Environment and Climate Change Canada

What Environment and Climate Change Canada does

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is a federal department of the Government of Canada, established in 1971 as Environment Canada and renamed to its current form in 2015 to reflect an expanded climate mandate. Headquartered in Gatineau, Quebec (with secondary references to Ottawa), the department operates regional offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Edmonton, and Halifax and is staffed by between 5,001 and 10,000 employees. ECCC discharges three interlocking functions: scientific (weather forecasting, climate modeling, environmental monitoring), regulatory (enforcement of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, including over toxic substances such as PFAS, pesticide registration, and nanomaterial risk assessment), and programmatic (Habitat Stewardship Program, Climate Action and Awareness Fund, Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, Clean Fuel Regulations support). Its core technology stack comprises national weather observation networks, the WeatherCAN mobile application and weather.gc.ca portal, an operational global storm surge prediction system covering 305 tide gauge locations with hourly tidal filtering, atmospheric monitoring via the HAWC satellite mission, and exploratory use of IBM/NASA's Prithvi-WxC open-source AI model for precipitation nowcasting. ECCC co-publishes peer-reviewed climate and ecological research and coordinates Canadian input to international frameworks including the Paris Agreement.

ECCC's revenue model is non-commercial. The department is funded through annual parliamentary appropriations drawn from general taxation and does not generate commercial revenue. Services such as forecasts, severe weather alerts, and environmental data are provided free of direct charge to Canadian residents, with the department monetizing its role instead through enforcement actions (e.g., a $750,000 CEPA fine against Estée Lauder in February 2026) and the disbursement of conservation and climate funding to external partners. Customer segments are horizontal and largely citizen-facing: the Canadian public for weather and hazard information, and agricultural, biofuel, and energy industry segments for regulatory engagement on packaging, feedstock standards, and carbon capture tax credits. International collaboration has become an increasingly visible component of activity, exemplified by a 2026 carbon capture technology deployment partnership with Thailand's cement industry involving the University of Regina's CETRI, UNIDO, and the Government of Saskatchewan.

Name

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Legal name

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Website

https://canada.ca

Company type

Public

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Environment and Climate Change Canada is a Canadian federal department that delivers weather forecasting, severe weather alerts, and environmental monitoring services to the Canadian public while enforcing the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, including regulation of PFAS, pesticides, and nanomaterials.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Environmental and Meteorological Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Space Research and Technology (92711)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration (BPAIABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPAIAMAD), Climate & Health Risk Regulation and Public Health Adaptation Authorities (HLAJAFAM)

Keywords

• Weather forecasting services
• Environmental regulation
• Climate monitoring
• Species at risk protection
• Pollution management

Headquarters

HQ city

Gatineau

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: ECCC is a federal government department funded through annual parliamentary appropriations. Revenue comes from general taxation. The department does not generate commercial revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Environment and Climate Change Canada is a federal government department that delivers public meteorological and environmental services to Canadians, including weather forecasting, severe weather warnings, climate monitoring, and environmental hazard notifications. It enforces environmental regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (including PFAS and toxic substance management), protects species at risk through programs such as the Habitat Stewardship Program, and conducts climate change research and policy. Services are delivered through the weather.gc.ca website, the WeatherCAN mobile app, emergency alert systems, and regulatory compliance frameworks.

Product overview

Environment and Climate Change Canada operates as a federal government department providing environmental and meteorological services to Canadians. The department does not offer a commercial software product portfolio but delivers public services including weather forecasting and severe weather alerts through its website and the WeatherCAN mobile application. Core functions encompass climate monitoring, environmental protection, weather prediction, species at risk conservation, pollution and waste management, and regulatory oversight including pesticide registration and PFAS chemical management. ECCC collaborates with universities and international organizations on research initiatives such as the Northern Tornadoes Project and carbon capture technology partnerships with Thailand. The department has been transitioning from legacy services like Weatheradio to modern digital platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WeatherCAN Mobile Application Official government mobile application providing local weather forecasts, severe weather alerts, and notifications to Canadian residents for real-time weather information access.
• Weather and Hazards Services Government-provided weather forecasting, severe weather warnings, tornado alerts, flood advisories, heat warnings, and environmental hazard notifications for Canadian residents.
• Northern Tornadoes Project A collaborative research project with Western University investigating tornadoes and assigning official damage ratings, with ECCC confirming tornado events across Canada.
• Water Literacy Project A national initiative to engage Canadian youth and educators in water stewardship during Canada Water Week, supported by funding from ECCC's Climate Action and Awareness Fund and delivered with AquaAction, Canadian Geographic, and Canadian Museum of Nature.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fined Estée Lauder $750,000 for PFAS violations under Canadian Environmental Protection Act
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Chulalongkorn University (Thailand)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Strategic collaboration to advance low-carbon knowledge and technology for Thailand's cement industry toward Net Zero 2050. ECCC supports this international partnership developing and piloting carbon capture technologies in Saraburi Sandbox as a testbed for industrial-scale deployment. Partnership operates under Public-Private Partnership model integrating industry, academia, government, and international expertise.
• Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2026Partnership to develop and pilot carbon capture technologies to support Thailand's Net Zero 2050 target. ECCC provides international expertise and funding for the initiative, which positions Thailand as a regional model for industrial decarbonization.
• University of ReginacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Partnership to deploy Canadian-designed carbon capture pilot unit in Thailand. University of Regina's Clean Energy Technologies Research Institute (CETRI) designed and built the pilot unit. ECCC and UNIDO co-fund the project. Collaboration builds on MOU between Government of Saskatchewan and TCMA.
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership supporting carbon capture technology deployment in Thailand's cement industry. UNIDO commissions and co-funds the pilot carbon capture unit alongside ECCC funding.
• Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational industry association supporting the Thailand carbon capture initiative as part of global cement and concrete industry's net-zero roadmap. GCCA provides industry expertise and international coordination for decarbonization efforts.
• Government of SaskatchewanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU between Government of Saskatchewan and TCMA commits both parties to knowledge sharing and technical collaboration in low-carbon technologies, facilitating the carbon capture technology export to Thailand.
• AquaActionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Water Literacy Project partnership to engage Canadian youth in water stewardship during Canada Water Week. ECCC provides $635,296 from Climate Action and Awareness Fund, matched by de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation.
• Canadian GeographicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Water Literacy Project supporting Canadian youth education in water stewardship. Partnership includes ReFresh Water! Action Packs, Giant Floor Map, and virtual workshops.
• Canadian Museum of NaturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Water Literacy Project contributing to public education and awareness about Canadian water resources and conservation.
• Polar Bears InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partnership studying climate-linked evolution and genetics in polar bears. ECCC researchers co-authored first-ever synthesis of polar bear evolutionary research published in Ecological Monographs.
• Norwegian Polar InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partnership on polar bear genetics and climate adaptation. Contributed to comprehensive evolutionary study published in Ecological Monographs.
• University of ManitobamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead Canadian university partner in polar bear genetics research collaboration. Contributed to major synthesis of polar bear evolutionary research demonstrating lack of genetic adaptation to climate change.
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership contributing to polar bear conservation genetics. Collaborated on study analyzing over fifty studies on polar bear evolution in warming Arctic.
• ABB Inc. (Canada)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec-based company developing key technologies for HAWC satellite mission with $5.4M+ Canadian funding for climate resilience through space science.
• HoneywellmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in HAWC satellite mission developing technologies for atmospheric monitoring above the Arctic to improve climate resilience and weather forecasts.
• Edison MotorsminorOthersEdison Motors seeks regulatory approval from ECCC for its diesel-hybrid semi truck. The company's hybrid design does not conform to existing regulations, creating regulatory hurdle.
• PIC (Genus)minorOthersECCC approved PIC's PRRS-resistant gene-edited pigs for manufacturing and importing in Canada, clearing them alongside Health Canada and CFIA for sale as food.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): U.S. federal agency with mandate for environmental protection, climate regulation, and chemical safety (e.g., TSCA, PFAS action). Closest direct peer to ECCC in scope, regulatory authority, and federal environmental enforcement.
• UK Environment Agency: UK statutory body regulating environmental protection, flood forecasting, and conservation. Operates severe-weather warning functions comparable to ECCC's role and shares the same public-sector environmental mandate model.
• European Environment Agency (EEA): EU agency providing independent environmental monitoring, climate data, and policy assessment across member states. Highly comparable to ECCC's climate monitoring, reporting, and cross-jurisdictional coordination functions.
• Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW): Australian federal department combining climate, energy, environment, and water portfolios. Direct comparable in scope, federal structure, and integration of climate adaptation with species and habitat protection programs.
• German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV): German federal ministry overseeing environmental protection, climate policy, and nature conservation. Comparable in regulatory authority, climate program design, and integration with EU-level environmental frameworks.
• UK Met Office: UK national weather and climate service delivering operational forecasting, severe-weather warnings, and climate modeling. Direct functional peer to ECCC's weather forecasting and AI-driven nowcasting efforts.
• Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket): Swedish national agency responsible for environmental policy implementation, climate targets, and species protection. Direct peer in federal environmental program delivery and EU-aligned climate policy execution.
• New Zealand Ministry for the Environment: New Zealand central government ministry overseeing environmental policy, climate change response, and emissions reduction. Comparable national-scale environmental mandate with similar regulatory and reporting functions.
• French Ministry for the Ecological Transition (Ministère de la Transition écologique): French ministry responsible for climate, biodiversity, and environmental policy at the national level. Direct peer in combining climate adaptation, environmental regulation, and biodiversity protection within a single federal mandate.

Broad incumbents

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): U.S. federal agency with much broader mandate spanning oceans, fisheries, and atmospheric science. Direct overlap with ECCC on weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and severe-storm warning systems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/environmentca
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ourenvironmentca
• Facebookfacebook.com/EnvironmentCanada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/environment-canada
• Instagraminstagram.com/environmentcanada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments58 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Environment and Climate Change Canada