Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) - Long-Term Strategy for Canada’s Participation in World Expos

In the fall of 2022, Global Affairs Canada Global Affairs Canada started a Memorandum to Cabinet process for a Long-term strategy for Canada’s participation in World Expos.  In accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Environment Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, and to ensure alignment with Canada’s 2030 and net-zero by 2050 emission targets, the Geographic Coordination and Mission Support division (NMD), with the support of GAC’s Environment Oversight Unit (MSS), completed a Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) for this initiative.

The SEA made the following operational recommendations to the design team:

• Include climate change and environment criteria into Canada’s decision making process for hosts and themes, and into negotiations planning to influence the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) members toward Expos hosts and themes, which present opportunities for Canada;
• Include climate change and environment criteria in the Decision Making Framework for Canadian Participation at Expos;
• With support from MSS, develop an Environment Management Framework (EMF) to guide the mainstreaming of environment and climate change considerations into the work of the proposed Expos lead policy unit in GAC.

All the SEA recommendations were integrated into the MC. The MC now strategically supports Canada’s broad environmental objectives, including Canada’s 2030 and net-zero by 2050 emission targets. All ministerial responsibilities related to the Cabinet Directive for this MC are met.