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To ensure environmentally sound and efficient management of wastes and protect the environment

To protect the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems

To protect the environment and indigenous wildlife

To phase-out inefficient incandescent lighting in order to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions

To comply with the Rotterdam Convention promoting shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among Parties in the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals in order to protect human health and the environment

To ensure clean air and environmental performance standards are met

To comply with the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in order to prevent harmful effects on animals, people and the environment

To protect the ozone layer

To manage hazardous wastes in line with the Basel Convention on the Control of trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes

To establish a comprehensive regulatory control system for the import, export, transfer, possession and use of nuclear substances
The purpose of the NSCA is two-fold: (i) to provide for the limitation of risks to national security, the health and safety of persons and the environment that are associated with the development, production and use of nuclear energy and the production, possession and use of nuclear substances, prescribed equipment and prescribed information; and (ii) to provide for the implementation in Canada of measures to which Canada has agreed regarding international control of the development, production and use of nuclear energy , including the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices. Nuclear substances are defined in the NSCA (section 2), and include uranium, thorium, plutonium, deuterium and their respective derivatives and compounds, radioactive nuclides, and substances that are prescribed by regulation as being capable of releasing nuclear energy or as being required for the production or use of nuclear energy . Additionally, the NNIECR define controlled nuclear substances, controlled nuclear equipment and controlled nuclear information that are subject to specific import and export licensing controls, and list these in the Schedule to the regulations. These items are controlled for the purpose of assuring that the Government of Canada meets international obligations to which it has agreed regarding the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons; they are based primarily on international guidelines and control lists. There are some exemptions from licensing requirement and these are identified in the NNIECR (section 4) .