Question Period Note: UNICEF REPORT – THE ENVIRONMENT AND CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING IN CANADA

UNICEF’s May 2022 report “The Future is Now” assesses the impacts of environmental damage on the well-being of children and youth in Canada

• Canada is investing in environment and climate action to create a cleaner and safer future for our children and grandchildren.
• The 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan recognized that we must take action now to protect our planet and secure our children’s future, and that reducing carbon pollution to net zero by 2050 is the best chance of keeping the planet liveable for our children and grandchildren.
• We will continue to take steps to ensure that the concerns of children and youth are at the centre of Government decision-making.

If Pressed
• Intergenerational equity is one of the guiding principles of the strengthened Federal Sustainable Development Act, which reflects Canada’s commitment to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of children and future generations to meet their needs.
• The Government of Canada supports partner organizations to implement programs that empower children and youth on climate action, through the Environmental Damages Fund and Canada’s Climate Action and Awareness Fund.
• Canada is also getting ready to launch an Environment and Climate Change Youth Council to advise the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change on these important issues from a youth perspective.

UNICEF Canada was founded in 1955, and is one of 34 National Committees located in countries around the world. The organisation’s mission is to mobilize and empower Canadians to invest in the positive transformation of every child’s future.

UNICEF Report Cards measure child and youth well-being in wealthy countries. Canada currently ranks 30th in child and youth well-being and 28th in overall environmental well-being of children and youth among 39 wealthy countries. UNICEF and other children’s rights stakeholders have expressed concern with the limited progress observed in critical areas.
Report Card 17 specifically addresses the impacts of environmental stressors on the well-being of children and youth under age 18. It points to the need for urgent progress in a range of environmental policies that limit waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, UNICEF recommends that governments at all levels:
• Apply a distinct child and youth impact lens to environmental policies, giving them priority consideration and including child-specific targets and accountability.
• Improve the protection of children and youth afforded by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, ensuring their right to a healthy environment and requiring impacts on diverse young people to be considered in every risk assessment.
• Review every sustainable development strategy, disaster risk reduction plan and disaster mitigation and emergency management strategy from a child impact and equity perspective

In addition to their Report Cards, UNICEF Canada develops poll topics and questions in collaboration with the U-Report Canada Steering Committee and Youth Ambassadors. In a recent U-Report on how young people feel about climate change, more than 50% of respondents indicated that they somewhat distrust or distrust the Canadian government to represent their views on climate change at the international level; and, more than 60% agreed or strongly agreed that the federal government should have the power to make decisions about protecting the climate, even if a provincial government disagrees.

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