activities; and links between natural disasters and decreases in mental health, especially among women and gender-diverse people, and increases in <a target="_blank" href="https://genderandenvironment.org/agent-gbv-env/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">gender-based violence</a>.</p><p>Despite the <a target="_blank" href="https://wedo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/GGCA-CA-RP-07.pdf" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">gendered and intersectional impacts</a> of climate change and biodiversity loss, women in Canada and around the world are significantly underrepresented in decision-making processes related to the environment and climate action. Women are also often underrepresented in particular sectors of the economy and in government positions, including the environmental sector and occupations. For example: </p><ul><li>in 2016, women accounted for less than one third (28.7%) of farm operators in Canada, and female farm operators on average also owned less land, borrowing more of their total farm land (71.3%) than their male counterparts who borrowed just over 50% of their total farm land </li><li>in 2016, women made up only 14% of the Canadian mining labour force </li><li>in 2017, women made up 26% of people employed in the energy sector in Canada</li><li>in 2019, women held 41% of jobs in the Canadian clean technology sector</li><li>in 2019, two thirds of Canadian post-secondary graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics were male, with an even greater disparity in engineering and computer science programs and skilled trades </li><li>in 2020, globally, women held 15% of top jobs as ministers of environmentally-related ministries</li></ul><p>It is important to include diverse individuals and groups of people, especially those who have faced systemic inequality in environmental decision-making processes, as full, equal, and meaningful participants. Doing so will help to ensure diverse input and meaningful participation in climate and environmental action that will lead to more equitable and sustainable solutions.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="indigenous-women-in-canada">Indigenous women in Canada</h4><p>Indigenous women's physical, spiritual, and cultural relationship with the environment is unique and differs across First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis Nation. The relationship between Indigenous women and the land is often characterized by a sense of responsibility ranging from acting as keepers and teachers of community-based ecological knowledge, to initiating action to defend the land, water, nature, and the environment.</p><p>Indigenous women have experienced the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, and a changing environment for generations. For example, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pauktuutit.ca/social-and-economic-development/food-security/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">northern food insecurity</a> disproportionately affects Inuit women, and women's cultural activities such as language, food harvesting and picking medicinal plants can be affected by loss of access to land. Many elders also express <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nwac.ca/resource/indigenous-women-and-impact-assessment-final-report/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">ecological grief</a> associated with loss of their own knowledge and identity associated with “knowing the land,” and the loss of a cultural system of land-based knowledge that was passed on through generations.</p><p>Nevertheless, First Nations, Inuit and Métis women have been leaders in conserving the environment, and their knowledge and experiences in fighting climate change and biodiversity loss greatly contributes to community-led <a target="_blank" href="https://lop.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications/202047E" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">adaptation and mitigation initiatives</a>. They continue leading these efforts despite the continued prevalence and impact of systemic violence on Indigenous women.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="where-the-government-of-canada-is-going">Where the Government of Canada is going</h4><p><a target="_blank" href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters">Mandate letters</a> released in December 2021 outline the Government of Canada's direction and policy priorities. Selected commitments related to Sustainable Development Goal 5 are listed below.</p><ul><li>Continue to support ministers working to advance gender equality, notably as it relates to economic participation and prosperity, including economic recovery, leadership and democratic participation, and poverty reduction, health and well-being (Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth).</li><li>Ensure that public policies are informed and developed through an intersectional lens, including applying frameworks such as Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) and the quality of life indicators in decision making (whole-of-government commitment).</li></ul></div><div class="CanadaContributes" id="canadacontributes"><h4 id="how-the-government-of-canada-contributes">How the Government of Canada contributes</h4><p>Canada is taking domestic and international action to address systemic barriers to equality for all women, girls and gender-diverse people. This includes working to advance gender equality and diversity in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and at all levels of decision making.</p><p>The Government of Canada's <a target="_blank" href="https://women-gender-equality.canada.ca/en/gender-based-analysis-plus.html">Gender-based Analysis Plus</a> (GBA Plus) tool is an analytical process for the assessment of systemic inequalities, as well as a means to ensure that an intersectional lens—one that considers biological (sexes) and socio-cultural (gender) differences, as well as other identity factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, age, mental or physical disability—is applied to all policies, programs, and initiatives, including those pertaining to the environment, to support diverse groups in Canada equitably. GBA Plus involves taking a gender- and diversity-sensitive approach to all work. In Budget 2018, the Government of Canada also introduced the <a target="_blank" href="https://women-gender-equality.canada.ca/en/gender-results-framework.html">Gender Results Framework</a>, a whole-of-government tool designed to track how Canada is currently performing, define what is needed to achieve greater equality, and determine how progress will be measured.</p><p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls</a> and its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Calls for Justice</a> called upon the Government of Canada, provincial, territorial, Indigenous, and municipal governments and Indigenous partners to work together to develop a National Action Plan in response to the issues identified by the Inquiry. This led to the <a target="_blank" href="https://mmiwg2splus-nationalactionplan.ca/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">2021 National Action Plan: Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People</a> and the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1622233286270/1622233321912">Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People</a>.</p><p>Canada is working to strengthen its relationship with Indigenous women's organizations. Canada is finalizing and implementing whole-of-government agreements with 3 national Indigenous women's organizations: the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nwac.ca/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Native Women's Association of Canada</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pauktuutit.ca/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://en2.metiswomen.org/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak</a>. The agreements set out how the Government of Canada will work with these organizations to ensure that the voices of Indigenous women in Canada are heard. The government is also working with grassroots Indigenous women's and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations to help these organizations bring forward their priorities and perspectives to support the development of federal policy, as well as ensuring that their priorities, including those related to the environment, biodiversity loss, and climate change, are advanced.</p><p>Internationally, Canada supports a number of international instruments that advance gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls within the context of the environment. Canada continues to support implementation of the <a target="_blank" href="https://unfccc.int/topics/gender/workstreams/the-gender-action-plan" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Gender Action Plan adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)</a>, which aims to increase women's participation and leadership in climate action and to better integrate gender considerations in climate plans and policies.</p><p>Canada also established the first Group of Seven (G7) Gender Equality Advisory Council, which helps integrate gender equality and gender-based analysis across all G7 themes, and supports the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbd.int/gender/action-plan/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD) Gender Plan of Action</a>. More recently, Canada supported actions to advance the consideration of gender perspectives in the process to develop the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Canada has also taken a leading role in advocating for including gender issues in implementing the CBD.</p><p>Canada's international climate finance commitment aligns with Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy, which targets gender equality and empowerment of women and girls. See chapter 17 for more details.</p></div></body></html>

SDG 5: Gender equality

<html><head></head><body><div class="EnvironmentalPerspective" id="environmentalperspective"><h4 id="the-environmental-perspective">The environmental perspective</h4><p>While Canada has about 20% of the planet's freshwater resources, with the Great Lakes as one of the largest systems of fresh surface water in the world, and 7% of the world's renewable fresh water, ensuring the country has clean and safe water remains an important issue. This chapter's focus directly supports <a target="_blank" href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal6" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">SDG Global Indicator Framework</a> targets 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all; 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally; and 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.</p><p>In Canada, lakes and rivers supply drinking water to millions of Canadians and sustain a rich variety of plants and animals. These waters also provide opportunities for swimming, boating, and recreational fishing and support economic activities such as tourism, commercial fisheries, agriculture, shipping, manufacturing, and energy production. Groundwater also provides drinking water to Canadians, sustains stream and river base flow during dry periods, and supports ecological services.</p><p>Canada's waters are an irreplaceable natural heritage that Canadians should use sustainably and be able to access equitably. Sustainably using Canada's water resources means ensuring that all Canadians have access to clean, safe and healthy drinking water, as well as to the other ecosystem services that healthy waters provide. It also means ensuring that effective wastewater systems are in place that achieve high standards with low operating risks so that sanitation systems across Canada protect the health and well-being of Canadians and ecosystems. </p><p>Many lakes and rivers are affected by water pollution and contamination. For example, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/wastewater/regulations.html">150 billion litres</a> of untreated and undertreated wastewater (sewage) is released into Canadian waterways every year. Urban and agricultural run-off and undertreated wastewater have caused excessive nutrient levels in some lakes, streams, and rivers, leading to algal blooms and zones of low oxygen, thereby impacting the water sources Canadian communities rely on and eroding access to safe water for swimming and recreation. Agricultural actions related to sustainable water management are addressed in chapter 2.</p><p>The Government of Canada works with provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, academics and stakeholders to reduce water pollution and ensure ecosystem health—for example, by reducing phosphorus loading to Lake Erie and Lake Winnipeg. </p><p>Canada and the United States have a long history of effective cooperation in managing their shared waters. More than 40% of the Canada-U.S. border is water. In addition, more than 300 rivers and lakes (some of the largest in the world) lie along, or flow across, the border between Canada and the United States. Both countries rely on boundary and transboundary waters as a source of drinking water, as well as to support farming, tourism and recreation, economic growth and clean energy production.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="where-the-government-of-canada-is-going">Where the Government of Canada is going</h4><p><a target="_blank" href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters">Mandate letters</a> released in December 2021 outline the Government of Canada's direction and policy priorities. Selected commitments related to Sustainable Development Goal 6 are listed below.</p><ul><li>Establish a Canada Water Agency and implement a strengthened Freshwater Action Plan, including a historic investment to provide funding to protect and restore large lakes and river systems, starting with the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River System, Lake Simcoe, the Lake Winnipeg Basin, the Fraser River Basin and the Mackenzie River Basin. Invest in the Experimental Lakes Area in northern Ontario to support international freshwater science and research (Minister of Environment and Climate Change; supported by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food).</li><li>Following the establishment of a Canada Water Agency, advance the modernization of the <em>Canada Water Act</em> to reflect Canada's freshwater reality, including climate change and Indigenous rights (Minister of Environment and Climate Change).</li></ul></div><div class="CanadaContributes" id="canadacontributes"><h4 id="how-the-government-of-canada-contributes">How the Government of Canada contributes</h4><p>Freshwater management in Canada is a responsibility shared between federal, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments. The Government of Canada is involved in areas such as fisheries, pollution prevention, shipping and navigation, international relations, transboundary waters, and creating and managing protected areas. The federal government is also responsible for managing fresh water on federal lands, and plays a leadership role in science and research on drinking water by developing the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality in partnership with the provinces and territories.</p><p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-11/index.html"><em>Canada Water Act</em></a> provides a framework for collaboration among federal, provincial, and territorial governments in matters related to water resources. Each level of government has a different role and there are many areas of shared responsibility. Joint projects involve regulating, dividing up, monitoring, and/or surveying water resources, as well as planning and implementing programs related to conserving, developing, and using water resources.</p><p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ijc.org/en/boundary-waters-treaty-1909" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Boundary Waters Treaty</a> of 1909 is the basis for collaborative management of Canada-U.S. boundary and transboundary waters. Environment and Climate Change Canada contributes to managing boundary and transboundary water through the International Joint Commission, created under the Boundary Waters Treaty. Canada is also a signatory to a number of other international agreements with the U.S. to manage boundary and transboundary waters including the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/corporate/international-affairs/partnerships-countries-regions/north-america/great-lakes-water-quality-agreement.html">Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement</a> and the <a target="_blank" href="https://engage.gov.bc.ca/columbiarivertreaty/the-treaty/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Columbia River Treaty</a>, among others. This work includes actions to restore and protect Lake Erie and other Great Lakes, as well as the 2016 commitment to reduce annual phosphorous loadings into Lake Erie by 40% from 2008 levels.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="bilateral-and-domestic-action-to-restore-and-protect-the-great-lakes">Bilateral and domestic action to restore and protect the Great Lakes</h4><p>The Great Lakes Basin is home to 1 in 3 Canadians and 1 in 10 Americans. It provides significant environmental and economic benefits to both countries. The governments of Canada and the United States recognize the integral relationship between an environmentally healthy Great Lakes system and the social and economic well-being of both countries, as well as the direct connection between water quality and human health. </p><p>For 50 years, the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) has provided a binational framework for pursuing cooperative binational and domestic actions to restore and protect the water quality of the Great Lakes. Environment and Climate Change Canada and the United States Environmental Protection Agency lead the implementation of the GLWQA in cooperation with other federal government agencies, state and provincial governments, Tribal governments, First Nations, Métis, municipal governments, watershed management agencies, and other local public agencies. </p><p>The Government of Canada is working in partnership with the Government of Ontario to address Great Lakes issues and deliver on GLWQA commitments through the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health (2021 to 2026). In addition, it is working with the province and other partners on the Canada-Ontario Lake Erie Action Plan, which outlines over 120 actions to reduce phosphorus levels in Lake Erie in 5 key areas: reducing phosphorus loadings; ensuring effective policies, programs and legislation; improving the knowledge base; educating and building awareness; and strengthening leadership and coordination.</p></div><p>The Government of Canada also has agreements with provinces to work collaboratively on water issues such as the Canada-Quebec Agreement on the St. Lawrence 2011 to 2026 (<a target="_blank" href="https://www.planstlaurent.qc.ca/en/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">St. Lawrence Action Plan</a>), the 2021 Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, and the Canada-Manitoba Memorandum of Understanding Respecting Lake Winnipeg and the Lake Winnipeg Basin (2021 to 2026).</p><p>Indigenous peoples have freshwater-related rights under many historic and modern treaties and self-government agreements. They are also involved in transboundary freshwater management, including through some water management boards.</p><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="collaborating-to-improve-the-health-of-lake-winnipeg">Collaborating to improve the health of Lake Winnipeg</h4><p>Lake Winnipeg is the sixth-largest freshwater lake in Canada, providing important social and economic benefits to Manitobans and to nearby Indigenous communities. Excessive nutrient loading and climate change have led to high phosphorus levels in the lake, which can result in harmful algal blooms and excessive plant growth that reduces the availability of oxygen. Reducing phosphorus loads in Lake Winnipeg is important to maintaining its water quality and ecological health. </p><p>The Government of Canada is working with the Government of Manitoba to address these challenges through the <a target="_blank" href="https://manitoba.ca/water/pubs/water/lakes-beaches-rivers/mou_aug_2021.pdf" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Canada-Manitoba Memorandum of Understanding Respecting Lake Winnipeg and the Lake Winnipeg Basin</a>, which was first signed in 2010 and renewed in 2021. The Government of Canada is also promoting recovery of the lake through the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/water-overview/comprehensive-approach-clean/lake-winnipeg/funding.html">Lake Winnipeg Basin Program</a>, which provides targeted funding for activities such as building retention ponds to intercept water flow and capture nutrients, stabilizing riverbanks and lake shorelines, restoring wetlands, and implementing livestock management practices.</p></div><p>Provinces and territories have responsibility over areas of water management and protection within their borders, including water allocation and use, drinking water and wastewater services, source water protection, and thermal and hydroelectric power development. Most delegate some authority to municipalities, and, in certain cases, local conservation authorities develop and deliver watershed-based resource management programs on behalf of provinces and municipalities.</p><p>Health Canada works with provincial and territorial governments to develop guidelines that set out the maximum acceptable concentrations of specific contaminants in drinking water. These guidelines are designed to protect the health of the most vulnerable members of society, such as children and the elderly. They set out the basic parameters that every water system should strive to achieve in order to provide the cleanest, safest and most reliable drinking water possible. All provinces and territories use the guidelines as the basis for their regulations and requirements for drinking water quality and safety, ensuring that Canadians benefit from evidence-based decisions on Canadian fresh water.</p><p>Through the Green Infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, Infrastructure Canada is upgrading wastewater treatment or collection infrastructure, upgrading drinking water treatment and distribution infrastructure and increasing capacity to reduce and address soil and air pollutants. Investments under other infrastructure legacy programs and the Canada Community-Building Fund are also contributing to these priorities.</p><p>Federal regulations developed under the <em>Fisheries Act </em>help to protect the ecosystem health of Canada's waters by managing impacts to fish and fish habitat, and to the use of fish by humans. The <a target="_blank" href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Regulations/SOR-2002-222/index.html"><em>Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations</em></a>govern the discharge of mining effluent into water frequented by fish and improve the monitoring of environmental effects, while the <a target="_blank" href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-92-269/index.html"><em>Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations</em></a> govern the discharge of harmful substances from pulp and paper mills into water frequented by fish. The <a target="_blank" href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-2012-139/fulltext.html"><em>Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations</em></a>, also established under the <a target="_blank" href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/f-14/"><em>Fisheries Act</em></a>, include mandatory minimum effluent quality standards that can be reached through secondary wastewater treatment, and specify requirements for monitoring, record-keeping, reporting and toxicity testing.</p><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="transboundary-action-plan-for-the-salish-sea-ecosystem">Transboundary Action Plan for the Salish Sea ecosystem</h4><p>Environment and Climate Change Canada and the United States Environmental Protection Agency recently signed a new 4-year Action Plan under their Joint Statement of Cooperation—first signed in 2000—that commits both countries to work together on transboundary issues and challenges facing the Salish Sea ecosystem. Under the Action Plan, the Government of Canada is engaging with partners across the region to advance shared priorities for ecosystem health, including information sharing, improving transboundary coordination, and jointly reporting on transboundary ecosystem health.</p></div><p>Recognizing the importance of clean drinking water for all Canadians and that access remains an issue in First Nations communities on reserve, the draft Federal Sustainable Development Strategy includes a target, indicator, and action on this issue in Chapter 10: Take action on environmental inequalities and collaborate on environmental and natural resource management.</p></body></html>

Bilateral and domestic action to restore and protect the Great Lakes

Collaborating to improve the health of Lake Winnipeg

Transboundary Action Plan for the Salish Sea ecosystem

SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation

<html><head></head><body><div class="EnvironmentalPerspective" id="environmentalperspective"><h4 id="the-environmental-perspective">The environmental perspective</h4><p>This chapter's focus on increasing Canadian's access to clean energy supports <a target="_blank" href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal7" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">SDG Global Indicator Framework</a> targets 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services; 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix; and 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.</p><p>Access to affordable and reliable energy is essential to eradicating poverty, a crucial enabler of economic growth and improved living standards, and a cornerstone of modern lifestyles. At the same time, energy production and use is currently the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for around 78% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. In Canada, as in the rest of the world, greenhouse gas emissions primarily come from activities such as non-renewable electricity production, oil and gas production, transportation, and heating and cooling of buildings using fossil fuels. Clean and affordable energy is essential to Canada's and the world's aspirations to decarbonize the economy and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. There are 3 key pathways to decarbonize how we use energy: efficiency, electrification, and clean fuels.</p><p>Canada reduced its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/nrcan/files/energy/energy_fact/2021-2022/PDF/2021_Energy-factbook_december23_EN_accessible.pdf">energy consumption</a> per dollar of economic activity by approximately 31% from 1990 to 2017 but remains one of the world's largest per-capita consumers of energy and approximately 81% of its greenhouse gas emissions come from energy production and use. Canadians use more energy per capita due to the country's extreme temperatures, vast landscape and dispersed population. Energy efficiency has an important role in meeting Canada's emissions reduction targets, while also helping individual Canadians and businesses save money on energy costs, improving competitiveness, and creating jobs.</p><p>Canadians have access to some of the world's cleanest electricity. In 2019, 82% of electricity generated in Canada came from non-greenhouse-gas-emitting sources, including 67% from renewables and 15% from nuclear. However, remote and northern communities are not afforded equal access to reliable sources of clean energy and typically rely on diesel fuel for electricity and heat. Increasing access to reliable and affordable clean energy is vital for enhancing the economic development and well-being of remote and northern communities, and for meeting the Government of Canada's climate change targets.</p><p>Electrification provides a foundation for decarbonization strategies such as electrifying transportation, heating and cooling of buildings, and certain industrial applications. It also underpins digitization, smart technology, and the internet of things, all of which play a critical role in managing energy and increasing demand.</p><p>Clean fuels produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional fuels. Growing Canada's clean fuels market will help reduce our carbon footprint by cutting emissions from hard-to-abate sectors. Canada is rich in a variety of feedstocks that can be used to make clean fuels like hydrogen, cellulosic ethanol, renewable natural gas, and sustainable aviation fuel. Even our abundant fossil fuel resources can be converted to clean hydrogen when coupled with carbon capture and storage technologies. These fuels can be used to power our transportation and industrial sectors, supporting Canada's energy sector transition to a net-zero economy.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="where-the-government-of-canada-is-going">Where the Government of Canada is going</h4><p><a target="_blank" href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters">Mandate letters</a> released in December 2021 outline the Government of Canada's direction and policy priorities. Selected commitments related to Sustainable Development Goal 7 are listed below.</p><ul><li>Work on the development of model building codes, including publishing a net-zero emissions building code and model retrofit code by the end of 2024 that align with national climate objectives and provide a standard for climate-resilient buildings (Minister of Natural Resources; Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry).</li><li>Expand the eligibility requirements of the deep home retrofit loan program to include more climate resilience measures, while also ensuring the program remains accessible to both individual homeowners and multi-unit residential buildings (Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion).</li><li>In support of Canada's efforts to achieve a net-zero electricity grid by 2035, advance near-term consultations with provinces, territories, Indigenous communities and interested parties to develop and implement strategies to decarbonize electricity systems (Minister of Natural Resources; with support from the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities).<ul><li>Work to connect regions with carbon intensive electricity systems to more clean power by supporting transmission lines and the integration of renewables and clean fuels.</li></ul></li><li>Provide grants of up to $5,000 for home retrofits through the Canada Greener Homes Grants Program and creating a Climate Adaptation Home Rating Program as a companion to the EnerGuide home energy audits (Minister of Natural Resources).</li><li>Advance the Atlantic Loop initiative to connect surplus clean power to regions transitioning away from coal and to help transform how we power our economy and communities (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities; Minister of Environment and Climate Change; Minister of Natural Resources; Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency).</li></ul></div><div class="CanadaContributes" id="canadacontributes"><h4 id="how-the-government-of-canada-contributes">How the Government of Canada contributes</h4><p>The Government of Canada is committed to working with partners to develop and implement strategies to decarbonize regional electricity systems, grow the market for clean fuels and transform Canada's building stock for the climate era.</p><p>Canada's strengthened climate plan, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/climate-plan-overview/healthy-environment-healthy-economy.html">A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy</a>, as well as the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan build on the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. It is the federal plan to build a better future with a healthier economy and environment, helping to make life more affordable for households, make Canadian communities more livable, and ensure a focus on workers and their careers in a stronger and cleaner economy. Through the plan, Canada is expanding the supply of clean electricity through investments in renewable and next generation clean energy and technology; provide incentives to make clean energy and technology more affordable and improve the energy efficiency of Canadian homes and buildings; incent the uptake of technologies that reduce the carbon intensity of liquid fuels and invest in clean fuels production; and support the transition of Indigenous and northern communities to clean, renewable and reliable energy.</p><p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-pic-INFC-eng.html?wbdisable=true">Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program</a> supports energy security in communities in the North, including Indigenous communities, by investing in upgrades to existing fossil-fuel-based energy systems, as well as supplementing or replacing these systems with renewable energy options, improving energy reliability and efficiency and reducing pollution. It also supports projects that increase capacity to manage more renewable energy, improve access to clean energy transportation, increase the energy efficiency of buildings, and improve the production of clean energy.</p><p>The Government of Canada collaborated with stakeholders including industry, other levels of government, Indigenous organizations, non-government organizations and academia to develop the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/climate-change/canadas-green-future/the-hydrogen-strategy/23080">Hydrogen Strategy for Canada</a>, a call to action to position Canada to seize environmental and economic opportunities that exist across the country. The government is now working on an implementation plan with stakeholders. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/climate-change/canadas-green-future/clean-fuels-fund/23734">Clean Fuels Fund</a>, a $1.5 billion investment in the clean fuels sector, is one of many federal initiatives supporting this strategy.</p><p>Canada is also working to enhance energy security and efficiency and to accelerate the pace of the clean and inclusive energy transition around the world. As a founding member of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Canada actively supports the development of net-zero roadmaps—tracking progress, enhancing its assistance to priority countries, leveraging its expertise through data, supporting modelling and analysis, and providing policy advice to IEA member governments and key emitters. Recognizing the importance of an inclusive and equitable clean transition, Canada is a strong advocate of a people-centred approach and was an active member of the IEA's Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions.</p><p>Canada is a member of the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/countries-clean-energy-ministerial/canada" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Clean Energy Ministerial</a>, which brings together 29 countries and the European Union to accelerate progress on energy efficiency, clean energy supply and clean energy access. Canada also advances its clean energy agenda through the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.g7uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Carbis-Bay-G7-Summit-Communique-PDF-430KB-25-pages-3-1.pdf" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Group of Seven </a>(G7) and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.g20.utoronto.ca/2021/2021_G20-Energy-Climate-joint-Ministerial-Communique.pdf" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Group of Twenty</a> (G20).</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/canada-international-action/coal-phase-out.html">The Powering Past Coal Alliance,</a> co-founded and co-chaired by Canada and the UK, is the world's leading initiative seeking to accelerate clean growth and climate protection through the rapid phase-out of unabated coal power. As of November 2021, the alliance has over 165 members, including national governments, sub-national governments and organizations. It is committed to just transition and an economically-inclusive phase-out of coal through its Just Transition Taskforce. Domestically, Canada has committed to phasing out traditional coal-fired electricity by 2030 and with new regulations in place, will end exports of thermal coal by 2030.</p><p>At the 26<sup>th</sup> Conference of the Parties (COP26) climate summit in November 2021, the Prime Minister announced up to $1 billion for the Climate Investment Funds Accelerated Coal Transition Investment Program through Canada's international climate finance contribution. This investment will help developing countries transition from coal-fired electricity to clean power as quickly as possible. Also at COP26, Canada, together with 39 other countries, development institutions, and multilateral development banks, committed to end new direct public support for the international unabated fossil fuel energy sector by the end of 2022 and prioritize spending on clean energy.</p><p>Canada is a founding member of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/climate-change/canadas-green-future/mission-innovation/18612">Mission Innovation</a>, an initiative among 23 governments launched in 2015 to enhance collaboration and catalyze action and investment in research, development and demonstration to make clean energy affordable, attractive and accessible for all. Mission Innovation 2.0 was launched in June 2021 and Canada continues to play a leadership role, notably by co-leading the Carbon Dioxide Removal Mission, and participating in the Green Power and Clean Hydrogen Missions.</p><p>Finally, Canada is a member of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.irena.org/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">International Renewable Energy Agency</a>, an intergovernmental organization with more than 160 member countries dedicated to producing energy from clean, sustainable energy sources. Canada recently contributed to the launch of a Multi-stakeholder Platform for Transitioning Remote Communities to Renewable Energy, which will serve as a global communication platform on the topic of energy transitions for remote communities.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="access-to-energy-in-indigenous-and-northern-communities">Access to energy in Indigenous and northern communities</h4><p>About 200 communities across Canada rely completely on diesel fuel for heat and power. The vast majority are Indigenous or have significant Indigenous populations. Remote communities consume more than 680 million litres of diesel per year and close to two thirds of this is used for heat, as many remote communities are located in harsh environments. Diesel reliance has negative consequences for these communities as it is costly, inefficient, and contributes to local pollution. It can also create ripple effects that deeply impact these communities' socioeconomic development. </p><p>Many Indigenous communities view access to energy as a key aspect of reconciliation and energy sovereignty. In response, the Government of Canada is investing in several clean energy projects in Indigenous communities. For example, the Fort Chipewyan Solar Project has received $4.5 million toward building a 2.2-megawatt solar energy and energy storage project in northern Alberta. The project, Canada's largest off-grid solar project, is owned by 3 neighbouring Indigenous groups in Fort Chipewyan. It will produce 20% of the community's electricity, displacing 650,000 litres of diesel fuel per year and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1,743 tonnes annually.</p></div></body></html>

Access to energy in Indigenous and northern communities

SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy

<html><head></head><body><div class="EnvironmentalPerspective" id="environmentalperspective"><h4 id="the-environmental-perspective">The environmental perspective</h4><p>This chapter's focus on encouraging inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Canada directly supports <a target="_blank" href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal8" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">SDG Global Indicator Framework</a> Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.</p><p>Canada's environmental and clean technology sector accounts for 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) and nearly 2% of jobs in Canada. It includes diverse occupations in sub-industries such as clean electricity, solar panel research, nature conservation, and waste management. Jobs in this sector are well-paid, with annual salaries about 33% higher than the average Canadian wage. At 3.5% GDP growth, Canada's clean technology sector grew twice as fast as the overall economy from 2018 to 2019. Canada ranked first in the G20 for clean technology innovation in the most recent Global Cleantech Innovation Index (2017), and fourth overall, while 11 Canadian companies are highlighted on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cleantech.com/2021-global-cleantech-100/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">2021 Global Cleantech Top 100 List</a>.</p><p>Compared to other sectors, small and medium-sized enterprises in the clean technology sector are more likely to apply and be accepted for financing opportunities and export beyond their province and internationally. Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" href="https://eco.ca/new-reports/the-growing-nature-conservation-workforce-reducing-canadas-footprint/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">occupations in nature conservation</a> span many industries, signalling growth; however, retention strategies remain a priority to maintain this growth.</p><p>There is opportunity across all sectors for businesses to increase their competitiveness and become more sustainable. To transform the economy, Canada will need to decarbonize and reduce the environmental impacts of existing sectors while growing and supporting clean technology and emerging sector jobs. </p><p>To succeed in the new clean economy, Canada will also need to respond to evolving workforce needs by upskilling and reskilling workers, increasing workforce participation, and diversifying local economies. If governments, industry, and labour fail to plan ahead for the changing skills and occupational requirements needed for the clean economy, they risk running into skills gaps and labor shortages. This will stall progress on both economic growth and climate change mitigation.</p><p>At the same time, the transition toward clean energy sources and clean technology poses risks of disruption, especially for workers with fewer marketable skills. The shift to a clean economy needs to be pursued in a just and inclusive manner, so that no one is left behind. This requires collaboration among governments, industry and organized labor to provide affected workers and communities with new opportunities for training, skills development and well-paid employment.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="where-the-government-of-canada-is-going">Where the Government of Canada is going</h4><p><a target="_blank" href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters">Mandate letters</a> released in December 2021 outline the Government of Canada's direction and policy priorities. Selected commitments related to Sustainable Development Goal 8 are listed below.</p><ul><li>To support the future and livelihood of workers and their communities in the transition to a net-zero economy:<ul><li>Move forward with legislation and comprehensive action to achieve a Just Transition. This work will be guided by consultations with workers, unions, Indigenous peoples, employers, communities, and provinces and territories (Minister of Natural Resources; Minister of Labour; supported by the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion); </li><li>Launch a Clean Jobs Training Centre to help workers across sectors upgrade or gain new skills so as to be on the leading edge of the zero carbon industry (Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion);</li><li>Redesign and implement the Canada Training Benefit (Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion); </li><li>Address gaps in training and upskilling to ensure that all Canadian workers can take advantage of sustainable battery industry opportunities (Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion);</li><li>Continue to deliver on investments to train workers and create opportunities for green jobs (Minister of Natural Resources); and</li><li>Increase inclusion in the clean energy workforce by creating more opportunities for women, LGBTQ2 and other under-represented people in the energy sector (Minister of Natural Resources).</li></ul></li><li>To ensure that Canada is a world leader in clean technology:<ul><li>Build on existing advisory services to guide emerging clean technology firms from formation to export (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry);</li><li>Help to drive the development of Canadian clean technology companies and small and medium-sized enterprises working in the area of decarbonization (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry; supported by the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development);</li><li>Support procurement of Canadian clean technology (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry; Minister of Public Services and Procurement); and</li><li>Partner with post-secondary institutions and Indigenous organizations to accelerate the creation and growth of Indigenous clean technology businesses (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry).</li></ul></li></ul></div><div class="CanadaContributes" id="canadacontributes"><h4 id="how-the-government-of-canada-contributes">How the Government of Canada contributes</h4><p>The Government of Canada is taking action to promote decent work and well-paid jobs by growing the clean technology sector, promoting skills development and training, and diversifying local economies. The government is committed to sustainability across the economy, including a just transition for workers and communities impacted by the shift away from fossil fuels, so that the benefits of a clean economy can be enjoyed by all Canadians.</p><p>In addition to advancing these priorities domestically, the federal government promotes decent work and just transitions through participation in multilateral institutions such as the Group of Seven (G7), the Group of Twenty (G20), and intergovernmental organizations such as the International Labor Organization.</p><p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/chap-01-en.html">Innovation and Skills Plan</a> helps support workers and businesses in the clean technology market. It has 3 main pillars: equipping workers with the tools, skills and experience they need to succeed; fostering a nation of innovators through financial assistance and improved innovation programs; and promoting key sectors in Canada's innovation economy such as clean technology, digital industries and agri-food. It also encourages investment in research and supports businesses capitalizing on Canadian inventions.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="just-transition">Just Transition</h4><p>At COP26, Canada was a signatory to the <a target="_blank" href="https://ukcop26.org/supporting-the-conditions-for-a-just-transition-internationally/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Declaration Supporting the Conditions for a Just Transition Internationally - Green growth, decent work, and economic prosperity in the transition to net zero</a>. That includes the following commitment:</p><p>“Support and promote social dialogue and stakeholder engagement: We recognise that the development of effective, nationally coherent, locally driven and delivered just transition plans within countries are dependent on effective and inclusive social dialogue. We intend to support and promote social dialogue between governments and the representative organisations of workers and employers, including those in secondary industries that are dependent on carbon-intensive industries as well as other stakeholders, in accordance with inter alia the relevant fundamental rights at work. We also recognise that other key stakeholders need to be engaged to ensure no one is left behind. This support may include strengthening social dialogue through capacity building of the participants.”</p><p>Also, in support of Just Transition, in 2018 the government established the Task Force on Just Transition for Canadian Coal Power Workers and Communities. Its mandate was to engage relevant stakeholder groups including labour, provinces and municipal governments, report what was heard and provide recommendations on how the government can support coal power workers and communities. Drawing from meetings and site visits with affected communities, organized labour, industry, and other stakeholders, the task force released its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/task-force-just-transition/final-report/section-7.html">final report in March 2019</a>.  </p><p>In response, the government committed $185 million to support affected communities, including $35 million for the Canada Coal Transition Initiative focused on skills development and economic diversification, as well as $150 million for a dedicated infrastructure fund. </p><p>As of December 2021, about $52 million had been invested in 53 projects across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Alberta. </p><p>In July 2021, Canada also launched public consultations to develop just transition legislation that could inform government decision making on climate action and establish an advisory body to advise the government on regional and sectoral strategies. Natural Resources Canada is consulting with a broad range of stakeholders including workers and labour organizations, industry, academia, non-governmental organizations, youth, and experts in skills, training, and diversity and inclusion. These virtual consultations are in addition to meetings with provinces, territories and Indigenous organizations.</p></div><p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/099.nsf/eng/home">Clean Growth Hub</a> is a whole-of-government focal point for clean technology focused on supporting companies and projects, coordinating programs and tracking results. It helps clean technology developers and adopters identify the federal programs and services most relevant to their needs, simplifying access to government programs and reducing duplication of effort. Services are available to firms of all sizes in the clean technology space and across all sectors of the economy.</p><p>The Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program will support key sectors, including those linked to the clean economy. The program funds sectoral projects that focus on a range of industry-driven activities such as training and reskilling workers and helping employers retain and attract a skilled and diverse workforce. This will help connect Canadians with the training they need to access good jobs in sectors where employers are looking for skilled workers. It will also place priority on supporting equity-deserving groups and promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce.</p><p>The Community Workforce Development Program was announced in Budget 2021. It provides $55 million over 3 years, starting in 2021 to 2022, to help communities recover and improve resiliency through workforce planning and skills training. It will test innovative community-based approaches that aim to address regional and national priorities such as decarbonization. It will also help to strengthen local economic diversification efforts with a focus on addressing the needs of underrepresented groups.</p><p>In November 2020, the Future Skills Council, an advisory body to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, released a report entitled Canada - A Learning Nation. The report identified skills development for sustainable futures as a priority area for action. Informed by priorities identified by the council, the Future Skills Centre is working to identify effective practices to support employers and workers in assessing and developing skills to support a greener economy.</p><p>The Skills for Success Program will provide training to 90,000 Canadians by 2024 and help them get back to work. Part of the Government of Canada's commitment to create 500,000 new training and work opportunities, the program centres on providing training, tools and resources to help Canadians adapt and thrive in learning, work and life. In particular, it will help vulnerable populations with skill challenges, such as persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and racialized Canadians, and will support the ability of workers to transition to jobs in the green economy.</p><p>Finally, Canada's 7 regional development agencies contribute to the transition to the green economy and sustainable jobs by supporting clean technology development and adoption, as well as the green transformation and adoption of small and medium-sized enterprises.</p><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="strengthening-canadas-climate-tech">Strengthening Canada's climate tech </h4><p>“Climate tech,” a subset of clean technology, includes a broad range of innovative technology-based solutions to decarbonize the economy and improve society's adaptation and resilience to climate change. This includes transitioning the energy supply to renewable sources; moving toward zero-emission transportation; reducing the impact of buildings and infrastructure; cultivating sustainable agriculture, forestry and land use; and decarbonizing industrial processes. The Government of Canada is committed to working with the private sector, provinces and territories to position Canada as a global leader in climate tech innovation through funding for climate tech start-ups, strengthening regulatory action, increasing clean tech deployment, and transforming public procurement to achieve positive social and environmental outcomes.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="green-jobs-in-indigenous-and-northern-communities">Green jobs in Indigenous and northern communities  </h4><p>The percentage of jobs attributed to the environmental and clean technology products sector in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories (0.5% and 1% respectively) falls below the Canada-wide average of 2%. As the Government of Canada continues to support research and development into clean technologies and nature based solutions, it will be important to ensure the benefits reach across Canada.</p><p>The Government of Canada is helping Indigenous and northern communities access green job opportunities through the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) Program and the Skills and Partnership Fund (SPF). The ISET Program is a distinctions-based program designed to help Indigenous people improve their skills and find employment. It provides funding to Indigenous service delivery organizations to build and improve their capacity and deliver culturally-appropriate job training services to First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban/non affiliated Indigenous people in their communities. The SPF is a project-based program that supports government priorities through strategic partnerships with Indigenous groups and industry employers. It provides Indigenous peoples with demand-driven skills training for economic opportunities, including in the environmental sector, at the local, regional and national levels. </p><p>In addition, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1330016561558/1594122175203">Strategic Partnerships Initiative</a> provides a way for federal partners to coordinate their efforts, reduce administrative burden and pool resources in support of Indigenous communities. It fills gaps in other funding programs that might create a barrier to Indigenous involvement in economic opportunities. As an example, an investment in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.iti.gov.nt.ca/en/bip-registry/bip0000358-fortmcpherson" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Rat River Development Corporation</a> will support a feasibility study to look at adding a biomass boiler to the community's existing heating system.</p></div></body></html>

Green jobs in Indigenous and northern communities  

SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth

<html><head></head><body><div class="EnvironmentalPerspective" id="environmentalperspective"><h4 id="the-environmental-perspective">The environmental perspective</h4><p>This chapter's focus on fostering innovation and green infrastructure in Canada directly supports several <a target="_blank" href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal9" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">SDG Global Indicator Framework</a> targets including 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure; 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization; and 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.</p><p>Canada's industrial sector is a major driver of economic activity, including income, jobs and exports. It is also a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions due to industrial processes and energy consumption. In 2019, heavy industry, such as smelting and refining, and the production and processing of industrial goods such as fertilizer, paper and cement, accounted for 11% of Canada's total emissions. However, many sectors in Canada are taking action to green their industries. For example, between 2008 and 2019, Canada's aviation industry improved its fuel efficiency by 17.8% by taking actions such as pre-heating and pre-cooling aircrafts or introducing sustainable fuels. Canadian ports are also taking a variety of actions to reduce emissions in their operations, including investing in green infrastructure that allows ships to plug into shore-power and pursuing the creation of green shipping corridors.</p><p>Some of Canada's infrastructure is <a target="_blank" href="http://canadianinfrastructure.ca/downloads/canadian-infrastructure-report-card-2019.pdf" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">aging and at risk</a>. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/sustainable-development-goals/why-do-sustainable-development-goals-matter/goal-9" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Investing in green infrastructure</a>, such as low-carbon transportation, climate-resilient buildings and clean energy, helps build healthy and resilient communities, protects against a changing climate, promotes environmental sustainability and drives economic growth.</p><p>As climate change continues, green infrastructure will be increasingly important to sustain economic, environmental and social well-being. For instance, a growing network of electric vehicle chargers and natural gas and hydrogen refuelling stations will make low-carbon transportation options more accessible to Canadians. At the same time, natural infrastructure such as wetlands and marshes can help prevent climate change impacts like flash floods and support the conservation and recovery of wild species, including species at risk.</p><p>Meanwhile, investing in innovation supports Canada's transition to a net-zero economy while increasing our competitiveness. Innovation can have benefits in areas such as water, air quality, plastic waste and biodiversity, including through increased adoption of clean energy technology, increased resource efficiency and increased demand for low-carbon materials. Research, development and demonstration continues to be needed to develop new technologies and integrate them into existing systems, and to lower capital costs of solutions nearing commercial scale. Sustained innovation over the next decade and beyond will be critical to reduce the costs of technologies and processes that could enable substantial emissions cuts beyond 2030 and support future economic competitiveness.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="where-the-government-of-canada-is-going">Where the Government of Canada is going</h4><p><a target="_blank" href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters">Mandate letters</a> released in December 2021 outline the Government of Canada's direction and policy priorities. Selected commitments related to Sustainable Development Goal 9 are listed below.</p><ul><li>Implement the Net Zero Accelerator Initiative to support the strategic review of large-scale investments in order to drive industrial transition, significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and meaningfully transform Canadian industry (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry; supported by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of Natural Resources).</li><li>Launch Canada's first National Infrastructure Assessment to help identify needs and priorities in the built environment and support long-term planning toward a net-zero emissions future (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities).</li><li>Introduce a new Buy Clean Strategy to support and prioritize the use of made-in-Canada low-carbon products in Canadian infrastructure projects (Minister of Public Services and Procurement; Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities; Minister of Natural Resources).</li><li>Create open-access climate toolkits to help infrastructure owners and investors develop projects that contribute to Canada's path to net-zero emissions (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities).</li><li>Continue advancing the Social Innovation and Social Finance strategy, including fully implementing the Social Finance Fund and launching the Social Innovation Advisory Council (Minister of Families, Children and Social Development).</li><li>Establish a global centre for excellence on methane detection and elimination (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry; with support from the Minister of Natural Resources).</li><li>Reduce pollution from transportation by adding 50,000 new electric vehicle chargers and hydrogen stations to Canada's network and supporting the installation of charging stations in existing buildings, and by making investments to retrofit large trucks currently on the road, and supporting the production, distribution and use of clean fuels, including low or zero carbon hydrogen (Minister of Natural Resources).</li></ul></div><div class="CanadaContributes" id="canadacontributes"><h4 id="how-the-government-of-canada-contributes">How the Government of Canada contributes</h4><p>The federal government owns just 2.8% of the country's infrastructure. However, it plays a major role in funding, regulating and setting policies and standards for infrastructure projects. In March 2021, the government launched consultations on Canada's first-ever<a target="_blank" href="https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/nia-eni/index-eng.html"> national infrastructure assessment</a>. The assessment will identify needs and priorities in the built environment, and support long-term infrastructure planning. The Government of Canada is also supporting provinces, territories and municipalities with funding for green infrastructure initiatives.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="natural-infrastructure-fund">Natural Infrastructure Fund</h4><p>The Government of Canada is establishing a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2021/06/government-of-canada-announces-new-natural-infrastructure-fund.html">Natural Infrastructure Fund</a> to support natural and hybrid infrastructure projects to further Canada's commitment to climate change resilience while contributing to national biodiversity goals and targets. This fund will help to improve well-being, mitigate the impacts of climate change, conserve natural landscape features, and prevent costly natural events.</p></div><p>The government has also launched the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/gicb-bcvi/index-eng.html">Green and Inclusive Community Buildings</a> program, which aims to improve energy efficiency in existing buildings and support the construction of new net-zero ones, particularly in areas with populations with higher needs, while also making the buildings more resilient and higher-performing. This 5-year program will support green and accessible retrofits, repairs and upgrades of existing public community buildings and the construction of new publicly-accessible community buildings that serve high-needs, underserved communities across Canada.</p><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="green-bonds">Green bonds</h4><p>As part of Budget 2021, the Government of Canada announced its plan to issue its first-ever green bond in 2021 to 2022. The inaugural green bond issuance will target $5 billion, subject to market conditions, and will be the first of many issuances. Green bonds are a specific type of bond in which the proceeds are used exclusively to fund projects with environmental and climate benefits. These investments will be used for projects such as green infrastructure, clean tech innovations and nature conservation. Work underway to design Canada's green bond framework is being led by the Department of Finance Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, in cooperation with Natural Resources Canada; Infrastructure Canada; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; Transport Canada; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; Public Safety Canada; and other related Crown corporations with the support of TD Securities and HSBC as structuring advisors.</p></div><p>Industrial emission reduction is essential for Canada to stay competitive in an increasingly low-carbon global economy. Innovation requires investment, partnership from all levels of government, and the ability to realize the full value of intellectual property. As an example, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/125.nsf/eng/home">Strategic Innovation Fund's</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/125.nsf/eng/00039.html">Net Zero Accelerator</a> is providing $8 billion in support of projects targeting technology adoption or development in 3 priority areas: decarbonization of large emitters, shifting Canada's industrial base in sectors such as automotive and aerospace towards a low-carbon model, and development of clean technologies, including a battery ecosystem. Further, at the COP26 climate summit in 2021, Canada joined 22 countries to commit to advance ambitious actions to reduce international aviation emissions and joined 19 countries committed to establish zero-emission green shipping corridors.</p><p>Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) offers a suite of technologies and processes that remove or capture carbon dioxide from the air or from industrial emissions in key sectors (for example, heavy industry, electricity, oil and gas), then store it underground or turn it into products such as cement or low-carbon synthetic fuels. To advance this critical pathway in Canada's transition to a net-zero economy, Canada is supporting the development and deployment of CCUS technologies, including through research, development, and deployment funding support and laboratory research as well as the development of a CCUS Strategy and a CCUS Investment Tax Credit.</p><p>Sustainable Development Technology Canada helps Canadian companies develop and deploy clean technology innovations by delivering critical funding support and promoting the development of a robust Canadian market. Since its inception in 2001, Sustainable Development Technology Canada has committed approximately $1.38 billion to almost 540 projects. The Strengthened Climate Plan included continued support to Sustainable Development Technology Canada with an additional $750 million to support startups and to scale-up companies to enable pre-commercial clean technologies to successfully demonstrate feasibility as well as to support early commercialization efforts.</p><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="sustainable-finance">Sustainable finance</h4><p>Sustainable finance refers to the incorporation of climate and environmental considerations throughout financial decision making. In turn, this enables the mobilization and alignment of private sector investments towards climate and environmental objectives. In May 2021, the Government of Canada launched the Sustainable Finance Action Council (SFAC) to help lead the Canadian financial sector towards integrating sustainable finance into standard industry practice. SFAC will make recommendations on critical market infrastructure, with an initial focus on climate-related financial disclosure, green and transition investment standards, and climate data for the financial sector.</p><p>In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada announced its intention to strengthen public climate-related disclosure practices to ensure a stable and predictable transition to a net-zero economy. The government will engage with provinces and territories with the objective of making climate disclosures consistent with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), as part of regular disclosure practices for a broad spectrum of the Canadian economy.</p><p>Canada's Crown corporations will also demonstrate climate leadership by adopting the TCFD standards, or complying with more rigorous and acceptable standards as applicable to the public sector at time of disclosure, as an element of their corporate reporting. To ensure Crown corporations are transparent about issues that matter to Canadians, Budget 2021 announced that Crown corporations will be required to implement gender and diversity reporting beginning in 2022.</p><p>Recognizing the importance of nature, the Government of Canada has joined the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, which will provide a similar framework to the TCFD, but with an aim to support corporate and financial institutions to assess, manage and report on their dependencies and impacts on nature.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="thawing-permafrost-in-canadas-arctic-coastal-communities">Thawing permafrost in Canada's Arctic coastal communities</h4><p>Warming caused by climate change will have a disproportionate impact on infrastructure in Canada's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.climatechangenunavut.ca/sites/default/files/3154-315_climate_english_reduced_size_1_0.pdf" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Arctic coastal communities</a> due to the thawing of permafrost. Permafrost is a layer of earth beneath the surface that remains frozen for more than 2 consecutive years. As permafrost thaws, it can cause the surface to shift and destabilize. This in turn causes the foundation of buildings and other forms of infrastructure such as roads and airports to sink and crack, impacts water flow and absorption, and leaves shorelines more susceptible to erosion from wave activity. In regions such as Nunavut, where infrastructure has been designed specifically for stable permafrost conditions, significant investments will be needed to meet the infrastructure challenges posed by climate change.</p></div></body></html>

Thawing permafrost in Canada's Arctic coastal communities

SDG 9: Industry, innovation, and infrastructure

Climate change impacts on 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities

How action to support other SDGs, with a focus on their environmental aspects, contributes to reduced inequalities

Promoting opportunity for racialized and Indigenous Canadians

Access to clean drinking water in First Nation communities on reserve

SDG 10: Reduced inequalities

<html><head></head><body><div class="EnvironmentalPerspective" id="environmentalperspective"><h4 id="the-environmental-perspective">The environmental perspective</h4><p>In Canada, an important part of making cities and communities sustainable is improving access to transportation, parks, and green spaces, as well as cultural heritage. This chapter's focus on promoting public transit and active transportation and helping Canadians get out in nature supports <a target="_blank" href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal11" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">SDG Global Indicator Framework</a> targets 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons; 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries; 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world's cultural and natural heritage; and 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.</p><p>Urban resilience is crucial to avoid human, social and economic losses. Meanwhile, improving the sustainability of urbanization is required to protect the environment and face a changing climate.</p><p>Increased public transit and opportunities for active transportation support the transition to a net-zero economy by reducing air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and urban congestion. They also support economic growth by enabling greater access to employment as well as other opportunities and services. Public transit and opportunities for active transportation are improving within Canada. Several light rail transit projects are underway in Canadian cities. Cycling networks are also expanding and pedestrian-friendly streets are becoming more common.</p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic has affected transit systems across Canada. Transit ridership dropped significantly in spring 2020 and has remained below pre-pandemic levels, reducing revenues for many cities and communities. However, during the pandemic, public and active transportation have been essential for those unable to work remotely. Meanwhile, former public transit riders have been able to continue to travel sustainably through active transportation, which includes walking, jogging, cycling, kayaking, and more.</p><p>Making cities and communities more sustainable also means providing access to green spaces. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.td.com/document/PDF/corporateresponsibility/TD_CAN_17006_TD_GreenSpaces.pdf" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Most Canadians</a> agree that access to community green space is important to their quality of life now and in the future, and three quarters say that their local green space could benefit from improvement.</p><p>Canadians living in communities with populations of less than 10,000 experience more <a target="_blank" href="https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1018&#x26;context=healpub" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">barriers</a> to accessing physical activity than those in larger communities with populations of 250,000 or greater. This means that rural Canadians currently experience greater barriers to accessing green spaces than urban Canadians, including lack of sidewalks, lack of street lighting, and lack of access to facilities and transportation. These gaps in infrastructure make it harder for those living in rural areas to undertake active transportation. Nature trails are generally free to use, making them an excellent opportunity to advance equity of access to green spaces.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="where-the-government-of-canada-is-going">Where the Government of Canada is going</h4><p><a target="_blank" href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Mandate letters</a> released in December 2021 outline the Government of Canada's direction and policy priorities. Selected commitments related to Sustainable Development Goal 11 are listed below.</p><ul><li> Continue the transformation of public transit in Canada by accelerating major public transit projects, supporting the switch to zero-emission buses, developing rural transit solutions and continuing the roll-out of the National Active Transportation Strategy. Work on the design of the permanent public transit fund (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities).</li><li>Make additional investments through the Natural Infrastructure Fund to support community-led public green space projects by municipalities, Indigenous communities and non-profit organizations (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities).</li><li>Accelerate the design and delivery of the next phase of the Smart Cities Challenge (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities).</li><li>Develop a national trails tourism strategy that also leverages the creation of new urban parks in order to enhance local opportunities for economic development and youth employment (Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance; supported by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Ministers responsible for Regional Development Agencies).</li></ul></div><div class="CanadaContributes" id="canadacontributes"><h4 id="how-the-government-of-canada-contributes">How the Government of Canada contributes</h4><p>The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring cities and communities are resilient and environmentally sustainable. This means improving public transportation and providing support for natural infrastructure. While provincial, territorial and municipal governments own the majority of core public infrastructure, there is collaboration at all levels.</p><p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2021/02/a-plan-to-permanently-fund-public-transit-and-support-economic-recovery.html">Permanent Public Transit Fund</a> will support new subway lines, light-rail transit and streetcars, electric buses, active transportation infrastructure, and improved rural transit. This will create affordable commuting options and reduce Canada's emissions. It will also provide local governments with predictable transit funding so Canada can keep building more sustainable and livable communities. In addition, the Government of Canada has released its first <a target="_blank" href="https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/trans/active-actif-eng.html">National Active Transportation Strategy</a> and launched the Active Transportation Fund, which will help build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges and undertake planning studies.</p><p>The new <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2021/04/government-of-canada-highlights-budget-2021-investments-to-create-a-healthy-environment-for-a-healthy-economy.html">Natural Infrastructure Fund</a> will support projects related to local parks, green spaces, and waterfronts as well as design elements that enhance human access to nature. These design elements may include walkways, ramps, signage, lighting, garbage bins, benches, and multi-functional piers. Natural features will also support biodiversity goals and targets by providing wildlife habitat, resources, and connectivity, and these projects can provide public education opportunities related to natural processes and species.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://fcm.ca/en/programs/green-municipal-fund" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">The Green Municipal Fund</a> (GMF) supports innovative and replicable municipal environmental projects through grants, loans, capacity building, and knowledge sharing. With GMF support, municipalities and their partners can pursue plans, studies, pilots, and capital projects that improve energy efficiency, reduce pollution, and deliver triple bottom line benefits to communities across Canada. Since its original endowment in 2000, the GMF has grown into a $1 billion revolving fund and used the investment of $950 million from Budget 2019 to create new energy efficiency funding offers and endow 7 local climate hubs through the Low Carbon Cities Canada initiative.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="back-to-the-land">Back to the Land</h4><p>Back to the Land initiatives help further a connection between Indigenous communities and their ancestral land. By bringing Indigenous peoples closer to the land culturally, socially and spiritually, Back to the Land initiatives aid in maintaining sustainable land-use practices, support environmental conservation, and even promote social and psychological well-being. By supporting Back to the Land initiatives the Government of Canada can ensure these benefits are maintained, while also helping to preserve Indigenous cultural heritage and practices. The Mental Health Innovation Network's Going Off, Growing Strong program has helped socially-isolated Inuit youth connect with their community and cultural heritage and build strong relationships, and has resulted in drastically reduced rates of youth suicide through land-based activities such as hunting, fishing, and gathering, all of which build connections between Indigenous peoples with their communities and the land. Back to the Land initiatives respect the rights, responsibilities, needs, and unique perspectives of Indigenous peoples.</p></div><p>The Government of Canada also provides opportunities for Canadians to get out into nature and experience Canada's cultural heritage, including through Canada's network of national parks, national wildlife areas, migratory bird sanctuaries, national historic sites, and other protected areas. A new <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pun-nup">National Urban Parks</a> program has been launched to create a network of national urban parks in collaboration with local authorities, Indigenous groups, and stakeholders with the goal of protecting biodiversity, supporting health and well-being, supporting reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and connecting Canadians with nature close to where they live, work, and play.</p><p>Internationally, the Government of Canada adopted the <a target="_blank" href="https://habitat3.org/the-new-urban-agenda/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">New Urban Agenda</a> at the United Nations 2016 Habitat III Summit in Ecuador. This will strengthen the commitment to make a meaningful contribution to the sustainable development of towns, cities and human settlements for the next 20 years.</p><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="access-to-green-spaces-in-canadian-cities">Access to green spaces in Canadian cities</h4><p>A green space is an outdoor, unbuilt space with trees or other kinds of vegetation. Green spaces include forests, parks, greenways, community gardens, and street trees. Numerous studies have shown that having access to green spaces is associated with a variety of physical and mental health benefits, including improved respiratory and cardiovascular health, lower incidences of obesity, and higher rates of psychological well-being. Green spaces can also provide protection against some of the harmful effects of climate change by improving air quality, mitigating the impacts of flooding, and reducing heat. However, access to green spaces in Canadian cities is not equally distributed. In the largest Canadian cities, lower-income individuals and new immigrants have less access to green spaces. By promoting access to quality green spaces in urban areas where such access is currently lacking, governments can help ensure that the benefits of green spaces are distributed equally across socioeconomic and ethno-cultural dimensions.</p></div></body></html>

Access to green spaces in Canadian cities

SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities 

SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production

<html><head></head><body><div class="EnvironmentalPerspective" id="environmentalperspective"><h4 id="the-environmental-perspective">The environmental perspective</h4><p>Taking action on climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building resilience directly supports <a target="_blank" href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal13" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">SDG Global Indicator Framework</a> targets 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries; 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning; and 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.</p><p>In Canada, the effects of human-caused climate change are being felt across the country. Canadians are seeing more extreme temperatures and precipitation as well as more frequent and severe wildfires, heatwaves, droughts and flooding. Meanwhile, rising sea levels, along with less-visible effects such as increased acidity and reduced levels of oxygen in the oceans, are damaging ecosystems and the vitality of traditional industries, such as fisheries. </p><p>Climate change is one of the top drivers of global biodiversity loss, which further threatens ecosystems and the beneficial services they provide to society. It affects the health of Canadians, especially the most at-risk populations such as youth, seniors, and marginalized communities. It also puts increased strain on the country's health systems during extreme weather events. Climate change has also been linked to the increased spread of invasive species and intensity of zoonotic (animal-borne) diseases.</p><p>While greenhouse gas emissions originating from Indigenous communities are low in absolute terms, estimated at less than 1 million tonnes per year across the country, or less than 1% of Canada's total per year, the impacts of climate change on Indigenous peoples are disproportionately greater than on other Canadians due to cultural, socioeconomic, historic and geographical factors. Impacts, such as wildfires, permafrost thaw, changing wildlife patterns, diminishing access to traditional food sources, and flooding, can exacerbate existing socioeconomic challenges and systemic barriers created by the legacy of colonization, core infrastructure deficits, lack of adequate housing, and other challenges and health stressors facing Indigenous peoples in Canada.</p><p>Effective and urgent action on climate change requires transitioning to a net-zero economy by reducing greenhouse gas emissions while continuing to grow prosperity, and by realizing opportunities in emerging markets such as renewable energy and clean technology. At the same time, Canada needs to adapt to the changing climate by building resilience and reducing vulnerability to foreseeable impacts in communities, regions, ecosystems, and economic sectors. Adaptation actions taken today can reduce costs and overall impacts on health and well-being. Nature-based climate solutions can also help to mitigate and adapt to climate change while providing benefits for biodiversity, nature conservation and human health.</p><p>Increasing efforts to mitigate further emissions of greenhouse gases, and adapting to changes in the climate, contributes to sustainable development and helps to ensure that future generations will be able to provide for their needs.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="where-the-government-of-canada-is-going">Where the Government of Canada is going</h4><p><a target="_blank" href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Mandate letters</a> released in December 2021 outline the Government of Canada's direction and policy priorities. Selected commitments related to Sustainable Development Goal 13 are listed below.</p><ul><li>Deliver all policy and fiscal measures outlined in the Strengthened Climate Plan, implement the <em>Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act</em>, and, by the end of March 2022, bring forward an updated Emissions Reduction Plan to achieve a 40 to 45% reduction in emissions by 2030 from 2005 levels (Minister of Environment and Climate Change). </li><li>Cap oil and gas sector emissions at current levels and ensure that the sector makes an ambitious and achievable contribution to meeting 2030 climate goals, and require the oil and gas sector to reduce emissions at a pace and on a scale needed to align with the achievement of net-zero emissions by 2050, with 5-year targets to stay on track (Minister of Environment and Climate Change; supported by the Minister of Natural Resources).</li><li>Accelerate Canada's G20 commitment to eliminate inefficient fossil fuel subsidies from 2025 to 2023, and develop a plan to phase out public financing of the fossil fuel sector, including by federal Crown corporations (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; Minister of Environment and Climate Change; supported by the Minister of Natural Resources).</li><li>Champion the adoption of a global minimum standard on carbon pricing while continuing to consult with Canadians and actively engage with provinces, territories and key trading partners to inform the development of an approach to applying Border Carbon Adjustments to imports (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance).  </li><li>Make progress on methane emission reductions by developing a plan to reduce emissions across the broader Canadian economy consistent with the Global Methane Pledge and require through regulations the reduction of oil and gas methane emissions in Canada by at least 75% below 2012 levels by 2030 (Minister of Environment and Climate Change).</li><li>Accelerate federal Greening Government commitments to electrify the entire federal fleet of light duty vehicles by 2030 (President of the Treasury Board).</li><li>Work with the sports sector to find solutions to reduce its environmental footprint as well as better involve our athletes in the conversation on the fight against climate change (Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec).</li></ul></div><div class="CanadaContributes" id="canadacontributes"><h4 id="how-the-government-of-canada-contributes">How the Government of Canada contributes</h4><p>Canada is taking action on climate change through mitigation and adaptation initiatives that support the health and sustainability of its environment, its economy, and people.</p><p>The Government of Canada uses its federal authority to develop, implement and enforce laws, regulations, and policies relating to climate change with direct consequences for the safety and security of Canada's people, lands, and climate. For example, the <a target="_blank" href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/e-10/"><em>Department of the Environment Act</em></a>, enacted in 1971, established the department responsible for preserving and enhancing the quality of the natural environment, providing meteorological services, and coordinating policies and programs to achieve environmental objectives, while the <a target="_blank" href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/n-20.8/"><em>Department of Natural Resources Act</em></a> assigns duties and functions for the integrated management of Canada's natural resources. The <a target="_blank" href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-19.3/FullText.html"><em>Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act</em></a>is an important addition to Canada's legislative framework.</p><p>Effectively addressing climate change requires efforts by the entire international community. Canada plays an active and constructive role in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and was a strong voice in the negotiations towards the establishment of the Paris Agreement in 2015. Canada's actions to address climate change at home and abroad are guided by the Paris Agreement goal of holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and pursuing efforts to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. To achieve this long-term goal, the Paris Agreement requires countries to increase their ambition every 5 years. This is why, in July 2021, Canada announced an enhanced target committing Canada to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030. This emissions reduction target is enshrined in Canadian law under the <em>Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act</em>, which received Royal Assent in June 2021.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="canadas-emissions-reduction-plan">Canada's Emissions Reduction Plan </h4><p>The Government of Canada demonstrated its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050 when it passed the <em>Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act</em> in 2021. This Act enshrines Canada's climate goals for 2030 and 2050 into law and requires the government to establish an emissions reduction plan to achieve Canada's 2030 target. Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan is the first of many requirements under the <em>Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act</em>. The Act establishes a process for target setting, planning and reporting to ensure transparency and accountability. The Act also ensures that the public will have opportunities to participate in target setting and planning. The 2030 plan will be the first emissions reduction plan established under the Act and is a key milestone on the pathway to net zero by 2050. The plan must be established by the end of March 2022, after which it will be tabled in Parliament and publicly released. Details of the plan will be incorporated into the final 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.</p></div><p>While the federal government plays a leading role, work toward climate action requires close collaboration with provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners, as well as collaborative action from all sectors of society. The foundational Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change expanded federal action on climate change. It continues to support working with provinces, territories and municipalities to implement mitigation measures to reduce carbon emissions. Many provinces and territories have committed to significant greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for both 2030 and 2050, but not all have announced a complete set of measures to reach these targets. Additional provincial and territorial measures will build on the effects of federal measures and lead to further emission reductions. The Government of Canada continues to work with provinces and territories to advance shared priorities that will further lower emissions, including on a regional and bilateral basis.</p><p>The Government of Canada has also committed to developing a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/national-adaptation-strategy.html">National Adaptation Strategy</a>, working with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, Indigenous peoples, and other partners, including youth. The strategy will establish a shared vision for climate resilience in Canada, identify key priorities for increased collaboration, and establish a framework for measuring progress at the national level. It is intended to complement the adaptation plans of other orders of government.</p><p>During the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), Parks Canada, along with other protected areas agencies, signed a joint statement, led by the National Parks England, regarding the contributions of protected areas to the climate change adaptation and mitigation challenges. The Joint Statement highlights the work of national parks and other protected and conserved areas around the world in addressing the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss while highlighting how we can work together as a global family to increase green investment in protected and conserved areas and ultimately make a significant contribution to reaching net zero.</p><p>Canada is also a strong supporter of the Montreal Protocol, which is the Multilateral Environmental Agreement that has achieved the highest greenhouse gas emissions reductions to date, and stands to avoid up to 0.4 degrees Celsius in warming by 2100 through the implementation of its Kigali Amendment on the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons.</p><p>Finally, the Government of Canada owns 32,000 buildings across the country and, through its operations, consumes a significant amount of energy from greenhouse-gas-emitting sources. It also manages a large fleet of more than 40,000 on-road vehicles and spends billions of dollars each year on goods and services. This large environmental footprint represents an opportunity to lead the transition to a net-zero economy.</p><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="climate-change-adaptation">Climate change adaptation</h4><p>Along with reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation is an essential part of the Government of Canada's response to climate change. Canadians, especially Indigenous peoples and those living in northern, coastal and remote communities, are experiencing climate impacts such as sea level rise, more frequent and severe weather events, and loss of access to traditional foods. The Government of Canada has committed to taking action to adapt to current and future climate impacts to help build resilience, reduce costs, and enhance the health, well-being, and safety of Canadians and their communities.</p><p>The Government of Canada supports Canadians in making informed, forward-looking decisions that take climate change into account. For example, the Canadian Centre for Climate Services' climate data portals provide engineers, public health professionals, urban planners and other users with access to the right data to plan and adapt to climate change. In addition, through programs such as the $2 billion Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, the government is helping communities to build on-the-ground solutions to mitigate climate impacts such as flooding, wildfires and drought. </p><p>The government works with partners across the country to address climate-related health impacts, including extreme heat. Efforts focus on increasing adaptive capacity to reduce health risks by supporting the expansion of heat alert and response systems across Canada, and raising the awareness of heat-health risks to Canadians and health professionals through targeted promotional materials, guidance and publications.</p><p>Canada's strengthened climate plan, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/climate-plan-overview/healthy-environment-healthy-economy.html">A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy</a>, builds on past progress, proposing further measures to help Canadians adapt to climate impacts and build resilient communities. In particular, the government proposes to:</p><ul><li>develop Canada's first National Adaptation Strategy, working with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, Indigenous peoples, and other key partners</li><li>co-develop, on a distinction basis, an Indigenous Climate Leadership agenda which builds regional and national capacity and progressively vests authorities and resources for climate action in the hands of First Nations, Inuit, the Métis Nation, and representative organizations</li><li>continue to provide support to Canadians and communities to respond to accelerating climate change impacts, taking into account the major areas of risk <a target="_blank" href="https://cca-reports.ca/reports/prioritizing-climate-change-risks/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">identified</a> by the expert panel convened by the Canadian Council of Academies</li></ul></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="indigenous-peoples-in-canada-and-climate-action">Indigenous peoples in Canada and climate action </h4><p>Many Indigenous leaders have reinforced the need to take action to reduce pollution, to adapt to the impacts of climate change, and to improve the ways in which the natural environment is respected and protected. In doing so, they reinforce that leadership by Indigenous peoples is critical to achieving the foundational changes required to address climate change. The Government of Canada has committed to supporting Indigenous climate leadership and self-determined climate action, both of which are essential to advancing Canada's reconciliation with Indigenous peoples based on the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation, and partnership. Indigenous partnerships are also an important component of activities under the Natural Climate Solutions Fund initiative and other programs.</p><p>To support Indigenous climate leadership, the Government of Canada is partnering with First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation to set an agenda for climate action and a framework for collaboration. Recognizing Indigenous climate leadership means investing in the agency of Indigenous peoples and communities, supporting Indigenous-led and delivered solutions, equipping Indigenous peoples with equitable resources, and ensuring appropriate access to funding to implement self-determined climate action. Indigenous climate leadership includes a rich history of Traditional Knowledge systems, building up community resilience and the capability to adapt, particularly in remote, northern and coastal communities.</p></div></body></html>

Indigenous peoples in Canada and climate action 

SDG 13: Climate action

<html><head></head><body><div class="EnvironmentalPerspective" id="environmentalperspective"><h4 id="the-environmental-perspective">The environmental perspective</h4><p>Recognizing that Canada's coasts and oceans are facing pressures, the focus of this chapter is on conserving and protecting Canada's oceans. This focus directly supports <a target="_blank" href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal14" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">SDG Global Indicator Framework</a> targets 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution; 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans; 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics, and 14.5: By 2020, conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information.</p><p>Climate change is <a target="_blank" href="https://worldoceanreview.com/en/wor-5/living-with-the-coasts/coastal-pressures/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">increasing water levels and temperatures</a>—and the loss of marine habitat. With rising sea levels, ocean acidification and thinning sea ice, life is becoming more vulnerable in many coastal, northern and Indigenous communities.</p><p>Other issues affecting our oceans include increased physical and noise disturbances from marine shipping, human use and development, pollution from plastics, oil spills and other contaminants, underwater noise and the spread of invasive alien species. Growing pressure on fish stocks also poses current and future challenges for fisheries management.</p><p>Oceans are not only home to an immense web of marine life, they also generate half of the oxygen we breathe, act as thermostats to regulate the Earth's temperature, and support most of our planet's biodiversity. Dependence on <a target="_blank" href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/2449249373e.pdf" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">ocean resources and services</a> will increase as populations grow. Coastal regions, in particular, are the most populated areas and are under increasing pressure from activities such as excessive fishing, marine shipping, and expansion of coastal cities. </p><p>As plastics have become part of everyday lives around the world, managing their life cycle becomes critical. Each year, 8 million tonnes of plastic pollution enter the oceans from land, globally. It is found on shorelines, in the water, and even in wildlife. Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear, also known as ghost gear, are major contributors to the plastic debris problem. Recent studies indicate that ghost gear may make up to 70% of all macro-plastics in the ocean by weight.</p><p>Canada is an ocean-rich country, with the world's longest coastline linking 3 different oceans—Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific. Canada's oceans are home to many species of marine life, including many at-risk species such as 42 distinct populations of whales. These whales and other marine species at risk are vital to marine ecosystems, and central to ecotourism in coastal communities. They include iconic but endangered species such as the Southern Resident killer whale, North Atlantic right whale and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga.</p><p>Conserving coastal and marine areas helps address these environmental challenges, as do actions Canadians are taking to ensure healthy, resilient, sustainably managed and productive fisheries and ecosystems over the long term. As of 2018, Canada's “blue economy” accounted for approximately $36.1 billion annually in gross domestic product and close to 300,000 jobs.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="where-the-government-of-canada-is-going">Where the Government of Canada is going</h4><p><a target="_blank" href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Mandate letters</a> released in December 2021 outline the Government of Canada's direction and policy priorities. Selected commitments related to Sustainable Development Goal 14 are listed below.</p><ul><li>Implement the Pacific Salmon Strategy and make new investments and develop a conservation strategy to restore and rebuild wild Atlantic salmon populations and their habitats (Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard).</li><li>Continue to protect and restore our oceans and coasts by:<ul><li>Renewing and expanding the Coastal Restoration Fund to restore aquatic habitats (Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard);</li><li>Expanding the Ghost Gear Program to continue efforts by fishers and others to clean up lost and abandoned fishing gear and ocean plastics (Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard);</li><li>Launching the next phase of the Oceans Protection Plan to continue efforts to deliver world-leading marine safety systems, increase protection for marine species and ecosystems and create stronger partnerships with Indigenous and other coastal communities, while strengthening marine research and science (Minister of Transport; Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard); and</li><li>Supporting community shoreline and oceans plastic cleanup efforts (Minister of Environment and Climate Change).</li></ul></li><li>Modernize the <em>Oceans Act</em> to explicitly consider climate change impacts on marine ecosystems and species in regional ocean management, ensuring the Act provides for measurable progress indicators and objectives, and create a national, interdisciplinary working group focused on climate-resilient ocean conservation planning (Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard).</li><li>Build on the Ocean Plastics Charter by working with leading countries on the development of a new global agreement on plastics (Minister of Environment and Climate Change).</li></ul></div><div class="CanadaContributes" id="canadacontributes"><h4 id="how-the-government-of-canada-contributes">How the Government of Canada contributes</h4><p>Protecting Canada's oceans and marine ecosystems from the threats of pollution, climate change and overfishing is critical to their long-term health. For the Government of Canada, one of the most important initiatives is the establishment of marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, including marine refuges. Marine protected areas are defined geographical spaces in the water that are dedicated and managed in an effort to conserve and protect unique areas, ecologically significant species and their habitats, and representative marine environments.</p><p>The Government of Canada has adopted <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/publications/backgrounder-fiche/marinespatialplanning-planificationespacemarin/index-eng.html">Marine Spatial Planning</a> as the way forward in integrated ocean planning and management to address threats to marine ecosystems. By working with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners in a collaborative and transparent way, Marine Spatial Planning supports the protection of healthy marine ecosystems while fostering sustainable economic growth.  </p><p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/f-14/"><em>Fisheries Act</em></a> provides the legislative basis for the sustainable management of fisheries in Canada. Modernized in 2019, the <em>Fisheries Act</em> now provides stronger protections and modern safeguards for fish and their habitat. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/reports-rapports/regs/sff-cpd/overview-cadre-eng.htm">Sustainable Fisheries Framework</a> also supports sustainable fisheries, establishing a precautionary approach to fisheries management. The Government of Canada has also made important investments for protecting the biodiversity of marine species, including the Oceans Protection Plan and the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/campaign-campagne/protectingwhales-protegerbaleines/index-eng.html">Whales Initiative</a>. These initiatives support the recovery and protection of marine species, including endangered whales, from anthropogenic threats such as physical and acoustic disturbances, lack of prey, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/wildlife-habitat/conservation-funding-success-stories/reducing-contaminants-threat-southern-resident-killer-whales.html">contaminants</a>. Through the Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada has improved the marine safety system, and preserved and restored marine ecosystems through collaboration with Indigenous and coastal communities.</p><p>The Government of Canada is developing a forward-looking Blue Economy Strategy. It seeks to grow Canada's ocean and freshwater economy, and support the long-term sustainable growth of Canada's fish and seafood sector. It will ensure Canada is positioned to succeed in the fast-growing global ocean sectors of the blue economy and advance reconciliation, conservation and climate objectives.</p><p>Reducing plastic waste, marine litter and plastic pollution is a priority for the Government of Canada. Canada plays an active role in international efforts to address marine plastic pollution, including the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/managing-reducing-waste/international-commitments/ocean-plastics-charter.html">Ocean Plastics Charter</a> and the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ghostgear.org/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Global Ghost Gear Initiative</a>. The Government of Canada has committed to promote Canadian technologies for reducing ocean plastics. Canada has become a global leader with the first funding program in the world dedicated to the reduction of ghost gear. The Ghost Gear Program was launched in 2020, and has supported 49 projects domestically and internationally working to reduce ghost gear.</p><p>Canada is engaged in efforts to address illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and ensure the sustainable management of shared fish stocks in the high seas, through active participation in policy development and compliance and enforcement activities at 7 regional fisheries management organizations. Canada established itself as a leader through its implementation of the 2018 G7 Charlevoix Blueprint for Healthy Oceans, committing nearly $12 million to build capacity worldwide to combat IUU fishing by developing new surveillance technologies and improving information and intelligence sharing, particularly with vulnerable developing states through initaitives such as the Dark Vessel Detection project.</p><p>At the COP 26 climate summit in 2021, Canada committed an extra $9 million in support for the global Ocean Risk and Resilience Alliance to support work in helping developing island nations and coastal countries face the challenges of climate change and another $6 million for the Global Fund for Coral Reefs to support coral reef conservation efforts.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="indigenous-peoples-and-marine-protection">Indigenous peoples and marine protection</h4><p>Indigenous peoples in Canada have strong historical and cultural ties to Canada's coasts and oceans. They also exercise fisheries-related Aboriginal and Treaty rights, and have co-management roles, as part of the nation-to-nation, Inuit-Crown and government-to-government basis relationship. Given their unique knowledge of and relationship to their environment, Indigenous peoples work with the Government of Canada to establish and manage marine protected areas.</p><p>On August 1 2019, Tuvaijuittuq, meaning “the place where ice never melts,” became the first <em>Oceans Act</em> marine protected area established via Ministerial Order under the <em>Oceans Act</em>. It provides up to 5 years of protection to over 300,000 square kilometres of Arctic water off the coast of Ellesmere Island, Nunavut. Tuvaijuittuq is a testament to a successful collaboration between the Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association. Future assessment of the region to support longer-term protection will include science and traditional and local knowledge such as Inuit <em>Qaujim</em><em>ajatuqang</em><em>it</em>, a source of information passed down from generation to generation.</p></div></body></html>

SDG 14: Life below water

<html><head></head><body><div class="EnvironmentalPerspective" id="environmentalperspective"><h4 id="the-environmental-perspective">The environmental perspective</h4><p>As the second-largest country in the world, Canada is one of the few countries that still has relatively large, healthy natural ecosystems. Understanding that economic development, combined with a changing climate, are putting growing pressure on our natural environment, this chapter focuses on protecting and recovering species and conserving Canadian biodiversity.</p><p>This focus directly supports <a target="_blank" href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal15" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">SDG Global Indicator Framework</a> targets 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services; 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally; 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil; 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species; and 15.8: By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species.</p><p>Canada's forests, wetlands, prairies and tundra provide habitat that all organisms, including humans, need to thrive. Conserving these natural spaces helps promote biodiversity and maintain the ecosystem services that we rely on for our well-being, such as irrigating and pollinating crops and vegetation, controlling floods, and filtering air and water. Managing for resilient forests and other ecosystems also helps to mitigate climate change by sequestering and storing carbon, and improved land use can increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse emissions associated with ecosystems and their use.</p><p>Canada's lands and fresh water are an integral part of Canadians' natural and cultural heritage. In particular, many natural areas hold cultural, spiritual, and socioeconomic significance for Indigenous peoples and support life-sustaining activities such as hunting, fishing and gathering. Nature provides physical and mental health and other well-being benefits for all Canadians. </p><p>Healthy ecosystems also contribute to our economy, including through nature-based tourism. For example, Canada's national parks and national historic sites generate millions of dollars annually and provide thousands of jobs for local communities. Recreational fisheries, many of which are in inland lakes, rivers and streams, also contribute several billion dollars to Canada's economy.</p><p>Canada has a strong commitment to sustainable forest management. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/our-natural-resources/forests/state-canadas-forests-report/how-do-forests-benefit-canadians/indicator-employment/16554">Forests</a> play a central role—culturally, spiritually and economically—in the lives of many Indigenous communities across Canada. According to the 2016 census, 12,000 Indigenous people work in the forest sector, representing about 7% of the sector's workforce.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="where-the-government-of-canada-is-going">Where the Government of Canada is going</h4><p><a target="_blank" href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Mandate letters</a> released in December 2021 outline the Government of Canada's direction and policy priorities. Selected commitments related to Sustainable Development Goal 15 are listed below.</p><ul><li>Ensure Canada meets its goals to conserve 25% of our lands and waters by 2025 and 30% of each by 2030, working to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 in Canada, achieve a full recovery for nature by 2050 and champion this goal internationally. Ensure that this work remains grounded in science, Indigenous knowledge and local perspectives (Minister of Environment and Climate Change; Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard).</li><li>Work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners to support new Indigenous Guardians programs and establish new Indigenous Guardians Networks, and support Indigenous communities to build capacity to establish more Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (Minister of Environment and Climate Change).</li><li>Help protect old growth forests, notably in British Columbia, by advancing a nature agreement with B.C., establishing a $50 million B.C. Old Growth Nature Fund, and ensuring First Nations and Métis, local communities and workers are partners in shaping the path forward on nature protection (Minister of Natural Resources; Minister of Environment and Climate Change).</li></ul></div><div class="CanadaContributes" id="canadacontributes"><h4 id="how-the-government-of-canada-contributes">How the Government of Canada contributes</h4><p>Land and water-use change, climate change, pollution, natural resource use and exploitation, and invasive alien species threaten Canada's rich biodiversity and natural legacy. To combat these threats and protect Canada's landscapes, natural resources and wildlife populations, the Government of Canada is working with partners to advance the conservation of nature, develop conservation action plans, leverage nature-based solutions to climate change, and prevent the introduction of and manage federally-regulated invasive alien species. The government also works with partners to incorporate and reflect Indigenous Knowledge alongside western science. The conservation and management of some wildlife species require coordination and collaborative action across international boundaries.</p><p>Budget 2021 committed to invest $4.1 billion for nature protection, including $2.3 billion over 5 years for Canada's Enhanced Nature Legacy, to continue supporting nature conservation measures across the country, including Indigenous leadership in conservation. Taken together with $1.3 billion for the Nature Legacy Initiative announced in 2018, this represents the largest investment in nature conservation in Canada's history. </p><p>The Government of Canada is committed to preserving Canada's nature legacy of lands and inland fresh waters as well as its oceans. This includes strengthening protection and recovery of species at risk and their habitat through improved timelines for implementation of provisions for species at risk; advancing reconciliation through enhanced support of Indigenous leadership in conservation; and supporting healthy natural infrastructure and increased access to nature.</p><p>These initiatives will be further supported by plans to create new national wildlife areas, national marine conservation areas, national urban parks, ecological corridors and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. Working collaboratively and in partnership with provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, local jurisdictions, and the private and non-profit sectors will be an essential element of this work.</p><p>Enhancing the implementation of the <em>Species at Risk Act</em> is a priority for the Government of Canada. The Act ensures legal protection for individuals of federally listed species at risk, preventing them from becoming extirpated or extinct, and providing for their recovery. </p><p>The Government of Canada continues to implement the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Terrestrial Species at Risk Conservation in Canada in partnership with most provinces and territories, Indigenous peoples, and other partners. This approach focuses collaborative action on a national set of priority places, species, sectors, and threats across Canada. Since 2018, federal, provincial and territorial governments have:</p><ul><li>Collectively established 11 federal, provincial, territorial priority places covering nearly 30 million hectares in habitats and ecosystems with high concentrations of species at risk and other biodiversity. Actions implemented in priority places will support the protection and recovery of hundreds of species at risk and other biodiversity.</li><li>Identified 6 priority ecologically important species (Barren-ground Caribou; Greater Sage-grouse; Peary Caribou; Wood Bison; Woodland Caribou, Boreal population; and Woodland Caribou, Southern Mountain population) that are distributed over 567 million hectares of Canada. Recovering priority species and their habitats will address multiple barriers to recovery and provide co-benefits for species throughout their ranges.</li><li>Initiated dialogue for 3 priority sectors (agriculture and the forest sector, as well as urban development). Collaborative action in these sectors will address common broad-based threats to multiple species and promote sustainable practices.</li></ul><p>Further, the Pan-Canadian Approach is guided by commitments for increased collaboration between partners, evidence-based decision making, and improved monitoring and reporting. Together, the Pan-Canadian Approach is yielding results through strengthened partnerships, greater returns on investments, and increased co-benefits for biodiversity and ecosystems.</p><p>For aquatic species, the development of a Pan-Canadian Approach for the conservation of Aquatic Species at Risk is under development to guide multi-species, place-based and threat-based approaches to species at risk recovery and protection. Since 2018, as part of the Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk, 7 freshwater priority places have been identified across Canada, as a focus for targeted recovery and protection stewardship actions. In these areas, 36 projects have been funded that target 70 populations of aquatic species at risk. In 2021, 2 additional priority places in the Arctic and Southern Newfoundland were identified, along with additional Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk funding to support stewardship actions for aquatic species at risk in those areas.</p><p>Work is underway on a shared, national 5-year strategic and operational plan to support and implement the goals identified in a Pan-Canadian Approach to Wildlife Health. The government is also working to promote the implementation of the One Health approach to address emerging risks from the human-animal-environment interface. </p><p>The government sustains the efforts of Canadians to improve the health of Canada's natural environments and their respective species through transfer payment programs such as the Habitat Stewardship Program, Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk, and Coastal Restoration Fund. The Government of Canada also encourages and supports organizations within the federal family to conserve and protect species at risk on federal lands through support programs such as the Critical Habitat Interdepartmental Protection program.</p><p>Canada is working with other Parties to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbd.int/" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">UN Convention on Biological Diversity</a> to develop a post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that is expected to be adopted in 2022. Following the adoption of a new Framework, Canada will develop a domestic implementation plan, in collaboration with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments, and stakeholders. Canada is also working with Parties of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. Through these international, multi-lateral environmental conventions of the UN, Canada continues to raise global ambition for environmental protection.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="post-2020-biodiversity-framework-negotiations">Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework negotiations</h4><p>International negotiations of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework are underway and will continue until spring 2022. Canada aims for an ambitious and pragmatic post-2020 global biodiversity framework, to accelerate and intensify global efforts to halt biodiversity loss. Following adoption of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, Canada will be expected to develop a national implementation plan covering all aspects of nature conservation and sustainable use within 2 years. Relevant elements will be reflected in the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy at a later date.</p></div><p>Canada, through its work with the Arctic Council working group on the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna, collaborates with other Arctic States and with representatives from Indigenous peoples in the Arctic Council, to address and support policy and decision making pertaining to Arctic biodiversity. The working group's objectives are to develop common responses to biodiversity issues of importance to the Arctic, including monitoring and research, and to communicate findings to promote best practices to ensure the sustainability of the Arctic's living resources. The Arctic Council is the leading multilateral forum through which Canada advances its Arctic interests internationally.</p><p>At COP26, Canada joined 128 nations in a pledge to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation. The countries signed the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forest and Land Use backed by USD$19.2 billion in public and private funding to help developing nations restore degraded land. In addition, Canada, along with 11 other countries, endorsed the UK‑led Global Forest Finance Pledge that aims to provide collectively USD$12 billion for forest-related climate finance from 2021 to 2025.</p><p>The Government of Canada is taking action to support sustainable forest management and an innovative Canadian forest sector. For example, the government has re-established the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers Climate Change Working Group to support provincial and territorial collaboration to advance climate change adaptation and mitigation through sustainable forest management. Meanwhile, the federal government supports innovation in Canada's forest sector through programs such as the Forestry Innovation Transformation Program, and supports increased Indigenous participation in ecosystem-based economic programs through the Indigenous Forestry Initiative.</p><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="indigenous-environmental-stewardship">Indigenous environmental stewardship</h4><p>Indigenous communities are among the first to face the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss due to their lifestyles being closely connected to the land and reliant on subsistence harvesting. Changes in the distribution of plants and wildlife place pressures on Indigenous food systems and traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering activities. Traditional Indigenous territories and reserve lands are particularly important for species at risk and biodiversity, and Indigenous peoples have stewarded these environments and ecosystems for generations. Indigenous communities have been stewards of the land since time immemorial and they have managed or co-managed significant portions of lands in a sustainable way. Working with and learning from Indigenous partners is a key component of both reconciliation and biodiversity conservation.</p></div></body></html>

Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework negotiations

SDG 15: Life on land

<html><head></head><body><div class="EnvironmentalPerspective" id="environmentalperspective"><h4 id="the-environmental-perspective">The environmental perspective</h4><p>Given that strong and effective institutions are critical to protecting and enhancing the natural environment in the face of threats such as climate change, air and water pollution, illegal and unreported fishing, and increasing levels of natural resource extraction and infrastructure development, this chapter's environmental perspective concentrates on enforcing environmental laws and managing impacts. This perspective was drawn from the <a target="_blank" href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal16" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">SDG Global Indicator Framework</a> targets 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all; 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels; and 16.b: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development. </p><p>Strong institutions, including the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government, serve a number of vital functions, and their role in solving interrelated environmental challenges is more important than ever. Through representative government, the legislative branch ensures that all citizens have a voice in shaping the law and debating its effects on the environment and on society at large. The executive branch develops new policies, regulations, funding and enforcement programs to respond to ongoing and emerging environmental challenges. The judiciary helps interpret environmental legislation (including through case law where relevant), and ensures that the law is accessed, applied and enforced in a fair and impartial manner.</p><p>Other institutions make important contributions. Independent, science-based institutions are needed to predict and mitigate the effects of proposed policies, programs, and economic development projects on the environment, on human health, and on communities, including marginalized populations. Institutions such as the Office of the Auditor General (and their international equivalents) play an important direct oversight and accountability role, while academia, not-for-profit organizations, and think tanks provide indirect oversight and accountability, making sure that governments and other institutions are implementing effective programs and spending public funds responsibly, while credibly and transparently reporting on results. Not-for-profit organizations and a free and independent press provide other avenues for the public to engage in dialogue on issues related to sustainable development.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="where-the-government-of-canada-is-going">Where the Government of Canada is going</h4><p><a target="_blank" href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters" title="Link to a resource that is not part of a Government of Canada Web site. For more information, read the Terms and Conditions in the footer of this page.">Mandate letters</a> released in December 2021 outline the Government of Canada's direction and policy priorities. A selected commitment related to Sustainable Development Goal 16 is listed below.</p><ul><li>Revive the Law Commission of Canada so it can provide independent advice on law reform needed on the complex legal issues Canadians face, such as systemic racism in the justice system, advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, issues around climate change and rapid technological shifts in the world (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada).</li></ul></div><div class="CanadaContributes" id="canadacontributes"><h4 id="how-the-government-of-canada-contributes">How the Government of Canada contributes</h4><p>The Government of Canada supports transparent, accountable and inclusive institutions through legislation and regulatory requirements that contribute to evidence-based decision making and strong environmental enforcement, reporting, and oversight, both domestically and internationally.</p><p>Through legislation, the Government of Canada sets the legal parameters for compliance and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. Several federal departments are involved in enforcing the environmental provisions of key legislation. Environment and Climate Change Canada undertakes monitoring and enforcement for air and water pollution and hazardous materials under the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-protection-act-registry/related-documents.html"><em>Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999</em></a>, for the various provisions of the <a target="_blank" href="https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/S-15.3/"><em>Species at Risk Act</em></a> and the <a target="_blank" href="https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/M-7.01/"><em>Convention on Migratory Birds</em></a>, and for the pollution prevention provisions of the <a target="_blank" href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/f-14/"><em>Fisheries Act</em></a>,   among others. Fisheries and Oceans Canada enforces all other aspects of regulatory compliance with the <em>Fisheries Act</em>. Finally, Transport Canada enforces the marine pollution prevention provisions of the <a target="_blank" href="https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-10.15/"><em>Canada Shipping Act</em></a><em>,</em> while the Canadian Coast Guard provides support through marine pollution monitoring and response. These departments also promote accountability and transparency by reporting on environmental compliance and enforcement outcomes in their departmental results reports. </p><p>In cases where offenders are convicted of an environmental crime, sentenced offenders may be subject to a fine or a court order. Fourteen federal statutes automatically direct penalties to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-funding/programs/environmental-damages-fund.html">Environmental Damages Fund</a> (EDF), and 5 federal statutes contain discretionary clauses to do so. In accordance with federal policies, and aligning (where possible) with court recommendations, the EDF directs monies received from fines and court orders for environmental offences to projects that will benefit Canada's natural environment.</p><p>The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada conducts and administers high-quality assessments that contribute to informed decision making on designated projects in support of sustainable development. In 2019, the <em>Impact Assessment Act</em> replaced the <em>Canadian Environmental Assessment Act</em>, 2012, marking the transition to a new, more holistic assessment system that considers changes to the environment from designated projects as well as changes to health, social or economic conditions. </p><p>The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada continues to conduct and administer both environmental and impact assessments, with increased focus placed on considering Indigenous Knowledge and perspectives alongside western science in each assessment. The <em>Impact Assessment Act</em> and the <em>Canadian Energy Regulator Act</em> also specifically commit the Government of Canada to respect the rights of Indigenous peoples and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples during the assessment of designated projects. </p><p>The <em>Canadian Energy Regulator Act</em> came into force in 2019, replacing the National Energy Board with the Canada Energy Regulator (CER), a modern regulator with increased independence and accountability. The CER ensures that pipeline, power line and offshore renewable energy projects are constructed, operated and abandoned in a safe and secure manner to protect people and the environment. The CER enforces strict environmental safety standards, while ensuring the decision-making process is transparent and considers both scientific information and Indigenous Knowledge. Designated projects under the <em>Canadian Energy Regulator Act</em> are subject to an integrated impact assessment led by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada with the support of the CER. The integrated impact assessment for these projects provides a single review process that meets the requirements of both the <em>Impact Assessment Act</em> and the <em>Canadian Energy Regulator Act</em>.</p><p>In addition to environmental and impact assessments, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada conducts regional and strategic assessments under the <em>Impact Assessment Act</em>.  Regional assessments assess effects of current and anticipated physical activities in a specific region. They go beyond the scale of project-specific assessments to understand the regional context in areas where resource development is occurring or expected. Meanwhile, strategic assessments examine the Government of Canada's existing or proposed policies, plans, or programs relevant to impact assessment. Strategic assessments may also focus on issues relevant to impact assessment. Both regional and strategic assessments can help to foster sustainability by taking the interdependence of human-ecological systems and the well-being of present and future generation into consideration.</p><p>The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD), on behalf of the Auditor General of Canada, promotes transparency and accountability by assessing the performance of government programs, reporting on the federal government's progress in protecting the environment and advancing the sustainable development goals, and providing parliamentarians with objective, independent analysis and recommendations. </p><p>Under the <em>Federal Sustainable Development Act</em>, the CESD must review and comment on draft federal sustainable development strategies, as well as progress reports on their implementation. The CESD also manages the environmental petitions process and monitors the responses of federal ministers. </p><p>The petition process is a way for Canadians to bring their concerns about environmental and sustainable development issues to the attention of the federal government and obtain a formal response. The CESD also audits whether the Government of Canada is prepared to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Its audits are also intended to provide an authoritative, independent voice on the challenges facing the global community as it plans to implement the sustainable development goals and report on progress leading up to 2030.</p></div><div class="boxnote well"><h4 id="gender-based-analysis-plus-gba-plus-and-the-impact-assessment-act">Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) and the Impact Assessment Act</h4><p>The <em>Impact Assessment Act</em> requires GBA Plus for projects subject to the Act. The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and project proponents must conduct GBA Plus at each stage of the assessment, including early planning, impact assessment, decision making, and post-decision phases. GBA Plus provides a framework and a set of analytical questions to guide an impact assessment. It is used to identify who is impacted by a project, and assesses how people may experience impacts differently in order to improve project design and develop mitigation measures that address different impacts. Applying GBA Plus to impact assessments helps practitioners and decision makers understand, describe, and mitigate adverse impacts on diverse populations.</p></div></body></html>

Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) and the Impact Assessment Act

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