Introducing the strategy

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) logos represent a global initiative aimed at addressing various challenges and promoting sustainable development across different sectors. Here is a detailed description of each of the 17 SDG logos:

1. SDG 1 - No Poverty: The logo features a stylized representation of a person reaching upwards, symbolizing the aspiration to eliminate poverty.
2. SDG 2 - Zero Hunger: This logo showcases a plant growing from a seed, symbolizing the goal of ensuring food security and access to nutritious food for all.
3. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being: The logo incorporates a heart shape intertwined with leaves, representing the importance of physical and mental health.
4. SDG 4 - Quality Education: This logo features an open book with a human figure, symbolizing the value of inclusive and equitable education.
5. SDG 5 - Gender Equality: The logo depicts two human figures, one male and one female, standing side by side to signify gender parity.
6. SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation: This logo showcases a water droplet surrounded by waves, emphasizing the importance of access to clean water and sanitation facilities.
7. SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy: The logo features a stylized sun with rays extending outward, symbolizing renewable energy sources.
8. SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth: This logo includes a handshake symbolizing cooperation and economic development.
9. SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The logo showcases gears interlocking to represent innovation and interconnectedness.
10. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequality: This logo features three human figures of varying heights, symbolizing the goal of reducing inequality and promoting inclusivity.
11. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities: The logo includes buildings and trees, highlighting the importance of sustainable urban development.
12. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production: This logo incorporates a recycling symbol and a plant, symbolizing sustainable consumption and production practices.
13. SDG 13 - Climate Action: The logo features a stylized leaf with a globe, representing the global effort to combat climate change.
14. SDG 14 - Life Below Water: This logo showcases marine life and waves, emphasizing the need to protect oceans and marine ecosystems.
15. SDG 15 - Life on Land: The logo includes trees and animals, symbolizing biodiversity and land conservation.
16. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: This logo features a balance scale and a human figure, representing justice and equality.
17. SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals: The logo includes interconnected circles, symbolizing collaboration and partnership.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) is the national representative organization for the 65,000 Inuit in Canada, the majority of whom live in Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland encompassing 51 communities across the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (North West Territories), Nunavut, Nunavik (Northern Québec), and Nunatsiavut (Northern Labrador).

ITK works to improve the health and wellbeing of Inuit, which includes research, advocacy, public outreach and education on the issues affecting our populations. A major part of ITK’s advocacy work includes drawing attention to the impacts of colonization, prejudice and the inequities being faced by Inuit, and marshalling available resources to work towards eliminating these inequities and promoting sustainable development in Inuit Nunangat.

ITK recognizes the importance of advancing the United Nation’s (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are guided by the principles of the Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA). The FSDA frames sustainable development in terms of three dimensions: social, environmental and economic, which align with the guiding principles of ITK’s National Inuit Climate Change Strategy (NICCS). ITK’s guiding principles from the NICCS are illustrated in the diagram below.

These guiding principles emphasize the need for Inuit to be meaningful partners in the development of the sustainable development policies that affect us. As rights holders, any actions to advance the SDGs should apply a rights-based approach premised on partnerships with representatives of Inuit and government.

We envision a future where Inuit communities are self-sufficient and no longer face social, economic, and health inequities compared to other Canadians. This is why ITK continues to serve as the national voice for protecting and advancing the rights and interests of Inuit in Canada. ITK recognizes that Canada’s commitment to the UN’s SDGs is also a commitment to eliminating the inequalities that exist between Inuit Nunangat and the rest of Canada.

“The Métis Nation has a strong desire to be a part of the solution for environmental and cultural preservation, and, as Métis people, we have a lot to offer. It is important for all Canadians to understand how the Métis have both historically been involved, and continue to be involved, in sustainable development today.” ~ Cassidy Caron, President, Métis National Council

The land, the water, the ice, the plants, the animals, and the Métis Nation are all interconnected. There is a long-standing, inter-woven relationship between the Métis and their environments that has continued throughout generations and will continue into the future. Rooted in this relationship is Métis culture, language, knowledge and traditions. However, as the lands and water change as a result of climate change and unsustainable development, this directly threatens the Métis Nation’s knowledge systems and livelihoods; the Métis Nation’s way of life and well-being.

For the Métis Nation, the Michif language, family bonds and storytelling are intrinsically tied to the natural environment. Language, cultural traditions and our distinct Métis knowledge systems are passed from generation to generation, and are susceptible to loss if the lands and water are not well stewarded. Métis knowledge is an invaluable tool to support Canada in meeting its sustainability goals and commitments; and more importantly, ensuring a healthy and culturally thriving future for our Métis children.

Sustainability is a concept that has developed over time and continues to evolve as new perspectives and objectives emerge. For the Métis Nation, sustainability involves the efficient use of natural, social and economic resources. Each must be considered in making decisions in the fight for sustainability and environmental protection. As stewards of our ancestral lands, the Métis Nation is advancing our role in the prioritization of environmental and cultural sustainability in Canada.

In advancing sustainable development, the Métis Nation prioritizes an intersectional approach that incorporates the values and priorities and of the past, present and future. The Métis Nation’s spirit is entrepreneurial and strives to support sustainable production and economic growth. The skills and innovations present within the Métis Nation have the opportunity to uphold sustainable development throughout the homeland – sustainability has always been the way of the Métis.

The Métis Nation continuously advocates for at-risk populations and those that are being directly impacted, both nationally and internationally, by climate change and unsustainable development. Many of our Métis Nation communities live in areas that are at greater risk to wildland fire, flooding and industrial development. Additionally, our Métis children pose to lose the most from changes to their environment and the loss of traditional Métis knowledge directly tied to it. As the future of the Métis Nation, children are in a unique position to foster sustainable development goals and act as leaders of environmental and cultural change.

Furthermore, our Métis women play an integral role in child development and are the social fabric of our communities. Through the support of our women and children, the Métis Nation can enrich our culture, language and further share our traditional teachings that can inform sustainable development for the future.

Furthermore, when sustainable development goals are co-developed through a Nation-to-Nation process, and informed by the Métis Nation in a respectful partnership, the future for the Métis Nation is bright. A sustainable future for all can be found in Métis knowledge, the Michif language, our unique culture, and our relationship to the land and water; the heartbeat of the Métis Nation’s Homeland.

First Nations have been practising sustainable development since time immemorial and have demonstrated leadership on environmental protection, conservation and climate change. No relationship is more valuable to First Nations than that with Mother Earth.

However, mainstream development processes have had a detrimental impact on Mother Earth and the health and well-being of First Nations, who depend on it. The degradation of the environment has led to a decline in the way of life and cultural health of First Nations.

Chiefs-in-Assembly have provided the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) with a direct mandate to advocate for increased participation and inclusion of First Nations in decision-making processes related to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

While the principles of the Federal Sustainable Development Act frame sustainable development in terms of three dimensions: economic, social and environmental, First Nations’ concept of sustainable development goes beyond these dimensions and recognizes culture as an important pillar of sustainable development, while also viewing sustainable development through a rights-based framework.

This means acknowledging and respecting the inherent, constitutional, human and Treaty, rights of First Nations, including the right to self-determination, self-government and the exercise of jurisdiction associated therewith.

These fundamental rights are also internationally recognized and respected, notably having been incorporated into the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the UN Declaration) which was recently brought into domestic Canadian law by virtue of Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Bill C-15 further emphasizes that implementing the UN Declaration can contribute to supporting sustainable development and address growing concerns related to climate change and its impacts on First Nations.

The AFN has been directed by Chiefs-in-Assembly through Resolution 44/2021 – Support for a First Nations-led pathway to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to call on Canada to work in full partnership with First Nations, to support their self-determination and participation in all efforts related to the SDGs. Sufficient and sustainable funding for First Nations governments is also required to realize the ambitions of the 2030 agenda and for First Nations to exercise their inherent rights.

The Federal Sustainable Development Act (the Act) establishes the requirement to table the FSDS. Its purpose is to provide the legal framework for developing and implementing a strategy that will:

• make decision making related to sustainable development more transparent and subject to accountability to Parliament
• promote coordinated action across the Government of Canada to advance sustainable development
• respect Canada’s domestic and international obligations relating to sustainable development

The Act requires the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to table and report on a whole-of-government strategy at least once in each 3-year period. Amendments to the Act came into force on December 1, 2020.

The 1987 Brundtland Report to the World Commission on Environment and Development introduced the concept of sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” In response, in 1995 the Government of Canada introduced amendments to the Auditor General Act requiring federal departments and agencies to create their own individual sustainable development strategies. These amendments also established the office of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (the Commissioner). The Commissioner later identified several weaknesses in this system, including the lack of a coherent, overarching federal strategy, stating it was like trying to put together a puzzle with no picture on the box.

In 2008, a more effective approach was enacted when the Act was passed and came into force. The Act provides the legal framework for the FSDS. At that time, it also tasked 28 departments and agencies with preparing their own departmental sustainable development strategies (DSDSs) that comply with and contribute to the strategy. The 2008 Act also introduced a requirement to consult Canadians on each new FSDS. Four federal sustainable development strategies were tabled under the 2008 act (2010 to 2013, 2013 to 2016, 2016 to 2019 and 2019 to 2022).

In 2016, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development conducted a review of the Act and issued a report containing 13 recommendations. The committee’s recommendations identified issues concerning, among other things, the scope of the Act, the need for a whole-of-government approach, and a need for greater transparency and accountability in the development and implementation of sustainable development strategies.

The government responded to the committee’s recommendations with the 2017 Bill C-57, An Act to Amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act, which came into force on December 1, 2020. The amended Act provides greater flexibility in presenting the view of sustainable development to encompass environmental, economic, and social aspects. It also provides for a whole-of-government approach by increasing the number of federal organizations required to contribute to and report on the FSDS from 28 to 100.

The amended Act also includes mechanisms to make sustainable development decision making more transparent and accountable, including a requirement that targets be measurable and include a time frame, and that departmental sustainable development strategies must be tabled in Parliament and referred to the Senate and House committees that deal with matters relating to sustainable development. The 2022 to 2026 FSDS is the first to be prepared under the amended Act.

Environment and Climate Change Canada plays a key role in implementing the Act. It houses the Sustainable Development Office (SDO), which is responsible for coordinating the development of the strategy. The SDO is also responsible for developing and maintaining systems and procedures to monitor progress on implementation of the strategy, and for preparing FSDS progress reports at least once every 3-year period.

Sustainable development cuts across many departmental and agency mandates. The Act reflects this, requiring federal organizations named in Schedule I, I.1 and II of the Financial Administration Act to prepare and report on sustainable development strategies that support the implementation of the goals of the FSDS. It also provides for including other federal organizations that wish to participate in the strategy, such as Crown corporations, through an Order in Council. Two such organizations, the National Capital Commission and The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Inc., are now included in the Act.

The role of federal organizations also includes:

• working collaboratively with Environment and Climate Change Canada to develop the FSDS and progress reports within every 3-year period
• integrating environmental and sustainable development considerations into policy, plan and program development through strategic environmental assessments and the Integrated Climate Lens

Public consultation is an important part of FSDS development under the Act. Each draft strategy must undergo a public consultation period of at least 120 days before it is finalized. As part of public consultation, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change provides the draft FSDS to:

• the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development
• the Sustainable Development Advisory Council (a multi-stakeholder advisory body consisting of 13 members of the Canadian public that represent the views of different provinces and territories, 6 representatives of Indigenous Peoples and 3 from each of the following: environmental non-governmental organizations, business organizations, and organizations representative of labour)
• the appropriate committee of each House of Parliament
• the public

Consultation results inform the final strategy and are summarized in a publicly-available report.

The 2022 to 2026 FSDS is organized around the UN 2030 Agenda 17 Sustainable Development Goals, acknowledging Canada’s unique responsibilities and circumstances.

One or more targets contribute to each goal. Under the Act, targets must:

• be specific and measurable
• include a time frame
• identify one or more responsible ministers
• be consistent with the Act’s principles

To the extent possible, targets should also:

• take a medium-term or long-term view (5 years or longer), to help track progress over multiple cycles of the FSDS
• fall within federal jurisdiction
• align with federal priorities
• be supported by indicators that accurately represent the target and allow for comparison over time
• have a clear connection to an FSDS goal

Short-term milestones complement the strategy’s targets. They represent interim steps that will help ensure the Government of Canada stays on track to achieve its longer-term objectives. In general, short-term milestones should be achievable within one FSDS cycle. To the extent possible, milestones should:

• be specific and measurable
• include a timeframe
• take a short-term view (within one FSDS cycle)
• have a clear connection to an FSDS target or to an FSDS goal

Implementation strategies set out what the Government of Canada will do to achieve its goals and targets. They describe the actions that federal organizations are committed to taking to make progress toward the strategy’s goals and targets. To the extent possible, implementation strategies should:

• be written in plain, high-level language
• be broad and inclusive to allow for linkages with specific departmental actions
• reflect actions the Government of Canada is taking or plans to take during the FSDS cycle
• have a clear connection to an FSDS target or to an FSDS goal

Implementation strategies set out in the FSDS are complemented by specific commitments in departmental sustainable development strategies. Departmental strategies, which must be tabled within one year of the FSDS tabling date, will include actions and performance measures that contribute to the strategy’s implementation strategies.

While provinces and territories, Indigenous Peoples, businesses, the scientific community, non-governmental organizations and Canadian citizens contribute to achieving environmental outcomes and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, only federal actions are included in the FSDS.