Global Affairs Canada’s 2021-22 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report
ISSN 2564-3894
This report on progress supports the commitment in the Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA) to make environmental decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament. It also contributes to an integrated, whole‑of‑government view of activities supporting environmental sustainability.
The departmental information reported accounts for information previously prepared in accordance with Global Affairs Canada’s 2020 to 2023 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy.
This report details Global Affairs Canada individual departmental actions that support the targets and/or goals of the 2019 to 2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS).
1. Introduction to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
The 2019 to 2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada’s domestic sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. In keeping with the purpose of the Act, to provide the legal framework for developing and implementing a Federal Sustainable Development Strategy that will make sustainable development decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament, Global Affairs Canada has developed this report to demonstrate progress in implementing its Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy.
2. Sustainable development in Global Affairs Canada
Global Affairs Canada’s 2020 to 2023 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy describes the department’s actions in support of achieving the relevant goals of the 2019 to 2022 FSDS, namely greening government, effective action on climate change, and clean growth. This report presents available results for the departmental actions pertinent to these goals. Previous years’ reports are posted on the Global Affairs Canada’s website.
For information on the Government of Canada’s overall progress on the targets of the FSDS, please see the FSDS Progress Report, which, per the requirements of the strengthened Federal Sustainable Development Act, is released at least once in each three year period.
3. Departmental performance by FSDS goal
The following tables provide performance information on departmental actions in support of the relevant FSDS goals listed in section 2.
Context: Greening Government: The Government of Canada will transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient and green operations
Responsible Ministers: All ministers
| FSDS target(s) | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) | Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reduce GHG emissions from federal government facilities and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 (with an aspiration to achieve this target by 2025) and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050 (with an aspiration to be carbon neutral) | Optimize fleet management including by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced | Continue implementing zero-emission shuttle service at GAC headquarters serving the National Capital Region (NCR) | Starting point: 0% in 2017-18 Performance indicator: Percentage of vehicles that are zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) Target:100% | 71% (Result is due in part to the movement of vehicles between departments with changes in ministers - e.g. a minister with a ZEV leaving the department and one without coming in, a shortage of green vehicles built in Canada since 2021, and delivery delays of 12 months limiting the capability of the department to replace its vehicles quickly. Target was not achieved, but improved compared to the previous year’s result of 58%.) | Converting domestic shuttle fleets from traditional vehicles to zero-emission vehicles reduces greenhouse gases SDGs: Action supports SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities |
Divert at least 75% (by weight) of non-hazardous operational waste from landfills by 2030 | Other |
| NCR:
Print release baseline:
| Waste-diversion rate: 65% (Target was an increase over the previous year’s result of 63%, but was not achieved due to the renovation project of the 125 Sussex facility where composting equipment is being installed. This project is ongoing, yet slightly behind schedule, and not all composting equipment has been installed) Print release: 99% | The installation of on-site composting will significantly increase the amount of waste diverted from landfills. In 2018 to 2019, 54% of non-hazardous waste sent to landfill was organic, compostable waste. On-site composting represents an opportunity to divert a significant amount of such waste in the short term in the NCR. On-site composting at 111 and 125 Sussex would also enable waste diversion from neighbouring GAC facilities and other Government of Canada buildings. Surplus food donation programs will reduce the amount of waste produced while also assisting local communities. Within the first 3 months of implementation, the Print-Release function has enabled the system or users to delete 10-15% of unwanted paper documents. SDGs: Actions support SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production |
Divert at least 75% (by weight) of plastic waste from landfills by 2030 | Other |
| Starting point: 2018-19: 33% of plastic waste was diverted at NCR facilities Target: 50% by FY 2021-22 | 10.6% (This is a partial result. Due to most employees working remotely, one of the NCR facilities did not conduct a waste audit in 2021-22. The figure presented represents 125 Sussex (7%) and 200 Promenade du Portage (23%), adjusted for volume. In addition, programs are currently being implemented to further improve plastic diversion from landfills and, more importantly, to reduce consumption therefore having less plastic to be diverted.) | Reducing the amount of plastic consumed in GAC operations will reduce the amount of plastic waste in landfills. SDGs: Actions support SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production. |
Our administrative fleet will be comprised of at least 80% zero-emission vehicles by 2030 | Fleet management will be optimized including by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced | Continue the acquisition of ZEV in the administrative fleet as part of the material management life cycle guidelines. | Starting point: 2018-19 Performance indicator: % of ZEV acquisition Target: 100% | 100% | By controlling acquisition in the administrative fleet, we will ensure a complete sunsetting of gasoline engines, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, the current market capacity for ZEVs is low, and the Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) catalogue has a limited offering. When the market offers more capacity, we will transition from gasoline to ZEVs. SDGs: Actions support SDG 13: Climate action |
By 2022, departments have developed measures to reduce climate change risks to assets, services and operations | Increase training and support on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments and developing adaptation actions to public service employees, and facilitate sharing of best practices and lessons learned | Train ECO-GAC employees to measure and analyze greenhouse gas emissions in operations (ECO-GAC is a division within GAC that provides leadership towards low-carbon and environmentally sustainable, domestic operations in the National Capital Region.) | Starting point: No training Performance indicator: percentage of ECO-GAC staff who have a minimum of one-day training Target: 30% | 50% | Greenhouse gas inventory training will allow employees to develop carbon footprint baselines for the department, against which greenhouse gas reduction initiatives can be measured, as well as identify areas where greenhouse gas reduction projects may have the highest impact, thereby allowing GAC to better support the FSDS. SDGs: Actions support SDG 13: Climate action |
Actions supporting the Goal: Greening Government [This section is for actions that support the Greening Government Goal but do not directly support a FSDS target] | Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions | Implement a Departmental Digital Support Program Ensure all devices meet ENERGY STAR® efficiency requirements and have energy saving features enabled | Target: Increase the current departmental ratio of 12 employees to 1 printing device from May 1, 2012 to a ratio of 25 employees to 1 printing device by December 31, 2021 Target: Reduction of total pages printed per user each year in the NCR from 3,197 (in 2017-18), to less than 2,000 per user per year by March 31, 2021. Target: 85% of employees (97% of employees in Canada and 75% of employees at mission abroad) have been converted to a single device worldwide from 53% employees, by March 31 2021 | Employee-to-printing device ratio 12 employees to 1 network printing device (As most of the workforce worked remotely, the numbers remained at baseline; once the situation changes to a “new normal,” the numbers will reflect the situation more accurately) Reduction of pages printed 338 pages per user for fiscal year 2021-22 Employees converted to a single device 85% | The Departmental Digital Support Program will encourage, support and streamline approaches to department business conducted on digital platforms. Increasing the use of digital platforms will reduce environmental impact by reducing paper use and the number of printers required. The Device Allocation Policy, which reduces the current GAC footprint to a single end-user device (implemented June 19, 2018), ensures that all devices meet ENERGY STAR® efficiency requirements and have energy-saving features enabled. This will reduce energy use and therefore environmental impact. SDGs: Actions support SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production |
Departments will adopt clean technology and undertake clean technology demonstration projects | Implement clean technologies in facility operations, e.g. at the Lester B. Pearson building (headquarters). Specifics include:
| 2022-23 Target: 20% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 baseline (to be calculated upon completion of current greenhouse gas study, using GG reporting methodology as established by TBS). Water management Starting Point: Baseline not established, metrics to be established via PSPC reports. Performance indicator: % of decrease in water volume consumed vs. Baseline. Target: 15% decrease in water consumption (vs baseline) by 2021-22. Energy consumption Starting Point: GAC developed a baseline 3-scope greenhouse gas emissions inventory in 2020-21, however official metrics to be determined via PSPC reporting. Performance indicator: % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions vs the 2005 baseline. Target: 20% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 2004-05 baseline by 2022-23 (to be calculated via PSPC reports and greenhouse gas emissions analysis as part of GAC Goal 30, using the TBS Greening Government Reporting methodology) Alternate working arrangement1 Starting Point: As of September 2022, GAC is launching a departmental wide transition to a hybrid workplace at Headquarters and is experimenting with alternate work arrangements. Baseline is 0 “hybrid work arrangements”. Performance indicator: % of eligible employees who have a structured alternate work (hybrid) arrangement, which includes a portion of work-from-home Target: To be determined March 2023 (following experimentation phase). | Water management N/A2 Energy consumption N/A3 Alternate working arrangement To be determined based on the GAC Hybrid Work Model implementation | These actions reduce the Government of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions by directly supporting the FSDS’s Greening Government goal through transitioning to low-carbon operations and clean growth. SDGs: Actions support SDG 13: Climate action | |
Support for green procurement will be strengthened, including guidance, tools and training for public service employees | Train Global Affairs Canada procurement community in green procurement. Continue to promote the use of green products. | Performance indicator: % of procurement employees who have taken Green Procurement training (Canada School of Public Service) Target: 80% of identified employees within one year of arrival. | 80% | Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to green their goods, services and supply chain. SDGs: Actions support SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production | |
1 Wording has been updated to reflect a post-pandemic posture, as GAC is transitioning to a hybrid workplace starting September 2022. 2 No baseline was established as PSPC reports on this via their DSDS. 3 No baseline was established as PSPC reports on this via their DSDS. | |||||
Context: Effective Action on Climate Change: A low-carbon economy contributes to limiting global average temperature rise to well below two degrees Celsius and supports efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius
Responsible Minister: Minister of Environment and Climate Change; supported by a whole-of-government approach to implementation
| FSDS target(s) | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) | Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
By 2030, reduce Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 30%, relative to 2005 emission levels | Take a leading role in international agreements and initiatives on climate change | Work with Environment and Climate Change Canada to play a leadership role and provide policy and legal advice to support the negotiation and implementation of international environmental agreements and initiatives on climate change, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. | Performance indicator: Use of GAC advice (foreign policy, international law) for Canada’s approach to international decisions related to climate change (e.g. for decisions by Parties to international climate change treaties, and other multilateral decisions and instruments dealing with climate change): level of involvement in interdepartmental preparatory work for international meetings; instances where international law concerns are considered in the elaboration of Canadian views and positions; and participation of the Canadian delegation in international meetings. Target: GAC advice issued appropriately. | Canadian negotiating positions on climate change were informed by strategic legal advice provided by GAC (in key treaties such as the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement; in other relevant bilateral and multilateral forums, such as the G7, G20, the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council; and in other negotiations that contributed to emissions reductions, such as those under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and nature-based solutions, such as those under the Convention on Biological Diversity). | FSDS: International agreements and initiatives on climate change increase understanding and action to reduce greenhouse gases to support the FSDS target. SDGs: Actions support SDG 13: Climate action, by increasing awareness and action, and provide Canada with partners to aid in the reduction of greenhouse gases. |
Deliver on Canada’s pledge to provide $5.3 billion in climate financing to support transition by developing countries to low-carbon, climate-resilient economies, in line with Canada’s feminist international assistance policy priorities. | Starting point : $0 in 2020-21 Performance Indicator: Amount of Canadian international assistance that addresses climate change. This indicator measures Canada’s international assistance programming that addresses climate change as its main objective, through our $5.3 billion commitment to climate finance from 2021-22 to 2022-23. Target: $1.8 billion by 2022-23 | $809.5M | FSDS: Climate financing will directly support reducing greenhouse gas emissions internationally. SDGs: Climate financing supports SDG 13: Climate Action through international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and leads to effective action on climate change. |
Context: Clean Growth: A growing clean technology industry in Canada contributes to clean growth and the transition to a low-carbon economy
Responsible Minister: Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) and Minister of Natural Resources
| FSDS target(s) | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) | Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Implement our Mission Innovation pledge to double federal government investments in clean energy research, development and demonstration from 2015 levels of $387 million to $775 million by 2020 | Collaborate with international partners in the transition to clean energy, low-carbon future | Advance an inclusive approach to trade, including integrating robust environmental provisions into trade agreements, and supporting clean technology exports. | Starting point: 93% in 2020 Performance indicator: In negotiating free trade agreements, Canada will pursue the inclusion of provisions that promote the use of goods and services related to clean growth and the transition to a low-carbon future, contain robust provisions on climate change, and support Canada’s leadership role on chemicals management and air quality. Target: 100% by 2030 | 93% (No negotiations have been concluded since 2020.) | FSDS: GAC’s work on partnerships with ISED will directly contribute to the investments in clean energy. SDGs: The Mission Innovation pledge promotes action toward SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure through the promotion of research, development and demonstration of clean energy. |
Increase the value of Canada’s clean technology exports to $15.6 billion by 2025 | Invest in clean technologies | Promote investment in Canadian clean technology companies through the work of the Clean Technology Joint Account Management (JAM) memorandum of understanding between Export Development Canada, Business Development Bank of Canada, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, Canadian Commercial Corporation and the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS). | Starting point: 0 firms prior to January 2018. Facilitating information sharing and streamlining financial solutions to support growth of Canadian cleantech companies domestically and internationally. Performance indicator: Number of Canadian cleantech firms serviced under the JAM Memorandum of Understanding pipeline. Target: Increase in the number of Canadian firms benefiting from the JAM support. | 60 (This represents an increase over the 57 JAM clients that received service from the TCS under the JAM Memorandum of Understanding pipeline the previous year.) | FSDS: The JAM partners’ work will provide a more synchronized and comprehensive financial support to clean technology companies from key government departments and agencies. JAM partners work to harmonize their financial services and solutions, identify gaps, and flag high potential clients to TCS to receive enhanced targeted and focused export development support. This is expected to result in increased efficiency in the support of promoting Canada’s clean technology exports, increasing their value. SDGs: Actions support SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation; SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy; SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure; and SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities |
Promote Canadian firms as world leaders in clean technologies | Help Canadian clean technology firms become world leaders and capitalize on growing opportunities in the global market through Budget 2017’s $15M Clean Technology International Business Development Strategy for the TCS (2017 to 2021). | Starting Point: 249 in 2019-20 Performance indicator: Number of climate-finance related outcalls by TCS to climate funds and investors per region (Asia, Africa, Americas and Europe) Target: 260 per year (average of 65 per region: Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Americas and Europe-Middle East) by March 31, 2023 Starting Point: 85% Performance indicator: Annual client satisfaction rate for TCS clean technology services received3 Target: 85% by March 31, 2023 Starting Point: 81.6% Performance indicator: % of organizations that have gained confidence to explore or expand operations in foreign markets as a result of TCS support Target: 85% by March 31, 2023 Starting Point: 5,599 in 2019-20 Performance Indicator: Number of Canadian clean technology and climate finance services delivered by TCS to Canadian companies Target: 5,700 annually by March 31, 2023 | Climate-finance related outcalls 149 (The lower number recorded in 2021-22 compared with 2020-21 reflects the negative impact of COVID-19 on exporters due to international travel restrictions and disrupted supply chains.) Annual client satisfaction rate 92% % of organizations that have gained confidence to explore or expand 84% Number of Canadian clean technology and climate finance services delivered 5,346 (The lower number recorded in 2021-22 compared with 2020-21 reflects the negative impact of COVID-19 on exporters due to international travel restrictions and disrupted supply chains.) | FSDS: Promoting clean technology firms will increase their value on the international market. SDGs: Actions support SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation; SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy; SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure; and SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities, through increased adoption of clean technologies. | |
Collaborate with stakeholders and partners to support the growth of clean technology in Canada | Continue collaboration with federal government stakeholders and partners through Trade Commissioners embedded in the Clean Growth Hub (CGH), a whole-of-government focal point for clean technology focused on supporting companies and projects, coordinating programs and tracking results. Since January 2018, the CGH advances the Clean Technology and Innovation pillar of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, and, and is part of the GOC’s Innovation and Skills Plan. | Starting point: The CGH program started at 0 companies receiving TCS support via the CGH in 2017, given it was launched in 2018 Performance indicator: Number of companies receiving TCS support via the CGH since January 2018 (CGH launch) Target: Target of 55 Clean Growth Hub clients per year referred to the TCS for services/follow up. | 104 distinct companies cumulatively, an increase of 5 in 2021-22. (This number is believed to be lower than actual due to lack of reporting as a result of resource constraints and ongoing impacts of the COVID pandemic). | FSDS: Supporting the growth of clean technology in Canada should increase its value internationally. SDGs: Actions support SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure; and SDG 17: Partnership for the goals, through increased use of clean technology. |
4. Report on integrating sustainable development
Strategic environmental assessment practices
Global Affairs Canada will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of FSDS goals and targets through its strategic environmental assessment (SEA) process. A SEA for a policy, plan or program proposal includes an analysis of the impacts of the given proposal on relevant FSDS goals and targets.
GAC uses a formalized process to help policy officers assess the level of SEA analysis required. The first step of the SEA process outlines criteria for an exemption from further SEA analysis, as set out in the Cabinet directive or GAC’s low-risk pre-assessment criteria (for example, in an emergency or when an initiative has already been assessed). If an exemption does not apply to the proposal, the officer must conduct a preliminary scan to determine if important environmental effects are expected, in which case a detailed SEA is warranted. Among other factors, the preliminary scan assesses whether the proposal will have impacts related to the goals of Canada’s FSDS.
More particularly, for trade, a comprehensive and detailed environmental assessment (EA) is always conducted for a trade agreement negotiation. This has been standard practice since 2001 and continues to be as per the Framework for Conducting EAs of Trade Agreements, revised in 2020 (revised 2020). The 2020 Revised Framework requires consideration of the effects of, and opportunities presented by, FSDS goals and SDGs in an EA analysis.
GAC initiates an Initial Environmental Assessment of a potential trade agreement as soon as exploratory discussions begin in order to effectively inform policy development, decision-making, and negotiating positions. Once negotiations are concluded, GAC conducts a Final Environmental Assessment of the impacts of the negotiated outcomes. Key stakeholders such as the Environmental Assessment Advisory Group (EAAG), provinces and territories, and the Canadian public are consulted at each stage of the EA process. The EAs of trade agreements contribute to the mainstreaming of environmental considerations by highlighting the specific provisions that are included in trade agreements (within and beyond Environmental chapters) to mitigate risks and enhance benefits of trade liberalization on the Canadian and global environment.
In fiscal year 2021 to 2022, GAC published an Initial Environmental Assessment of the Canada-U.K. Bilateral Trade Agreement Negotiations, consulted key stakeholders on ongoing trade negotiation EAs, and concluded consultations (in May 2021) on the impacts of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement modernization on environment, gender and other diversity considerations for Canada. GAC also issued a Notice of intent to conduct an Initial Environmental Assessment on a potential Canada-Association of Southeast Asian Nations Free Trade Agreement. In addition, GAC conducted an Initial Economic Impact Assessment (EIA) of the negotiations toward a Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which contributed to the ongoing Initial Environmental Assessment of the CEPA.
With respect to development proposals, GAC has an environmental integration process that serves to mainstream environmental issues including ones that focus on social and economic development issues. For all GAC proposals, the Impact Assessment Act along with the Cabinet Directive on SEA are applied. GAC’s environment specialists deliver targeted environment training to GAC’s staff members on a regular basis.
Public statements on the results of GAC’s assessments are issued when a proposal has undergone a detailed SEA. The purpose of the public statement is to demonstrate that the environmental effects, including the impacts on achieving the FSDS goals and targets, of the approved policy, plan or program have been considered during proposal development and decision-making. Public statements of the environmental effects determined from the detailed analysis of proposals that have been publically announced are:
- Canada’s Whole of Government Engagement in Sudan
- Canada's Approach to Current and Future Nuclear Cooperation Agreements
- International Dimension of the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework
National Capital Region greenhouse gas inventory
In 2020-21, ECO-GAC (a division within GAC that provides leadership towards low-carbon and environmentally sustainable domestic operations in the National Capital Region) commissioned a study to determine the current greenhouse gas inventory for Global Affairs Canada’s operations in the National Capital Region. Setting an accurate performance baseline enables the measurement of future greenhouse gas reduction initiatives and supports results-reporting related to a variety of DSDS targets to be evaluated.
Responsible business conduct
In April 2022, Global Affairs Canada launched its new responsible business conduct (RBC) strategy, Responsible Business Conduct Abroad: Canada’s Strategy for the Future. This 5-year strategy (2022-2027) strengthens Canada’s balanced approach to RBC, which includes preventive measures, legislation in select areas, and access to remedy in the form of non-judicial dispute resolution mechanisms. It further sets out priorities for the Government of Canada, through the Trade Commissioner Service and partners, to support Canadian companies abroad to:
- adopt world-leading responsible business practices
- help them gain a competitive advantage
- mitigate risks
- contribute to a strong and inclusive economic recovery
The new strategy applies to all Canadian companies active abroad, regardless of size, sector or scope. It reaffirms Canada’s expectation that Canadian companies contribute to sustainable development and work to accelerate progress on all SDGs of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. The Strategy is accompanied by an action plan, which details initiatives that will be carried out by Global Affairs Canada and partners over the duration of the Strategy’s implementation. Key action plan elements include the development of an RBC standard on due diligence, the creation of a digital risk assessment tool, and the creation of an RBC Champions network at Canada’s missions abroad.
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