Make Canada a leader of international efforts to combat climate change.

What success looks like

Canada meaningfully advances international solutions to climate change.

Government's narrative on progress

Canada is leading efforts under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to implement a platform for the engagement of Indigenous peoples and to advance gender-responsive policy development and women's participation. Canada is also delivering on its five-year, $2.65 billion commitment to help developing countries achieve sustained emissions reductions and build resilience against the adverse effects of climate change. This includes providing support to Caribbean countries for disaster reconstruction and resilience and pursuing a focus on climate change adaptation. Climate change was regularly addressed in the themes of Canada’s G7 presidency. The G7 discussed the importance of the Paris Agreement and the goal of the transition to a low-carbon economy. At the G7 Summit in June 2018, leaders agreed to the Charlevoix Blueprint for Healthy Oceans, Seas and Resilient Coastal Communities, which promotes sustainable oceans and fisheries, commits to increase the availability and sharing of science and data and supports resilient coasts and coastal communities. Canada announced that it will invest $162 million to support these goals. Canada also announced: $100 million for the expansion of Climate Risk Insurance coverage in climate-vulnerable countries; $60 million in funding for Small Island Developing States for the expansion of and access to clean energy systems and infrastructure, to improve energy access for women and girls and provide training and employment for women in non-traditional, sustainable technology sectors; and, $2 million to support efforts by developing countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change. In addition to advocating for the effective implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement, Canada is engaged in key initiatives aimed at enhancing global ambition on climate change and clean growth, such as Mission Innovation, the World Bank’s Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition, the Global Methane Initiative, and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. Canada and the United States also issued a joint statement in February 2017 confirming both countries' commitment to collaborate on energy innovation. In September 2017, Canada co-hosted a Ministerial Meeting on Climate Action with China and the European Union to advance the global climate dialogue, and will continue to play a leadership role in this new forum in 2018. Canada also played a leadership role at the second Ministerial Meeting on Climate Action hosted in June 2018. In November 2017, Canada hosted the 29th the Montreal Protocol Conference, where Parties agreed to adopt the Kigali Amendment to reduce hydrofluorocarbons, a powerful greenhouse gas. Canada's early ratification of the Amendment on November 3, 2017 helped it reach the number of ratifications required to come into force. In addition, Canada and the United Kingdom jointly announced the creation of the Powering Past Coal Alliance, which aims to accelerate the global phase-out of unabated coal-fired electricity. Canada was also an active participant in the Bonn Climate Conference in November hosted by Fiji and the One Planet Summit hosted by France in December. In December 2017, Canada and China released a Joint Leaders' Statement on Climate Change and Clean Growth and held the first Ministerial Dialogue on the Environment in Beijing. Canada continues to highlight the serious impacts of climate change on the North through its participation in the Arctic Council. In order to meet these commitments and drive action in Canada, the government is implementing the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change that was developed with the provinces and territories. This plan includes pricing carbon pollution and measures to reduce emissions across all sectors, as well as investments to drive innovation and ensure Canadian businesses are competitive in the global low-carbon economy. In November 2018, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting hosted by Papua New Guinea, the Prime Minister hosted a roundtable with Pacific Islands Forum leaders where Canada’s commitment to fight climate change and help them adapt to the changing climate was reaffirmed. Canada also announced $10 million to the Pacific Initiative for Biodiversity, Climate Change and Resilience that will assist the Pacific region to adapt to climate change, protect biodiversity, and improve ocean and fisheries health.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.