Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report for 2024–2025
On this page
- Introduction to the 2024 to 2025 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report
- Commitments for Library and Archives Canada
- Integrating Sustainable Development
Introduction to the 2024 to 2025 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report
The 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada’s sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. This is the first FSDS to be framed using the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and provides a balanced view of the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainable development.
In keeping with the purpose of the Act, to make decision-making related to sustainable development more transparent and accountable to Parliament, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) supports the goals laid out in the FSDS through the activities described in LAC’s 2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS). This Report provides a report on progress related to LAC’s DSDS in the fiscal year 2024 to 2025.
The Federal Sustainable Development Act also sets out 7 principles that must be considered in the development of the FSDS as well as DSDSs. These basic principles have been considered and incorporated in LAC’s DSDS and 2024 to 2025 DSDS Report.
To promote coordinated action on sustainable development across the Government of Canada, LAC’s departmental strategy reports on Canada’s progress towards implementing the 2030 Agenda and advancing the SDGs, supported by the Global Indicator Framework (GIF) and Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) targets and indicators. The Report also now captures progress on SDG initiatives that fall outside the scope of the FSDS.
Commitments for Library and Archives Canada
Goal 10: Advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and take action on inequality
FSDS Context:
Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples while preserving, digitizing, and giving access to its collections relating to Indigenous Peoples is an integral part of LAC’s Vision 2030. The initiatives put in place in recent years, in collaboration with Indigenous partners, are intended to contribute to preserve Indigenous cultural content, and reduce certain barriers to accessing historical documents.
The Listen, Hear Our Voices program supports Indigenous governments and non-profit organizations in protecting and preserving their existing documentary heritage, and in acquiring the skills and resources to complete this work. The We Are Here: Sharing Stories initiative aims to digitize and enhance access to the content of LAC’s Indigenous collections through various online tools, as well as enhanced and reparative description.Footnote 1 Additional digitization initiatives contribute to the healing process for communities and survivors of the federal Indian Residential and Day School systems. While documents pertaining to residential schools have already been digitized, the current initiative concentrates on digitizing and creating culturally appropriate descriptions of millions of pages of documents pertaining to day schools. These initiatives can also help non-Indigenous people better understand Indigenous cultures and their past and make LAC collections more inclusive and representative of Canadian society.
LAC’s initiatives respond to specific responsibilities in accordance with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 69, linked to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Joinet-Orentlicher principles.
Target theme: Advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis communities
Target: Between 2023 and 2026, and every year on an ongoing basis, develop and table annual progress reports on implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada)
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Implementation strategy |
Departmental action |
Performance indicator |
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 Agenda national strategy and SDGs |
Results achieved |
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Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act |
Departmental Action 1: Provide Indigenous cultural competency training and/or training on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Program: Outreach and support to communities. |
Performance indicator 1.1: Number of different trainings (or awareness sessions) offered annually to LAC employees to develop their Indigenous cultural competency or to better understand the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Starting point: 7 in 2019–2020 2023–2024 Result: 17 different awareness sessions and sharing circles held. Target: 2 different trainings (or awareness sessions) by March 31, 2024. |
Public servants are in a unique position to help build respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This action encourages public servants to increase their cultural competencies and awareness of issues related to First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation in Canada, as well as their knowledge of the UN Declaration. This action contributes to the development of necessary cultural competencies and knowledge to implement the UN Declaration. Relevant targets or ambitions: GIF Target: 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard. |
Performance indicator result 1.1: 21 different awareness sessions held as of March 31, 2025. Note: LAC has continued to provide Indigenous cultural competency training and training on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In 2024–2025, four more awareness sessions were held. The 2024–2025 result is cumulative (includes previous DSDS report performance indicator results). |
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Performance indicator 1.2: Number of LAC employees who participated in training (or awareness sessions) to develop their Indigenous cultural competency or to better understand the United Nations Declaration on the Rights if Indigenous Peoples. Starting point: Not available. The new Indigenous cultural awareness plan began in 2023–2024. 2023–2024 Result: 564 participants Target: 250 by March 31, 2024. |
Performance indicator result 1.2: 715 participants as of March 31, 2025. Note: LAC has continued to provide Indigenous cultural competency training and training on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In 2024–2025, these sessions were attended by an additional 151 employees. The 2024–2025 result is cumulative (includes previous DSDS report performance indicator results). |
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Departmental Action 2: Consult and cooperate with Indigenous Peoples in developing new or amended laws, regulations, policies, and programs. Program: Outreach and support to communities. |
Performance indicator 2: Number of meetings held annually with the Indigenous Advisory Circle. Starting Point: 2 meetings in 2021–2022 2023–2024 Result: Three meetings were held in 2023–2024. Target: 3 meetings annually. |
LAC, in consultation and collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, takes the necessary steps to ensure that its policies, programs, initiatives and processes are aligned with the Declaration. LAC’s Indigenous Advisory Circle, created in 2018, comprises First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation from across the country who have expertise in archives, libraries, and other heritage institutions. The members come from national, regional, and community-based organizations. They advise on the various cultural perspectives of Indigenous Peoples. Relevant targets or ambitions: GIF Target: 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard. |
Performance indicator result 2: Three meetings held in 2024–2025. |
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Departmental action 3: Include reconciliation considerations in business processes and activities. Program: Outreach and support to communities. |
Performance indicator 3: Extent to which the five-year action plan for Indigenous heritage is updated. Starting point: The action plan was launched in 2019. 2023–2024 Result: The action plan will be updated by March 31, 2025. Target: The action plan will be updated by March 31, 2024. |
LAC's five-year action plan for Indigenous heritage includes 28 actions aimed at recognizing Indigenous rights and increasing access to its collection. Prepared in collaboration with the Indigenous Advisory Circle, this plan represents LAC's response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action and demonstrates its commitment to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Relevant targets or ambitions: GIF Target: 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard. |
Performance indicator result 3: A final analysis of the implementation of the 2019–2024 plan was completed, and a new iteration of the plan is being drafted. |
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Departmental action 4: Digitize and describe Indigenous content in collections and make it discoverable through culturally appropriate descriptions. Program: Acquisition and processing of government records. |
Performance indicator 4.1: Number of pages about Indian Day Schools digitized. Starting point: 8,080 pages digitized in 2022–2023. 2023–2024 Result: 1,971,982 pages were digitized Target: 6 million pages by March 2025. |
As part of the horizontal initiative: Implementing the Federal Framework to Address the Legacy of Residential Schools, LAC aims to provide access to Government of Canada records about the federal Indian Day School system. Relevant targets or ambitions: GIF Target: 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard. |
Performance indicator result 4.1: 5,762,422 total pages digitized by March 2025. |
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Performance indicator 4.2: Percentage of digitized documents about Indian Day Schools described according to a culturally appropriate approach. Starting point: 0% in 2022–2023. The description of digitized documents under the federal initiative begins in 2023–2024. 2023–2024 Result: 5% in 2023–2024 Target: 100% of documents digitized under this initiative by March 2025. |
Performance indicator result 4.2: 60% in 2024–2025. Notes: 3,614,373 pages were described according to a culturally appropriate approach as of March 2025. The initiative will continue until February 2026, and LAC is projected to achieve approximately a 95% completion rate. |
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Departmental action 5: Include Indigenous considerations in the corporate planning function for procurement and investment planning and at every contract award. Program: Internal services |
Performance indicator 5: Total percentage of contracts with Indigenous businesses. Starting point: Not applicable. Data from 2023–2024 will serve as a starting point. 2023–2024 Result: 2023–2024 Result: 16.89% Target: 5% (annual target). |
LAC supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to award contracts to Indigenous businesses each year. It established its target based on historical contracting and availability of Indigenous suppliers in typical contracting areas of the organization. LAC also works closely with Shared Services Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada to identify opportunities for Indigenous businesses. Relevant targets or ambitions: GIF Target: 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard. |
Performance indicator result 5: LAC awarded 5.1% of contracts to Indigenous businesses in 2024–2025. Note: LAC continues to invite at least one Indigenous supplier to bid on all proposals for professional service requests and voluntarily reserves a variety of planned procurement expenditures for Indigenous businesses. |
Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles
FSDS Context:
As custodian of a real property portfolio, LAC manages its buildings strategically for the benefit of all Canadians. Sustainable development considerations are taken into account and applied. LAC plans the construction and maintenance of its facilities to satisfy requirements for the preservation of collections and greening of practices that contribute to reducing GHG emissions.
In the last few years, LAC has undertaken two major projects for the construction of new facilities. In doing so, it took measures to reduce the environmental impact of associated waste: the new Preservation Storage Facility exceeded the target objective for construction and demolition waste diversion. LAC is working to ensure that the future joint facility with the Ottawa Public Library, Ādisōke, exceeds the new objective of 90% for construction and demolition waste diversion.
LAC also supports efforts to transform the federal government’s vehicle fleet. LAC has replaced one of the five vehicles in its light-duty fleet during this DSDS cycle. The new van used to transport collections will be a zero-emission electric vehicle. As for the administrative vehicle, it will be replaced as per the Policy on Green Procurement and based on the purchase of a hybrid or zero-emission vehicle, when it comes to the end of its life cycle. In addition, by facilitating flexible work arrangements such as a hybrid telework and on-site work arrangement, LAC helps reduce emissions from employees’ daily transportation.
For several years now, information and communication technologies (ICT) have become central to work practices, and the use of paper and printing has decreased. In the global context of an ever-growing use of ICT, taking into account its operational needs and Canadians’ expectations, LAC has adopted a responsible approach for purchasing electronic equipment and managing e-waste to mitigate the environmental impact of ICT.
Target theme: Federal Leadership on Responsible Consumption
Target: By 2030, the Government of Canada will divert from landfill at least 75% by weight of non-hazardous operational waste (All Ministers)
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Implementation strategy |
Departmental action |
Performance indicator |
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 Agenda national strategy and SDGs |
Results achieved |
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Maximize diversion of waste from landfills |
Departmental action 1: Complete waste audits for large buildings and report annual rate of diversion of non-hazardous operational waste from landfill. Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 1: Percentage by weight of non-hazardous operational waste in Crown-owned buildings diverted from landfill. Starting point: 79% in 2022–2023. 2023–2024 Result: 86% in 2023–2024 Target: Divert at least 75% (by weight) of non-hazardous operational waste from landfill by 2030.Footnote 2 |
Reducing the production of non-hazardous operational waste will help reduce scope 3 emissions related to the production, transport, and disposal of material. Diverting waste from landfill reduces GHG emissions and emissions from transport. Recovering materials through recycling reduces emissions from the extraction and production of virgin materials. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 12 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner. CIF Indicator 12.3.1 Total waste diversion per capita. GIF Target 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse. |
Performance indicator result 1: 85% in 2024–2025 |
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Departmental action 2: Extend the useful life of electronic equipment and diverting e-waste from landfill. Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 2: Percentage of surplus electronic equipment LAC had disposed of in an environmentally appropriate manner (equipment donated to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s Computer Schools Plus (CFS+) program and other programs combined with equipment provided to certified recyclers). Starting point: 100% in 2022–2023. 90% of equipment was donated. 10% of equipment (batteries, power supplies, etc.) was given to certified recyclers). 2023–2024 Result: 100% of IT equipment was disposed of in an environmentally appropriate manner in 2023–2024. Target: 100% (annually). |
Maximizing the reuse of electronic devices and using provincial recycling programs, when available, help divert waste from landfill and therefore reduce GHG emissions generated by landfill waste and by the extraction of raw materials and production of new electronic devices. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 12 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner. CIF Indicator 12.3.1 Total waste diversion per capita. GIF Target 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse. |
Performance indicator result 2: 100% of IT equipment was disposed of in an environmentally appropriate manner in 2024–2025. |
Target: By 2030, the Government of Canada will divert from landfill at least 90% by weight of all construction and demolition waste (All Ministers)
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Implementation strategy |
Departmental action |
Performance indicator |
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 Agenda national strategy and SDGs |
Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Maximize diversion of waste from landfills |
Departmental action 3: Complete waste audits for large buildings and report the annual rate of diversion of all construction and demolition waste from landfill. Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 3: Percentage by weight of construction and demolition waste in Crown-owned buildings diverted from landfill. Starting point: 83.3% in 2021–2022. 2023–2024 Result: 95% (by weight) of Ādisōke project construction and demolition waste was diverted from landfill in 2023–2024. Target: Divert at least 90% (by weight) of construction and demolition waste from landfill by 2030. |
Reducing the production of construction and demolition waste will help reduce scope 3 emissions relating to the production, transport, and disposal of material. Diverting waste from landfill reduces GHG emissions and emissions from transport. Recovering materials through recycling reduces emissions from the extraction and production of virgin materials. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 12: Canadian consume in a sustainable manner. CIF Indicator 12.3.1: Total waste diversion per capita. GIF Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse. |
Performance indicator result 3: 88% (by weight) in 2024–2025. Notes: LAC had two projects under construction in 2024–25: the new Ādisōke facility and the replacement of the roof at the Collections Storage facility in Renfrew. For Ādisōke, 89% of the project’s construction and demolition waste was diverted from landfill in 2024–2025. The project is expected to meet a 90% overall diversion rate when it ends in 2026. For the roof replacement, the amount of construction and demolition waste produced was comparatively insignificant in 2024–2025. |
Target: The Government of Canada’s procurement of goods and services will be net-zero emissions by 2050, to aid the transition to a net-zero, circular economy (All Ministers)
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Implementation strategy |
Departmental action |
Performance indicator |
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 Agenda national strategy and SDGs |
Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Transform the federal light-duty fleet |
Departmental action 4: Ensure new light-duty (administrative) vehicles that are purchased are zero-emission or hybrid vehicles. Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 4: Percentage of light-duty (administrative) vehicles that are zero-emission or hybrid vehicles. Starting point: 0% in 2022-2023. 2023-2024 Result: 40% in 2023-2024. Target: 20% by March 2024 (one of the five vehicles in LAC’s light-duty vehicles will be replaced by a zero-emission electric vehicle). |
Purchasing zero-emission or hybrid vehicles reduces GHG emissions from conventional fleet operations. This enhances sustainable consumption. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 12 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner. CIF Indicator 12.1.1 Proportion of new light duty vehicle registrations that are zero-emission vehicles. GIF Target 12.1 Implement the 10-year framework of programs on sustainable consumption and production, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries. |
Performance indicator result 4: 50% as of 2024–2025. Notes: LAC has continued its efforts to ensure that all new light-duty (administrative) vehicles that are purchased are zero-emission or hybrid. Following the sale of one vehicle, LAC’s light-duty fleet now consists of four vehicles, including one electric vehicle and one hybrid vehicle. |
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Strengthen green procurement criteria |
Departmental action 5: Ensure all procurement and materiel management specialists are trained in green procurement (e.g., Canada School of Public Service course on green procurement or equivalent) within one year of being appointed. Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 5: Percentage of procurement and materiel management specialists trained in green procurement. Starting point: In 2022–2023, 100% of procurement and materiel management specialists are trained in green procurement. 2023–2024 Result: 80% in 2023–2024. Target: 100% of procurement and material management specialists are trained in green procurement (annual target). |
Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 12 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner. CIF Indicator 12.2.1 Percentage of businesses that adopted environmental protection activities and management practices. GIF Target 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities. |
Performance indicator result 5: 83.33% Notes: As of March 31, 2025, five out of six procurement specialists were trained in green procurement. The remaining specialist joined the team during the 2024–2025 fiscal year and will complete their training within one year of being appointed. |
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Departmental action 6: Ensure the procurement and materiel management framework includes sustainable development considerations. Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 6: The procurement and material management framework is in place. Starting point: Not applicable. 2023–2024 Result: In progress. Target: March 31, 2025. |
A responsible and sustainable procurement framework will support the maintenance of integrated procurement and material management practices where considerations related to sustainable development will be decisive. This framework will guide decisions and processes to reduce the environmental impact of goods and services. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 12: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner. CIF Indicator 12.2.1 Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management practices. GIF Target 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities. |
Performance indicator result 6: The draft procurement and material management framework is under review. Notes: LAC has completed the initial draft framework, which includes sustainable development considerations to guide decisions and processes to reduce the environmental impact of goods and services. The new target date for the finalization and implementation of the framework is March 31, 2026. |
Goal 13: Take action on climate change and its impacts
FSDS Context:
As custodian of its real property portfolio, LAC advances a whole-building design approach to achieve sustainability and reduce the environmental footprint. The new Preservation Storage Facility, opened in 2022, was the first Government of Canada building to meet Greening Government Strategy requirements. Just like that new building, the Ādisōke facility seeks to be “net-zero carbon” and receive Gold certification from the LEED® Green Building Rating System. The construction materials being used are more environmentally friendly and sourced locally. For example, the concrete mix contains a higher proportion of recycled materials and stone, which requires less energy to produce.
With respect to the greening of existing buildings, in 2021–2022, LAC assessed three of its five facilities to identify ways to reduce carbon emissions. These studies offered opportunities for improvement to reach net-zero emissions.
For major building retrofits under its responsibility, LAC will prioritize low carbon and climate resilience. Investment decisions will be informed by an analysis of potential GHG reductions, based on a 40-year life cycle and a shadow carbon cost of $300 per tonne. Ultimately, investment decisions will also be based on climate change risk assessments. In April 2023, LAC began a climate risk and vulnerability assessment for its portfolio.
Target theme: Federal Leadership on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions and Climate Resilience
Target: The Government of Canada will transition to net-zero carbon operations for facilities and conventional fleets by 2050 (All Ministers)
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Implementation strategy |
Departmental action |
Performance indicator |
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 Agenda national strategy and SDGs |
Results achieved |
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Modernize through net-zero carbon buildings |
Departmental action 1: All new buildings (including public-private partnerships) will be net-zero carbon unless a life-cycle cost-benefit analysis indicates net-zero-carbon-ready construction. Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 1: Percentage change in GHG emissions from real property over fiscal year 2005–2006. Starting point: 3,970 tonnes of CO2 in 2005–2006 (2,751 tonnes of CO2 in 2021–2022). 2023–2024 Result: 32.5% reduction baseline (2,678 tonnes of CO2) Target: 40% reduction by 2024–2025 over fiscal year 2005–2006 (2,380 tonnes of CO2). |
Actions seeking to rationalize the portfolio, share facilities, reduce the demand for energy or switch to lower carbon sources of energy will lead to reductions in GHGs from real property operations. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 12 Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change. CIF Indicator 13.1.1 GHG emissions. GIF Target 13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. |
Performance indicator result 1: 37.8% reduction in 2024–2025 (2,470 tonnes of CO2). Notes: LAC has corrected its 2005–2006 baseline reporting number to now include the emissions from three buildings that LAC occupied between 2005–2006 and 2023–2024 that have since been vacated and disposed of. |
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Apply a greenhouse gas reduction life-cycle cost analysis for major building retrofits |
Departmental action 2: Incorporate GHG emissions reduction into the departmental decision-making process using GHG options analysis methodology for major renovations and any other real property project that affects energy consumption. Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 2: Percentage of major real property projects or major building retrofits (over $2.5M in value) where the business case assessed GHG reduction options using the $300 shadow price for carbon provided by TBS. Starting point: 0%. Beginning in 2023, these options will be assessed in business cases. 2023–2024 Result: 0% in 2023–2024 Target: 100% by 2026. |
Actions seeking to rationalize the portfolio, share facilities, reduce the demand for energy or switch to lower carbon sources of energy will lead to reductions in GHGs from real property operations. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 13.1 Canadians reduce their GHG emissions. CIF Target 13.1.1 By 2030, reduce Canada’s total GHG emissions by 40 to 45%, relative to 2005 emission levels. |
Performance indicator result 2: Not applicable. Notes: No new projects over $2.5M were approved in 2024–2025. |
Target: The Government of Canada will transition to climate resilient operations by 2050 (All Ministers)
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Implementation strategy |
Departmental action |
Performance indicator |
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 Agenda national strategy and SDGs |
Results achieved |
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Reduce risks posed by climate change to federal assets, services and operations |
Departmental action 3: Assess the risk of climate change impacts on mission critical assets and, where there are moderate to high risks, develop plans to reduce the risk. Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 3: Percentage of the seven buildings under LAC’s custody and responsibility for which the risk of climate change impacts is assessed. Starting point: 0%. In April 2023, LAC began assessing climate and vulnerability risks for its real property portfolio. 2023–2024 Result: 100% in November 2023. Target: 100% by 2026. |
Assessing the risk of climate change impacts on mission-critical assets and developing plans to reduce such risk decreases the risk of disrupting critical service delivery to Canadians. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 13.3 Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change. CIF Indicator 13.3.1 Proportion of municipal organizations that factor climate change adaptation into their decision-making process. GIF Target 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. |
Performance indicator result 3: 100% in November 2023. Notes: While the risk of climate change impacts on its seven buildings was already assessed in 2023, LAC continues to manage and monitor the condition of the critical systems that could be impacted by climate events (including the new Ādisōke facility, scheduled to open in 2026). |
Integrating Sustainable Development
In addition to the measures LAC is taking to realize the previously stated objectives, we would like to highlight some additional activities that are in keeping with the Government of Canada's efforts to implement its vision of sustainable development.
LAC's mandate supports sustainable development and its cultural objectives in that it preserves and promotes the country's culture and heritage to ensure access for current and future generations. And, conversely, LAC integrates sustainable development into its activities, programs and internal processes. For example, LAC evaluates and re-evaluates the government records and private archives it acquires and already has in its custody to retain only those of historical interest. This contributes to the sustainable use of limited space and better stewardship of public funds.
Other examples illustrate efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the processes underlying certain services.
As of December 2022, when LAC processes Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) requests for records held at its Government Records Centre in Winnipeg, it does the work on site, instead of sending the records to its branches in the National Capital Region or elsewhere for scanning and analysis under ATIP legislation. In addition, the expanded use of Government of Canada Secret Infrastructure reduces the need to physically send records to the departments consulted for ATIP requests. Clients also now have more opportunities to submit their requests online and receive a response digitally, reducing the total number of paper requests received and delivered on paper or CD-ROM.
Many activities are held virtually or via a hybrid model: outreach and engagement to raise awareness of the national collections, collaboration with partners, sharing of expertise and knowledge, events such as the information management symposium, the annual meeting with the community of provincial and territorial archivists, etc. These all help mitigate the carbon footprint.
LAC supports the efforts of internal partners by educating employees about sustainable development initiatives and achievements. At in-person organizational events, employees are encouraged to bring their own beverages, cups or containers. The unnecessary use of single-use plastics in LAC operations and at LAC events and meetings is now prohibited.
LAC is also exploring options to continue to improve the sustainability of LAC’s Real Property portfolio through various environmentally friendly initiatives.
Lastly, LAC will continue to ensure its decision-making process includes sustainable development considerations. It has no plans to conduct a strategic environmental assessment. However, it will do so should sustainable development factors need to be considered and highlighted as part of its Real Property Portfolio Strategy, a major project, a policy or budget proposal, a memorandum to Cabinet or a Treasury Board submission.