The Commissioner for Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD) is in the Office of the Auditor General (AG) of Canada. The Commissioner regularly provides report to Parliament and the public on various aspects of government.
The CESD and AG have been reporting on Canada’s climate change performance since 1998. However, mentions of climate change in audit reports started as early as 1985.
Drawing from this collective experience, this report identifies trends in Canada’s efforts to fight climate change, along with eight lessons learned from Canadian accomplishments and mistakes.
This latest report has eight lessons:
- Stronger leadership and coordination are needed to drive progress toward climate commitments
- Canada’s economy is still dependent on emission‑intensive sectors
- Adaptation must be prioritized to protect against the worst effects of climate change
- Canada risks falling behind other countries on investing in a climate-resilient future
- Increasing public awareness of the climate challenge is a key lever for progress
- Climate targets have not been backed by strong plans or actions
- Enhanced collaboration among all actors is needed to find climate solutions
- Climate change is an intergenerational crisis with a rapidly closing window for action