Background
The Climate Change Division leads policy and strategy development on issues relating to climate change and energy efficiency. The Division works collaboratively with other departments and agencies to ensure that climate change and energy efficiency are effectively and appropriately integrated into policy development and decision-making processes.
To guide action on climate change the Provincial Government has released The Way Forward on Climate Change in Newfoundland and Labrador. This collaborative, 5-year action plan sets out government’s strategic approach to advance action on climate change. The Way Forward on Climate Change includes 45 actions that the Provincial Government has committed to implement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build resilience to the impacts of climate change, and support clean economic growth.
Addressing climate change requires sustained effort in all sectors of the economy, and everyone has a role to play. The Way Forward on Climate Change builds upon previous and existing climate change initiatives in the province. Together departments and agencies across government will implement the actions outlined in this plan, in collaboration with a wide range of partners. This new plan demonstrates the Provincial Government’s commitment to work collaboratively on issues related to climate change, and ensure that climate change is appropriately considered and integrated in policy and strategy development across government.
The Climate Change Division works actively across all levels of government, with industry, non-profit organizations, academia and other stakeholders on policy matters related to climate change and energy efficiency. In 2016, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador joined the Prime Minister of Canada and other Premiers in adopting the Pan Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change (PCF). This is a national plan to meet Canada’s emissions reduction targets, grow the economy, and build resilience to a changing climate. It commits to action across all sectors of the economy. Through ongoing involvement in the implementation of the PCF, and other initiatives, the Province continues to identify new opportunities to advance collaboration and initiatives on climate change and energy efficiency, and assess the implications for Newfoundland and Labrador on developments that may occur regionally, nationally or internationally.
The role and responsibilities of Climate Change Division are:
- To develop policy and strategy to establish a path forward and advance sustained action on climate change and energy efficiency that effectively balances economic and environmental considerations, including deepening public awareness, understanding and engagement.
- To undertake focused research and analysis to enable the province to maximize opportunities and minimize risks from the impacts of climate change and the move towards a low-carbon global economy.
- To work with departments to better integrate climate change and energy efficiency considerations into their current and future programs, services, legislation and regulations, and ensure effective coordination across government.
- To advance the province’s interests and priorities in regional, national and international forums on climate change and energy efficiency, and engage external stakeholders to deepen and widen government’s dialogue on existing policy and programs, and next steps.
Mandate
The Climate Change Division works to:
- To advance sustained action on climate change and energy efficiency that effectively balances economic and environmental considerations, including deepening public awareness, understanding and engagement.
- To undertake focused research and analysis to enable the province to maximize opportunities and minimize risks from the impacts of climate change and the move towards a lower-carbon global economy.
- To work with departments to better integrate climate change and energy efficiency considerations into their current and future programs, services, legislation and regulations, and ensure effective coordination across government.
- To advance the province’s interests and priorities in regional, national and international forums on climate change and energy efficiency, and engage external stakeholders to deepen and widen government’s dialogue on next steps.
Lines of Business
The Climate Change Division has four lines of business:
- Policy and Strategy Development
- Promoting Government-wide Action
- Strengthening the Evidence Base
- Representing the Province in Intergovernmental Forums and Engaging External Stakeholders
Policy and Strategy Development
The Climate Change Division has lead responsibility within government for policy and strategy development on climate change and energy efficiency. This includes analyzing the implications of different policy approaches to achieve government’s greenhouse gas reduction and energy efficiency targets and desired outcomes; identifying the impacts of climate change and economic opportunities for the province; assessing the implications of national and international developments for the province; overseeing delivery of the 75 commitments in the Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Actions Plans owned by 13 different entities and leading efforts to engage the public.
Promoting Government-Wide Action
The Climate Change Division provides specialist knowledge and expertise to strengthen departments’ understanding of climate change and energy efficiency, and help them integrate these issues into their ongoing operations, programs, legislation, and regulations. The Branch aims to drive action across government and ensure that government takes a coordinated approach to the opportunities and challenges to help ensure resources are directed to where they will have the most impact.
Strengthening the Evidence Base
The Climate Change Division has lead responsibility within government for research, data and analysis on climate change and energy efficiency. For example, the Division leads the development of provincial greenhouse gas projections; studies the impact of different carbon prices on the provincial economy; deepens understanding of how the province may be impacted by climate change and what can be done to improve resilience; and reviews economic and energy models to better understand the relationship between investments in energy efficiency, energy consumption and economic activity.
Representing the Province in Intergovernmental Forums and Engaging External Stakeholders
The Climate Change Division represents the province’s interests in regional, national and international forums on climate change and energy efficiency. The Division has an extensive network of contacts in other jurisdictions which it actively engages to advance the province’s policy objectives. Officials also engage external stakeholders to help inform policy analysis and guide the implementation of commitments, including large industry, the electrical utilities, industry associations, academia, non-government organizations and other governments such as municipal governments and the Nunatsiavut Government.
Staff
| Name | Position | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Susan Squires | Assistant Deputy Minister | (709) 729-3016 |
| Gerald Crane | Director of Research, Analysis and Government Relations | (709) 729-0379 |
| Jennifer Forristall-Prim | Manager, Risk Mitigation | (709) 729-1485 |
| Angela Grant | Manager, Planning and Accountability | (709) 729-3215 |
| Terry McNeil | Manager of LCEF Programs | (709) 729-1394 |
| Lisa Sullivan | Policy and Program Development Specialist | (709) 729-1879 |