United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)	2022-23 Planned initiatives	Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets	2022-23 Results
SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls	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 Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) International 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 encourages voluntary commitments by both public and private sector organizations to work towards equal pay, equal leadership and equal opportunities for women in the energy sector by 2030. NRCan also leads the Awards & Recognition program under C3E International, which recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations contributing to a clean energy future while advancing the empowerment of women.	These efforts contribute to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Target 5.2 - Greater representation of women in leadership roles 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.	Canada chaired the Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative (formerly C3E International), and the International Energy Agency’s Gender Advisory Council, and will continue to lead the Equal by 30 campaign and the Awards & Recognition Program, under the Equality Initiative. Canada led the Equal by 30 Campaign, a global effort under the Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative to advance the meaningful participation of women, and other marginalized groups, in the clean energy sector. 13 new signatories joined the campaign, bringing the total number to 192 signatories globally. Canada worked with Germany to release a G7 progress report on Equal by 30 commitments and advancements towards greater equality in the energy sector. Canada recognized women’s achievements and organizational progress on gender equality in clean energy globally through leadership of the Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative’s impactful awards program, presented at the US-hosted Global Clean Energy Action Forum/CEM13 in Pittsburgh, USA in September 2022. Awards were delivered in three categories: the Woman of Distinction Award, the Organizational Leadership Award, and the new Emerging Leader Award.
SDG 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all	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 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 member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Through IRENA, Canada participates in efforts to share policy, technology, resource and financial insights, and promote international cooperation on renewable energy development, as well advance policy priorities such as universal energy access and gender equity. As well, on November 4, 2021, at COP26, Canada and IRENA launched a new global, multi-stakeholder platform to transition remote communities to renewable energy. Canada actively engages in various international fora focusing on energy efficiency, including the UN Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, the International Energy Efficiency Hub, and related IEA Technical Collaboration Programs, such as the Energy Efficient End-Use Equipment (IEA-4E). Canada has also joined the Three Percent Club with international partners, including 15 other countries, committing to working toward a 3% improvement in global energy efficiency every year. 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 concrete actions that over 100 partners are taking to advance the development of SMR technologies.	These efforts contribute to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Target 7.1 - 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 Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Target 7.3.1 - By 2030, 90%, and in the long term 100%, of Canada's electricity is generated from renewable and non-emitting sources. Global Target 7.1 – By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services 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. Global Target 7.3 – By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency Notably, Canada uses its advocacy to ensure efforts with respect to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) also support the achievement of SDG 13 (Climate Action) in order to ensure productive discussions and solutions.	Canada actively supports the International Energy Agency (IEA) and its mandate to promote sustainable, reliable, affordable, and secure energy globally. Within the IEA, Canada chairs the Committee on Energy Research and Technology and officially participates in 22 of its technology collaboration programmes. Canada also supports the IEA’s Clean Energy Transitions Programme, which helps developing countries enhance their capacity to develop and deploy clean energy technologies. As well, Canada participates in the Executive Committee of the Renewable Energy Working Party. Canada continues to play a leading role in promoting clean and renewable energy through its active participation in the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) core activities and initiatives. Canada participated in and contributed to the IRENA Work Programme 2022-23 and the Medium-Term Strategy, including participation in all eight collaborative frameworks (geopolitics, hydrogen, hydropower, marine and offshore renewables, critical minerals, project facilitation, just and inclusive energy transition, and enhancing dialogue on high shares of renewables), Climate Investment Fund, Coalition for Action, and Global Geothermal Alliance. Canada has also actively promoted Canadian initiatives and IRENA-led international events, such as the Global Platform for Transitioning Remote Communities to Remote Communities, and the Innovation Day in Canada. Canada is at the forefront of the development of SMRs with a number of demonstration projects positioning Canada to lead in the next generation of innovative nuclear technologies. In April 2022, NRCan launched the Pan-Canadian Nuclear Energy Leadership Table as an ongoing bi-annual forum composed of the federal government, interested provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous representatives, industry (nuclear and high-emitting sectors), electric utilities, and non-governmental organizations. The Leadership Table reviews progress and discusses strategic priorities as they relate to the development and deployment of nuclear energy projects across Canada. Canada’s SMR Action Plan is arguably the most detailed and ambitious SMR plan of its kind in the world. The Action Plan built on the momentum of Canada’s SMR Roadmap, released in 2018, which convened Team Canada to chart a vision for this emerging area of nuclear innovation and marked the beginning of Canada’s plan to be a world leader in SMR technology.
SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts	Canada will continue to engage with key bilateral partners and multilateral fora such as UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), G7/G20, CEM/MI (Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation), IEA (International Energy Agency), and IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) to advance international support for shared energy policy priorities related to climate change and, in particular, climate change mitigation. As one example indicative of the ongoing work in this regard, Canada co-leads with the US and Japan on Clean Energy Future (NICE Future) an initiative under the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM). Participating countries and partner organizations under this initiative work together to advance the global conversation on the roles nuclear energy can play in clean energy systems of the future. In addition, Canada is co-leading Mission Innovation’s newly launched Carbon Dioxide Removal Mission and participating in the Clean Hydrogen, Green Powered Future, and Integrated Biorefineries Missions.	These efforts contribute to advancing: Global Target 13.3 - Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. Global Target 13.b -Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities. Acknowledging that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the primary international, intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change. Notably, Canada uses its advocacy to ensure efforts with respect to SDG 13 (Climate Action) also support the achievement of SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) in order to ensure productive discussions and solutions.	NRCan advanced Canadian interests with respect to energy transition, security and critical minerals at major international fora. Some highlights include: NRCan’s high-level international engagements relating to climate action and energy transitions exceeded planned engagements for 2022-23 by 50% (87 completed vs at least 40 planned) as a result of global interest in accelerating the clean energy transition and advancing climate change priorities at international fora including the 13th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and 7th Mission Innovation (MI) meetings, the G20, International Energy Agency (IEA), 27th United Nations Conference of Parties (COP27), 15th United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15), and the G7. Some highlights include: NICE Future: NRCan co-sponsored a NICE Future side event under the Nuclear Innovation: Clean Energy (NICE) Future Initiative to highlight the work Canada is doing at the intersection of hydrogen, demonstrate leadership in hydrogen, and emphasize the role of nuclear energy and renewables to achieve clean energy options. G7: Minister-led delegation to the G7 Climate and Energy Ministerial Meeting in Berlin, Germany engaged in bilateral and multilateral discussions to highlight shared interests and importance of clean energy and natural resources to energy security and the transition to a net-zero economy. Canada leveraged its participation to commit to advancing global action on key topics, including energy security, clean energy transition, and addressing the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. This includes reaffirming the growing importance of critical minerals for the clean energy transition and creating responsible and resilient supply chains while ensuring local communities’ benefit. G20: NRCan’s Deputy Minister participated in the G20 Energy Transition Ministerial hosted by Indonesia, to underscore Canada’s support of energy security and climate ambition and demonstrate Canadian leadership in the clean energy transition. COP27: Senior NRCan officials participated in COP27 to demonstrate Canadian leadership in the clean energy transition, emissions-reducing technologies and pathways to achieve net-zero. They also used this fora to reinforce Canada’s commitment to work with partners to advance an inclusive energy transition, and to address the dual challenges of energy security and climate change.
SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts	Canada will continue to support the international collaborative project “moja global” (which includes other countries and a variety of funding and scientific/technical organizations) to maintain and refine software and tools to measure, report, and verify (MRV) land-based greenhouse gas emissions and removals. By using “moja global” software, countries, particularly developing countries, can avoid a drain on their human resources, can embed the MRV system into their existing government systems, and can make advancements towards the Paris Accord commitment of net zero emissions in the second half of the century. Canada supports this initiative both technically through carbon modelling expertise, as well as through funding to broaden the uptake of the MRV approach in other countries.	These efforts contribute to advancing: Global Target 13.2 - Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.	The Moja Global project aims to enhance Canada’s environmental reputation by promoting domestic and international collaboration on open source tools to estimate emissions and removals from forests and harvested wood products, and developing uncertainty estimates in support of policy. NRCan continued to collaborate with moja global (an international initiative that has also involved the Australian and Kenyan governments and others) to develop open source software to help countries affordably and accurately estimate greenhouse gas emissions and removals from forests and other lands. The scientific core of Canada's Carbon Budget Model (CBM-CFS3) is a key part of the effort, as a basis for a spatially explicit Generic Carbon Budget Model (GCBM). Through this collaboration, NRCAN has advanced and implemented the Generic Carbon Budget Model on the Full Lands Integration Tool (FLINT) platform to support developing countries in the establishment of advanced measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems to quantify forest sector carbon balances. To date, Moja Global has: Advanced the Moja Global tools required for the integration and analysis of data required for national GHG inventories, reference level calculations, results-based payments and analysis of climate change mitigation options. Developed in-country expertise and capacity in participating countries by working with Chile to test the process and steps, and working with multiple countries to write a collaborative funding proposal for MRV development. Addressed funding issues and developing open source software tool by UN agencies, multilateral organizations and certain countries. Key milestones over the last fiscal year include: Government user application: Implementation of the project in Belize was successfully completed in partnership with a UNFCCC project. Awareness, familiarity and demand for FLINT: Building on previous years’ investments in online training platform and materials, the moja global project supported the development of a UNFCCC-led moja global workshop in 2023. Communications and marketing efforts have contributed to growing awareness by other international organizations, private companies and investors, resulting in new expressions of interest from the private sector. Usability: In a market rife with 'black box' MRV solutions, the moja global project has continued to showcase the value of open-source solutions in both transparency and inclusiveness while delivering state-of-the-art, science-based tools. The project also invested in streamlining the development process for module developers and FLINT developers - i.e., making the tool easier to use and improve.
SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts	The 2 Billion Trees program(2BT) supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to plant two billion incremental trees over the next 10 years to increase carbon sequestration. This will provide other co-benefits to communities and ecosystems such as contributing to the restoration of habitat for wildlife and biodiversity; increased health and well-being from cleaner air and water; storm surge management; and increased resilience to a changing climate. This will be accomplished by funding tree planting projects with provinces and territories, tree planting organizations (both profit and non-profit), municipalities, and Indigenous organizations.	These efforts contribute to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Ambition 13.2– Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change 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.	The Canadian Forest Service continues to implement the plan to plant two billion incremental trees over 10 years, as part of the Government of Canada’s broader approach to nature-based climate solutions. The 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program contributes to climate change mitigation while achieving key biodiversity and conservation goals and supporting human well-being. Trees planted through the program have a range of benefits for communities and ecosystems, including the restoration of habitat for species at risk and species of interest; improved forest resilience to climate-related hazards such as wildland fire, flooding and drought; improved air and water quality; and the prevention of soil erosion. In 2022-23, 2BT supported the planting of over 27.9 million trees from 197 species, on more than 1100 sites across Canada. This brings the total trees planted since the program’s start in 2021 to over 110 million, including over 54 million planted under Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Fund in 2021. In 2022-23, 2BT supported tree planting over 761 hectares for habitat restoration for species at risk and species of interest, and 14,701 hectares for forest resilience to climate change. As part of the Natural Climate Solutions Fund horizontal initiative, 2BT continued to coordinate within NRCan and interdepartmentally with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to develop robust methods for reporting GHG reductions related to the program. In December 2022, Canada joined the Bonn Challenge, a global initiative aimed at bringing 350 million hectares (Mha) of degraded and deforested landscapes under restoration by 2030. The Government of Canada made an initial pledge of approximatively 19 million hectares through federal programs managed by ECCC, Parks Canada, and Natural Resources Canada that support on-the-ground landscape and ecosystem restoration activities, including the 2BT program.
SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss	Canada will continue to advance the science and utility of climate-sensitive forest growth and yield models to prepare for the uncertainties associated with climate change in sustainable forest management. Collaboration with provinces, territories and others (e.g. academia) will be a key component of this initiative.	These efforts contribute to advancing: Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Ambition 15.4- Canada sustainably manages forests, lakes and rivers Global Target 15.2.1 Progress towards sustainable forest management	Canada continued to advance the applied science and utility of climate sensitive growth and yield modeling in forestry, in partnership with Canada’s Provinces and Territories. Enhanced collaboration, including under the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, informed a strategic plan to deliver a scalable, user-friendly, and modular approach for improving existing models with climate information in jurisdictions across Canada. Models were successfully developed and tested in different regions, resulting in growing awareness and urgency to improve existing model uncertainties and take action to adapt forests and mitigate carbon emissions.

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

2022-23 Planned initiatives

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets

2022-23 Results

SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

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 Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) International 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 encourages voluntary commitments by both public and private sector organizations to work towards equal pay, equal leadership and equal opportunities for women in the energy sector by 2030.

NRCan also leads the Awards & Recognition program under C3E International, which recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations contributing to a clean energy future while advancing the empowerment of women.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Target 5.2 - Greater representation of women in leadership roles

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.

Canada chaired the Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative (formerly C3E International), and the International Energy Agency’s Gender Advisory Council, and will continue to lead the Equal by 30 campaign and the Awards & Recognition Program, under the Equality Initiative.

Canada led the Equal by 30 Campaign, a global effort under the Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative to advance the meaningful participation of women, and other marginalized groups, in the clean energy sector. 13 new signatories joined the campaign, bringing the total number to 192 signatories globally. Canada worked with Germany to release a G7 progress report on Equal by 30 commitments and advancements towards greater equality in the energy sector.

Canada recognized women’s achievements and organizational progress on gender equality in clean energy globally through leadership of the Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative’s impactful awards program, presented at the US-hosted Global Clean Energy Action Forum/CEM13 in Pittsburgh, USA in September 2022. Awards were delivered in three categories: the Woman of Distinction Award, the Organizational Leadership Award, and the new Emerging Leader Award.

SDG 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

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 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 member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Through IRENA, Canada participates in efforts to share policy, technology, resource and financial insights, and promote international cooperation on renewable energy development, as well advance policy priorities such as universal energy access and gender equity. As well, on November 4, 2021, at COP26, Canada and IRENA launched a new global, multi-stakeholder platform to transition remote communities to renewable energy.

Canada actively engages in various international fora focusing on energy efficiency, including the UN Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, the International Energy Efficiency Hub, and related IEA Technical Collaboration Programs, such as the Energy Efficient End-Use Equipment (IEA-4E). Canada has also joined the Three Percent Club with international partners, including 15 other countries, committing to working toward a 3% improvement in global energy efficiency every year.

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 concrete actions that over 100 partners are taking to advance the development of SMR technologies.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Target 7.1 - 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

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) Target 7.3.1 - By 2030, 90%, and in the long term 100%, of Canada's electricity is generated from renewable and non-emitting sources.

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

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.

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

Notably, Canada uses its advocacy to ensure efforts with respect to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) also support the achievement of SDG 13 (Climate Action) in order to ensure productive discussions and solutions.

Canada actively supports the International Energy Agency (IEA) and its mandate to promote sustainable, reliable, affordable, and secure energy globally. Within the IEA, Canada chairs the Committee on Energy Research and Technology and officially participates in 22 of its technology collaboration programmes. Canada also supports the IEA’s Clean Energy Transitions Programme, which helps developing countries enhance their capacity to develop and deploy clean energy technologies. As well, Canada participates in the Executive Committee of the Renewable Energy Working Party.

Canada continues to play a leading role in promoting clean and renewable energy through its active participation in the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) core activities and initiatives. Canada participated in and contributed to the IRENA Work Programme 2022-23 and the Medium-Term Strategy, including participation in all eight collaborative frameworks (geopolitics, hydrogen, hydropower, marine and offshore renewables, critical minerals, project facilitation, just and inclusive energy transition, and enhancing dialogue on high shares of renewables), Climate Investment Fund, Coalition for Action, and Global Geothermal Alliance. Canada has also actively promoted Canadian initiatives and IRENA-led international events, such as the Global Platform for Transitioning Remote Communities to Remote Communities, and the Innovation Day in Canada.

Canada is at the forefront of the development of SMRs with a number of demonstration projects positioning Canada to lead in the next generation of innovative nuclear technologies. In April 2022, NRCan launched the Pan-Canadian Nuclear Energy Leadership Table as an ongoing bi-annual forum composed of the federal government, interested provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous representatives, industry (nuclear and high-emitting sectors), electric utilities, and non-governmental organizations. The Leadership Table reviews progress and discusses strategic priorities as they relate to the development and deployment of nuclear energy projects across Canada. Canada’s SMR Action Plan is arguably the most detailed and ambitious SMR plan of its kind in the world. The Action Plan built on the momentum of Canada’s SMR Roadmap, released in 2018, which convened Team Canada to chart a vision for this emerging area of nuclear innovation and marked the beginning of Canada’s plan to be a world leader in SMR technology.

SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Canada will continue to engage with key bilateral partners and multilateral fora such as UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), G7/G20, CEM/MI (Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation), IEA (International Energy Agency), and IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) to advance international support for shared energy policy priorities related to climate change and, in particular, climate change mitigation.

As one example indicative of the ongoing work in this regard, Canada co-leads with the US and Japan on Clean Energy Future (NICE Future) an initiative under the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM). Participating countries and partner organizations under this initiative work together to advance the global conversation on the roles nuclear energy can play in clean energy systems of the future. In addition, Canada is co-leading Mission Innovation’s newly launched Carbon Dioxide Removal Mission and participating in the Clean Hydrogen, Green Powered Future, and Integrated Biorefineries Missions.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

Global Target 13.3 - Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

Global Target 13.b -Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities. Acknowledging that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the primary international, intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change.

Notably, Canada uses its advocacy to ensure efforts with respect to SDG 13 (Climate Action) also support the achievement of SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) in order to ensure productive discussions and solutions.

NRCan advanced Canadian interests with respect to energy transition, security and critical minerals at major international fora. Some highlights include:

NRCan’s high-level international engagements relating to climate action and energy transitions exceeded planned engagements for 2022-23 by 50% (87 completed vs at least 40 planned) as a result of global interest in accelerating the clean energy transition and advancing climate change priorities at international fora including the 13th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and 7th Mission Innovation (MI) meetings, the G20, International Energy Agency (IEA), 27th United Nations Conference of Parties (COP27), 15th United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15), and the G7. Some highlights include:

NICE Future: NRCan co-sponsored a NICE Future side event under the Nuclear Innovation: Clean Energy (NICE) Future Initiative to highlight the work Canada is doing at the intersection of hydrogen, demonstrate leadership in hydrogen, and emphasize the role of nuclear energy and renewables to achieve clean energy options.

G7: Minister-led delegation to the G7 Climate and Energy Ministerial Meeting in Berlin, Germany engaged in bilateral and multilateral discussions to highlight shared interests and importance of clean energy and natural resources to energy security and the transition to a net-zero economy. Canada leveraged its participation to commit to advancing global action on key topics, including energy security, clean energy transition, and addressing the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. This includes reaffirming the growing importance of critical minerals for the clean energy transition and creating responsible and resilient supply chains while ensuring local communities’ benefit.

G20: NRCan’s Deputy Minister participated in the G20 Energy Transition Ministerial hosted by Indonesia, to underscore Canada’s support of energy security and climate ambition and demonstrate Canadian leadership in the clean energy transition.

COP27: Senior NRCan officials participated in COP27 to demonstrate Canadian leadership in the clean energy transition, emissions-reducing technologies and pathways to achieve net-zero. They also used this fora to reinforce Canada’s commitment to work with partners to advance an inclusive energy transition, and to address the dual challenges of energy security and climate change.

SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Canada will continue to support the international collaborative project “moja global” (which includes other countries and a variety of funding and scientific/technical organizations) to maintain and refine software and tools to measure, report, and verify (MRV) land-based greenhouse gas emissions and removals. By using “moja global” software, countries, particularly developing countries, can avoid a drain on their human resources, can embed the MRV system into their existing government systems, and can make advancements towards the Paris Accord commitment of net zero emissions in the second half of the century. Canada supports this initiative both technically through carbon modelling expertise, as well as through funding to broaden the uptake of the MRV approach in other countries.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

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

The Moja Global project aims to enhance Canada’s environmental reputation by promoting domestic and international collaboration on open source tools to estimate emissions and removals from forests and harvested wood products, and developing uncertainty estimates in support of policy. NRCan continued to collaborate with moja global (an international initiative that has also involved the Australian and Kenyan governments and others) to develop open source software to help countries affordably and accurately estimate greenhouse gas emissions and removals from forests and other lands. The scientific core of Canada's Carbon Budget Model (CBM-CFS3) is a key part of the effort, as a basis for a spatially explicit Generic Carbon Budget Model (GCBM). Through this collaboration, NRCAN has advanced and implemented the Generic Carbon Budget Model on the Full Lands Integration Tool (FLINT) platform to support developing countries in the establishment of advanced measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems to quantify forest sector carbon balances.

To date, Moja Global has:

Advanced the Moja Global tools required for the integration and analysis of data required for national GHG inventories, reference level calculations, results-based payments and analysis of climate change mitigation options.
Developed in-country expertise and capacity in participating countries by working with Chile to test the process and steps, and working with multiple countries to write a collaborative funding proposal for MRV development.
Addressed funding issues and developing open source software tool by UN agencies, multilateral organizations and certain countries.

Key milestones over the last fiscal year include:

Government user application: Implementation of the project in Belize was successfully completed in partnership with a UNFCCC project.
Awareness, familiarity and demand for FLINT: Building on previous years’ investments in online training platform and materials, the moja global project supported the development of a UNFCCC-led moja global workshop in 2023.
Communications and marketing efforts have contributed to growing awareness by other international organizations, private companies and investors, resulting in new expressions of interest from the private sector.
Usability: In a market rife with 'black box' MRV solutions, the moja global project has continued to showcase the value of open-source solutions in both transparency and inclusiveness while delivering state-of-the-art, science-based tools. The project also invested in streamlining the development process for module developers and FLINT developers - i.e., making the tool easier to use and improve.

SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

The 2 Billion Trees program(2BT) supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to plant two billion incremental trees over the next 10 years to increase carbon sequestration. This will provide other co-benefits to communities and ecosystems such as contributing to the restoration of habitat for wildlife and biodiversity; increased health and well-being from cleaner air and water; storm surge management; and increased resilience to a changing climate.

This will be accomplished by funding tree planting projects with provinces and territories, tree planting organizations (both profit and non-profit), municipalities, and Indigenous organizations.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

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

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.

The Canadian Forest Service continues to implement the plan to plant two billion incremental trees over 10 years, as part of the Government of Canada’s broader approach to nature-based climate solutions. The 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program contributes to climate change mitigation while achieving key biodiversity and conservation goals and supporting human well-being. Trees planted through the program have a range of benefits for communities and ecosystems, including the restoration of habitat for species at risk and species of interest; improved forest resilience to climate-related hazards such as wildland fire, flooding and drought; improved air and water quality; and the prevention of soil erosion.

In 2022-23, 2BT supported the planting of over 27.9 million trees from 197 species, on more than 1100 sites across Canada. This brings the total trees planted since the program’s start in 2021 to over 110 million, including over 54 million planted under Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Fund in 2021. In 2022-23, 2BT supported tree planting over 761 hectares for habitat restoration for species at risk and species of interest, and 14,701 hectares for forest resilience to climate change. As part of the Natural Climate Solutions Fund horizontal initiative, 2BT continued to coordinate within NRCan and interdepartmentally with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to develop robust methods for reporting GHG reductions related to the program.

In December 2022, Canada joined the Bonn Challenge, a global initiative aimed at bringing 350 million hectares (Mha) of degraded and deforested landscapes under restoration by 2030. The Government of Canada made an initial pledge of approximatively 19 million hectares through federal programs managed by ECCC, Parks Canada, and Natural Resources Canada that support on-the-ground landscape and ecosystem restoration activities, including the 2BT program.

SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Canada will continue to advance the science and utility of climate-sensitive forest growth and yield models to prepare for the uncertainties associated with climate change in sustainable forest management. Collaboration with provinces, territories and others (e.g. academia) will be a key component of this initiative.

These efforts contribute to advancing:

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

Global Target 15.2.1 Progress towards sustainable forest management

Canada continued to advance the applied science and utility of climate sensitive growth and yield modeling in forestry, in partnership with Canada’s Provinces and Territories. Enhanced collaboration, including under the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, informed a strategic plan to deliver a scalable, user-friendly, and modular approach for improving existing models with climate information in jurisdictions across Canada. Models were successfully developed and tested in different regions, resulting in growing awareness and urgency to improve existing model uncertainties and take action to adapt forests and mitigate carbon emissions.

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Date modified:: 2023-10-11

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United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals

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