Welcome

Welcome to Environment Canada's International Relations home page. Over the past 30 years, we have seen the focus of Canadian environmental policies broaden from local and regional issues to challenges of a global nature. Examples of these issues include climate change, global biodiversity, ozone layer depletion, and the transport of chemicals and hazardous wastes. Today, the international environmental agenda is best described as diverse, expansive and complex where the effectiveness of our national policies are often determined by our ability to influence decisions internationally.

For its part, Environment Canada has long been a contributor to the Government of Canada's international environmental agenda by advancing and sharing science and know-how, as well as through negotiations and policy dialogue in international fora. To better address the environmental challenges of our global environment, an approach to enhance knowledge, innovation and partnerships, within Canada and internationally, has been initiated by Environment Canada.

The International Relations Directorate (IRD) plays the central policy and coordination role for Environment Canada’s international activities. It provides strategic advice on international relations, develops the strategic framework within which the Department’s international activities are managed, participates in the negotiation and implementation of international agreements and MOUs, and provides policy and operational support to the Minister, DM and senior management on international activities. The directorate’s responsibilities also include managing the Department’s bilateral and regional relations (e.g. North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation) as well as participation in international organizations such as the International Joint Commission, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the United Nations Environment Program.

We hope you find this site useful and that it will provide you with a better understanding of the many aspects of our global environment.

• 2^nd Conference of the Parties – Stockholm POPs Convention, May 1-5,2006, Geneva
  
  
• 14^th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, May 1-12, 2006, New York, USA
  
  
• World Urban Forum, June 19-23, 2006, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
  
  
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
  • 25^th Session of the Financial Advisory Committee, June 19, 2006, Geneva, Switzerland
  • 58^th Session of the Executive Council, June 20-30, 2006, Geneva, Switzerland