Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy - DRR 2016-17

Overview of the federal government's approach to sustainable development

The 2013-16 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents 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 (DND) supports the implementation of the FSDS through the activities found in supplementary information table.

This Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS) presents the contributions and performance status for Theme III – Protecting Nature and Canadians and Theme IV - Shrinking the Environmental Footprint – Beginning with Government.

Sustainable Development Management System

Serving as the strategic direction for the Environmental Program, the Defence Environmental Strategy (DES) continues 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 National 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 FSDS.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

The Department of National Defence made progress revising its internal guidance Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) including the preliminary scan in order to support meeting the requirements of the cabinet directive and to include consideration of the FSDS goals and targets. Though work has not been completed on integrating the preliminary scan template into the current environmental assessment portal, an interim process is in place to provide oversight on how and when SEA’s are being completed. As National Defence did not develop any initiatives that required a detailed Strategic Environmental Assessment, no related public statements were produced.

Themes I to III: Department-Led Targets

Target 4.1: Species at Risk

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

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

Planning Highlight: National Defence continues to consult and collaborate with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Parks Canada on species at risk issues and recovery planning documents.

Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture: 4.3.5 Real Property – Environment and Remediation

Themes I to III: Departmental Contribution to Federal Targets

Target 4.8: Chemicals Management - Contaminated Sites

Scope and Context: The Department of National Defence is a custodian of federal contaminated sites receiving Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) funding for site assessment or remediation. DND manages its contaminated sites in a manner that is consistent with Treasury Board Policy, prioritizes the sites based on human health and environmental risks using approved criteria, develops and implements management strategies for proposed projects, executes projects and reports on results.

Expected Result: Reduce the number of federally identified active Contaminated Sites from the Defence facilities.

Planning Highlight: The Department continues to reduce its contaminated sites liabilities and optimizes its funding allocation.

Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture: 4.3.5 Real Property – Environment and Remediation

Themes IV: Greening Government Operations

Goal 6: Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Energy

Target 6.1: GHG Emissions Reduction - The Government of Canada will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its buildings and fleets by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020.

Expected Result: Reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption of federal operations.

Planning Highlight: National Defence continues to take action now to reduce levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its buildings and commercial vehicle fleets to support the national target of 17% below 2005 by 2020.

Departmental Target: 10% below 2005 by 2020

Scope and Context: Fuel and energy consumed in infrastructure and commercial vehicle fleets are included within the scope of this target.

National Safety and Security (NSS) Fleets and Residential Housing Units (RHUs) are excluded from the GHG emissions reduction exercise.

Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture: 4.3 Real Property Lifecycle

*The GHG accounting methodology takes into account the changes in the GHG intensity of electricity generation in Canada that have occurred since 2005. Based on GHG intensity of electricity generation in 2005, the Department of National Defence emissions in FY 2016-17 would be 8.7% below 2005 levels.

Goal 7: Waste and Asset Management

Target 7.1: Real Property Environmental Performance - As of April 1, 2014, and pursuant to departmental Real Property Sustainability Frameworks, an industry-recognized level of high-environmental performance will be achieved in Government of Canada real property projects and operations.

Expected Result: An industry-recognized level of high-environmental performance will be achieved in Government of Canada real property projects and operations.

Planning Highlight: National Defence continues to complete new construction, build-to-lease, and major renovation projects to achieve an industry-recognized level of high environmental performance in the given fiscal year, according to the departmental strategic framework.

Scope and Context: New construction, build to lease and major renovation projects where the construction contract is valued at over $1 million must achieve a high level of environmental performance.

Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture: 4.3 Real Property Lifecycle

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.

Expected Result: Environmentally responsible acquisition, use and disposal of goods and services.

Planning Highlight: National Defence continues to apply environmentally responsible principles in all aspects of the life-cycle of goods and services.

Scope and Context: National Defence will build on FSDS 2010-13 performance from fiscal year 2014-15.

Links to Department's Program Alignment Architecture: 4.2.2 Materiel – Acquisition and 4.2.7 Materiel – Strategic Coordination, Development and Control

Departmental Green Procurement Targets

Target 1: Real Property Services Procurement

Scope and Context: Integrate green procurement clauses in 25% of Real Property Services procurement instruments by March 31, 2017.

Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture: 4.3.2 Real Property - Acquisition

Target 2: Vehicle Purchases

Scope and Context: As of March 31, 2017, 75% of vehicles purchased annually has met operational needs and are the most fuel efficient vehicles in its class in the Government Motor Vehicle Ordering Guide and/or are an alternative fuel vehicle, hybrid or electric vehicle.

Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture: 4.2.2 Materiel - Acquisition

Target 3: Food and Beverage Equipment

Scope and Context: As of March 31, 2017, 50% of food and beverage equipment purchases included criteria to reduce food waste.

Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture: 4.2.2 Materiel - Acquisition

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.

Expected Result: Departmental workplace operations have a reduced environmental impact.

Planning Highlight: National Defence continues to apply an environmentally responsible approach to its workplace operations in order to reduce its environmental impacts.

Scope and Context: Defence-wide

Links to Department's Program Alignment Architecture:

4.2 Materiel Lifecycle

4.3 Real Property Lifecycle

4.4 Information Systems Lifecycle

Target 7.4: Greening Services to Clients

Canadian Forces Housing Agency

The Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA) continues to proactively explore additional opportunities to manage the environmental impact associated with housing management, provide green services to clients, and support the department’s environmental objectives.

Scope and Context: Defence-wide

Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture: 4.3 Real Property Lifecycle

Expected Result: CFHA’s maintenance, renovation, and new construction programs are to integrate environmental considerations in order to reduce the negative environmental impacts of housing management and provide comfortable and energy efficient housing for military families.

Goal 8: Water Management

Target 8.1: Water Management - As of April 1, 2014, the Government of Canada will take further action to improve water management within its real property portfolio.

Expected Result: Water is managed sustainably in Government of Canada real property operations.

Planning Highlight: National Defence continues to apply an environmentally responsible approach to its Water Management in order to reduce its environmental impacts.

Scope and Context: Eligible heated buildings over 1,000 m² by area.

Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture: 4.3 Real Property Lifecycle