United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals

Canada recognizes that creating a diverse and inclusive workforce, equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for a net zero future-ready sector, means empowering women to ensure they become active participants in the natural resource sectors.

To ensure that the low carbon energy transition is equitable and inclusive, NRCan jointly leads the Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative, a joint effort between the Clean Energy Ministerial and the International Energy Agency, which works to advance gender equality in the energy sector.

NRCan also leads the Equal by 30 Campaign, which brings together leadership from across the clean energy sector to create a network of public and private sector organizations working collectively to advance the participation of women, and other marginalized groups.

NRCan also leads the Awards & Recognition program under the Equality Initiative, which recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations contributing to a clean energy future while advancing the empowerment of women.

These initiatives are aligned with the Federal Implementation Plan by supporting the cross-cutting objective of leaving no one behind by advancing gender equality, empowering women and girls, and advancing diversity and inclusion.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

Global Target 5.5 - Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Target 5.2.1 - Greater representation of women in leadership roles.

Canada will continue to engage with the global community, including through various international fora, to support access to, investment in, and use of clean energy and enabling technologies. For example, Canada has pledged 8 million dollars in financial support to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Clean Energy Transitions Programme, which aims to accelerate clean energy transitions and increase energy access in major emerging economies through collaborative analytical work, technical cooperation, training, and capacity building, as well as strategic dialogues. Canada is also building on the programme’s success to support broader multilateral initiatives related to energy access, such as the UN’s High-Level Dialogue on Energy, the SDG 7 Energy Progress Report, as well as the energy access work under the G20 energy track.

Canada is also member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Through IRENA, Canada participates in efforts to share knowledge and expertise on renewable energy policy, technology, resources, and financial insights, and promote international cooperation on renewable energy and enabling technologies wide-scale deployment to further the global energy transformation. Canada also contributes to efforts to advance policy priorities such as universal energy access and gender equity.

Canada actively engages in various international fora focusing on energy efficiency, including but not limited to the UN Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, the IEA Energy Efficiency Hub and the IEA Energy Efficiency Working Party. Canada is also part of Mission Efficiency (formerly the Three Percent Club) with international partners, including 15 other countries, committing to working toward a 3% improvement in global energy efficiency every year. This goal aligns with the Generation Energy Council’s recommendations which advised that Canada take steps to achieve greater annual energy improvements by 2030.

Canada has been working with the United States on new and updated energy efficiency standards, and on promoting regulatory ambition and alignment. The two countries share a number of energy efficiency tools, such as the ISO 50001 Ready Navigator tool and the ENERGY STAR suite. Canada and USA also work together to promote the advancement of energy efficiency technologies, including through the joint Canada-United States Department of Energy Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge, aiming to accelerate deployment of high-performance cold climate heat pump technologies.

Similarly, Canada is working closely with international partners and like-minded countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom on the development and deployment of small modular reactors (SMR) that have the potential to provide a safe, secure and reliable non-emitting source of baseload energy in Canada (including in remote communities) and globally. In December 2020, the Government launched Canada’s SMR Action Plan, which outlines a series of 500 concrete actions almost 120 partners are taking to advance the development and deployment of SMR technologies.

These initiatives are aligned with the Federal Implementation Plan by supporting the cross-cutting objective of ensuring coherence within Canada’s international efforts, and between international and domestic efforts to support the advancement of the SDGs.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

Global Target 7.1 – By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services.

Global Target 7.3 - By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.

Global Target 7.a - By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Ambition 7.1 - Canadians reduce their energy consumption.

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Target 7.1.1 - By 2030, 600 petajoules of total annual energy savings will be achieved as a result of the adoption of energy efficiency codes, standards and practices from a baseline savings of 20.0 petajoules in 2017 to 2018.

Canada will continue to support the future and livelihood of workers and their communities in the transition to a net zero economy.

At COP26, Canada was a signatory to the Declaration Supporting the Conditions for a Just Transition Internationally - Green growth, decent work, and economic prosperity in the transition to net zero. This includes the commitment to support and promote social dialogue and stakeholder engagement.

Canada will continue to move forward with legislation and comprehensive action to achieve a Just Transition and encourage the creation of sustainable jobs. This work will be guided by consultations with workers, unions, Indigenous peoples, employers, communities, and provinces and territories.

In July 2021, Canada launched public consultations to develop just transition legislation that could inform government decision making on climate action and establish an advisory body to advise the government on regional and sectoral strategies. These consultations concluded in April 2022. Natural Resources Canada consulted with a broad range of stakeholders including workers and labor organizations, industry, academia, non-governmental organizations, youth, and experts in skills, training, and diversity and inclusion. These virtual consultations are in addition to dialogue with provinces, territories and Indigenous organizations.

Efforts are underway to introduce proposed legislation in early 2023, along with the release of a Sustainable Jobs Plan outlining the Government’s action to date and planned next steps.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

Global Target 8.2 – Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labor-intensive sectors.

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Ambition 8.5 - Canadians contribute to and benefit from sustainable economic growth.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

Global Target 9.5 - Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Ambition 9.1 – Canada fosters sustainable research and innovation.

Canada is experiencing the impacts of climate change through extreme weather and record-breaking climate events. The adaptation actions under the National Adaptation Strategy and the Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan will help decide the future of our communities, livelihoods, environment, and economy.

Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy outlines a shared path and sets common direction for a more climate resilient Canada through resilient roads, bridges, sewers, and other infrastructure; healthier communities; enhanced biodiversity and nature conservation; and a climate resilient economy and workers.

NRCan is leading on the Economy and Workers System that will build capacity for members of professional associations to apply climate change adaptation tools in their work, strengthen the competitiveness of businesses by including adaptation measures in their plans and strategies, and reduce the cost of adaptation for coastal communities and businesses.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

Global Target 13.1 - Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

Global Target 13.2 - Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Ambition 13.2 - Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

Global Target 13.1 - Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

Global Target 13.2 - Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Ambition 13.2 - Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change.

The Canadian Forest Service continues to implement the plan to plant two billion incremental trees over 10 years to increase carbon sequestration and help combat climate change and its impacts, while providing co-benefits to communities and ecosystems. Co-benefits of the 2 Billion Trees program include: enhanced biodiversity and forest resilience to climate change by planting the right tree in the right place, contributing to the restoration of habitat for wildlife, health and community benefits from cleaner air and water, storm surge management, and increased resilience to climate-related hazards for communities (including resilience to wildland fire and flooding).

This will be accomplished by funding tree planting projects with provinces and territories, for profit and not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, and Indigenous organizations.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

Global Target 13.1 - Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

Global Target 13.2 - Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Ambition 13.2 – Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

Global Target 13.2 - Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Ambition 13.1 - Canadians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

Global Target 15.2.- By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Ambition 15.4- Canada sustainably manages forests, lakes and rivers.

NRCan continues to be committed to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA). This Act requires the Government of Canada, in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples, to “take all measures necessary to ensure that federal laws are consistent with the Declaration (section 5), prepare and implement an action plan to achieve the objectives of the Declaration (section 6), and develop annual reports on progress and submit them to Parliament (section 7). This year, NRCan will continue playing a supporting role in the federal implementation of the Act by supporting Justice Canada in the development of the UN Declaration Act Action Plan in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples, by engaging with Industry stakeholders, including Indigenous organizations, following the release of the draft UN Declaration Act Action Plan, by feeding into the whole of government reports on progress, and by taking measures to ensure that existing laws and future laws reflect the rights and principles of the Declaration.

The implementation of the UNDA is aligned with the Federal Implementation Plan by supporting the cross-cutting objective of advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples by working in partnership to support Indigenous voices, views, and traditional knowledge and highlighting the accomplishments of Indigenous partners.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

Global Target 10.3 - Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Ambition 10.1 - Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced.