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Environment

A strategic pillar of Canada’s relationship with China under the December 2009 Canada-China Joint Statement, cooperation on environment between the two countries started in the mid-1980’s.

In 1992, a major building block towards the strengthening of Sino-Canadian cooperation on environment was laid when the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) provided assistance for the establishment of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), a high-profile international advisory body for collaboration and exchange on matters of sustainable development. Canada’s support for the work of the CCICED continues to this day and has become a cornerstone of Canada’s engagement with China on environmental policy issues. In November 2011, the CCICED celebrated its 20th anniversary in Beijing. Through CIDA, Canada continues to be the lead international partner. As a high-profile international advisory body, chaired by the Chinese Vice Premier and co-chaired by the Minister of MEP and the President of CIDA, the CCICED has been providing world class policy advice to China to help the country deal with its considerable environmental challenges. CCICED has been credited with a number of positive environmental policy changes undertaken by China over the past 20 years.

Nowadays, Canada and China pursue cooperation through several bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, such as the Canada-China Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) and the Joint Committee on Environmental Cooperation (JCEC). Bilateral cooperation covers a wide range of areas such as climate change, renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, biodiversity conservation, protected areas management, mercury emissions control, water resources as well as environmental monitoring and assessment.

Recognizing their long history of successful collaboration and the tremendous opportunities that lay ahead, Canada and China undertook over the last year to step up cooperation on environment through the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs):

• Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of the Environment of Canada, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Department of Natural Resources of Canada and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China on Climate Change Cooperation (December 3, 2009) ;

For additional information, see:
PM welcomes new agreements with China on climate change and cultural exchanges

•  Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans of Canada and the State Oceanic Administration of the People's Republic of China on Cooperation in the Field of Marine and Fisheries Science and Technology (October 4, 2010) ;

For additional information, see:
Canada Signs Ocean Science Cooperation Agreement with China

• Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation between the Department of the Environment of Canada and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China (October 29, 2010). 

For additional information, see:
Canada Signs Environmental Cooperation Agreement with China

For additional information, see:

• Memorandum of Understanding between the Parks Canada Agency and the State Forestry Administration of the People’s Republic of China for Cooperation on Matters Related to Protected Areas (February 8, 2010). 

The signing of these MOUs, along with the visit to China of former Canadian environment Minister Jim Prentice in October 2010, establish a solid framework for Canada and China’s expanding cooperation on environment.

The following provides information or links to some ongoing projects and recent or upcoming cooperative activities on climate change and environment. 

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Date Modified:

2012-04-30