The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the Parliament of Canada, on behalf of the Auditor General of Canada, has issued a report, which finds that Canada “has struggled to deliver on its sustainable development commitments.” Drawing from past audits and more than three decades of government actions on sustainable development, the report identifies six lessons “that would help Canada achieve better sustainable development outcomes.”
Titled, ‘Lessons Learned from Canada’s Record on Sustainable Development,’ the report defines sustainable development as “an internationally accepted approach to improving humankind’s stewardship and ensuring an inclusive and equitable distribution of the planet’s resources.” It notes that sustainable development aims to ensure “we meet our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs,” by integrating social, economic, and environmental factors into policies, programs, and decision making. The report finds that Canada has made the least improvement among all Group of 7 (G7) countries in meeting the Goals.
“Implementing sustainable development is proving to be an immense challenge in Canada,” said Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Jerry DeMarco. “This report provides information and analysis to help Canada improve its sustainable development performance and foster a better future for generations to come.”
The report recommends that Canada learn from its sustainable development efforts to date by:
- strengthening leadership at the national level to drive a more strategic and coordinated approach to sustainable development;
- establishing an integrated approach to sustainable development planning that incorporates social, economic, and environmental factors in decision making, policies, and programs;
- enhancing collaboration and inviting all actors to the decision-making table;
- engaging with Indigenous governments and peoples and honoring Canada’s commitments to them;
- ensuring that reporting is consistent and that indicators to measure progress are appropriate; and
- taking a long‑term approach to protect future generations and ensure continuous progress.
The report was released on 10 June, the week prior to the G7 Summit, hosted by Canada. It is one of four reports issued by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development in 2025. The other three assess Canada’s national adaptation strategy, critical habitat for species at risk, and integrated oceans management. [Publication: Lessons Learned from Canada’s Record on Sustainable Development] [Office of the Auditor General of Canada News Release] [2025 Reports 1 to 4 of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development]