Section III - Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy - DPR - 2013-14

Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

Overview of the Federal Government's Approach to Sustainable Development

The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) 2013-16, tabled on November 4, 2013, guides the Government of Canada’s sustainable development activities, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA). In keeping with the objectives of the FSDA, to make environmental decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament, the Department of National Defence supports the implementation of the FSDS through the activities found in this departmental strategy.

Accordingly this Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS) presents the results for commitments for Theme III – Protecting Nature and Canadians, within the context of the 2013-16 FSDS. This DSDS also provides the results for Theme IV - Shrinking the Environmental Footprint – Beginning with Government based on the 2010-13 FSDS.

Themes I-III: Department/Agency-led Targets

FSDS Goal FSDS Performance Indicator FSDS Target FSDS Performance Status

Target 4.1: Species at Risk

By 2020, populations of species at risk listed under federal law exhibit trends that are consistent with recovery strategies and management plans.

Species at risk protection. 4.1.1. Commit to collaborating and consulting with Species at Risk Act competent departments for the development of recovery strategies, action plans and management plans for species at risk on DND lands. National Defence continues to consult and collaborate with Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Parks Canada Agency on species at risk issues and recovery planning documents.

Themes I-III: Implementation Strategies

Defence commits through program implementation to continue to consult and collaborate with SARA competent Departments in order to comply with the Species and Risk Act (SARA) and contribute Departmentally to the protection of species at risk.

Theme IV: Implementation Strategies

Green Building Targets

As of April 1, 2012, and pursuant to departmental strategic frameworks, new construction and build-to-lease projects, and major renovation projects, will achieve an industry-recognized level of high environmental performance.1 (Target 8.1 from 2010-13 FSDS)

Performance Measure Performance Status
Target status Achieved
Number of completed new construction, build-to-lease, and major renovation projects in the given fiscal year, according to the departmental strategic framework. 7
Number of completed new construction, build-to-lease, and major renovation projects that have achieved an industry-recognized level of high environmental performance in the given fiscal year, according to the departmental strategic framework. 6
Existence of a strategic framework. Yes

Strategies and/or Comments

  1. Scope: For residential apartments, Green Globes will be applied. For applicable buildings where construction value ranges from $1M-$10M Green Globes will be applied and for building construction values greater than $10M LEED NC will be applied. Other Building Projects shall follow an equivalent system and projects without buildings or historic buildings are excluded.
  2. Applicable building types: Heated buildings where an available benchmark applies, which includes office buildings, singles quarters/barracks, health care facilities, retail areas (CANEX) and dining facilities.
  3. Progress Status: One building’s beneficial occupancy date has changed from 2013-14 to 2014-15 and will be accounted for in the 2014-15 Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP).
  4. Strategic framework: Approved on December 20, 2011.

1 High environmental performance is demonstrated by achieving LEED NC Silver, Green Globes Design 3 Globes, or equivalent.

As of April 1, 2012, and pursuant to departmental strategic frameworks, existing crown buildings over 1000 m2 will be assessed for environmental performance using an industry-recognized assessment tool.2 (Target 8.2 from 2010-13 FSDS)

Performance Measure Performance Status
Target status Achieved
Number of buildings over 1000 m2, according to the departmental strategic framework. 1411
Departmental assessment target: Percentage of buildings over 1000 m2 by gross floor area to be assessed. 10%
Percentage of buildings over 1000 m2 in the given fiscal year that have been assessed using an industry-recognized assessment tool, according to the departmental strategic framework. 13.6%
Existence of a strategic framework. Yes

Strategies and/or Comments

  1. Scope: All heated buildings greater than 1000m2, where the department has full operational control except the following: residential housing units; heating/power/wastewater/sewage treatment plants; buildings located in the northern remote locations (i.e. North Warning System sites); and buildings that are not heated, not manned, and scheduled to be decommissioned, demolished or transferred to other government departments within the next five years.
  2. Strategic framework: Approved on December 20, 2011.

2 Industry-recognized assessment tools are BOMA BEST, Green Globes, or equivalent.

As of April 1, 2012, and pursuant to departmental strategic frameworks, new lease or lease renewal projects over 1000 m2, where the Crown is the major lessee, will be assessed for environmental performance using an industry-recognized assessment tool.3 (Target 8.3 from 2010-13 FSDS)

Performance Measure Performance Status
Target status Achieved
Number of completed lease and lease renewal projects over 1000 m2 in the given fiscal year, according to the departmental strategic framework. 1
Number of completed lease and lease renewal projects over 1000 m2 that were assessed using an industry-recognized assessment tool in the given fiscal year, according to the departmental strategic framework. 1
Existence of a strategic framework. Yes

Strategies and/or Comments

  1. Scope: All Requests for Proposals (RFP) for new and renewed leases or licenses to the department for any facility over 1000 m2 (residential housing units are excluded from this scope).
  2. Progress Status: The number of RFPs for leases or licenses to the department where a requirement for an industry recognized assessment tool for the measurement of environmental performance was a criterion of the RFP and the number of facilities then acquired by lease or license with an environmental rating of the facility will be reported.
  3. Strategic framework: Approved on December 20, 2011.

3 Industry-recognized assessment tools are BOMA BEST, an appropriately tailored BOMA International Green Lease Standard, or equivalent.

As of April 1, 2012, and pursuant to departmental strategic frameworks, fit-up and refit projects will achieve an industry-recognized level of high environmental performance.4 (Target 8.4 from 2010-13 FSDS)

Performance Measure Performance Status
Target status Achieved
Number of completed fit-up and refit projects in the given fiscal year, according to the departmental strategic framework. 0
Number of completed fit-up and refit projects that have achieved an industry-recognized level of high environmental performance in the given fiscal year, according to the departmental strategic framework. 0
Existence of a strategic framework. Yes

Strategies and/or Comments

  1. Scope: For applicable buildings where construction values range from $1M to $10M then Green Globes will be applied and where construction values are greater than $10M LEED new construction (NC) and major renovations will be applied. Defence is not planning any fit-ups or refit projects for FY 2013-14, which is reflected in the number ‘0’, in the table above.
  2. Applicable building types: Heated buildings where an available benchmark applies, which includes office buildings.
  3. Strategic framework: Approved on December 20, 2011.

4 High environmental performance is demonstrated by achieving LEED CI Silver, Green Globes Fit-Up 3 Globes, or equivalent.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Target

The federal government will take action now to reduce levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its operations to match the national target of 17% below 2005 by 2020. (Target 8.5 from 2010-13 FSDS)

Performance Measure Performance Status
Target status Opportunity for Improvement
Departmental GHG reduction target: Percentage of absolute reduction in GHG emissions by FY 2020–21, relative to FY 2005–06. 10%
Departmental GHG emissions in FY 2005–06, in kilotons of CO2 equivalent. 790
Departmental GHG emissions in the given fiscal year, in kilotons of CO2 equivalent. 804
Change in departmental GHG emissions from FY 2005–06 to the end of the given fiscal year, expressed as a percentage. 1.8% increase
Existence of an implementation plan to reduce GHG emissions. Yes

Strategies and/or Comments

  1. Scope: Targeted GHG emissions sources include facilities and commercial fleets only; Defence operational fleet (i.e. National Safety and Security Fleet - military-pattern vehicles, ships and aircraft) and Residential Housing Units are excluded in the calculation exercise.
  2. Base year adjustments: The Department's base year GHG emission levels (FY 2005-06) have been recalculated using emission factors from the latest electricity intensity tables published by Environment Canada. These factors, which are used to calculate the Department's emissions from purchased electricity, have been updated due to changes in Environment Canada's methodology for quantifying emissions from electricity generation in Canada.
  3. Implementation Plan: Approved on December 20, 2011.
  4. Comments: Defence facilities located in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario experienced the coldest winter since 1998. This led to the increase energy demand for heating and resulted in higher than normal greenhouse gas emissions.

Surplus Electronic and Electrical Equipment Target

By March 31, 2014, each department will reuse or recycle all surplus electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) in an environmentally sound and secure manner. (Target 8.6 from 2010-13 FSDS)

Performance Measure Performance Status
Target status Achieved
Existence of an implementation plan for the disposal of all departmentally generated EEE. Yes
Total number of departmental locations with an EEE implementation plan fully implemented, expressed as a percentage of all locations, by the end of the given fiscal year. 100%

Strategies and/or Comments

  1. Scope: The number of Supply Repair & Disposal locations for the Defence is 40.
  2. Approach: The Defence Materiel Group disposal generation sites for E-Waste that will be monitored are Supply Repair & Disposal locations (i.e. locations where disposal policy states that E-Waste should be entering the waste stream) for computer equipment (e.g. desktops, laptops, monitors and printers).
  3. Progress Status: An additional five units were identified during compliance visits in the last quarter of FY 2013-14 as potentially disposing of e-waste. These sites (DRDC and one training unit) will be visited in the second quarter of FY 2014-15 and are not included in the total number of units identified in RPP/DPR columns.

Printing Unit Reduction Target

By March 31, 2013, each department will achieve an 8:1 average ratio of office employees to printing units. Departments will apply the target where building occupancy levels, security considerations, and space configuration allow. (Target 8.7 from 2010-13 FSDS)

Performance Measure Performance Status
Target status Achieved
Ratio of departmental office employees to printing units in fiscal year 2010–11, where building occupancy levels, security considerations and space configuration allow. 4:1
Ratio of departmental office employees to printing units at the end of the given fiscal year, where building occupancy levels, security considerations and space configuration allow. 9.6 :1

Strategies and/or Comments

  1. Definition: Printing units are defined as unclassified network printers.
  2. Scope: While the intent is all buildings where space configurations and occupancy levels allow it, Defence does not track devices or employees by building. As a result, the scope for Defence will be the number of network users to the number of network printers.
  3. Approach: Information Technology asset management databases will be used to capture Information Technology equipment.

Paper Consumption Target

By March 31, 2014, each department will reduce internal paper consumption per office employee by 20%. Each department will establish a baseline between 2005–06 and 2011–12, and an applicable scope. (Target 8.8 from 2010-13 FSDS)

Performance Measure Performance Status
Target status Achieved
Number of sheets of internal office paper purchased or consumed per office employee in the selected baseline year, according to the departmental scope. 3241
Cumulative reduction (or increase) in paper consumption per office employee in the given fiscal year, expressed as a percentage, relative to the selected baseline year. 21%

Strategies and/or Comments

  1. Baseline year: FY 2008-09
  2. Scope: Defence purchases office paper through Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) Standing Offer Agreements. To measure paper consumption reductions, PWGSC reports the paper consumption data by Department in a given fiscal year (FY). The Human Resources Summary of Military and Civilian Full-Time Equivalents in the Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) of the performance year will be used for determining the number of employees.

Green Meetings Target

By March 31, 2012, each department will adopt a guide for greening meetings. (Target 8.9 from 2010-13 FSDS)

Performance Measure Performance Status
Target status Achieved
Presence of a green meetings guide. Yes

Strategies and/or Comments

Green Meeting Guide: Approved on July 29, 2011.

Progress Status: The green meetings guide will be adopted when the guide is promulgated and incorporated as a best management practice. Continuous communications to employees will ensure its success.

Green Procurement Targets

As of April 1, 2011, each department will establish at least three SMART green procurement targets to reduce environmental impacts. (Target 8.10 from 2010-13 FSDS)

  1. Defence will procure green vehicles for the light commercial fleet where it is cost-effective and operationally feasible.
Performance Measure Performance Status
Target status Exceeded
Departmental target 5%
Percentage of light commercial vehicles procured each year will be green vehicles where it is cost-effective and operationally feasible. 75.7%

Strategies and/or Comments

  1. Scope: Where it is cost-effective and operationally feasible, Defence will increase the number of green vehicles while reducing the number of non-green vehicles through normal attrition.
  2. Progress Status: Commands and fleet managers will be educated on the importance of greening the fleet, through national training events, conferences, and workshops, and encourage procurement of green vehicles and greener fleet management practices.
  1. Defence will implement the conversion to an environmentally friendly hydraulic fluid common within the 13 aircraft fleets by March 31, 2014.
Performance Measure Performance Status
Target status Achieved
Percentage of the 13 aircraft fleets introducing and utilizing environmental friendly hydraulic fluid. 92%

Strategies and/or Comments

  1. Scope: Program includes 13 aircraft fleets where a change of hydraulic fluid had not been included in the initial service contract.
  2. Approach: For future service contracts, additional requirements will be explored that may examine the conversion to environmentally friendly hydraulic fluids for the remaining fleets.
  3. Progress Status: Of the 13 aircraft fleets that were considered, 92% have original manufacturer approval and have an implementation plan, or are already using a synthetic fluid. There is only one fleet without approval at this time. The management team for this fleet has been proactive in getting the manufacturer approval and the aircraft fleet should be converted in the near future.
  1. Defence will apply best practices to eliminate from use or restrict in application specified, nationally managed high-risk hazardous materials identified by 31 December each year based upon Risk Management Actions from Environment Canada and Health Canada.
Performance Measure Performance Status
Target status Exceeded
Departmental target 30%
Percentage of specified high-risk hazardous materials to be eliminated from use or restricted in application. 44%

Strategies and/or Comments

  1. Approach: A screening process has been developed to identify and to prioritize high-risk hazardous materials based on their inherent health, safety, and environmental properties. A new list of Nationally managed High-Risk hazardous materials was generated in FY 2013-2014 (List 2);
  2. Progress Status: Total number of nationally managed High-Risk hazardous material identified for action in FY 2013-2014: 152 (10 from List 1 and 142 from List 2). Number of high-risk hazardous material eliminated or use restricted in FY 2013-2014: 67.

As of April 1, 2011, each department will establish SMART targets for training, employee performance evaluations, and management processes and controls, as they pertain to procurement decision making. (Target 8.11 from 2010-13 FSDS).
Training for select employees
All current Defence employees and members performing Financial Administration Act (FAA) Sections 32 and 34 responsibilities will complete the Green Procurement (PG) Course.

Performance Measure Performance Status
Target status Achieved
Percentage of Defence employees and members performing FAA Sections 32 & 34 responsibilities with green procurement training, expressed as a percentage of employees and members, by the end of the given fiscal year. 72.9%

Strategies and/or Comments

  1. Scope: The total numbers of personnel to be trained is approximately 8,100 civilians and 17,500 military members.
  2. Approach: Green Procurement modules will be incorporated into key on-line & existing Materiel Acquisition and Support (MA&S) procurement course content. The record of the number of personnel trained compared to the pre-established figure for FY 2013-14 has not factored staff reductions into the comparison.
  3. Progress Status: The platform by which CAF members accessed the GP course changed over FY 2013-14. There is the possibility of a potential "gap" in the reporting of training numbers due to this changeover from access to the GP course via the CSPS system to the DNDLearn-DLN system. The performance measure is coming from ADM (HR-Civ) because they control the report data for training. DMPP does not have any access to this data. It is therefore strongly recommended that in the future this information be requested directly from ADM (HR-Civ) through DMGHR.

Employee performance evaluations for managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel management.
Green Procurement Objectives will be part of the Performance Management Agreements for relevant personnel.

Performance Measure Performance Status
Target status Achieved
Percentage of relevant personnel to include commitments to Departmental Green Procurement Objectives within their Annual Performance Management Agreements. 100%

Strategies and/or Comments

  1. Scope: Relevant personnel are defined as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Material and the Director General of Materiel Systems and Supply Chain.
  2. Approach: Letters of Material Acquisition process for FY 2013-14, responsibility of DGMSSC. Paragraph 3c of each letters signed by Level 1 or 2 of each organization states they attest that ''this includes training mandated for green procurement practices''.

Management processes and controls.
Defence will have in place policies that enable departmental personnel to perform and enforce best practices related to Materiel Acquisition and Support functions by March 31, 2014.

Performance Measure Performance Status
Target status Achieved
Percentage of key Defence policies reviewed and updated, as necessary, to incorporate best practices in Materiel Acquisition and Support. 30%

Strategies and/or Comments

  1. Scope: Key policies relate only to the Materiel Acquisition and Support functions.
  2. Approach: Continuous improvements to policies, procedures and best practices within Defence to enhance performance. Address Green Procurement requirements in the annual Materiel Acquisition and Support Functional Planning Guidance to all Assistant Deputy Minister and equivalent organizations. Include requirement to support Green Procurement initiatives in the annual Materiel Letter of Attestation (attestation required from all Assistant Deputy Minister and equivalent organizations). Green Procurement has been considered in relevant Supply Management policy reviews and updates.

Additional Departmental Sustainable Development Activities and Initiatives: Contaminated Sites

The Department of National Defence (DND), as a custodian of federal contaminated sites receiving Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) funding for site assessment or remediation, is required to manage its contaminated sites in a manner that is consistent with Treasury Board Policy, prioritize the sites using approved criteria, develop and implement management strategies for proposed projects and report on results.

Sustainable Development Management System

Serving as the strategic direction for the Environmental Program, the Defence Environmental Strategy (DES) will continue to support the Defence Team in developing sustainable defence activities. The DES considers current Defence Team activities that have environmental aspects that need to be managed as well as emerging environmental issues that could potentially impact Defence. The DES also includes activities that support the advancement of the Government of Canada’s Environmental Agenda such as Defence’s contribution to the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS).

Strategic Environmental Assessment

During 2013–14 reporting cycle, the Department of National Defence 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. Through the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) process, departmental proposals were found to have positive effects on the 2013–16 FSDS goals and targets in Themes III – Protecting Nature and Canadians and the 2010-13 FSDS for Theme IV – Shrinking the Environmental Footprint – Beginning with Government.

Additional information on the results of the SEA(s) is available on the Forces website.

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