Federal Sustainable Development Strategy 2016 to 2019 management framework: chapter 8

Reporting strategy

Reporting is central to meeting the transparency and accountability objectives of the act and informs parliamentarians and Canadians about what the Government of Canada is doing and what results are being achieved.

Progress against goals, targets and actions taken by the government are reported in progress reports and updates, in annual Departmental Results Reports, and through the Canadian Envrionmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) program. In addition, departmental sustainable development strategies provide detailed information on what departments and agencies are doing to meet the goals, targets and milestones set out in the 2016 to 2019 strategy. Table 2 provides an overview of reporting mechanisms related to the strategy.

8.1 Progress report and updates

Progress reports are required to be presented to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change at least once every three years [Act, 7(2)]. The Minister tables the progress report in both Houses of Parliament [Act, 7(2)].

The first progress report was published in 2011 and focused on the process and actions taken to implement the strategy. The second progress report was released in 2013 and highlighted actions taken by the Government of Canada and the progress made towards achieving the goals and targets set out in the 2010–2013 strategy. The most recent progress report, published in 2015, presents information on how the federal government implemented the 2013–2016 strategy.

Subsequent progress reports will continue to document the federal government’s progress towards the strategy goals and targets.

As required by the Auditor General Act, the commissioner assesses the fairness of the information contained in progress reports with respect to the progress of the federal government in implementing the strategy and meeting its targets.

• Review of the 2015 Progress Report of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy
• Review of the 2012 Progress Report of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (Part 2)

Updates to the strategy are produced twice a year, usually in the spring and the fall. They are published online.

For the strategy’s Low-carbon government goal, common and consistent performance measures have been developed for use by each department and agency to report annually, allowing for aggregation of government-wide greening government operations efforts.

To support departments and agencies, the Center for Greening Government has developed the Guideline to Reporting in the Greening Government Operations Supplementary Table, which provides guidance on the completion of the Greening Government Operations Supplementary Table in annual departmental plans and departmental results reports.

Given the low carbon government goal requires departments and agencies to develop departmental targets and performance measures, TBS has also developed an Index of Green Procurement SMART Targets to reduce the environmental impact of purchases. These guidelines assist departments and agencies in developing targets that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound.

8.1.1 Indicators

The Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) program is the primary vehicle for tracking and measuring progress toward the strategy goals and targets, and for providing context with respect to socio-economic linkages to environmental issues. CESI provide comprehensive information on environmental state and trends. Four criteria are considered in the selection of indicators:

• policy relevance: for example, links to the strategy goals and targets
• utility: meets the needs of decision-makers and the public
• soundness: provides consistent and solid methodology, comparable over time
• data availability: uses existing high-quality data with adequate coverage

CESI indicators are updated regularly and indicator results are included in progress reports.

Environment and Climate Change Canada's CESI program produces indicators with the support of other federal departments and agencies, including Health Canada, Statistics Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Parks Canada, Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as well as provincial and territorial governments.

Over the course of the three-year cycle, indicators will be developed (for example, population exposure to outdoor air pollution) that will be used to help measure and report on progress. Departmental performance indicators are used to track progress towards respective departmental actions.

8.2 Reporting on departmental sustainable development strategies

Under the act [11(1), (2)], departments and agencies are required to develop a departmental sustainable development strategy (DSDS) containing objectives and plans for the department or agency that comply with and contribute to the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.   

Under guidance from TBS, with input from Sustainable Development Office and CEAA, departments report on their DSDS through their annual reporting on departmental plans and performance. This integration of environmental sustainability within the annual cycles of reporting on departmental plans and performance provides for a coherent year-over-year view of the progress of DSDSs and for consistency with reporting on departmental activities.

8.3 Reporting on strategic environmental assessment

The application of the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals contributes to the transparency objectives of the act through the release of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) public statements and reporting in Departmental Results Reports. SEAs also support the implementation of the strategy through the requirement for the consideration of potential impacts on strategy goals and targets.