Evaluation of the International Actions Theme of the Clean Air Agenda

November 2010

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Acronyms used in the report

ADM

Assistant Deputy Minister

APEC

Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation

APP

Asia–Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate

ARAF

Accountability, Risk and Audit Framework

AWG

Ad Hoc Working Group

CAA

Clean Air Agenda

CAA–RMS

Clean Air Agenda Results Management Secretariat

CARA

Clean Air Regulatory Agenda

CCME

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment

CCS

Carbon capture and storage

CED

Clean Energy Dialogue

CESD

Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

COP

Conference of the Parties

CSLF

Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum

DFAIT

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

DG

Director General

DGMC

Director General Management Committee

DGTLCC

Director General Theme Leads Coordinating Committee

DM

Deputy Minister

EC

Environment Canada

EGTT

Expert Group on Technology Transfer

G&C

Grants and contributions

GHG

Greenhouse gas

HMARF

Horizontal Management and Accountability Reporting Framework

IEA

International Energy Agency

IC

Industry Canada

IPCC

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

ITL

International Transaction Log

LDCs

Least Developed Countries

LEG

Least Developed Countries Expert Group

LULUCF

Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry

M2M

Methane to Markets

MEF

Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate

NGO

Non-governmental organization

NO_x

Nitrogen oxides

NRCan

Natural Resources Canada

OECD

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

PEMA

Pollution Emission Management Area

PIC

Policy and Implementation Committee

PM

Particulate matter

REEEP

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership

SIDS

Small Island Developing States

SO₂

Sulphur dioxide

UNFCCC

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

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Acknowledgments

The Evaluation Project Team was led by Linda Lee, under the direction of the Environment Canada Evaluation Director, Shelley Borys, and included Dorota Geissel and Heather Low from Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada; Alan Amey and Annette Hollas from Natural Resources Canada; and Rosemary Clarke from Environment Canada. The Team would also like to thank all individuals who provided assistance to the project, including:

• all interviewees who provided their insights on the International Actions Theme;
• the expert focus group members, who provided critical analysis and opinions on the Clean Air Agenda’s international accomplishments and challenges; and
• all departmental personnel who responded to our inquiries and requests for documentary evidence, and provided detailed comments crucial to the development of this report and the associated appendices.

This report was prepared for Environment Canada by Stratos, Inc., in collaboration with Marbek and with Environmental and Management Consultants.

Table of Contents

• Executive Summary
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Background
  • 2.1 Profile - International Actions Theme Program Components
  • 2.2 Governance Structure for the International Actions Theme
  • 2.3 Resource Allocation for Program Components
  • 2.4 Program Logic Model
• 3 Evaluation Design
  • 3.1 Purpose, Objectives and Scope of the Evaluation
  • 3.2 Evaluation Approach and Methodology
  • 3.3 Limitations
• 4 Findings by Evaluation Question
  • 4.1 Rating of Findings
  • 4.2 Evaluation Issue: Relevance - Continued Need
  • 4.3 Evaluation Issue: Relevance - Alignment with Government Priorities
  • 4.4 Evaluation Issue: Relevance - Alignment with Federal Roles and Responsibilities
  • 4.5 Evaluation Issue: Performance - Achievement of Expected Outcomes
  • 4.6 Evaluation Issue: Performance - Demonstrated Efficiency and Economy
  • 4.7 Findings for DFAIT's Class of Contributions in Support of International Environmental Programs
• 5 Conclusions
  • 5.1 Relevance
  • 5.2 Performance
• 6 Recommendations
• 7 Management Response
• Annex 1 Evaluation Framework
• Annex 2 Summary of Findings
• List of Tables
  • Table 1: Resource Allocations by Department and Program Component
  • Table 2: Grants and Contributions Allocations by Departments and Program Component
  • Table 3: Ratings Legend
  • Table 4: Departmental Priorities
  • Table 5: PM Annex Planned Spending vs. Actual Spending, 2007-08 to 2008-09
  • Table 6: DFAIT Grants and Contributions, 2007-2008 to 2009-2010
• List of Figures
  • Figure 1: International Actions Theme Logic Model