Le tout est plus grand que la somme de ses parties

The report examines 'whole-of-government' approaches to climate change, emphasizing the need for central leadership, clear mandates, and transparency to overcome ministerial silos. Through case studies of the UK, US, and British Columbia, it highlights that while such approaches can foster collaboration, they are often fragile and dependent on the political will of the head of government. The author recommends that Canada establish a dedicated Cabinet committee and a central coordination secretariat to integrate climate considerations across all public policies.

• A 'whole-of-government' approach to climate change consists of two primary governance elements: structures, such as Cabinet committees or dedicated offices for coordination, and processes, which include rules, norms, or mandates that guide policy development across at least two ministries.
• The success of interministerial climate initiatives depends heavily on sustained efforts from central leadership to direct priorities and provide adequate funding, clear mandates, and the necessary authority to effect change within ministries.
• In the United Kingdom, the government established the Climate Action Strategy Committee and the Climate Action Plan Implementation Committee in 2019 and 2020 to coordinate cross-cutting issues, though the lack of transparency regarding their meetings makes it difficult to measure their actual policy influence.
• British Columbia's experience demonstrates the fragility of whole-of-government structures; the Climate Change Secretariat was highly effective when positioned within the Premier's Office under Gordon Campbell but lost influence and visibility after being moved to the Ministry of Environment under a different administration.
• The Biden administration in the United States has implemented a radical whole-of-government approach via executive orders, creating the National Climate Task Force and the White House Office of Climate Policy to ensure every federal entity integrates climate considerations into policy-making.
• Independent external advisory bodies, such as the UK's Committee on Climate Change, enhance whole-of-government initiatives by providing independent analysis, setting long-term goals, and ensuring accountability that transcends ministerial silos.
• The report identifies a risk where excessive interministerial coordination mechanisms can create an undue burden on ministries already managing heavy portfolios, necessitating a balance between climate priorities and general mandates.
• To strengthen its own approach, the Canadian federal government is encouraged to create a Cabinet committee dedicated to climate change and net-zero, chaired by the Prime Minister, supported by a central coordination secretariat with increased human and financial resources.

APA

Canadian Climate Institute (2021). Le tout est plus grand que la somme de ses parties. https://institutclimatique.ca/publications/le-tout-est-plus-grand-que-la-somme-de-ses-parties/

Chicago

Canadian Climate Institute. Le tout est plus grand que la somme de ses parties. 2021. https://institutclimatique.ca/publications/le-tout-est-plus-grand-que-la-somme-de-ses-parties/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Climate Institute |title=Le tout est plus grand que la somme de ses parties |date=26 November 2021 |url=https://institutclimatique.ca/publications/le-tout-est-plus-grand-que-la-somme-de-ses-parties/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianclimateinstitute2021tout, author = {{Canadian Climate Institute}}, title = {{Le tout est plus grand que la somme de ses parties}}, institution = {Canadian Climate Institute}, year = {2021}, month = nov, url = {https://institutclimatique.ca/publications/le-tout-est-plus-grand-que-la-somme-de-ses-parties/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }