United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals

National Film Board of Canada

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)	2021‒ 22 Planned initiatives	Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets	2021‒ 22 Results
SDG 1 through 16	The NFB is the steward of a historically and culturally significant collection of innovative and socially relevant audiovisual projects reflecting the many cultures and perspectives that together make up Canada. This collection is also intended to raise awareness of the global challenges that we face and the actions taken to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. The NFB intends to reach more Canadians in 2021–2022, foster proximity with its audiences, and raise awareness of its collection, which contains works that explore many of the issues the UN has addressed in its Sustainable Development Goals (specifically, SDGs 1 through 16). The NFB believes that, through dialogue and through engagement with its audiovisual works, it can act as a catalyst for change, and contribute to the pursuit of the common good and the wellbeing of society.	This Strategy contributes to an increased awareness by Canadians of the social, economic, and environmental challenges of today and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs, including gender equality, diversity and inclusiveness, environmental sustainability, and economic prosperity.	In 2021–2022, the number of views in Canada surpassed the number recorded in the year prior to the pandemic. In particular, the NFB has had very strong results in online viewing in Canada, which nearly doubled from 2017–2018 to 2021–2022. In addition, the number of NFB works online that frequently explore issues addressed by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals has also grown.
SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all	As a trusted resource for Canada’s educators, the NFB provides Canadian schools with educational resources in both official languages that help promote media literacy and global citizenship. The NFB will roll out its new educational offer: the Media School – Digital Storytelling online learning program and the pilot phase of the Indigenous Voices and Reconciliation learning program. The NFB will continue to support emerging Canadian filmmakers by offering them a practical and professional creative experience.	This Strategy contributes to: Global target 4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development Indicator 4.7.1 Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment	In 2021–2022, the NFB offered 1,053 titles on its educational platform. In addition, in 2021 2022, the NFB’s Education team completed the integration of the *Media School – Digital Storytelling* content into its online platform. Beta tests of the program were performed in three Canadian classes. The NFB also accelerated the production of the *Indigenous Voices* learning program, scripting six modules (“Treaties and Agreements,” “Youth,” “Worldviews,” “Languages,” “Laws and Policies,” and “Governance and Economics”), shooting all the necessary material for the videos, and developing several interactive activities for the “Treaties and Agreements” module. This resource, which will give students the knowledge, tools and critical-thinking skills they need to understand the history and contemporary experience of Indigenous cultures and Peoples in Canada, will be launched in September 2023. Finally, in 2021–2022, 35% of works were directed by emerging filmmakers.
SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls	The NFB’s new Strategic Plan reiterates its commitments to create lasting change with regard to diversity and inclusion and gender equality. New targets will be set for racial equity, diversity, and inclusion, to ensure better representation of the great diversity of voices that form the wealth of our country. The NFB will implement its diversity and inclusion commitments and objectives that seek to create an equitable and inclusive workplace.	This Strategy contributes to: Global target 5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life Indicator 5.5.2 Proportion of women in managerial positions	Six years after making its initial commitment to gender parity, the NFB continues to meet its gender-parity objectives both for number of productions and for production budgets. The NFB has also met or surpassed its targets for the majority of creative positions (screenwriters, editors and composers) and achieved notable improvement with regard to directors of photography. The NFB also continues to work on developing new targets for racial equity, diversity and inclusion.
SDG 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries	The NFB’s new Strategic Plan reiterates its commitments to create lasting change with regard to diversity and inclusion and gender equality. New targets will be set for racial equity, diversity, and inclusion, to ensure better representation of the great diversity of voices that form the wealth of our country. The NFB will implement its diversity and inclusion commitments and objectives that seek to create an equitable and inclusive workplace. As part of its commitment to redefine its relationship with Indigenous people, the NFB will launch a new three-year term for its Indigenous Action Plan, which is inspired by best practices in production, distribution and organizational change.	This Strategy contributes to: Global target 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status	In 2021–2022, the NFB maintained its commitments to support gender parity and official-language minority communities, and to redefine its relationship with Indigenous Peoples. The NFB aims to empower communities that are systematically underrepresented in the media landscape, both in front of and behind the camera: women filmmakers, Indigenous Peoples, official-language minority communities, Black and racialized communities, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and people with disabilities. The NFB also continues to work on developing new targets for racial equity, diversity and inclusion. Furthermore, in 2021–2022, the NFB filled the newly created position of Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, to lead the execution of strategic DEI initiatives and programs, coach and guide all levels of NFB management, and build cultural competency and inclusive leadership skills. Another director-level role was filled as well, the Director of Indigenous Relations and Community Engagement, responsible for helping to forge closer relationships with Indigenous communities and advising the NFB on issues related to the production and distribution of its works. With respect to its Indigenous Action Plan, the NFB continues to work on its implementation after reviewing the results achieved and drawing conclusions.
SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts	The NFB will launch two new modules for *Ocean School*, an innovative, inquiry-based online learning experience designed for students and educators. Learners are immersed in the world of ocean science and culture and challenged to explore the impact of climate change on biodiversity.	This Strategy contributes to: Global target 13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning	In November 2021, the NFB launched a new module entitled “The Harvest.” This module offers teachers interdisciplinary media and activities that explore how herring, salmon and the Haíɫzaqv People are interconnected in the rich ecosystem of what is now known as British Columbia’s Central Coast. Another module was also developed, called “Biodiversity,” about the importance of biodiversity and its relationship to climate change. Furthermore, the NFB explores issues of the environment and climate warming through its audiovisual works, including documentaries, animated films and interactive works. In 2021–2022, the NFB addressed the climate emergency in a creative laboratory with filmmakers and invited guests. Laboratories such as this one are grounded in the tradition of documentary film and provide the opportunity to report on current social issues and make them resonate for Canadian audiences.
SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development	Projects like *Ocean school* (mentioned above) encourage youth to take positive actions to improve Canadian oceans and their interconnected systems in order to bring about environmental and societal change.	This Strategy contributes to: Global target 14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans	In November 2021, the NFB launched a new module entitled “The Harvest.” This module offers teachers interdisciplinary media and activities that explore how herring, salmon and the Haíɫzaqv People are interconnected in the rich ecosystem of what is now known as British Columbia’s Central Coast. Another module was also developed, called “Biodiversity,” about the importance of biodiversity and its relationship to climate change. In addition, the NFB widened its network of outreach partners to include key organizations in Canada (Green Learning, Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition) and in the US (National Marine Educators Association, North American Association for Environmental Education). By increasing and refining its presence on key education resource aggregators and social media platforms, and promoting posts targeted at educators, *Ocean School* extended its reach throughout North America.
SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels	The NFB’s new Strategic Plan reiterates its commitments to create lasting change with regard to diversity and inclusion and gender equality. New targets will be set for racial equity, diversity, and inclusion, to ensure better representation of the great diversity of voices that form the wealth of our country The NFB will implement its diversity and inclusion commitments and objectives that seek to create an equitable and inclusive workplace. As part of its commitment to redefine its relationship with Indigenous people, the NFB will launch a new three-year term for its Indigenous Action Plan, which is inspired by best practices in production, distribution and organizational change.	This Strategy contributes to: Global target 16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels Global target 16.7 Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels	Fiscal year 2021–2022 saw constant progress toward meeting the NFB’s key commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion. The NFB is now developing a self-identification questionnaire for its creators and partners that will provide it with data to help it become an organization that better represents Canadian society. The NFB also continues to work on developing new targets for racial equity, diversity and inclusion. In terms of dialogue with Indigenous Peoples, in 2021–2022, increased access and discoverability of NFB works created by Indigenous filmmakers on nfb.ca/onf.ca and the Indigenous Cinema portal, as well as on partner channels, supported the organizational commitment to redefining its relationship with Indigenous people. With respect to its Indigenous Action Plan, the NFB continues to work on its implementation after reviewing the results achieved and drawing conclusions. Overall, through dialogue and engagement with its audiovisual works, the NFB can act as a catalyst for change, and aid in the pursuit of the common good and the wellbeing of society.

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Date modified:: 2022-12-02