Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

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, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) supports reporting on the implementation of the FSDS and its Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy through the activities described in this supplementary information table.

2. Sustainable Development in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

IRCC’s Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy for 2017 to 2020 describes the Department’s actions in support of achieving the low-carbon government goal. This supplementary information table presents available results for the departmental actions pertinent to this goal. Last year’s supplementary information table is posted on the Department’s website. This year, IRCC is also noting which United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal target each departmental action contributes to achieving.

3. Departmental performance by FSDS goal

The following table provides performance information on departmental actions in support of FSDS goal 2: low-carbon government listed in section 2

FSDS target(s)

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from federal government buildings and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, with an aspiration to achieve it by 2025

FSDS contributing action(s)	Corresponding departmental action(s)	Support for UN Sustainable Development Goal target	Starting point(s), target(s) and performance indicator(s) for departmental actions	Results achieved
Improve the energy efficiency of our buildings/oper-ations	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Modernize our fleet	Develop annual fleet plans in support of efficient fleet management including renewing vehicles or reducing vehicle size as required	UN SDG target 13.2	Starting point: GHG emissions from fleet in fiscal year (FY) 2005–06 (base year) = 0.094 kt CO₂e Target: 40% reduction by 2030 Performance indicator: Percentage (%) change in GHG emissions from fleet from FY 2005–06 to FY 2017–18	GHG emissions from fleet in FY 2017–18 = 0.051kt CO₂e Percentage (%) change in GHG emissions from fleet from FY 2005–06 to FY 2017–18 = 46% decrease from baseline
	Optimize fleet size	UN SDG 12	Starting point: Fuel consumption (litre gas equivalent (LGE)) in base year 2005–06: 39,781 L Performance indicator: Overall fuel consumption (LGE) (relative to base year: 2005–06: 39,781 L)	Fuel Consumption (LGE) in FY 2017–18 = 21,915 L Percentage (%) change in fuel consumption from FY 2005–06 to FY 2017–18 = 45% decrease from baseline
	Reduce carbon intensity through vehicle purchase or replacement with fuel-efficient vehicles or hybrid vehicles. Purchasing of electric vehicles will also be considered	UN SDG 12	Number of hybrid and electric vehicles in inventory: Starting point: In baseline year 2016–17, the number of hybrid vehicles was three and electric vehicles was zero Performance indicator: Number of hybrid vehicles in FY 2017–18 Number of electric vehicles in FY 2017–18	Number of hybrid vehicles in FY 2017–18: 7 (32% of our fleet) Number of electric vehicles in FY 2017–18: 0
	Promote behavioural change (e.g., anti-idling messaging, fleet manager and driver training)	UN SDG target 13.3	Performance indicator: Number and percentage of fleet managers who receive training on vehicle fleet best practices	5 out of 9 (56%) managers received training on vehicle fleet best practices In addition, one message was sent out to fleet managers/drivers to encourage “no idling” behaviour
Support the transition to a low-carbon economy through green procurement	Integrate environmental considerations into procurement management processes and controls. Procure green items (e.g., paper, vehicles, and electrical equipment) through mandatory National Master Standing Offers	UN SDG target 12.7	Performance indicator: Percentage of all new light-duty vehicles purchased with an average rated fuel efficiency of 10 litres per 100 kilometres or less.	100% of new vehicle purchases Two new hybrid vehicles were purchased with fuel efficiency of 7.8L/100 km
		UN SDG target 12.7	Performance indicator: Percentage of copy paper, commercial printing and/or envelope purchases that contain a minimum of 30% recycled content and are certified to a recognized environmental standard to reduce the environmental impact of its production.	100% of paper purchases contained 30% content or better via the National Master Standing Offers
	Integrate environmental considerations into corporate policies, processes and practices in accordance with departmental refresh cycles	UN SDG target 13.2	Performance indicator: Number of policies, processes and practices that include FSDS considerations.	Total = Seven policies, processes and practices Four information bulletins containing procedures and instructions regarding the Department’s battery recycling program, writing instruments recycling program and office supplies recycling program, as well as an information bulletin promoting GCTransfer and its use within the Department’s disposal processes One form related to disposal of surplus assets (update on recycling/reusing components) Two training decks related to procurement and fleet management training as part of the departmental refresh cycle
	Ensure all procurement officers and decision makers have the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement	UN SDG target 12.7	Performance indicator: Percentage of specialists in procurement and materiel management who have completed training on green procurement	95% of specialists in procurement and materiel management have completed training on green procurement
	Ensure key officials include contribution to and support for the Government of Canada Policy on Green Procurement objectives in their performance management agreements (PMA)	UN SDG target 12.7	Performance indicator: Number and percentage of managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel whose performance evaluation includes support and contribution toward green procurement in the current fiscal year	6 out of 6 (100%) This includes: One director general One director Two assistant directors Two managers
Demonstrate innovative technologies	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Promote sustainable travel practices	Encourage sustainable travel practices through messaging and events (e.g., teleconferencing, videoconferencing, telecommuting, green meetings guide, carpooling and public transportation, bike to work event, commuter challenge, etc.)	UN SDG target 13.3	Performance indicator: Number of messages and events stemming from communications encouraging sustainable travel practices	Four messages sent via internal communications to all staff emphasizing the use of teleconference or videoconference meetings and green meetings, as well as carpooling, taking public transportation, biking or walking to work One event: Bike to Work Safety Workshop
Understand climate change impacts and build resilience	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

The following table provides performance information on additional departmental activities in support of FSDS goal 2: low-carbon government listed in section 2

Additional departmental activities and initiatives	Starting points, targets and performance indicators	Results achieved
Dispose of waste in an environmentally sound and secure manner. This activity supports UN SDG target 12.5.	Performance indicator: Number of lots of disposed and/or recycled products annually	The following waste was disposed or recycled through various programs: Furniture: 2,337 units Work stations: 1,091 units Executive office suites: 38 units IT equipment: 1,857 units Office supplies: 13 pallets Vehicles: 2 Machinery: 3 Toner: 16 pallets Scrap: 44,394 lbs
Reduce printing devices to achieve a target of 8 employees to 1 printing device. This activity supports UN SDG 12.	Starting point: Ratio of employees to printing devices in FY 2015–16 (base year) = 3.86 employees to 1 printing device (3.86:1) Target: 8 employees per printing device Performance indicator: Ratio of employees per printing device in FY 2017–18	Ratio of employees per printing device in FY 2017–18 = 6.64 employees per printing device (6.64:1)
Meet or exceed paper consumption reduction by 20%. This activity supports UN SDG 12.	Starting point: Number of sheets per employee in FY 2010–11 (base year) = 5,996 sheets per employee Target: 20% reduction Performance indicator: Percentage (%) change in paper consumption from FY 2010–11 to FY 2017–18	Number of sheets per employee in FY 2017–18 = 1,931 sheets per employee Percentage (%) change in paper consumption from FY 2010–11 to FY 2017–18 = 68% decrease from baseline
Continue to optimize population density in office buildings.	Performance indicator: Track adoption of Workplace 2.0 and/or higher density workplace solutions	Maintained – the Department continues to implement the Government of Canada’s Workplace 2.0 initiative by further optimizing IRCC space to Workplace 2.0 and the activity-based workplace approach where operational requirements permit it.

4. Report on integrating sustainable development

During 2017, IRCC considered the environmental effects of 34 proposals subject to the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, as part of its decision-making processes. Through the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process, none of these departmental proposals were found to have significant positive or negative effects on progress toward achieving the 2016–19 FSDS goals and targets. As such, IRCC did not publish a public statement during this period.

The Department holds biweekly meetings to discuss Cabinet and Treasury Board proposals. A representative from the group responsible for SEA compliance attends these meetings and communicates requirements to the drafters of Cabinet proposals.

Additional information on sustainable development and the SEAs at IRCC can be found on the Department’s website.

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Date modified:: 2018-11-20

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