Implement the G7 Charlevoix Blueprint for Healthy Oceans, Seas and Resilient Coastal Communities and the Ocean Plastics Charter.

What success looks like

Increased availability and sharing of ocean science and data globally, more sustainable oceans and fisheries, increased resiliency of coasts and coastal communities, and reduced plastic waste and marine litter.

Government's narrative on progress

The Ocean Plastics Charter was adopted at the 2018 G7 Summit in Charlevoix bringing together governments, businesses, and civil society organizations to help eradicate plastic pollution, committing them to take actions to move toward a more resource efficient and sustainable approach to the management of plastics. As of March 2019, 17 countries plus the EU and 54 business and non-governmental organizations have endorsed the Charter. To support the implementation of the Charter objectives Canada will help developing countries prevent plastic waste from entering the oceans, address plastic waste on shorelines, and better manage existing plastic resources. At the Charlevoix G7 Leaders’ Summit, Canada announced a $100 million investment to advance the objectives and commitments of the Ocean Plastics Charter. This includes $20 million to spark innovation to beat plastic pollution in developing countries in support of the implementation of the G7 Innovation Challenge to Address Marine Plastic Litter, agreed to by all G7 members, $6 million through the World Economic Forum Global Plastic Action Partnership to strengthen public-private partnerships to support global action in plastic pollution hot spots, and $65 million to support a World Bank fund to address plastic waste in developing countries. In addition to this $100 million investment, Canada announced an additional $12 million to invest in made-in-Canada innovative approaches and technologies to help stop the flow of plastics to the oceans. Canada also committed to take action to reform government practices and procurement, with the goal of diverting at least 75 percent of plastic waste from government operations by 2030. During the meeting of G7 Environment, Oceans and Energy Ministers on September 18-21, 2018, Ministers agreed on the need for collaborative partnerships to improve the health of oceans and seas and ways to advance the priorities identified by G7 Leaders in the Charlevoix Blueprint for Healthy Oceans, Seas and Resilient Coastal Communities. In support of these commitments, Canada announced an unprecedented number of funding commitments which includes $2 million to the International Institute for Sustainable Development for the National Adaptation Plan Global Network to help developing vulnerable countries adapt to the effects of climate change and $60 million to help Small Island Developing States accelerate their transition to cleaner energy systems. Canada also announced a $100 million commitment to support expansion of climate risk insurance coverage in developing countries, and $2 million to establish a new initiative that will empower women entrepreneurs working on climate solutions in the developing world. Canada has also announced $10 million to the Pacific Initiative for Biodiversity, Climate Change and Resilience, a joint initiative with the European Union, France, New Zealand and Australia to support efforts in the Pacific region to adapt to climate change, protect biodiversity, and improve ocean and fisheries health. The Government of Canada will invest a total of up to $11.6 million to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing throughout the world, signed on to the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI), and announced its support for Global Fishing Watch. The federal government is working with provinces and territories through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) and recently released a national zero plastic waste strategy that will build on Canadian and international efforts to reduce plastic waste and marine litter, including those outlined in the Ocean Plastics Charter. At the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2018, Canada announced an additional investment of up to $9.5 million in funding to advance activities of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Canada also announced an investment of up to $1 million to the World Economic Forum’s Friends of Ocean Action and for the Government of Canada’s support to the United Nations Special Envoy for the Ocean. Canada's actions support implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.

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