Environment and sustainable development

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is committed to advancing the Government of Canada's priorities and goals on sustainable development and climate action.

Sustainable Development Strategies

The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy is the government's vision for a more sustainable Canada. It outlines goals and actions to promote clean growth and healthy ecosystems and build safe, secure and sustainable communities.

The CFIA supports the implementation of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy and has outlined sustainable development targets in its Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy. A new strategy will be developed every third year as part of that year's Departmental Plan.

Strategic Environmental Assessments

Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) require government departments and agencies to incorporate environmental considerations into the development of policies, plans and programs.

The Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals sets out clear obligations for SEAs and promotes and supports the implementation of sustainable development strategies.

Under this Directive, the CFIA is required to conduct a SEA when:

• a proposal for a policy, plan or program is submitted to a Minister or to Cabinet for approval
• implementation of a proposal may produce a significant environmental impact, either positive or negative

The Guidelines for Implementing the Cabinet Directive require departments to prepare a public statement of environmental effects when a SEA has been conducted. Any new detailed SEAs conducted by the CFIA will be posted to this page.

Climate change adaptation

Canada is experiencing the impacts of climate change, posing significant risks to human health, the natural environment and the economy. There is a need to better prepare Canadians to adapt and build resilience to climate change. The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy describes the Government of Canada's priorities, goals and targets for sustainability, and how federal organisations are implementing and achieving them.

Canada is tackling climate change on two fronts:

• mitigation: by reducing the emission of greenhouses gases, which contribute to climate change (for example, through the Greening Government Strategy); and
• adaptation: by planning for and acting on the anticipated impacts of climate change

Adapting to climate change involves adjusting our decisions, activities and thinking because of observed or expected changes in climate. Adaptation will help reduce harm or take advantage of new opportunities.

Canada's first National Adaptation Strategy provides a roadmap for whole-of-society action on adaptation that will help prepare communities for the impacts of climate change. The Strategy lays out a vision for a resilient society and identifies goals, objectives and targets in 5 key systems that affect the daily lives of Canadians:

• disaster resilience
• health and wellbeing
• nature and biodiversity
• infrastructure
• economy and workers

The Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan outlines how the federal government is contributing to implementing the National Adaptation Strategy. It provides a framework to organize federal adaptation actions going forward. The Government of Canada is making targeted choices to help meet the Strategy's goals and objectives, while respecting the federal government's role and authority for action.

An adaptation action plan for the CFIA is currently under development.