Departmental overview for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change: chapter 6

International engagement

The increasing global integration of economies, the ever growing movements of goods, people, capital, and information, and the fact that all countries share the same atmosphere and biosphere, mean that there are few environmental issues for which causes or solutions are exclusively domestic. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) leads Canada’s international engagement on the environment, working closely with Global Affairs Canada and with the support of several other federal departments, to advance Canada’s interests through multilateral and bilateral mechanisms and partnerships including multilateral agreements and institutions, civil society organizations, and directly with specific countries and regions.

Overview

Canada cooperates with international partners to influence international decisions and find solutions to global environmental problems that affect Canadians and can have an impact on this country’s environment and economy. This cooperation focuses on issues such as climate change, biodiversity and nature, conservation, management of harmful chemicals and hazardous waste, marine plastic litter, weather, air pollution, ozone depletion, water quality and quantity, circular economy and resource efficiency, food waste, land degradation, ocean health and illegal wildlife trade and trafficking.

Multilateral engagement

The United Nations (UN) and its institutions, bodies and agreements are a prime space for working with the international community on key issues related to climate change, biodiversity, pollution, chemicals management and weather. Other fora, in particular the Group of Seven (G7) and the Group of 20 (G20) also provide a platform for countries to shape collective environmental action.

Climate change

ECCC engages in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and other fora to discuss tangible climate action by all countries. In particular, discussions are increasingly focused on enhancing global ambition including through the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, enhanced emission reduction targets, long-term strategies to achieve net zero emissions by mid-century, and sustainable finance flows to support mitigation and adaptation activities by developing countries.

Beyond formal climate negotiations at UNFCCC, ECCC also advances Canada’s climate action through leadership in strategic multilateral initiatives such as the Powering Past Coal Alliance that Canada co-leads with the United Kingdom.

ECCC also engages in the work of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world’s leading body for climate change science, including by sharing the work and expertise of its scientists. The IPCC’s Assessment Reports directly influence all international discussions related to climate change and serve as an important driver of climate action.

Climate finance for developing countries

Canada successfully delivered CAD $2.65 billion in international climate finance over the past five years, and pioneered innovative finance instruments. To date, these funds are expected to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions by over 222 megatonnes, and have helped at least 5.9 million people adapt to the effects of climate change.

In June 2021, Canada announced it will provide CAD $5.3 billion over the next five years in international climate finance, doubling its previous contribution. This commitment will help reach the collective goal of mobilizing USD $100 billion annually in climate finance through 2025, as agreed to under the UNFCCC.

While Global Affairs Canada is responsible for implementing the vast majority of Canada’s climate finance commitment, ECCC and Global Affairs Canada work closely together on delivering on climate finance priorities and in the tracking, monitoring, and communication of Canada’s climate finance.

Canada’s Ambassador for Climate Change

The Ambassador for Climate Change is appointed by the Prime Minister through an Order in Council on the recommendation of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and plays a key role in Canada’s international climate change effort. The Ambassador’s mandate, as outlined in the Order in Council, is to:

• coordinate the implementation of Canada’s climate diplomacy
• provide advice to the Ministers of Environment and Climate Change, Foreign Affairs, International Development, and International Trade
• lead targeted engagements with key partners
• represent Canada in international initiatives related to climate change, as appropriate
• collaborate with Canada’s Chief Negotiator for Climate Change to support and advance negotiation objectives
• develop and manage constructive relationships with key opinion leaders and stakeholders
• undertake outreach activities to promote Canada’s clean growth and climate change priorities

Biodiversity and conservation

Global biodiversity is in a rapid state of decline. A 2019 UN global assessment confirmed that a range of human activities has caused the significant deterioration of nature at an existential level, reaching a crisis state.

Canada has over 100 years of history of engaging with other countries for biodiversity conservation, signing the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds in the United States and Canada, with the United States in 1916. Canada was the first industrialized country to ratify the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992 which is the main international forum on issues related to biodiversity and conservation, including promoting the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat is hosted in Montréal. Led by ECCC’s Canadian Wildlife Service, Canada is participating in current efforts to develop a Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework under the CBD.

As a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the International Criminal Police Organization’s (INTERPOL) Wildlife Crime Working Group, Canada through ECCC, is working with other countries to address issues related to the international trade and trafficking of wildlife. The CITES aims to ensure certain species are not threatened by international trade through an international trade permit system administered by ECCC. Additionally, Canada is a Party to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (the Ramsar Convention) and has designated 37 Ramsar sites under the Convention.

Nature-based solutions

The dual global crises of climate change and biodiversity loss are intrinsically connected. Nature-based solutions (NBS) provide an opportunity for addressing both issues together, including towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening adaptation to the impacts of climate change and the resilience of communities to future environmental shocks, protecting and restoring biodiversity, and strengthening human health and well-being holistically.

ECCC leads Canada’s international engagement on NBS to advance global recognition and integration of such solutions, scale up related finance, and promote the knowledge and leadership of Indigenous peoples as foundational in these efforts. Canada is also working with international partners to advance NBS in other fora, such as the G7, G20 and the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC.

Air pollution

ECCC works with the international community through the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution to improve air quality, by addressing pollution from outside Canada’s borders that impacts the air quality in Canada. ECCC actively contributes to the Convention’s scientific and policy work, including by submitting annual reports on its emission of air pollutants.

Marine plastic litter

Marine plastic litter threatens food safety and quality, human health, coastal tourism, contributes to climate change and represents a loss of material and economic value in the range of $80-120 billion per year. Plastic pollution has emerged as a top global environmental priority.

Proposals for a new global agreement focused on plastics continue to be advanced through the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). Canada recently announced its support to begin negotiation towards a new global agreement on plastics at the G7 Climate and Environment Ministers’ Meeting in May 2021.

Hazardous and other waste

Canada is a Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. The overall goal of the Basel Convention is to protect human health and the environment against adverse effects from the generation, transboundary movements, and management of hazardous wastes and other wastes. The Convention seeks to minimize the generation of hazardous and other waste, including hazardous recyclable materials, to ensure they are disposed of in an environmentally sound manner and as close as possible to the source. Canada is actively engaged in the strategic and technical work of this convention.

Chemicals management

ECCC has played a key role in the development and implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, in order to protect the environment and the health of Northerners through reductions in atmospheric mercury in Canada’s Arctic. This convention is the latest in a series of international chemicals management agreements which have helped Canada protect its environment by controlling the production, emissions, transboundary movement and disposal of chemical pollutants and waste.

ECCC also leads on the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. This international treaty aims to reduce levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) – hazardous organic chemicals that remain in the environment for a long time—by eliminating or restricting releases of POP industrial chemicals and pesticides, unintentionally produced POP by-products and stockpiles, and POP wastes. Due to the tendency of POPs to migrate long distances and accumulate in northern climates, Canada continues to be particularly impacted by them and inhabitants of Canada’s North are at greater risk for exposure. Canada was the first country to sign and ratify the Convention in 2004.

Meteorological services

Cooperation with other countries is essential in the provision of meteorological services, given that weather predictions beyond two days cannot be achieved without international data. For example, every day data is shared globally on a near-real time basis in order to support weather and environmental prediction models in many countries. ECCC cooperates with other countries through bodies such as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Group on Earth Observations.

Other key multilateral fora

ECCC participates in the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), where UN member states meet every two years to set priorities for global environmental policies and governance on the issues mentioned above and many others. ECCC also provides Canada’s contribution ($3.1 million per year) to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which helps countries take action on the environment and implement multilateral decisions made under several environmental conventions and agreements.

ECCC is also actively involved in the environmental work of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which provides evidence-based policy analysis, best practices and guidance to member countries on a broad range of international issues, including environment.

Canada is the sixth-largest donor to the Global Environment Facility (GEF), providing CAD $228.79 million over 2018-2022. The GEF is an international partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organizations and the private sector, that supports activities in developing countries to produce global environmental benefits related to biodiversity, climate change, chemicals and waste management, international waters and land degradation. Canada and other donors are currently negotiating the eighth replenishment of GEF funding for the 2022-2026 period.

The GEF is Canada’s primary mechanism to meet legally binding commitments to provide financial assistance under the CBD, Stockholm and Minamata Conventions, and to help developing countries implement their obligations. The GEF, with the Green Climate Fund (see below), supports Canada’s financial obligations under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, and also hosts the Least Developed Countries Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund.

Canada is also the eighth-largest donor to the Green Climate Fund, established to help limit greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries and help vulnerable societies adapt to climate change. Canada pledged CAD $300 million to the first replenishment in 2019, in addition to the CAD $300 million pledged in 2014. The GCF has committed USD $8.9 billion to date to projects in developing countries.

ECCC also supports Canada’s participation on climate and environmental issues under the G7 and G20, where the world’s largest economies can work together to help lead global solutions. Global Affairs Canada serves as the overall Government of Canada lead on both the G7 and G20. During and following Canada’s 2018 G7 Presidency, ECCC has led efforts to improve the health of the world’s oceans and seas, and help build coastal communities that are more resilient to environmental changes, including the impacts of climate change.

Bilateral and regional engagement

ECCC, with support from Global Affairs Canada (particularly Canada’s missions abroad) cooperates closely with countries and regions to identify common environmental challenges and potential solutions, share information and best practices, and promote Canadian interests in key sectors (e.g., climate action). It does so through key relationships, such as those with the United States (U.S.), Mexico, the European Union (EU) and China.

U.S. and Mexico

The U.S. is Canada’s most important bilateral environmental relationship. In 2021, Canada and the U.S. agreed to a Roadmap for a Renewed Canada-U.S. Partnership to guide and focus our cooperation on environmental protection, nature conservation and climate change, as well as our commitment to work with other countries to increase the scale and speed of action to address the climate crisis and better protect nature around the world. The release of the Roadmap included the launch of the new Canada-U.S. High Level Ministerial Dialogue, co-chaired by Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and the U.S.’ Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.

Canada and the U.S. share a long history of cooperation on environmental issues. For example, the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 established the International Joint Commission, a binational treaty organization created to impartially serve both governments in preventing and resolving disputes, as well as to advise both governments on bilateral water issues. ECCC has a memorandum of understanding with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to collaborate on weather, climate and other Earth Systems for the enhancement of health, safety and prosperity. Other key examples of agreements between Canada and the U.S. include the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement and the Canada-U.S. Agreement on Porcupine Caribou Herd Conservation.

ECCC engages trilaterally with the U.S. and Mexico on environmental issues of interest across North America (e.g., clean air, land, and water; preventing and reducing pollution in the marine environment; circular economy and sustainable materials management; shared ecosystems and species; resilient economies and communities; and, effective enforcement of environmental laws) through the Commission for Environmental Cooperation and the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) Environment Committee. The Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA), signed in parallel to CUSMA, is a legally binding mechanism for environmental cooperation. The ECA requires the three countries to maintain high levels of domestic environmental protection. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation Secretariat is hosted in Montréal. Additionally, the Canada/U.S./Mexico Trilateral Committee for Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Management provides a forum to address tri-national conservation priorities.

ECCC officials also work bilaterally with Mexico under the Canada-Mexico Partnership’s Environment Working Group, on topics ranging from climate change to addressing environmental impacts associated with the extractives sector, and nature conservation and biodiversity.

European Union and Europe

There are also several engagement mechanisms in place with the EU and its member states and other European countries outside the EU, such as the Canada-United Kingdom Partnership on Clean Growth and Climate Change, the Canada-France Climate and Environment Partnership, the recently launched Canada-Germany Deputy Minister-level Steering Group, as well as climate and environmental cooperation under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Under the auspices of CETA, Canada and the EU have jointly held two workshops on clean technology opportunities (2019 and 2021) and will hold a Clean Tech Summit when travel is possible (2022).

China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development

China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions (27% in 2019). Since 1992, Canada has been the lead international partner of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (China Council) and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change participates as its International Executive Vice Chair.

Trade and environment

ECCC works with Global Affairs Canada to ensure that robust environment commitments are included and implemented in free trade agreements (FTAs), such as the:

• Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) (the “new North American Free Trade Agreement”)
• ongoing negotiations with the Mercosur: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, the UK (bilateral FTA and accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and Indonesia
• implementation of CETA, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the modernized Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement
• Canada also has free-trade agreements that include environment commitments and provisions with Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jordan, Peru, South Korea, and Ukraine

Canada works to include core commitments in these FTAs to maintain strong environmental laws and high levels of environmental protection as trade relationships are developed. Canada also seeks to recognize the important role trade agreements play in facilitating market access for clean technologies, which guides ECCC’s engagement with trading partners on clean technologies and helps explore new market opportunities for Canadian exporters of environmental and clean tech goods and services.