Canada's climate and environmental collaboration in the Americas

Canada is advancing projects and partnerships that help reduce pollution, protect nature, and fight climate change in the Americas. This collaboration with international partners aims to accelerate global efforts to meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5 ºC thereby preventing the most catastrophic impacts of climate change. Canada is focused on managing pollution, promoting clean growth and a healthy, sustainable environment.

North America

Collaboration with the United States

Canada and the United States have a strong history of working together closely on climate and environmental action, creating beneficial opportunities through their partnership. Canada and the U.S. have strengthened economic ties by ensuring regulatory alignment across integrated sectors. They have made significant advancements in reducing methane emissions, establishing critical minerals supply chain and advancing the transition to zero-emission vehicles. Both countries are also moving toward a net-zero grid.

In February 2021, Prime Minister Trudeau and President Biden launched the Roadmap for a Renewed US–Canada Partnership. This roadmap sets out ambitious goals to grow economies, strengthen the middle class, and create a healthier future.

The US–Canada High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Ambition, launched as part of the Roadmap, provides a forum for aligning policies to reduce emissions and build climate resilience on both sides of the border.

It focuses on:

• decarbonizing transportation and electricity sectors
• reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector
• conserving nature

This dialogue also encourages collaboration on global climate action, with both countries working together to increase ambition.

In 2022, Canada and California signed the Climate action and nature protections: Memorandum of cooperation between Canada and California (MoC) . The MoC is a flexible framework to enable closer policies and regulatory measures in the areas of:

• Clean Transportation;
• Clean Technology and Innovation;
• Biodiversity Conservation;
• Climate Change Adaptation;
• Circular Economy, including Plastics Management;
• Any other areas of cooperation they may jointly decide upon.

In March 2023, Canada and the U.S. renewed their joint commitment to protect the Great Lakes with Canada investing $420 million over 10 years. Through the Renewed Canada-United States commitment on climate and nature ambition, they agreed to collaborate in the Arctic to reduce emissions and prevent environmental disasters, conserve biodiversity, and review the 1991 Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to strengthen cooperation on environmental issues.

At COP28 in December 2023, both countries pledged to intensify efforts against climate change and enhance economic benefits through joint initiatives. This includes commitments to expand clean energy, cut methane emissions, protect nature and oceans, and preserve biodiversity.

Agreements with the United States

Canada and the United States are dedicated to protecting the environment, as evidenced by the many important agreements that have been signed over the years. From the 2016 Chemicals Management work plan to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, they highlight both nations' commitment to preserving and protecting their shared natural resources.

Agreements

• 2016 chemicals management workplan: regulatory cooperation council
• Canada-US inland pollution contingency plan
• Canada-US agreement on earth sciences cooperation
• Canada-US agreement on Lake of the Woods water levels
• Canada-US agreement on porcupine caribou herd conservation
• Canada-US agreement on shellfish sanitation
• Canada-US agreement on Souris River basin water levels
• Canada-US agreement on transboundary movement of hazardous waste
• Canada-US agreement on weather and climate collaboration
• Canada-US air quality agreement
• Canada-US boundary waters treaty
• Canada-US chemicals management joint work plan
• Canada-US clean energy dialogue
• Canada-US convention protecting migratory birds
• Canada-US environmental cooperation
• Canada-US environmental cooperation: regulatory partnership statement
• Canada-US marine pollution contingency plan
• Canada-US regulatory cooperation
• Canada-US regulatory cooperation council: statement on chemicals
• Canada-US statement on Georgia Basin-Puget Sound ecosystems
• Canada-US treaty for Niagara River
• Canada-US treaty for Skagit River, Ross Lake and Seven Mile Reservoir
• Canada-US vehicle and engine emissions: 2014 to 2016 work plan
• Columbia River Treaty (CRT)
• Cooperation in environmental science and technology: US agreement
• Great Lakes water quality agreement
• Shared polar bear populations: Canada-US agreement
• Workplan for vehicle and engine emission control: Canada-US air quality agreement

Collaboration with Mexico

Canada and Mexico are important partners who regularly discuss environmental issues together. They collaborate through mechanisms like the Canada-Mexico Partnership (CMP), bringing together governments, businesses, and NGOs to achieve common goals. One key part of the CMP is the Environment Working Group, co-chaired by Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Mexican Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT). This group meets annually to address shared environmental concerns.

In 2023, Canada's Prime Minister and Mexico's President introduced the Canada-Mexico Action Plan, outlining priorities for their bilateral relationship, particularly in environment and climate issues.

Collaboration with the United States and Mexico

Canada is firmly committed to the principle that trade and environmental protection are mutually supportive. In 1994 the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), came into effect.  This was the first free trade agreement (FTA) to link both environment and trade through a parallel agreement on environmental cooperation, the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC). The NAAEC created the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), which became the main forum for Canada, Mexico and the United States to work together on environmental issues.

In July 2020, Canada, Mexico and the United States began implementing the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) as the new agreement, alongside the Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (ECA). The CUSMA makes environmental provisions even stronger and more modern by integrating them into an ambitious, comprehensive and enforceable environment chapter (Chapter 24). The ECA ensures that institutions set up since 1994, like the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, stay and are modernized. Through the ECA, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation will continue the legacy of effective work between Canada, Mexico and the United States to conserve, protect, and enhance the environment. This includes dealing with global environmental issues of importance to Canada, such as climate change.

Environmental cooperation between Canada, Mexico and the United States is also guided by the North American Leaders' Summit (NALS) in support of creating a more integrated, sustainable, and globally competitive North American economy.

Agreements

• Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (ECA)
• Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC)
• Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) - Chapter 24 - Environment

North American agreements

Canada demonstrates its leadership and commitment to environmental stewardship in North America through several important agreements. These agreements range from the comprehensive CUSMA and ECA to collaborative efforts to protect bats and birds. These initiatives highlight Canada's proactive role in promoting sustainable practices across the continent.

Agreements

• Agreement on Environmental Cooperation among the Governments of Canada, the United States of America, and the United Mexican States
  
• Ensemble forecast system: North American agreement
• North American agreement on environmental cooperation
• North American bat conservation: letter of intent
• North American bird banding program: management
• North American Bird Conservation Initiative
• North American Breeding Bird Survey Program: management
• North American ice service collaborative agreement

Collaboration with Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean are priority areas for Canada's engagement in the Americas. ECCC engages with countries from the regions to cooperate on environmental issues. This broad engagement highlights Canada's extensive efforts to promote sustainability and environmental protection globally.

Latin America and Caribbean environmental agreements with Canada

To ensure that trade respects environmental standards, Environment and Climate Change Canada plays a key role in negotiating and implementing environmental rules in Canada's free trade and environmental agreements.

These rules include commitments to uphold environmental protection, enforce laws, and prevent countries from weakening their environmental regulations to attract trade or investment. These agreements set up frameworks for cooperation in tackling common environmental challenges, such as climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. For example, under the Canada-Chile Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, Canada has collaborated with Chile since their environmental agreements started in 1997, and similar agreements are in place with Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama and Peru.

Environmental agreements with Latin America and the Caribbean

• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Honduras
• Panama
• Peru