Canada, the world’s second largest country by area and the eleventh largest economy in the OECD, has abundant natural resources. It is one of the world’s biggest energy producers, as well as a major producer and exporter of agricultural products. Its vast territory hosts a great diversity of ecosystems and large tracts of it are undisturbed wilderness. This third Environmental Performance Review of Canada shows that it has successfully decoupled several environmental pressures from economic growth. Yet it faces challenges associated with high energy and resource consumption, high greenhouse gas emissions, and local pressures regarding biodiversity and water resources. While most Canadians enjoy clean air and good access to environmental services, many Indigenous communities lack equal access to essential services while being more exposed to environmental risks.

The principal aim of the OECD Environmental Performance Review programme is to help member and selected partner countries improve their individual and collective performance in environmental management by:

The following signs are used in Figures and Tables:

The second largest country in the world by area, Canada endows vast natural resources and a great biological diversity. Natural-resource based activities such as mining, fossil fuel extraction, agricultural forestry and fisheries provide for an important share of national income and exports. Canadians generally enjoy a high level of well-being, although parts of the population, particularly Indigenous peoples, lack equal opportunities and access to essential services. While Canada has decoupled a number of environmental pressures from economic growth, it remains one of the most energy- and resource- intensive economies in the OECD. Canada is the fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the OECD and emissions show no sign of falling yet. Fossil fuels remain the dominant energy source. The emission of local air pollutants decreased, but outdoor air pollution continues to harm Canadians. Waste is predominantly landfilled and recycling rates are low in most provinces and territories. Pressures on biodiversity and water bodies remain high in certain areas.

The Assessment and recommendations present the main findings of the Environmental Performance Review of Canada and identify 46 recommendations to help Canada make further progress towards its environmental policy objectives and international commitments. The OECD Working Party on Environmental Performance reviewed and approved the Assessment and recommendations at its meeting on 28 June 2017. Actions taken to implement selected recommendations from the 2004 Environmental Performance Review are summarised in the Annex.