Home > Proactive Disclosure > Audits and Evaluations > A&E Reports > 2010-2011 > Clean Air Agenda Horizontal Evaluation Roll-up: Synopsis of Evaluation Results Available to September 2010

Clean Air Agenda Horizontal Evaluation Roll-up: Synopsis of Evaluation Results Available to September 2010

Final

Prepared by Government Consulting Services for Audit and Evaluation Branch, Environment Canada

November 8, 2010

Previous page | Table of Contents | Next page

1.0 CAA Profile

This section provides an overview of the CAA under these headings:

• 1.1 Background
• 1.2 Overview of Themes
• 1.3 CAA Program Components
• 1.4 Planned and Actual Expenditures by Theme
• 1.5 Agenda Logic Model
• 1.6 Governance

1.1 Background

In the 2006 Speech from the Throne, the Government committed to taking measures to achieve tangible improvements in our environment, including reductions in air pollutant and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Budget 2006 committed $1.7 billion, later increased to $2.2 billion, to the Clean Air Agenda (CAA) for the four-year period from 2007–2008 to 2010–2011.

The CAA comprises:

• the Clean Air Regulatory Agenda (CARA), an integrated regulatory approach to reducing air pollutant (nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter) and GHG emissions, and
• a series of program measures to:
  1. support action by governments, individuals, organizations and businesses in reducing emissions of GHGs and air pollutants, and
  2. provide effective responses to climate change.

The CAA is a horizontal initiative comprising eight themes and 45 programs. (Note: The Agenda was expanded to include the Clean Energy Dialogue as a component of the International Actions theme in 2009–2010).

A tabular overview of the eight themes is presented on the next page, followed by lists of the program components within each theme, identifying the departments delivering the program.

Detailed information on the Agenda and the program components are available in the 2008–2009 Environment Canada Departmental Performance Report, Supplementary Table: Horizontal Initiatives: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/dpr-rmr/2008-2009/index-eng.asp?acr=1481.

Top of Page

1.2 Overview of Themes

^a This total does not include additional funds under a reprofiling of CARA that was approved in 2009.
^b Note: the Partnerships theme was not launched.

Source: Environment Canada, 2008–2009 Departmental Performance Report, Supplementary Information, Table: Horizontal Initiatives. http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/dpr-rmr/2008-2009/index-eng.asp?acr=1481. Unless otherwise stated, all budget allocation numbers reported in this document are from this source.

Top of Page

1.3 CAA Program Components¹

Clean Air Regulatory Agenda (EC)

1. Industrial Sector Regulatory Actions (EC)
2. Transportation Sector Regulatory Actions (EC, TC and NRCan)
3. Consumer and Commercial Products Regulatory Actions (EC, NRCan)
4. Indoor Air Quality Management Actions (HC)
5. Science in Support of Regulatory Activities and Accountability (EC, HC)
6. Emissions Reporting (EC)
7. Emissions Trading System (EC)
8. Enforcement and Reporting on Progress (EC)
9. Policy Analysis (EC)

Clean Energy (NRCan)

1. ecoENERGY for Buildings and Housing (NRCan)
2. ecoENERGY Retrofit (NRCan)
3. ecoENERGY for Industry (NRCan)
4. ecoENERGY for Renewable Power (NRCan)
5. ecoENERGY Renewable Heat (NRCan)
6. ecoENERGY for Technology (NRCan)
7. ecoENERGY for Aboriginal and Northern Communities (INAC)
8. Policy, Communications, Monitoring and Reporting (NRCan)

International Actions (EC)

1. International Obligations (EC, DFAIT)
2. International Negotiations (EC, NRCan, DFAIT)
3. Asia-Pacific Partnership (NRCan, EC, IC)
4. PM Annex (EC)
5. Clean Energy Dialogue (EC, NRCan, DFAIT)

Partnerships (EC)

1. Community Partnerships (EC)

Clean Transportation (TC)

1. ecoMobility (TC)
2. ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles (TC)
3. ecoENERGY for Personal Vehicles (NRCan)
4. ecoENERGY for Fleets (NRCan)
5. ecoFREIGHT Partnerships (TC)
6. National Harmonization Initiative for the Trucking Industry (TC)
7. Freight Technology Demonstration Fund (TC)
8. Freight Technology Incentives (TC)
9. Marine Shore Power Program (TC)
10. ecoAUTO Rebate Program (TC, HRSDC)
11. Vehicle Scrappage Program (EC)
12. Analytical and Policy Support (TC)

Indoor Air Quality (HC/NRC)

1. Indoor Air R&D Initiative (NRC)
2. Radon Strategy (HC)

Adaptation (EC)

1. Assist Northerners in Assessing Key Vulnerabilities and Opportunities (INAC)
2. National Air Quality Health Index and Forecast Program (HC, EC)
3. Climate Change and Health Adaptation in Northern/Inuit Communities (HC)
4. Improved Climate Change Scenarios (EC)
5. Innovative Risk Management Tools
6. Regional Adaptation Action Partnerships (NRCan)
7. Climate and Infectious Disease Alert and Response System to Protect the Health of Canadians (HC, PHAC)

Management and Accountability (EC)

1. Management and Accountability (EC)

Top of Page

1.4 Planned and Actual Expenditures by Theme

Top of Page

1.5 Agenda Logic Model

Figure 1: Agenda Logic Model

This figure shows the logic model for the Clean Air Agenda, giving a graphical depiction of how CAA outputs support the outcomes of each Theme, as well as how the intermediate outcomes of the Clean Air Agenda contribute to the fulfillment of long-term outcomes of the Government of Canada.

CAA Outputs

• Regulations, Standards, Guidelines, Agreements
• Financial Incentives
• Technology Development & Industrial R&D
• Research Studies
• Information & Decision Support
• Policy Advice
• Partnerships & Networks
• Tools, Training, Processes and Systems

Theme Outcomes

• Clean Air Regulatory Agenda
• Clean Transportation
• Clean Energy
• Partnerships
• Adaptation
• Indoor Air Quality
• International
• Management & Accountability

Long-Term Outcomes (Government of Canada)

1. Health, economic and environmental benefits for Canadians have been realized
2. Risks to the health of Canadians and the environment resulting from exposure to air pollution have been reduced
3. Risks to communities, infrastructure and to the health & safety of Canadians resulting from Climate Change have been reduced
4. Trans-boundary movement of air pollutants has been reduced
5. Indoor air quality has been improved
6. Canada’s emission of air pollutants has been reduced
7. Innovations related to reducing air pollution and addressing climate change have maintained Canadian competitiveness and provided economic benefits
8. Canada’s emission of GHGs have been reduced
9. Canadians and communities have taken actions to reduce their vulnerabilities from and have adapted to predicted impacts of Climate Change
10. International trends on climate change are consistent with Canada’s interests

Intermediate Outcomes (Clean Air Agenda)

11. Canadians take actions in response to forecasted levels of air quality
12. International air quality agreements are consistent with Canada’s interest
13. Reduction measures for indoor air pollutants and radon exposure have been implemented
14. Targeted industrial sectors have reduced emissions of GHGs and air pollutants and improved energy efficiency
15. Emissions of GHGs and air pollutants have been reduced, and energy efficiency has improved in Canadian homes and buildings
16. Emissions of GHGs, air pollutants and energy consumption have been reduced from modes of transportation
17. Emissions of GHGs and air pollutants have been reduced and energy efficiency has improved from the use of efficient and environmentally safe products
18. Emission of GHGs and air pollutants have been reduced due to the use of clean and renewable energy sources
19. Canadian communities and user groups use tools and information to assess climate change risks and plan adaptation strategies
20. International climate change agreements are consistent with Canada’s interests

Top of Page

1.6 Governance

EC is the lead department on the overall CAA and is responsible for the Clean Air Agenda-Results Management Secretariat (CAA-RMS). In all, eight government departments (EC; NRCan; TC; NRC; INAC; HC; PHAC; and DFAIT) are responsible for themes and/or individual programs. Two additional departments (Industry Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada) are partners in specific programs.

The CAA accountability structure is composed of these interdepartmental committees:

• DM Committee
• ADM Steering Committee
• DG Theme Management Committees
• DG Theme Leads Coordinating Committee (DGTLCC)

The DGTLCC is the primary operational committee responsible for implementing the elements of the CAA, comprising the leads from each of the eight DG Theme Management Committees.

The CAA-RMS is the main support structure for the CAA Management and Accountability theme. Its key functions include:

• Providing support and coordination for horizontal management of the CAA across departments;
• Maintaining a database of financial resource information;
• Analyzing financial and non-financial information to support an assessment of performance across the CAA, including achievement of results, use, allocation and sufficiency of resources, and risks; and
• Providing relevant reports, as required, to the governance structure and TBS.

¹ Descriptions of each of the CAA program components are included in the Environment Canada Departmental Performance Report, Supplementary Table: Horizontal Initiatives. The 2008–09 supplementary table is published at http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/dpr-rmr/2008-2009/index-eng.asp?acr=1481.

Previous page | Table of Contents | Next page