The environmental implications of the “Climate-smart Agriculture Annex of Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan”, as well as the “Action on Climate and the Environment in the Agriculture Sector” AAFC proposals have been evaluated in two Detailed Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) in accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals.
Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan – Climate-smart Agriculture Annex
This Annex proposed to boost climate-smart agriculture, including actions related to crop and livestock production, such as the development and adoption of transformative clean technologies. An SEA was completed in November 2020, titled “Canada’s Enhanced Climate Plan – Agriculture Sector Strategy Annex”.
This SEA concluded there are likely to be important positive environmental effects, both direct and indirect, associated with implementation of the proposed agriculture measures. The enhanced environmental measures put forward are expected to contribute to improving the sector’s environmental performance and contribute to Canada’s emission reduction targets. It is also anticipated that any potential negative effects resulting from the proposal can be mitigated with existing mechanisms, such as legislation, permitting, and use of beneficial management practices.
Action on Climate and the Environment in the Agriculture Sector – Emissions Reduction Plan
This proposal included producer incentives to adopt on-farm climate practices, for example through the Agricultural Climate Solutions Program/On-Farm Climate Action Fund stream, investments in technology to reduce GHG emissions through the Agricultural Clean Technology Program, as well as transformative science. A full SEA was completed for this proposal in January 2022, and found a number of direct and indirect, important positive environmental effects.
This plan is expected to lower the carbon footprint related to farms and food systems, contributing to important positive environmental effects. The activities are expected to enhance sector efforts to meet 2030 GHG mitigation targets, to contribute to improving the sector’s environmental performance and set the foundation for a potential net-zero agriculture sector in 2050. As well there are expected to be co-benefits to water, soil health, biodiversity and adaptation.
The SEAs concluded there are likely to be a number of important positive environmental effects, both direct and indirect, associated with implementation of the above proposals. The On-Farm Climate Action Fund is expected to have a direct positive impact on mitigating climate change, and enhance effects of existing programming with similar focus. The activities can reasonably be expected to increase widespread adoption of these practices across the sector in various regions across Canada. Investments into clean technology allow the sector to respond to agri-environmental challenges related to greenhouse gas emissions, soil/water challenges, and climate change adaptation issues.
There are a number of activities in the proposals that will contribute directly toward meeting the goals and targets of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS), particularly in relation to the goals of Effective Action on Climate Change and Sustainable Food. The SEA for Action on Climate and the Environment in the Agriculture Sector also identified contributions to the goals of Clean Growth, Modern and Resilient Infrastructure, and Sustainably Managed Lands and Forests.
One of the main objectives of these proposals is to have positive environmental effects on mitigating the effects of climate change and reducing GHG emissions from agricultural activities, while improving the long-term environmental sustainability of agriculture in Canada. The agricultural sector is committed to realizing positive effects on the environment, while managing and mitigating any potential negative environmental impacts. While the overall nature and cumulative impacts of these proposals are not easily predicted, the overall objective is to improve the long-term environmental sustainability of agriculture in Canada.