Canada Impact Assessment Act 2019
In Canada, it has been a requirement for major development projects to incorporate climate change impacts and adaptation in EIAs under the Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, as amended on June 22, 2017. The Environmental Assessment Act was repealed in August 2019 and replaced with the Impact Assessment Act 2019.
The Impact Assessment Act sets out a process to enable decision-makers to “determine whether the adverse effects within federal jurisdiction – and the adverse direct or incidental effects – that are indicated in the report are, in light of prescribed factors and the extent to which those effects are significant, in the public interest” (s 60(1)(a)). The extent to which the effects of a designated project hinder or contribute to Canada's ability to meet its environmental obligations and its commitments in respect of climate change is one factor in the public interest decision.
