What we examined (see Focus of the audit)

Climate change is widely regarded as one of the most significant concerns facing our economy, health, and natural environment. Failure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the impacts of climate change will result in greater risks for Canadians.

This audit focused on whether Environment and Climate Change Canada, with support from other government departments and agencies, made progress toward meeting Canada’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Why we did this audit

This audit is important because failing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions increases the risks of pollution, natural disasters, forest fires, and floods.

What we concluded

We concluded that Environment and Climate Change Canada worked collaboratively with provinces and territories to develop a new national climate change plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030—the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. However, the measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions contained in this plan had yet to be implemented.

We concluded that Environment and Climate Change Canada, with support from other government departments and agencies, did not make progress toward meeting Canada’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Department did not implement measures that would be sufficient to reach the 2020 target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and it shifted its focus to the 2030 target.

What we found

National leadership

Overall, we found that Environment and Climate Change Canada worked collaboratively with provinces and territories to develop a national climate change plan—the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. The framework’s purpose is to allow Canada to meet its 2030 target for reducing emissions established by its contribution to the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. We also found that the Department collaborated with other federal departments to coordinate some of the implementation actions outlined in the framework. However, the measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions contained in the framework had yet to be implemented.

In addition, we found that the Department made progress on its national and international reporting on projected greenhouse gas emissions. However, the Department did not clearly indicate how it would measure, monitor, and report on provincial and territorial contributions to meet Canada’s 2030 target.

These findings matter because addressing climate change is an area of shared jurisdiction that requires collaboration from all levels of government. A coordinated approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is needed to avoid gaps or duplication among emission reduction measures and policies at different levels of government, and to monitor their interactions. Coordination across jurisdictions is also important to ensure the overall effectiveness of these measures and policies.

• Environment and Climate Change Canada made progress on working collaboratively with provinces, territories, and other federal departments

  Recommendation. Environment and Climate Change Canada should develop an integrated approach to measure, monitor, and report publicly on the federal, provincial, and territorial contributions toward meeting Canada’s 2030 target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

• Environment and Climate Change Canada improved its reporting on projected greenhouse gas emissions

  Recommendation. Environment and Climate Change Canada should continue to work with provinces and territories to ensure clarity, transparency, and consistency in estimates of projected emissions.

Targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Overall, we found that Environment and Climate Change Canada was no longer working to meet the 2020 target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions set out in 2010 under the Copenhagen Accord. The Department did not show that existing regulations to reduce emissions would be sufficient to meet that target. In addition, we found that Environment and Climate Change Canada did not consistently report publicly on the results of implementing its regulations for reducing emissions. Finally, we found that the Department shifted its focus to meeting a new federal commitment, made in 2015, to contribute to global emission reductions by 2030.

This finding matters because failing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions increases the risks of pollution, natural disasters, forest fires, and floods. In order to reach targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it is important to implement measures and report on their progress.

• Environment and Climate Change Canada was not on track to meet the 2020 emission target and had shifted its focus to the 2030 emission target

  Recommendation. Environment and Climate Change Canada should publicly articulate how Canada’s commitment to reduce emissions by 2020 will be met.

  Recommendation. Environment and Climate Change Canada should report publicly and in a timely manner on the results of implementing regulations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Entity Responses to Recommendations

Environment and Climate Change Canada agrees with our recommendations and has responded (see List of Recommendations).

Related Information

For more information

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