Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search

Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

1. Context for the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

The 2016–19 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS):

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 (DSDS) through the activities described in this supplementary information table.

2. Sustainable Development in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

IRCC’s DSDS 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 also notes how each action contributes to supporting the achievement of the target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions as per the sustainable development goal of a low-carbon government.

3. Departmental performance by FSDS goal

The following table provides performance information on departmental actions in support of the FSDS goal of a low-carbon government.

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

FSDS contributing actions Corresponding departmental actions Support for United Nations Sustainable Development (UN SDG) Goal target Starting points, targets and performance indicators 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 2018–19
  • GHG emissions from fleet in FY 2018–19 = 0.060 ktCO2e
  • Percentage (%) change in GHG emissions from fleet from FY 2005–06 to FY 2018–19 = 36% 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 2018–19 = 25,890 L
  • Percentage (%) change in fuel consumption from FY 2005–06 to FY 2018–19 = 35% 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 base year 2016–17, the number of hybrid vehicles was three and electric vehicles was zero

Performance indicator:

  • Number of hybrid vehicles in FY 2018–19
  • Number of electric vehicles in FY 2018–19
  • Number of hybrid vehicles in FY 2018–19: 9
  • Number of electric vehicles in FY 2018–19: 0
Promote behavioural change (e.g., anti-idling messages, 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 8 (63%) fleet managers received training on vehicle fleet best practices
  • In addition, two messages were sent 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 km or less
  • 50% (2 out of 4) new vehicles purchased were hybrid with fuel efficiency of less than 10 L/100 km)
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% recycled 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
  • One policy (IRCC Vehicle Fleet Management Policy) - Update
  • One procedure (PaperSave Program Shredding Procedures) - Update
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 procurement specialists have completed green procurement training
  • 100% of materiel management specialists have completed green procurement training
Ensure key officials include contribution to and support for the Government of Canada Policy on Green Procurement objectives in their performance management agreements 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%) managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel whose performance evaluation includes support and contribution toward green procurement

This includes:

  • 1 director general
  • 1 director
  • 2 assistant directors
  • 2 managers
Demonstrate innovative technologies N/A N/A N/A N/A
Promote sustainable travel practices Encourage sustainable travel practices through messages 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
  • 6 messages sent out via internal communications to all staff promoting the use of teleconferencing and videoconferencing for meetings, and promoting green meetings, carpooling, use of public transportation and biking or walking to work
  • 1 event, Bike to Work Safety Workshop
Understand climate change impacts and build resilience N/A N/A N/A N/A
Additional departmental sustainable development activities and initiatives related to the FSDS goal of a low-carbon government
Additional departmental activities and initiatives Support for United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) target 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 of or recycled through various programs:
  • Furniture: 2,082 units
  • Work stations: 659 units
  • Executive office suites: 35 units
  • Office supplies: 8 pallets (approximately 2,000 lbs)
  • Information technology equipment: 1,880 units (approximately 68,600 lbs)
  • Vehicles: 5
  • Machinery: 11
  • Toner: 15 pallets (approx. 5,350 lbs)
  • Scrap: 21,202 lbs

National Headquarters only:

  • Writing instruments: 6 boxes (approximately 28 lbs)
  • Batteries:
    • server batteries: 1 pallet (approximately 2,220 lbs)
    • other batteries: 18 boxes (approximately 534 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 2018–19
  • Ratio of employees per printing device in FY 2018–19 = 8.86 employees per printing unit (8.86:1)
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 2018–19
  • 1,251 sheets per employee were consumed in FY 2018–19.
  • 79% decrease in paper consumption from FY 2010–11 to FY 2018–19.
Continue to optimize population density in office buildings. N/A Performance indicator: Track adoption of Workplace 2.0 and/or higher density workplace solutions
  • IRCC continues to implement the Government of Canada’s Workplace Standards where business lines permit.
  • The Department continues to find efficiencies within its current space envelope by repurposing space, optimizing fit-ups and supporting and adopting creative workplace solutions (e.g., transitioning branches to GCworkplace / Activity-Based Workplace designs, enabling a mobile workforce).
  • Currently, 12% of National Headquarters floors meet a GCworkplace accommodations standard, while 49% meet a Workplace 2.0 standard. 
  • In 2018–19, one floor of IRCC’s Scarborough office was retrofitted to a GCworkplace standard as part of a lease renewal project.
  • In addition, some IRCC operations have adopted shift work to meet application volume demands while limiting the need to acquire additional space, allowing IRCC to “double up” on work space. Some operations have also taken steps to redistribute their workload across regional offices.
  • IRCC continues to maximize its space utilization, and is currently at 13.2 square metres (m2) per full-time equivalent employee, which sits below the Government of Canada target of 14.5 m2.

4. Report on integrating sustainable development

During the 2018–19 reporting cycle, IRCC considered the environmental effects of 35 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 for which SEA requirements and compliance are considered.

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

Report a problem or mistake on this page
Please select all that apply:

Thank you for your help!

You will not receive a reply. For enquiries, contact us.

Date modified: