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ARCHIVED - National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy


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Section 2: ANALYSIS OF PROGRAM ACTIVITY BY STRATEGIC OUTCOME

2.1 Strategic Outcome

The NRTEE has a single strategic outcome, namely, federal policy development and decisions in other key sectors are influenced by advice on sustainable development issues pertaining to the environment and the economy.

The NRTEE's approach to achieving its strategic outcome is to produce and disseminate policy advice about challenges and opportunities at the interface between the environment and the economy so as to increase the understanding of decision makers and inform the debate on these issues. To ensure NRTEE advice is considered in policy decisions, NRTEE will maintain regular and ongoing communications with federal decision makers and national stakeholders that will increase awareness of NRTEE policy research and advice.

Performance indicator: The key indicator of the NRTEE's performance is the extent to which NRTEE's advice is considered in federal policy decisions and its research results are used when developing policy recommendations.

2.2 Program Activity (PA)

The NRTEE has a single program activity, namely Advisory Program on Environment and Economy Issues. As such, it fully supports the NRTEE's single strategic outcome.


PA Description (approved by TBS)

Raising awareness and understanding among Canadians and their governments about the challenges of sustainable development and promoting viable solutions are vital to Canada's environmental and economic future. Through this program, the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) strives to influence policy development and decision making on select sustainable development issues pertaining to the environment and the economy. The NRTEE conducts research, analysis, and produces information and advice on selected sustainable development issues. The agency promotes its findings and recommendations through a variety of communications channels such as media relations, stakeholder briefings and other events, publications, and the agency website to influence policy and decisions of policy makers in the federal government and other key sectors such as other levels of government, industry and non-government organizations across the country.


Because the NRTEE has a single program activity, all the expected results from the PA directly support the NRTEE's two key priorities as well as the NRTEE's single strategic outcome.

2.3 Financial and HR Resources

Table 2.1. Financial Resources ($ thousands)


2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
$5,154.0 $5,154.0 $5,154.0

Table 2.2. Human Resources (FTEs)


2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
27 27 27

2.4 Performance Measurement

In 2006-2007, the NRTEE initiated a more rigorous approach to measuring its performance. The objective was to produce evidence-based performance information for decision making and to improve external public reporting in the DPR. The new Performance Measurement Framework will be used as the basis for identifying the expected results and indicators for 2008-2009.

Key data sources for populating the framework are as follows:

Feedback from federal decision makers and national stakeholders (based on a bi-annual surveys)

Feedback provided by participants after NRTEE consultation sessions

Operational data related to communications and overall management of the NRTEE.

The NRTEE plans to monitor the usefulness and relevance of the various elements of the framework and to make adjustments as required to ensure its ongoing value.

2.5 Plans for 2008-2009 and Beyond

The NRTEE produces and promotes advice to decision makers on issues at the nexus of the environment and the economy.

2.5.1 Produce Advice

Producing advice is a core activity for the NRTEE. The Round Table adopts various approaches to ensure the quality of its research and advice:

Obtain technical expertise from external experts as required.

Validate work with credible experts from key stakeholder groups.

Maintain ongoing contact with stakeholders and decision makers to ensure the advice is relevant; enable stakeholders to provide meaningful input as part of the analysis.

Pursue collaborations with external partners to access expertise and input.

Engage the NRTEE members in the work on a regular basis; leverage their input and support.

Expected Results and Performance Indicators

The performance indicators are shown below for each result associated with producing advice.

Table 2.3. Expected Results and Performance Indicators


Expected Results Indicator
High quality research Perceived quality of research
Effective consultations Extent of consultations
Effectiveness of consultations
Useful recommendations and results Perceived usefulness
Perceived independence of NRTEE
Demand for NRTEE advice

Specific Initiatives for 2008 and beyond

Generate Policy Advice

Existing Work: Climate Change Adaptation Policy

The NRTEE will complete this program in 2008 with the release of a final report and associated communications activities. Initiated in June 2006, this program examines how Canadian public policy influences the way in which Canada's communities and economic sectors plan for and manage the effects of climate change. It has three specific objectives:

To provide a general characterization of the role of government in fostering sound adaptation by Canadian sectors, communities, and households, including the identification of key public policy challenges and opportunities related to addressing the impacts of climate change in Canada;

To identify and describe areas of government policy of strategic significance for triggering integration of climate change-related impacts into the risk management practices of potentially impacted sectors of the Canadian economy; and

To conduct an evaluation of how key mechanisms within one or more of the identified areas of policymight be adjusted, strengthened, or more profoundly restructured so as best to enable the integration of climate change as a risk management issue, to thereby effect the development of stronger adaptive capacity and sound adaptation throughout Canadian society.

The NRTEE has identified three policy areas as having significant influence in relation to the risk management of climate-change impacts in Canada:

Disaster management

Insurance and alternative risk-spreading mechanisms

Codes and standards.

The Round Table will make recommendations relating to these three particular areas of strategic policy, particularly as they relate to the northern regions of Canada.

New Initiatives

Starting in 2008, the NRTEE's work priorities will be categorized either as a Project (up to 12 months) or a Program (12 months or longer). Projects are more focused, time-limited, and meant to inform the public policy debate on a regular, specific basis. Programs are more in-depth, will involve more original research, involve more intensive consultation and engagement, and take longer to complete.

Based on existing and expected internal capacity, the NRTEE is generally capable of handling up to two programs and two projects at any one time, assuming staggered start dates. The sequencing matters. It is not possible to manage significant analytical and communications work on more than one extensive program simultaneously unless they are staggered over two years.

The NRTEE will select a suite of policy issues to examine as programs or projects in the short to medium term.[3] The focus will be on topics within the general area of climate change, an area for which the agency has developed a recognized expertise and where it is in a unique position to provide advice to federal decision makers and other stakeholders.

Issues identified by the Round Table for further examination starting in 2008-2009 will be selected by the members from the following list:

Table 2.4. Potential Projects (up to 12 months)


Title Issue Opportunity Focus
Carbon pricing: Instrument design and implementation The NRTEE and key stakeholders have identified a strong need for detailed analysis and advice on instrument design and implementation. Examples of instruments include carbon tax and cap-and-trade. The NRTEE is a recognized authority on economic instruments and is credited with bringing carbon emissions pricing into public discourse. Building on previous work, the NRTEE can conduct in-depth research on instrument design and implementation and on economic, regional, and sectoral impacts of specific carbon pricing instruments.
Improved GHG emissions forecasting and reporting in Canada: Learning from international best practices Stronger forecasting approaches will enhance Canada's ability to plan for and achieve national and international GHG emission reduction targets. The NRTEE could assist decision makers federally and provincially with advice on international best practices in emissions forecasting and reporting. Providing an analysis of other governments' processes in emissions accounting and reporting.
Innovation and Deployment of "Wedge" Technologies The NRTEE's 2006 "Wedge" Advisory note and the 2007 Getting to 2050 report indicate the importance of technologies for achieving GHG reductions. These analyses lack details about required policy frameworks. This will build on existing NRTEE research to address issues related to enabling the deployment of wedge technologies, identify policy gaps, and recommend instruments for attaining targets by focusing on a specific "wedge." Identifying enabling infrastructures and regulatory regimes, resource requirements, market-based signals, and instruments necessary to meet "wedge" predictions.

Table 2.5. Potential Programs (12 months or longer)


Title Issue Opportunity Focus
The Economics of Climate Change in Canada More information is required to assist policy makers in developing a long-term national strategy for climate change that effectively integrates mitigation and adaptation needs. Building on the NRTEE's Adaptation work and the Getting to 2050 report, the NRTEE could conduct a seminal economic analysis of the opportunities, benefits, and costs of climate change in Canada. Revealing the costs of action and inaction for climate stabilization and adaptation in the Canadian context, and highlighting potential benefits and opportunities.
Economic Instruments for Water Management in Canada Examining the impact of price signals on water use will highlight the full financial and environmental opportunity costs associated with over-consumption of freshwater resources in Canada. NRTEE has strong credibility in development and use of economic instruments in addressing environmental concerns. Highlighting the value of water and developing appropriate economic instruments and targeted pricing mechanisms.

Establish a Strategic Outlook Function

In 2008-2009, the NRTEE plans to inaugurate a strategic outlook function that will gather information, research, and intelligence to identify forthcoming sustainability priority areas where the issues are not yet fully known or appreciated, or where public policy discussion is not yet fully engaged. The NRTEE has a role to play in providing an independent, overarching view of these priorities. The information and analysis emerging from this function will assist the NRTEE to plan its policy work and resource allocation on a more rational multi-year basis. The results will also be made available to the NRTEE's primary stakeholders.

Respond to Government References

The NRTEE recognizes the importance of responding to government "references" or requests for advice on specific issues. These are yet to be identified. In a departure from past practice, the Round Table will strive to position itself to be able to deliver on these requests without needing to curtail other work in progress. The approach to enabling this is to be more flexible by embarking on a mix of projects of different duration with staggered start- and end-times.

Comply with Bill C-288

The NRTEE will comply with its legislated responsibilities under the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act with respect to the government's Climate Change Plan and Statement. In order to carry out its statutory obligations, the NRTEE will undertake research, gather information, and produce a written response as required within the mandatory time frame.

2.5.2 Promote Advice

Through experience, the NRTEE has learned the value of promoting its advice and policy recommendations as a means to achieving its strategic outcome. The NRTEE uses a range of approaches to disseminate its recommendations and advice including media relations, targeted briefings with key players in the public and private non-governmental sectors, outreach activities, and the NRTEE's website, e-briefs, and newsletters. Each audience is critical to building sufficient momentum for change and for promoting the NRTEE as a trustworthy source of credible information and advice.

Expected Results and Performance Indicators

The goal of the NRTEE's promotional efforts is an increased awareness and understanding of environment and economy issues by federal decision makers and other national stakeholders and recognition of the NRTEE as a credible source of expertise and information.

Effective communication of its recommendations will be required to achieve this goal-the quality and reach of its external communications will be used as the indicator for measuring performance.

The performance indicators are shown below for each result associated with promoting advice.

Table 2.6. Expected Results and Performance Indicators


Expected Results Indicator
Effective communication of recommendations Reach of recommendations
Quality of communications
Increased awareness and understanding of issues and solutions Awareness of issues and solutions
Understanding of issues and solutions

Specific Initiatives for 2008 and beyond

Maintain Program and Corporate Communications Activities

In 2008-2009, the NRTEE will continue with briefings and stakeholder engagement on its climate change work. These activities will be part of a targeted effort to increase the level of awareness and understanding of its recommendations and advice by federal decision makers and national stakeholders, with the ultimate goal of influencing policy development on the issues addressed. The meetings provide a forum to present the NRTEE's advice and also to hear from stakeholders. This exchange of ideas is important for ensuring that the advice is useful and relevant; it also assists in framing future possible work on specific issues.

Given the limited resources of the NRTEE and the geographic diversity of interested stakeholders, the NRTEE website is a very cost-effective way to disseminate key information to stakeholders. For example, the NRTEE's website includes a Virtual Library feature that enables easy access to over 300 NRTEE documents on economy and environment topics, in both official languages. In 2008-2009, the NRTEE will invest in improving its website.

In addition, the agency will continue to produce and disseminate e-briefs and newsletters to contacts in stakeholder groups to further promote its findings and advice.

Improve Strategic Communications

Because of its close relationship with the government, the NRTEE offers access to decision and policy makers within the federal government; this is a key value for the NRTEE's stakeholders outside the government. For stakeholders within the government, the NRTEE offers access to the views of industry, environmentalists, and academics who share an interest in the relationship between the environment and the economy.

One of the NRTEE's objectives for this planning period is to improve the quality and reach of its external communications. This was identified in the 2006-2007 Departmental Performance Report as an area for improvement. In so doing, it will increase the visibility of the NRTEE and its work among decision makers in key sectors. This will, in turn, significantly increase the potential to achieve the NRTEE's strategic outcome, namely to influence policy.

An approach to reinvigorating and promoting the NRTEE brand will be to enhance the NRTEE's internal communications capacity and implement strategic communications initiatives. As the NRTEE has limited resources, tools and tactics will be tailored accordingly.

In recent years, the NRTEE has focused most directly on its relationship with the federal government and its role in delivering policy advice to that key client. The NRTEE recognizes that it is not well understood by certain stakeholder groups or the media, who are also key to the NRTEE's ability to reach other important decision makers in Canadian society. In 2008-2009, the NRTEE will examine ways to refocus its communications efforts on key audiences, new communications objectives, positioning, and tactics.

Leveraging the resources of the Round Table members will be an important element of this initiative. The NRTEE will therefore seek opportunities to use members for targeted communications activities.


Key Communications Messages for 2008-2009

The NRTEE is

the lead national public policy organization that best integrates analysis on issues and solutions affecting the environment and economy

a neutral space to discuss issues affecting both the environment and the economy

a credible source of independent and balanced information to governments and the public on issues of the environment and the economy

the catalyst for policy that integrates environmental and economic principles that work for all interests in Canada.


Pursue Collaborative Arrangements with Other Organizations

The NRTEE recognizes that its effectiveness could be exponentially increased by leveraging its reputation and resources to enter into beneficial collaborative arrangements with appropriate partners who represent gateways to larger audiences and relationships. These arrangements would provide opportunities to increase the scope and depth of NRTEE research and analysis, and to extend its reach to external stakeholders.

The NRTEE will pursue partnerships with appropriate stakeholders such as corporations, industry associations, NGOs, and research organizations, along with relevant government departments. This initiative will be designed to enhance the NRTEE's work and to facilitate collaboration and action among decision makers and stakeholders, particularly among a range of partners. The efforts will be linked to the NRTEE's ongoing and new work on energy and climate change issues. Strategic alliances with prospects for improving government and non-government policy and actions, and for achieving energy and climate change targets will also be pursued.