Reduce GHG emissions from federal government facilities and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by2030 (with an aspiration to achieve this target by 2025) and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050 (with an aspiration to be carbon neutral)

Real Property

All new buildings and major building retrofits will prioritize low-carbon investments based on integrated design principles, and life cycle and total-cost-of ownership assessments which incorporate shadow carbon pricing.

Minimize embodied carbon and the use of harmful materials in construction and renovation.

Departments will adopt and deploy clean technologies and implement procedures to manage building operations and take advantage of programs to improve the environmental performance of their buildings.

Determine the most cost-effective pathway to achieve low-carbon operations, as well as opportunities for portfolio rationalization and space optimization, by undertaking a strategic evaluation of the Department’s real property portfolio. The Department will ensure that these findings are then taken into consideration in investment planning associated with GHG emission reductions projects in the Department’s real property portfolio and that all new buildings and major building retrofits prioritize low-carbon investments based on integrated design principles, and lifecycle and total-cost-of-ownership assessments, which incorporate shadow carbon pricing.

Require specification of low embodied carbon materials and/or substitution of low embodied carbon materials in construction and renovation projects.^{Footnote 1}

Starting point: Energy-related GHG emissions from facilities in fiscal year 2018-19 were 11.9 ktCO2e, representing a cumulative reduction of 29.8% relative to the baseline year 2005 to 2006.

Performance indicator: Percentage change in energy related GHG emissions from facilities relative to baseline year 2005 to 2006

Target: 40% reduction in energy-related GHG emissions from facilities relative to fiscal year 2005–06 by 2025.

In 2021-22, a 39% reduction in energy related GHG emissions from facilities was achieved relative to the baseline year 2005-06.

Contribution to meeting the FSDS target(s) or goal:

ECCC will contribute to further reduce GHG emissions from its facilities by:

• ensuring that the most cost-effective pathway to achieve low-carbon operations is pursued;
• taking into consideration opportunities for portfolio rationalization and space optimization in investment planning associated with GHG emission reductions projects in its real property portfolio; and
• ensuring that all new buildings and major building retrofits prioritize low-carbon investments.
• The reduction of GHG emissions from ECCC’s facilities directly contributes to advancing towards the FSDS Greening Government goal.

Support to related Sustainable Development Goal:

UN SDG 13: Climate Action (Target 13.2)

Mobility and fleet

Fleet management will be optimized including by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced.

Support the reduction of energy use in ECCC’s fleet and the adoption of low-carbon mobility solutions, including by deploying zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) charging stations within its facilities, where operationally feasible.

Note: The procurement and installation of Charging Stations are part of the departmental Real Property Function. It is listed here because it is related to the Mobility and Fleet function

Starting point: Energy-related GHG emissions from fleet in fiscal year 2018-19 were 3.0 ktCO2e, representing a cumulative reduction of 35.5% relative to the baseline year emissions of 4.6 ktCO2e in 2005–06.

Performance indicator: Percentage change in energy-related GHG emissions from fleet relative to baseline year 2005–06.

Target: 40% reduction in energy-related GHG emissions from fleet relative to fiscal year 2005–06 by 2025.

In 2022-23, a 39.6% reduction in energy related GHG emissions from fleet was achieved relative to baseline year 2005-06.

Contribution to meeting the FSDS target(s) or goal:

By reducing the energy use in its fleet and deploying ZEV charging stations, and by developing a strategic approach to decarbonizing its fleet and optimizing its fleet management, ECCC will further reduce GHG emissions from its fleet. This enables ECCC to contribute directly to meeting the FSDS Greening Government Goal and the FSDS Target, as well as increased the deployment of ZEV charging stations.

Support to related Sustainable Development Goal:

UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (Target 11.6)

UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (Target 12.7)

UN SDG 13: Climate Action (Target 13.2)

Develop a strategic approach to decarbonize ECCC’s fleet, including approaches such as purchasing ZEVs or hybrids (for new executive vehicles and unmodified administrative fleet vehicles) and facilitating the sharing of fleet vehicles across the Department. The Department will also optimize fleet management by expanding the use of telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced, provided that essential operational needs and departmental targets are met.

Starting point: In FY 2019-20, 50% of the Department’s purchase of new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicles was comprised of ZEVs or hybrids, and no new executive vehicle was purchased.^{Footnote 2}

Performance indicators:

Percentage of ZEVs or hybrids in annual purchase of new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicles

Percentage of ZEVs or hybrids in purchase of new executive vehicles

Targets:^{Footnote 3} 

75% of annual purchases of new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicle will be zero-emission vehicles or hybrids

All new executive vehicle purchases will be zero-emission vehicles or hybrids

In 2022-23, there were no new purchases of the Department’s executive fleet, and 95% of new light-duty unmodified fleet vehicle purchases were ZEVs or hybrid HEV.

Note: there was no green option available at the time of purchase for the remaining 30% new light-duty unmodified fleet vehicle purchased in 2021-22.

Procurement

Departments will adopt clean technology and undertake clean technology demonstration projects.^{Footnote 4} 

Undertake clean technology demonstration projects and adopt clean technology through procurement of innovative solutions that displace and/or offset the GHG emissions associated with electricity used in departmental operations.

Starting point: In 2019-20, 88% of electricity used in ECCC’s building operations was from clean generation sources.^{Footnote 5} 

Performance indicator: Percentage use of electricity from clean generation sources in its building operations, including procurement of renewable energy credits

Target: By 2025, 100% of electricity used in ECCC’s building operations is from clean generation sources, including procurement of renewable energy credits.

Note: The Department will assess opportunities to deploy clean electricity projects in its buildings and work with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to prioritize clean electricity contracts and/or procurement of renewable energy credits to offset GHG emissions from the conventional grid-tied electricity used by the Department.

In 2021-22, 86.3% of electricity used in ECCC’s building operations was from clean generation sources.

Note: The Department has signed a Service Level Agreement with Public Services and Procurement Canada for the procurement of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to displace the emitting portion of electricity from those jurisdictions where short- or medium-term local opportunities to acquire clean renewable electricity are not currently feasible.

Contribution to meeting the FSDS target(s) or goal:

By adopting innovative solutions that displace and/or offset the GHG emissions associated with electricity used in its operations, ECCC will contribute to meeting FSDS Target “Use 100% clean electricity by 2025.” Moreover, by undertaking clean technology demonstration projects and adopting innovative services and goods, the Department will demonstrate federal leadership in the use of clean technologies as a strategy to meet the FSDS goal of transitioning to low-carbon, climate-resilient and green government operations.

Support to related Sustainable Development Goal:

UN SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy (Target 7.2)

UN SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Target 9.4)

UN SDG 13: Climate Action (Target 13.2)

Divert at least 75% (by weight) of non-hazardous operational waste from landfills by 2030

Real Property

Implement procedures to manage building operations and take advantage of programs to reduce the environmental impact of Departmental building operations and materials, including waste reduction and diversion work plans.

Starting point: In February 2020, initial waste audits started to be performed at priority sites, which will provide preliminary information on Departmental waste diversion performance and actions needed to achieve a 75% waste diversion rate by 2030.

Performance indicator: Percentage (by weight) of non-hazardous operational waste diverted from landfill.

Target: At least 75% (by weight) of non-hazardous operational waste diverted from landfill by 2030.

Note: This indicator shows how the Department is progressing towards meeting the FSDS short-term milestone of waste diversion rates tracking and disclosure by 2022.

41% (by weight) of non-hazardous operational waste was diverted from landfill.

Contribution to meeting the FSDS target(s) or goal:

By implementing procedures to manage building operations and taking advantage of programs, such as waste reduction and diversion work plans, ECCC will increase waste diversion rates in its buildings and thereby contribute directly to meeting the FSDS target.

Support to related Sustainable Development Goals:

UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (Target 11.6)

UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (Target 12.5)

UN SDG 13: Climate Action (Target 13.2)

Divert at least 75% (by weight) of plastic waste from landfills by 2030

Real Property

Implement procedures to manage building operations and take advantage of programs to reduce the environmental impact of Departmental building operations and materials, including tracking systems for waste diversion rates, as well as potable water usage in high-occupancy buildings.

Starting point: In February 2020, initial waste audits started to be performed at priority sites, which will provide preliminary information on Departmental waste diversion performance and actions needed to achieve a 75% waste diversion rate by 2030.

Performance indicators:

Percentage completion of Departmental waste diversion rates tracking system.

Percentage completion of Departmental potable water consumption tracking system.

Percentage (by weight) of plastic waste diverted from landfills^{Footnote 6} 

Targets:

Completion of Departmental waste diversion rates tracking system by 2022.

Completion of Departmental potable water consumption tracking system by 2022.

At least 75% (by weight) of plastic waste diverted from landfills by 2030.

Note: This indicator shows how the Department is progressing towards meeting the FSDS short-term milestone of waste diversion and potable water consumption tracking and disclosure by 2022.

100% completion of Departmental waste diversion tracking system (Completed in FY 2020-21).

100% completion of Departmental potable water consumption tracking system.

14% (by weight) of plastic waste was diverted from landfill.

Contribution to meeting the FSDS target(s) or goal:

By implementing procedures to manage building operations, such as tracking systems for waste diversion rates, and potable water usage, ECCC will contribute directly to meeting FSDS short-term milestones of waste diversion rates and potable water consumption tracking and disclosure by 2022.

Support to related Sustainable Development Goals:

UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (Target 11.6)

UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (Target 12.5)

UN SDG 13: Climate Action (Target 13.2)

Divert at least 90% (by weight) of all construction and demolition waste from landfills (striving to achieve 100% by 2030)

Real Property

Implement procedures to manage building operations and take advantage of programs to reduce the environmental impact of Departmental building operations and materials, including:

• waste reduction and diversion work plans; and

life-cycle assessment techniques to minimize embodied carbon and the use of harmful materials in construction and renovation.

Starting point: Tracking for applicable projects to enable quantification of construction and demolition waste began in 2021-22^{Footnote 7} 

Performance indicator: Percentage (by weight) of construction, renovation and demolition waste diverted from landfills.

Target: At least 90% (by weight) of all construction and demolition waste diverted from landfills by 2030 (strive to achieve 100%).

Results not available for 2021-22. Work was initiated to identify a process to assess Departmental performance related to diversion of construction, renovation, and demolition waste from landfills.

Contribution to meeting the FSDS target(s) or goal:

By implementing procedures to manage building operations and taking advantage of programs, such as waste reduction and diversion work plans, ECCC will increase waste diversion rates in its buildings and thereby contribute directly to meeting the FSDS target.

Support to related Sustainable Development Goals:

UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (Target 11.6)

UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (Target 12.5)

UN SDG 13: Climate Action (Target 13.2)

Our administrative fleet will be comprised of at least 80% zero-emission vehicles by 2030

Mobility and fleet

Fleet management will be optimized including by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced.

Develop a strategic approach to decarbonize ECCC’s fleet, including approaches such as purchasing ZEVs or hybrids (for new executive vehicles and unmodified administrative fleet vehicles) and facilitating the sharing of fleet vehicles across the Department. The Department will also optimize fleet management, by expanding the use of telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced, provided that essential operational needs and departmental targets are met.

Starting point: As of March 31, 2020, 33% of the Department’s executive fleet and 1% of its administrative fleet was comprised of ZEVs.^{Footnote 8} 

Performance indicators:

Percentage of executive fleet comprised of zero-emission vehicles.

Percentage of administrative fleet comprised of ZEVs.

Targets:

At least 80% of executive fleet comprised of ZEVs by 2030.

At least 80% of administrative fleet comprised of zero-emission vehicles by 2030.

100% of the Department’s executive fleet and 1% of its light-duty fleet (administrative fleet) was comprised of ZEVs as of March 31, 2023.

Contribution to meeting the FSDS target(s) or goal:

By reducing the energy use in its fleet and deploying ZEV charging stations and by developing a strategic approach to decarbonizing its fleet and optimizing its fleet management, ECCC will further reduce GHG emissions from its fleet. This enables ECCC to contribute directly to meeting the FSDS Greening Government goal and develop a strategic approach that incorporates specific procurement targets for ZEVs contribute directly to meeting the FSDS target.

Support to related Sustainable Development Goal:

UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (Target 11.6)

UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (Target 12.7)

UN SDG 13: Climate Action (Target 13.2)

By 2022, departments have developed measures to reduce climate change risks to assets, services, and operations

Adaptation to climate change

Increase training and support on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments, and developing adaptation actions to public service employees, and facilitate sharing of best practices and lessons learned.

Take action to understand the wide range of climate change impacts that could potentially affect ECCC assets, services, and operations.

Develop measures to reduce climate change risks to ECCC assets, services, and operations.

Starting Point: In 2018-19, ECCC undertook a comprehensive Climate Change Risk Assessment. In 2021-22, based on the results of the 2018-19 Risk Assessment, ECCC completed and began to implement a Climate Change Adaptation Plan.^{Footnote 9} 

Performance Indicators:

Climate change risk assessment completed (yes/no).

Departmental adaptation plan that identifies actions to address climate change risks developed (yes/no).

Target: ECCC will assess climate-related risks to its assets, services, and operations by 2021 and develop measures to address these risks by 2022.

Note: This indicator measures the completion of a Climate Change Risk Assessment which aligns with FSDS Greening Government goal and performance indicator (i.e., % of departments that have developed measures to reduce climate change risks to assets, services and operations identified through departmental climate change risk assessment processes).

The following were completed in 2020-21:

Climate change risk assessment; and

Departmental adaptation plan that identifies actions to address climate change risks.

Contribution to meeting the FSDS target(s) or goal:

Actions and measures are part of a Departmental adaptation plan that will improve ECCC’s understanding of the impacts of climate change and support the transition to more climate-resilient departmental operations.

Support to related Sustainable Development Goal:

UN SDG 13: Climate Action (Target 13.1)

Use 100% clean electricity by 2025

Procurement

Departments will adopt clean technology and undertake clean technology demonstration projects.^{Footnote 10} 

Undertake clean technology demonstration projects and adopt clean technology through procurement of innovative solutions that displace and/or offset the GHG emissions associated with electricity used in departmental operations.

Starting point: In FY 2019-20, 88% of electricity used in ECCC’s building operations was from clean generation sources.^{Footnote 11} 

Performance indicator: Percentage use of electricity from clean generation sources in its building operations, including procurement of renewable energy credits.

Target: By 2025, 100% of electricity used in ECCC’s building operations is from clean generation sources, including procurement of renewable energy credits.

Note: The Department will assess opportunities to deploy clean electricity projects in its buildings and work with PSPC to prioritize clean electricity contracts and/or procurement of renewable energy credits to offset GHG emissions from the conventional grid-tied electricity used by the Department.

In 2021-22, 86.3% of electricity used in ECCC’s building operations was from clean generation sources.

Note: The Department has signed a Service Level Agreement with Public Services and Procurement Canada for the procurement of RECs to displace the emitting portion of electricity from those jurisdictions where short- or medium-term local opportunities to acquire clean renewable electricity are not currently feasible.

Contribution to meeting the FSDS target(s) or goal:

By adopting innovative solutions that displace and/or offset the GHG emissions associated with electricity used in its operations, ECCC will contribute to meeting the FSDS target. Moreover, by undertaking clean technology demonstration projects and adopting innovative services and goods, the Department will demonstrate federal leadership in the use of clean technologies as a strategy to meet the FSDS goal of transitioning to low-carbon, climate-resilient and green government operations.

Support to related Sustainable Development Goal:

UN SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy (Target 7.2)

UN SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Target 9.4)

UN SDG 13: Climate Action (Target 13.2)

Actions supporting the Goal: Greening Government

This section is for actions that support the Greening Government goal but do not directly support a FSDS target.

Procurement

Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions

Support for green procurement will be strengthened, including guidance, tools, and training for public service employees

Develop a Departmental Green Procurement Action Plan that will include:

• identifying high impact categories of goods and services purchased (i.e., with significant influence in achieving low-carbon and green operations);
• using environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in procurement decisions, in particular, those involving high impact categories of goods and services;^{Footnote 12}  including criteria that:
  • promote the use of sustainable plastic in goods that contain plastic and the reduction of associated plastic packaging waste; and
  • eliminate unnecessary use of single-use plastics in government operations, events and meetings

establishing metrics to measure progress over time.

Starting Point: In 2020, the Department started to work with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat to identify high impact categories of goods and services purchased.

Performance Indicators:

The Departmental Green Procurement Action Plan is finalized.

Additional performance indicators will be identified once the Departmental Green Procurement Action Plan is finalized in FY 2021-22.

Targets: The Departmental Green Procurement Action Plan is finalized in FY 2021-22.

The target date for additional indicators will be established once the Departmental Green Procurement Action Plan is finalized in FY 2021-22.

Note: A Departmental Green Procurement Working Group will be established to develop an action plan, which will include metrics (i.e., performance indicators) to indicate how the Department is progressing towards achieving all short-term procurement milestones prescribed in the FSDS.

The Departmental Green Procurement Action Plan was finalized in 2021-22.

A procurement communication strategy, based on the Departmental Green Procurement Action Plan, was initiated upon the launch of ECCC’s Advanced Green Procurement training course.

Contribution to meeting the FSDS target(s) or goal:

By adopting green procurement practices, including the use of environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact of, and ensure best value in, procurement decisions, the Department will contribute to meeting the FSDS goal of transitioning to green government operations.

Support to related Sustainable Development Goal:

UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (Target 12.7)

UN SDG 13: Climate Action (Target 13.2)

Strengthen support for green procurement and contracting responsibilities, including by:

• developing guidelines and resources to help Government Acquisition Card holders and specialists in procurement buy green goods and services;
• developing and providing training for employees with procurement and contracting responsibilities; and

ensuring that procurement and contracting employees continue to adhere to the requirements and the spirit of the PSPC Policy on Green Procurement and related, relevant legislation.

Starting Point:
An Advanced Green Procurement training course will be available to employees in FY 2022-23.

Performance indicator: Percentage of employees with procurement and contracting responsibilities that have completed the Advanced Green Procurement training course.

Target: 100% employees with procurement and contracting responsibilities have completed the Advanced Green Procurement training course by March 31, 2023.

Note: Overall, this indicator shows the Department’s progress toward the development of guidelines, resources and training needed to ensure procurement decision-makers are able to buy green goods and services.

The course was delivered and made available to ECCC employees in 2023.

The Procurement, Accounting and Controls Directorate will collaborate with Assets, Real Property and Security Directorate in 2024-25 to develop guidelines and resources to help Government Acquisition Card holders and procurement specialists to procure green goods and services.

ECCC’s Advanced Green Procurement training course was made available in June 2023 to employees and other government departments.

The training is mandatory for all procurement officers and employees involved in procurement, including acquisition card holders and senior executives, and must be completed by March 31, 2024.

Jobs aids were developed in support of the training and procurement process.

Contribution to meeting the FSDS target(s) or goal:

By developing guidelines, resources and training needed to ensure procurement decision-makers are able to buy green goods and services, ECCC will facilitate, provide, and promote mechanisms for green procurement, which is a key step in elevating the rate with which green procurement practices are pursued in the Department.

Support to related Sustainable Development Goal:

UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (Target 12.7)

Continue to track GHG emissions from work-related air travel by employees to raise awareness.

Promote lower-carbon alternatives to work-related air travel through implementation of the Departmental Sustainable Business Travel Awareness Campaign.

Starting Point: In December 2019, a Departmental Sustainable Business Travel Awareness Campaign was completed.

Performance Indicator: Completion of the communications activities listed in the Departmental Sustainable Business Travel Awareness Campaign.

Target: Completion of the communications activities listed in the Departmental Sustainable Business Travel Awareness Campaign by March 31, 2023.

Note: In 2019, the Department put in place a system to track GHG emissions from employee business travel and developed a communication plan to educate employees on sustainable business travel practices.

All communications activities related to the promotion of lower-carbon alternatives to work-related travel have been put on hold due to the travel restrictions associated with the pandemic.

Contribution to meeting the FSDS target(s) or goal:

Actions to promote less GHG-intensive modes of work-related air travel will have an impact on the selection of lower-carbon alternative mode of transportation by business travelers. The behavioral change will contribute to meeting the FSDS goal of transitioning to low-carbon and green government operations.

Support to related Sustainable Development Goal:

UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (Target 12.7)