Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy 2014-2015
Overview of the Federal Government's Approach to Sustainable Development
The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) 2013-16 presents the Government of Canada's sustainable development activities, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. In keeping with the objectives of the Act to make environmental decision making more transparent and accountable to Parliament, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) supports the implementation of the FSDS through the activities in this supplementary information table.
This Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy presents the results for Theme IV, Shrinking the Environmental Footprint – Beginning with Government.
Themes I to III: Implementation Strategies
The Agency’s Policy, Advocacy and Coordination program (1.3) focused on energy and the environment through its advocacy work, promoting Atlantic Canada’s energy sector – including renewable energy – and facilitating the advancement of the region’s potential through the Atlantic Canada Energy Office. The energy and environment sectors were a focus also for ACOA’s Coordination sub-program through the Atlantic Energy Gateway (AEG) initiative. The AEG was launched to complement existing and planned utility and regional collaborative efforts as well as ongoing commercial activities within the region’s electricity sector. The AEG supports Theme I, Addressing Climate Change and Air Quality. Through the FSDS, the federal government has committed to “reduce greenhouse gas emission levels and adapt to unavoidable impacts in order to mitigate the effects of climate change.”[1] Strategies to meet this goal include “the development and generation of renewable energy and support [for] energy efficiency.”[2] The work of the AEG supports this strategy and will assist Atlantic Canada in developing a lower‑carbon economy.
Theme IV: Targets and Implementation Strategies
Goal 7: Waste and Asset Management
Target 7.2: Green Procurement
As of April 1, 2014, the Government of Canada will continue to take action to embed environmental considerations into public procurement, in accordance with the federal Policy on Green Procurement.
Scope and Context
Scope of target for acquisition cardholders – All new cardholders will be required to take a recognized training course before receiving a card.
Recognized training course – For acquisition cardholders, this will be achieved by means of an online course offered through the Government of Canada’s training website.
Key consideration – Exclusions may include positions that are vacant.
Performance Measurement
Expected result – Environmentally responsible acquisition, use and disposal of goods and services.
| Performance indicator | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| Departmental approach to further the implementation of the Policy on Green Procurement in place as of April 1, 2014. | June 7, 2015. A draft departmental approach was prepared by April 1, 2015. Final approval was obtained on June 7, 2015. |
| Number and percentage of procurement and/or materiel management specialists who completed the Canada School of Public Service Green Procurement course (C215) or equivalent in fiscal year 2014‑15. | 8 88% In anticipation of possible staff turnover, target was set at 8 out of 9 employees (88%). Target was achieved. |
| Number and percentage of managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel whose performance evaluation includes support and contribution toward green procurement in fiscal year 2014–15. | 5 83% In anticipation of possible staff turnover, target was set at 5 out of 6 employees (83%). Target was achieved. |
Departmental green procurement target:
By March 31, 2017, 95% of copy paper, commercial printing and/or envelope purchases will contain a minimum of 30% recycled content and be certified to a recognized environmental standard to reduce the environmental impact of its production.
| Performance indicator | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| Dollar value of copy paper, commercial printing and/or envelope purchases that meet the target objective relative to the total dollar value of all copy paper, commercial printing and/or envelope purchases in the given fiscal year. Annual amount spent on copy paper, commercial printing and/or envelopes. |
$22,977 / $58,195 39.5% Copy paper purchases meet the target. However, commercial printing and envelope purchases do not fully meet the target. ACOA is currently negotiating with suppliers to work out terms that would allow the Agency to meet this target by March 31, 2017, while maintaining current costs. |
Departmental green procurement target:
By March 31, 2017, 90% of purchases of imaging hardware will include criteria to reduce the environmental impact associated with the production, acquisition, use and/or disposal of the equipment.
| Performance indicator | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| Dollar value of imaging hardware purchased that meets the target objective relative to the total dollar value of all imaging hardware purchased in the given fiscal year. Annual amount spent on imaging hardware. |
$16,180 / $16,180 100% All imaging hardware is purchased through Public Works and Government Services Canada Green Standing Offers and therefore meets the minimum criteria required under this target. Furthermore, imaging hardware at ACOA is managed on an extended 10‑year life cycle. |
Departmental green procurement target:
By March 31, 2017, 90% of toner cartridges are recycled at end of life.
| Performance indicator | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| Percentage of toner cartridges recycled relative to the total value of all toner cartridges purchased in the given fiscal year. Annual amount spent on toner cartridges. |
100% All toner cartridges are recycled at end of life. $44,000 |
| Implementation strategy element or best practice | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| 7.2.1.5. Leverage common use procurement instruments where available and feasible. | Achieved As required under ACOA’s internal procurement policy. |
| Best Practice 7.2.3. Train acquisition cardholders on green procurement. |
Achieved All acquisition cardholders must complete the Green Procurement course prior to receiving their cards. |
Target 7.3: Sustainable Workplace Operations
As of April 1, 2015, the Government of Canada will update and adopt policies and practices to improve the sustainability of its workplace operations.
Performance Measurement
Expected result – Departmental workplace operations have a reduced environmental impact.
| Performance indicator | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| An approach to maintain or improve the sustainability of the departmental workplace is in place by March 31, 2015. | June 7, 2015 A draft departmental approach was prepared by April 1, 2015. Final approval was obtained on June 7, 2015. |
| Implementation strategy element or best practice | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| 7.3.1.3. Maintain or improve existing approaches to sustainable workplace practices (i.e., printer ratios, paper usage and green meetings). | Not achieved This target was partially achieved as the printer ratio was not maintained. It is currently at 6.8:1. However, ACOA plans to return the printer ratio to 8:1. Remaining 7.3.1.3 targets have been maintained (i.e., green meetings and paper usage). |
| 7.3.1.6. Dispose of e-waste in an environmentally sound and secure manner. | Achieved |
Additional Departmental Sustainable Development Activities and Initiatives
In Atlantic Canada, ACOA is also helping to develop more competitive, resource-efficient and sustainable businesses and communities through its funding programs. For example, the Agency supports research activities in the clean energy sector through the Atlantic Policy Research Initiative (APRI). Most recently, the Agency funded an APRI project with a goal of providing a broad assessment of the tidal industry, including: various development scenarios of growth to 2040; a high level assessment of supply-chain opportunities available to Atlantic Canada; and an estimate of the value proposition, including the development of a new industry, economic impacts and the value of displaced greenhouse gases and pollutants. ACOA also assisted Atlantic companies in showcasing their technology on the international stage by supporting trade missions to expand and open new markets. For example, participation of an Atlantic Canada delegation to All Energy 2014 in Aberdeen, Scotland, provided an opportunity to position the region as an innovator in renewable energy by increasing awareness and gathering intelligence on market opportunities.
Additional information on ACOA’s programming is available on the ACOA website.
Sustainable Development Management System
ACOA’s Sustainable Development Vision
ACOA is a participant in the FSDS, which represents a major step forward for the Government of Canada by including environmental sustainability and a strategic environmental assessment as an integral part of its decision-making processes. ACOA is implicated under Theme I, Addressing Climate Change and Air Quality and under Theme IV, Shrinking the Environmental Footprint – Beginning with Government.
ACOA’s Decision-Making and Sustainable Development Practices
ACOA has set an example in its internal operations by:
- pursuing best practices in environmental management and pollution prevention, including recycling and waste reduction;
- participating in sustainable development interdepartmental working groups such as the FSDS Associate Deputy Minister Committee and the FSDS Director General Committee;
- educating ACOA staff on environmental issues and concerns and providing them with the resources to carry out the Agency’s sustainable development agenda; and
- setting measurable targets, reporting progress and reviewing Agency contributions to the FSDS on an annual basis through the Agency’s Main Estimates process.
Strategic Environmental Assessment
During the 2014-15 reporting cycle, ACOA considered the environmental effects of initiatives subject to the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, as part of its decision-making processes. As the Agency did not develop any initiatives that required a strategic environmental assessment, no related public statements were produced.
[1] Environment Canada, Planning for a Sustainable Future: A Federal Sustainable Development Strategy for Canada 2013-2016, November 2013.
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