Effective Action on Climate Change

By 2030, reduce Canada’s total GHG emissions by 30%, relative to 2005 emission levels

Use regulations to limit GHG emissions

• Set more than 35 minimum energy performance standards for appliances and equipment by 2020 under the Energy Efficiency Regulations

By setting minimum energy performance standards to improve the energy performance of appliances and equipment sold for homes and buildings across Canada, contribute to reduced GHG emissions.

Energy savings (petajoules) generated by regulated standards

Starting point: 2.35 petajoules saved in 2015-16

Target: 6.65 petajoules saved annually (equivalent to the annual energy used by approximately 59,850 typical Canadian households, excluding transportation) by 2021

2.1.4 Energy Efficiency

Work with partners on climate change

• Collaborate with the United States of America and Mexico on a common benchmarking platform for the freight sector (the SmartWay Freight Partnership)

By helping industry to maximize efficiency and to reduce energy use in its freight operations, contribute to reduced GHG emissions.

Starting point: 0%

Percentage of Canadian SmartWay freight transport companies that implement lower carbon transportation options as a result of the program.

Target 60% annually

2.1.4 Energy Efficiency

• Undertake RD&D that informs policies, standards and codes

By focusing on environmental and competitiveness objectives in the areas of end use, clean energy and renewables, and fossil fuels, contribute to reduced GHG emissions.

Starting point: emission levels of 2016-17

Through NRCan supported RD&D, reduce GHG emissions (from past and ongoing clean energy technology projects).

Target: A decrease in emissions of 1 million tonnes per year (equivalent to 250,000 passenger cars removed from our roads) starting in 2017-18

2.2.3 Clean Energy Science and Technology

Support voluntary action to reduce GHG emissions and adapt to climate change

• Improve the energy efficiency of :
  • Canadian homes through the EnerGuide, ENERGY STAR® and R-2000 home labelling initiatives;
  • The industrial sector using energy management systems such as ISO 50001, the Superior Energy Performance program, and the ENERGY STAR® or other industry programs to help businesses track, analyze, and improve their energy efficiency

By collaborating with provinces and territories on housing and industrial sector programs, contribute to improved energy efficiency and reduced GHG emissions.

Energy saved in petajoules from the energy efficiency regulations and programs

Target: 74.5 petajoules saved (equivalent to the annual energy used by approximately 670,500 typical Canadian households, excluding transportation) in 2021 from energy efficiency programs funded in Budget 2016

Energy saved by industry in petajoules from energy efficiency programs

Target: 23.2 petajoules saved annually (equivalent to the annual energy used by more than 208,800 typical Canadian households, excluding transportation) in 2021

2.1.4 Energy Efficiency

• Undertake RD&D to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector

By supporting RD&D in the oil and gas sector, contribute to the transition towards a low-carbon economy and reduced GHG emissions.

Through NRCan supported RD&D contribute to reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector. 

Target: Contribute to the national target of reducing methane emissions by 40% to 45% by 2025.

2.2.3 Clean Energy Science and Technology

• Maintain and increase carbon stored in forested lands, wetlands and agricultural land by providing tools and information to decision makers through research, national assessments and monitoring to develop scientific information on Canada’s forest ecosystems, to support knowledge-based sustainable forest management policies and practices, such as with Carbon Budget Model and Ecosystem Management Emulating Natural Disturbance tools, which are validated annually

By supporting efficient economic and ecological use of forest resources, contribute to adaptation to a changing climate.

Number of public and private sectors new or updated policies, regulations, or other decision-making tools completed annually.

Target: 3 per year

Starting point: 100 advisory boards and committees

Participation of the Canadian Forest Service on advisory boards or committees involving the sharing of knowledge on forest ecosystems to governments, industry and non-governmental organizations.

Target: Participation on advisory boards and committees stays within 10% of the starting point

Annual report on carbon emissions and removals in Canada’s managed forests within “The State of Canada’s Forests”.

Target: 1 report per year.

2.3.1 Forest Ecosystem Science and Application

Take a leading role in international agreements and initiatives on climate change ¹

• Promote international collaboration, including through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and under the North American Climate, Clean Energy and Environment Partnership, to advance clean energy and integration of energy resources (including renewables), improve energy efficiency, and strengthen the reliability, resilience and security of the North American electricity grid

By promoting and working towards Canada's commitments in international agreements and initiatives on climate change, contribute to reduced GHG emissions.

Percentage of Canada’s objectives for meetings of international climate and clean energy fora that are advanced through negotiations and consensus.

Target: 70%

2.1.2 Support for Clean Energy Decision-making

2.2.3 Clean Energy Science and Technology

Work with partners on climate change ¹

• Maintain leadership of Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Platform

• Develop and share knowledge and tools, providing science information, and building capacity to enhance the resilience of communities and infrastructure to the impacts of climate change, particularly on Canada’s North and coasts

By helping Canadians identify and prioritize activities, contribute to adaptation to a changing climate.

Number of new knowledge products released by the Climate Change Adaptation Platform and the Climate Change Geoscience Program.

Target: 20 new knowledge products per year

3.1.4 Climate Change Adaptation

Conduct climate policy research and analysis ¹

• Create and disseminate information products and tools in support of decisions on climate change and clean energy issues

By providing tools and information to support decision making on climate change and clean energy issues, contribute to reduced GHG emissions.

Percentage of tools and information made available to decision makers in a timely manner.

Target: 100%

2.1.2 Support for Clean Energy Decision-making

Provide in-kind support and funding for climate resilience ¹

• Provide support for evaluation, advice, and participation in workshops.

• Deliver a contribution program that funds cost-shared, collaborative projects aimed at developing, transferring and integrating adaptation information and tools

By enabling key stakeholders across Canada to have access to new knowledge on risks and opportunities to support decision-making and action, contribute to adaptation to a changing climate.

Under development in parallel with indicators for other departmental reporting requirements.

3.1.4 Climate Change Adaptation

Develop a solid base of scientific research and analysis on climate change ¹

• Conduct enhanced research and analysis to develop scientific knowledge of forest disturbances (e.g., wildland fire, pests and climate change), which are used in collaboration with the public and private sectors to forecast impacts and develop mitigation and adaptation strategies

By providing governments, agencies and industry with scientific knowledge on forest disturbances, including wildland fire, contribute to the mitigation of effects from and adaptation to a changing climate.

Starting point: 100 advisory boards and committees

Participation of the Canadian Forest Service on advisory boards or committees involving the sharing of knowledge on forest disturbances to governments, industry, and non-governmental organizations

Target: Participation on advisory boards and committees stays within 10% of starting point

Number of active collaborations with public and private sectors that manage risk or opportunities to human population, natural resources and infrastructure health

Target: Collecting data on 3 collaboration agreements per year

3.1.3 Forest Disturbances Science and Application

• Provide new ‘big data’ tools and infrastructure for analyzing earth observation and other geospatial data to detect changes in land, water, natural resources and infrastructure, and facilitate discoverability and access to geospatial information for prevention and implementation of mitigation programs for natural disasters such as flooding.

By providing stakeholder access to comprehensive, reliable and accurate geospatial information consistent with international standards, contribute to the mitigation of effects from a changing climate.

Starting point: to be determined in 2018-2019

Number of times geospatial information tools and services are accessed

Average time elapsed from image receipt to the staging of emergency flood response products

Target: 4 hours or less

3.2.1 Essential Geographic Information