Defence Energy and Environment Strategy
Department of National Defence
Section 1: Context for the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
The 2016-2019 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS):
- sets out the Government of Canada’s sustainable development priorities;
- establishes goals and targets; and
- identifies actions to achieve them, 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 Department of National Defence (DND) supports reporting on the implementation of the FSDS and the Defence Energy and Environment Strategy (DEES) through the activities described in the supplementary information table.
Section 2: Sustainable Development in the Department of National Defence
The DEES describes the department’s actions towards achieving three FSDS goals: (1) Low-carbon Government, (2) Healthy Wildlife Populations, and (3) Safe and Healthy Communities. This includes efforts that support the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and its sustainable development goals. The supplementary information table presents results for the departmental actions related to these goals.
Context for the FSDS goal: Low-carbon government
DND identified a wide range of measures to reduce energy consumption, improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and the commercial vehicle fleet. These measures include:
- investing in infrastructure projects to reduce our carbon footprint;
- designating energy managers;
- pursuing opportunities to use clean power;
- requiring new construction and major recapitalization projects to meet or exceed high-performing buildings standards;
- implementing new energy performance contracts;
- achieving energy performance standards for all new or recapitalized residential housing units;
- integrating sustainability principles in all real property development plans;
- modernizing the commercial vehicle fleet; and
- reducing petroleum-generated electrical energy consumption at deployed camps.
Context for the FSDS goal: Healthy wildlife populations
In recognition of the potential impact of Defence activities on biodiversity and habitat within training and operating areas, Defence adheres to federal regulations on flora and fauna protection, while taking into account the need for military training.
Context for the FSDS goal: Safe and healthy communities
DND manages its contaminated sites to reduce risks to human health and the environment and to reduce the associated financial liability. Range and training areas are managed in order to support force generation in the long term while also minimizing undue impacts on the natural environment from military training. DND is committed to managing hazardous materials with care from purchase to disposal, reducing their use and removing them where possible. DND will optimize its potable water consumption and wastewater production as well as manage its storm-water runoff as per best environmental practices.
Consult the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy supplementary information table in the 2016–17 Departmental Results Report for last year’s results.
Section 3: Departmental performance by FSDS goal
The following supplementary information table provides the performance information on departmental actions in support of the FSDS goals listed in Section 2.
FSDS Goal: Low-Carbon Government - The Government of Canada leads by example by making its operations low-carbon
| FSDS target(s) | FSDS Contributing Action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Support for UN Sustainable Development Goal target | Starting point(s), target and performance indicator(s) for departmental actions | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from federal government buildings and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, with an aspiration to achieve this reduction by 2025 |
Improve the energy efficiency of our buildings |
By 2030, reduce GHG emissions in DND buildings and commercial vehicle fleet by 40% |
Starting point: 788.9 kt CO2 eq. % of GHG emissions reduction relative to a 2005 baseline |
31% |
|
Invest $225 million by 2020 in a wide range of infrastructure projects across Canada to reduce DND’s carbon footprint |
% of $225 million expended |
32% |
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Designate energy managers at all bases and wings by 31 March 2019 |
% of bases and wings with designated energy managers |
11% |
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Pursue opportunities to use clean power at all bases and wings by 2025 |
Starting point: 55% (FY 2015-16) |
72% |
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Require new construction and major recapitalization projects to meet or exceed the Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard or equivalent for high-performing buildings |
% of new construction and major recapitalization projects meeting or exceeding the Silver LEED standard or equivalent |
100% |
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Achieve an EnerGuide energy performance standard for all new or recapitalized residential housing units by 31 March 2020 |
% of new residential housing units (RHUs) that achieved an EnerGuide rating of 80 % of recapitalized residential housing units (RHUs) that achieved an EnerGuide rating of 70 |
100% |
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Implement new energy performance contracts at all bases and wings by 31 March 2025 |
% of bases and wings with energy performance contracts implemented |
9% |
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Integrate sustainability principles in all real property development plans by 31 March 2020 |
% of real property development plans with sustainability principles |
26% |
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Modernize our fleet |
Ensure 30% of DND light-duty vehicle fleet runs on hybrid, plug-in hybrid and/or electric technology, where suitable for operational needs and where vehicles with this technology are available in the Government Motor Vehicle Ordering Guide, by 31 March 2020 |
% of light-duty vehicle fleet that is hybrid, plug-in hybrid and/or electric |
19% |
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Support the transition to a low-carbon economy through green procurement |
Align departmental policy on green procurement with the government’s Policy on Green Procurement within 12 months of its issuance by Treasury Board |
Applicable departmental policy on green procurement reflects Government of Canada direction |
Government of Canada direction pending |
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Integrate green procurement considerations in 90% of real property procurement instruments by 31 March 2019, where applicable |
% of real property procurement instruments with green procurement considerations |
Baseline being established |
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Develop policy for low-carbon government |
Achieve 100% compliance with the Cabinet directive on strategic environmental assessments for all relevant departmental proposals |
% of relevant proposals for which the strategic environmental assessment process is completed |
93% |
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Demonstrate innovative technologies |
Reduce petroleum-generated electrical energy consumption by 50% at deployed camps by 2030 |
Starting point: 3 kilowatts per person (FY 2005-06) % of reduction of petroleum generated electrical energy consumption at deployed camps |
16% (increase) |
FSDS Goal: Healthy Wildlife Populations - All species have healthy and viable populations
| FSDS target(s) | FSDS Contributing Action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Support for UN Sustainable Development Goal target | Starting point(s), target and performance indicator(s) for departmental actions | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By 2020, species that are secure remain secure, and populations of species at risk listed under federal law exhibit trends that are consistent with recovery strategies and management plans | Use legislation and regulations to protect species at risk and migratory birds | Endorse species-at-risk work plans for all bases and wings by 31 March 2019 | SDG 15.9 | % of species-at-risk work plans that are endorsed | 3% species-at-risk work plans endorsed 49% species-at-risk work plans developed by DND |
FSDS Goal: Safe and Healthy Communities - All Canadians live in clean, sustainable communities that contribute to their health and well-being
| FSDS target(s) | FSDS Contributing Action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Support for UN Sustainable Development Goal target | Starting point(s), target and performance indicator(s) for departmental actions | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
By 2020, address the 4,300 substances identified as priorities for action under the Chemicals Management Plan |
Demonstrate leadership on assessing and remediating contaminated sites
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Reduce DND’s contaminated sites liability by an average of 7% per year by 2020 |
|
% of reduction in contaminated sites liability based on the closing liability of the previous year |
19.4% |
|
Assess the environmental risk of all small arms ranges by 31 March 2019 to recommend modern range design options and the sustainable use of range and training areas |
% of small arms ranges that are assessed and ranked based on environmental risk |
58% |
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Implement modernized spill tracking and halocarbon management systems by 31 March 2018 |
Spill tracking system and halocarbon management system implemented |
Yes |
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Provide information to inform action and decision making |
Complete source water vulnerability assessments on all sites where DND supplies its own drinking water by 31 March 2020 |
% of sites with source water vulnerability assessments completed |
40% |
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