2021—Investing in Canada Plan (Auditor General’s report)

The plan includes funding for mitigating climate change’s effects on existing infrastructure.

The federal government was unable to provide meaningful public reporting on the plan’s overall progress toward its expected results.

2019—Review of the 2018 Progress Report on the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (Commissioner for the Environment and Sustainable Development’s report)

The government’s projected 2030 greenhouse gas emission values and documentation failed to demonstrate that its existing and planned actions would enable Canada to meet the country’s 2030 target for emission reductions.

2019—Non‑Tax Subsidies for Fossil Fuels and Tax Subsidies for Fossil Fuels (CESD report)

The government did not have a complete inventory of potential fossil fuel subsidies.

The government did not conduct a rigorous assessment of its potential non‑tax subsidies inventory to determine whether they were actual subsidies.

Canada’s assessments to identify inefficient tax subsidies for fossil fuels were incomplete and did not clearly define how a tax subsidy for fossil fuels would be inefficient.

2018—Perspectives on Climate Change Action in Canada—A Collaborative Report from Auditors General (CESD report)

Canada was not on track to meet its 2020 target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Meeting Canada’s 2030 target would require substantial effort and actions beyond those currently planned or in place.

Most Canadian governments had not assessed and did not fully understand what risks they face and what actions they should take to adapt to a changing climate.

2018—Climate Change in Nunavut (AG report)

The Government of Nunavut was not adequately prepared to respond to climate change. It lacked implementation plans for its adaptation and emission strategies.

The Government of Nunavut did not fully assess the risks of climate change to Nunavut.

2017—Progress on Reducing Greenhouse Gases (CESD report)

Canada was not on track to meet its 2020 emission target and had shifted its focus to a 2030 emission target.

2017—Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change (CESD report)

No priorities were set and no adaptation action plans were instituted to advance the Federal Adaptation Policy Framework across the federal government.

2017—Climate Change in Yukon (AG report)

The Government of Yukon created a strategy, an action plan, and 2 progress reports to respond to climate change. However, the commitments were weak and not prioritized.

Deficiencies in reporting made it difficult to assess progress.

2017—Climate Change in the Northwest Territories (AG report)

The territory’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources did not identify climate change risks and did not establish a territorial adaptation strategy.

The Government of Northwest Territories departments and communities pursued their own adaptation efforts, resulting in a piecemeal and uncoordinated approach to adaptation.

2017—Fossil Fuel Subsidies (AG report)

The government did not define what the 2009 G20 commitment to phase out and rationalize inefficient fossil fuel subsidies meant in the context of Canada’s national circumstances.

2017—Funding Clean Energy Technologies (CESD report)

The government had rigorous and objective processes in place to assess, approve, and monitor projects.

2016—Mitigating the Impacts of Severe Weather (CESD report)

The government had not done enough to help mitigate the anticipated effects of severe weather events.

2016—Federal Support for Sustainable Municipal Infrastructure (CESD report)

The government could not adequately demonstrate that the Gas Tax Fund had resulted in reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

2014—Mitigating Climate Change (CESD report)

Canada would not meet its 2020 emission reduction target.

The federal government had no plan for working toward the greater reductions required beyond 2020.

There was no coordination with provinces and territories to achieve the national target.

2012—Meeting Canada’s 2020 Climate Change Commitments (CESD report)

Canada was not on track to meet its 2020 emission target under the Copenhagen Accord.

2011—Climate Change Plans under the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act (CESD report)

Canada was not on track to meet its Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gas emission target.

The governance mechanisms for climate change were inadequate.

2010—Adapting to Climate Impacts (CESD report)

No concrete actions were taken to adapt to the effects of a changing climate.

2009—Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act (CESD report)

The climate change plans overstated the reductions that could be reasonably expected.

Climate plans lacked transparency.

Reporting was deficient.

2006—Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change (CESD report)

The government had not put in place key measures to support climate adaptation and had no strategy for federal adaptation efforts to indicate expected results and timelines and for which departments would assume responsibilities.

Federal progress in working with provinces and territories was limited.

2006—Managing the Federal Approach to Climate Change (CESD report)

Canada was not on track to meet its Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gas emission target.

Governance mechanisms for climate change were inadequate.

Reporting was deficient.

2001—Climate Change and Energy Efficiency: A Progress Report (CESD report)

Despite some progress, the federal government had a great deal of work left to do to engage partners to take action on climate change.

Action Plan 2000 lacked specific performance expectations.

1998—Responding to Climate Change: Time to Rethink Canada’s Implementation Strategy (CESD report)

Governance mechanisms for climate change were inadequate.

1997—Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the House of Commons (CESD report)

This was the first of the Commissioner’s reports. Climate change is mentioned as a key issue of concern to Canadians and as the subject of one of the first reports to be issued by the Commissioner.