Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy: 2017 to 2020

ESDC’s sustainable development approach

ESDC is responsible exclusively – along with other participating federal departments and agencies – to implement the “Low Carbon Government” goal identified in the FSDS. However, beyond addressing environmental sustainability issues in its strategy, ESDC also plays a leadership role as part of a steering committee of federal departments and agencies working towards the integration of social and economic considerations into a comprehensive decision-making process where government choices are more transparent and accountable to Parliament.

Low carbon government

ESDC supports the FSDA and, more specifically, the goal and target of the 2016 to 2019 FSDS that govern carbon emissions in Canada. Despite ESDC’s extensive operational infrastructure, the Department is, however, not involved in activities improving the energy efficiency of buildings since all departmental facilities are owned and/or operated by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). In this context, the scope of ESDC initiatives contributing to making the Government’s operations low carbon focuses on fleet management issues, green procurement practices as well as information technology and management initiatives.

Additional departmental sustainable development activities and initiatives

• Create an ESDC Interior Design Standard that is based off the Workplace 2.0 fit-up standards which helps to reduce our carbon footprint and “green” government buildings while incorporating the fundamental aspects of environmental sustainability and supportive work environments
• Increase the population density in office buildings and space utilization in special purpose buildings

In addition, a number of information technology and information management initiatives are considered as a means to reduce the carbon footprint of ESDC:

• Further reduction of the print devices ratio to employees
• Reduction of the standard desktop operating device in favour of more mobile units
• Use of a single 34″ monitor rather than providing everyone with two 24″ monitors
• Automation and elimination of paper-based processes
• Use of imaging capacity to further reduce paper holdings
• Expansion of video-conferencing services and e-meetings
• Increased awareness and education of staff of the cost of printing

Whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach

As a member of this steering committee, ESDC is playing a leadership role in defining Canada’s approach for successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda in an integrated, sustainable and resilient manner. However, it is still too early to determine the main initiatives that would be put forward in order to apply a 2030 Agenda lens to policies and programs as a means to encourage progress towards meeting the SDGs across all sectors such as social and economic development, labour, and employment.

Strategic environmental assessment

From a strictly environmental perspective, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a key analytical tool used by the federal government to support environmentally sustainable decision-making. It evaluates the environmental effects of a proposed policy, plan, or program and its alternatives, and informs strategic decision-making through a careful analysis of environmental risks and opportunities. ESDC continues to consider the environmental effects of initiatives subject to the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals.

• Preliminary Scan:  An assessment to determine whether important environmental effects, either positive or negative, would result from the implementation of the proposal; and
• Detailed SEA:  Constitutes a more detailed assessment of environmental impacts. It also includes strategies to mitigate the negative or enhance the positive effects of the proposal, or measures to address any possible public concerns

ESDC has developed documents to help guide staff on assessing the need for an SEA. The Strategic Environmental Assessment Decision & Approval Record includes questions to assist in determining whether an SEA is required. The supporting guide Conducting Strategic Environmental Assessments assists in developing a preliminary scan and provides guidance on how to conduct a detailed SEA if deemed necessary following the preliminary scan. These documents are used by the Department for tracking and reporting purposes and are shared with proposal writers at the beginning of any process requiring the development of a proposal to Cabinet or to a minister, in accordance with the Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental Assessments.

ESDC will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration for FSDS goals and targets through it SEA process. An SEA for policy, plan or program proposals includes an analysis of the impacts of the given proposal on the environment, including FSDS goals and targets.

Public statements on the results of ESDC’s assessments are made available when an initiative that has undergone a detailed SEA is announced on its public website. 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.