2020 to 2023 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy: 2022 to 2023 update
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Organization: Public Health Agency of Canada
Date published: March 2022
ISBN: 2561-6757
Table of contents
- Section 1: Introduction to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
- Section 2: Sustainable development vision and context in the Public Health Agency of Canada
- Section 3: Commitments for the Public Health Agency of Canada
- Section 4: Integrating sustainable development
Section 1: Introduction to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
The 2019 to 2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada's sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. In keeping with the purpose of this Act to provide the legal framework for developing and implementing a Federal Sustainable Development Strategy that will make environmental decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) supports the goals laid out in the FSDS through the activities described in this Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS).
The 2020 to 2023 DSDS has changed from the previous DSDS to reflect issues raised by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development and consultations with participating departments.
The 2020 to 2023 DSDS includes the following:
- a renewed focus on directly linking departmental actions to FSDS goals and targets
- a section for departmental actions that support the goal, but do not directly link to a target. Since not all departmental actions link directly to FSDS targets and contributing actions, the department can now link an action directly to the FSDS goal.
- a section to report on linkages to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This reporting section completes tagging to the FSDS e-strategy. Not all actions will have a direct link to SDGs.
While the PHAC DSDS has a 3-year lifecycle, PHAC will release annual updates that may include new commitments and targets which take into account new internal and external priorities, as well as our changing external environment.
Section 2: Sustainable development vision and context in the Public Health Agency of Canada
Vision for sustainable development
PHAC was created within the federal Health Portfolio to deliver on the Government of Canada's commitment to increase its focus on public health in order to help protect and improve the health and safety of all Canadians and to contribute to strengthening public health capacities across Canada.
PHAC's sustainable development vision aims to systematically incorporate economic, social and environmental considerations into departmental decision-making; this allows PHAC to realize benefits and/or the negative impacts of policies, programs and interventions on human health for both present and future generations.
PHAC's approach to sustainable development is guided by the following principles:
- Strengthen Canada's capacity to protect and improve the health of Canadians.
- Build an effective public health system that enables Canadians to achieve better health and well-being in their daily lives by promoting good health, helping prevent chronic diseases and injury, and protecting Canadians from infectious diseases and other threats to their health.
- Reduce health disparities between the most advantaged and disadvantaged Canadians.
Context: PHAC's work and the FSDS goals
PHAC's DSDS supports 3 of the 13 FSDS goals that reflect a vision for sustainable development in Canada.
- greening government
- effective action on climate change
- clean drinking water
FSDS goal: Greening government
The Government of Canada will transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient, and green operations; this allows for the federal government to contribute to the broader economy-wide plan that includes the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. PHAC will contribute to the greening government goal by taking steps to improve energy efficiency of buildings and operations, engaging in green procurement through the inclusion of environmental considerations in procurement processes, and continuing to commit to the Greening Government Strategy to attain low-carbon, sustainable and climate-resilient real property, low-carbon mobility and fleet, climate-resilient assets, services, and operations, and green goods and services.
FSDS goal: Effective action on climate change
Climate change is a critical global problem that could affect future generations' ability to meet their basic needs. Greenhouse gas emissions have the potential to warm the planet to levels never experienced in the history of human civilization, with far reaching and unpredictable environmental, social, and economic consequences. Effective action on climate change means transitioning to a low-carbon economy. We can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions while increasing our prosperity by realizing the opportunities in emerging markets such as renewable energy and clean technology. While reducing emissions is necessary to help lessen the severity of climate impacts in the future, we also need additional efforts to build resilience to these impacts. Adaptation is key in addressing climate change, and is about making smart, informed, forward-looking decisions that take future climate conditions into account. PHAC implements adaptation measures that contribute to the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.
FSDS goal: Clean drinking water
Clean drinking water is a fundamental human need, and helping to ensure that all Canadians have clean water to drink is a federal government priority. PHAC implements the Potable Water Regulations to protect the health and safety of traveling Canadians by safeguarding drinking water supplies; PHAC continues to be committed to providing all Canadians with access to safe drinking water on conveyances. Ensuring safe drinking water for all Canadians supports the 2030 Agenda and its global Sustainable Development Goals,in particular SDG 6, Clean Water and Sanitation; it also supports specific SDG targets, as well as other international agreements and initiatives.
Previous years' strategies and reports are posted on the PHAC Sustainable Development website page. Elements of the 2022 to 2023 DSDS update can also be found in the PHAC 2022 to 2023 Departmental Plan: Supplementary Information Tables (SIT).
Section 3: Commitments for the Public Health Agency of Canada
Greening government: The Government of Canada will transition to low-carbon, climate resilient and green operations.
This goal captures commitments from the Greening Government Strategy, as well as reporting requirements under the Policy on Green Procurement.
Responsible minister: All ministers
| FSDS Target(s) | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target | Starting point(s) |
Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduce GHG emissions from federal government facilities and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 (with an aspiration to achieve this target by 2025) and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050 (with an aspiration to be carbon neutral). | All new buildings and major building retrofits will prioritize low-carbon investments based on integrated design principles, and life cycle and total-cost-of ownership assessments which incorporate shadow carbon pricing. | Adopt and maintain approaches and activities that reduce Public Health Agency of Canada's energy use and improve the overall environmental performance of departmental-owned buildings. | FSDS: The Public Health Agency of Canada will take actions to reduce the demand for energy or switch to lower carbon sources of energy that will lead to reductions in GHGs from building operations. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. [No target or a link to 7.3 - By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency]. |
Starting Point: GHG emissions from buildings in fiscal year 2005 to 2006 = 7.17ktCO2e. Indicator: % change in GHG emissions from facilities from fiscal year 2005 to 2006.
Target: 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 (includes just facilities). |
PHAC Internal Services |
Departments will adopt and deploy clean technologies and implement procedures to manage building operations and take advantage of programs to improve the environmental performance of their buildings. |
Identify opportunities to facilitate awareness about energy use and technologies that improve environmental performance in order to improve the environmental performance of departmental-owned buildings. |
FSDS: Understanding the range of applications for clean technology in building operations, raising awareness about energy use, and promoting initiatives to improve energy efficiency will help the Public Health Agency of Canada to ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support more efficient production and consumption. SDG 9: Industry Innovation and Infrastructure. Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities. |
Starting Point: In 2020 to 2021, the Public Health Agency of Canada began using RETScreen, a Clean Energy Management Software system for energy efficiency, renewable energy and cogeneration project feasibility analysis as well as ongoing energy performance analysis. Indicator: % of building fit-ups, refits, major investments and new construction projects that use RETScreen to inform decisions. Target: 100% (annual). |
PHAC Internal Services |
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Indicator: # of energy performance feasibility analyses completed in partnership with Natural Resources Canada. Target: 2 analyses completed by March 31, 2022. |
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Indicator: % of custodial facilities with building-level water meters. Target: PHAC is ahead of schedule on this indicator's target of 100% by 2022. 100% of PHAC's custodial facilities have building level water meters. |
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| Fleet management will be optimized including by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced. | Use telematics analysis to right-size fleet. Promote behavior change – e.g. car sharing initiatives and public transportation options. |
FSDS: Rationalization of fleets via retirement of emitting vehicles can reduce GHG emissions. | PHAC will not be reporting on fleet GHG emissions, as TBS only requires reporting from departments and agencies with more than 50 vehicles. PHAC will however continue to follow the TBS guidance in regards to green fleet management in terms of procurement and telematics use. | PHAC Internal Services |
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| Divert at least 75% (by weight) of non-hazardous operational waste from landfills by 2030. | Other | · Track and disclose waste diversion rates by 2022. · Assess the waste stream to inform future decisions and options to divert operational waste from landfills. |
FSDS: The Public Health Agency of Canada will:
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. |
Starting Point: In 2021 to 2022, the Public Health Agency of Canada will complete waste audits in its custodial facilities. Indicator: % of non-hazardous operational waste diverted. Target: Report on waste diversion rates and disposal methods by March 31, 2022. |
PHAC Internal Services |
Indicator: Diversion indicators will be developed once data from the audits has been analyzed. Target: Identification of priority diversion options by March 31, 2022. |
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| Divert at least 75% (by weight) of plastic waste from landfills by 2030. | Other | · Track and disclose waste diversion rates by 2022. · Eliminate the unnecessary use of single-use plastics in government operations, events and meetings. · Implement initiatives and processes to facilitate plastic waste diversion from the Public Health Agency of Canada's operations. |
FSDS: The Public Health Agency of Canada will:
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. |
Starting Point: New initiatives as of March 2020. Indicator: % of plastic waste diverted. Target: Report on waste diversion rates by March 31, 2022. |
PHAC Internal Services |
| Divert at least 90% (by weight) of all construction and demolition waste from landfills (striving to achieve 100% by 2030). | Other | Track and disclose our waste diversion rates by 2022. | FSDS: Actions that reduce the generation of construction and demolition waste will help to reduce Scope 3 emissions for the production, transport and disposal of material. Diverting waste from landfill reduces landfill gas and transport waste hauling emissions. Material recovery via recycling reduces emissions for the extraction and production of virgin materials. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. |
Indicator: % of construction and demolition waste diverted. Target: Report on waste diversion rates and disposal methods by March 31, 2022. |
PHAC Internal Services |
| Our administrative fleet will be comprised of at least 80% zero-emission vehicles by 2030. | Fleet management will be optimized including by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced. | Use telematics analysis to right-size fleet. Increase the percentage of departmental fleet that are ZEV or hybrid, whenever operationally feasible. |
FSDS: As conventional vehicles are replaced over their lifetimes with ZEVs, and/or the size of the fleet is reduced, a greater proportion of the fleet will be ZEV. | New Initiative Starting Point: In 2019 to 2020, telematics were installed on all vehicles in the Public Health Agency of Canadas fleet to collect data that informs the management of the departmental fleet. Performance Indicator: Percentage of compatible and/or applicable vehicles logged via telematics. Target: 100% (annual).Footnote 1 |
PHAC Internal Services |
Starting point: In 2019 to 2020, the Public Health Agency of Canada had 17 vehicles in its administrative fleet, 1 of which was ZEV or hybrids. Indicator: % of new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicle purchases that are ZEV or hybrid.
Target: 75% (annual) aligns with annual procurement target per TBS criteria.Footnote 2 |
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Starting Point: In 2019 to 2020, the Public Health Agency of Canada had 1 executive vehicle in its fleet, which was hybrid. Indicator: % of executive vehicle purchases that are ZEV or hybrid.
Target: 100% (annual). |
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Indicator: % of administrative vehicles logged via telematics Target: 100% (annual). |
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By 2022, departments have developed measures to reduce climate change risks to assets, services and operations. |
Increase training and support on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments and developing adaptation actions to public service employees, and facilitate sharing of best practices and lessons learned. |
Understand the wide range of climate change impacts that could potentially affect federal assets, services and operations across the country. |
FSDS: Factoring climate variability and change into policy, programs, and operations is one of the most important ways the government can adapt to a changing climate and is consistent with the government's risk management approach of enhancing the protection of public assets and resources and strengthening planning and decision-making. SDG 13: Climate Action. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. |
Starting Point: New initiative, consistent with the Federal Adaptation Policy Framework, the Public Health Agency of Canada will take action to understand the wide range of climate change impacts that could potentially affect federal assets, services and operations through a climate change risk assessment. Indicator: % of site-specific climate change vulnerability and risk assessments completed on the Public Health Agency of Canada-owned fixed assets. Target: 100% |
PHAC Internal Services |
| By 2021, adopt climate-resilient building codes being developed by National Research Council Canada. | Integrate climate change adaptation into the design, construction and operation aspects of real property projects. | FSDS: Early adoption of the code in the construction of buildings demonstrates federal leadership in climate resilient buildings. SDG 13: Climate Action. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. |
Indicator: % of real property projects where climate resilient building codes and NRC energy and building code requirements were integrated within the project design process. Target: 100% (annual) |
PHAC Internal Services |
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| Use 100% clean electricity by 2025. | Other | Purchase megawatt hours of renewable electricity equivalent to that produced by the high-carbon portion of the electricity grid. This includes the use of renewable electricity generated on-site or purchased off-site. | FSDS: The use of clean electricity eliminates GHG emissions in jurisdictions with emitting generation sources. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. |
Indicator: New initiative, % of clean electricity.
Target: 100% |
PHAC Internal Services |
Actions supporting the Goal: Greening Government [This section is for actions that support the Greening Government Goal but do not directly support a FSDS target]. |
Minimize embodied carbon and the use of harmful materials in construction and renovation. | Specification of low embodied carbon materials in major construction and renovation contracts. Note: Greening Government Strategy - Real Property Guidance has defined "major" as "Projects in which changes proposed to the building envelope and HVAC systems or the proposed value of work is more than 50% of the assessed value of the building." |
FSDS: The use of low embodied carbon materials expands the market and encourages industry to adopt low carbon extraction, production and disposal practices. This will reduce Scope 3 emissions and other harmful environmental impacts. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities. |
Indicator: New initiative, % of major construction projects in which embodied carbon in building materials was minimized. Target: PHAC will work to understand the impact and resource implications of integrating the measurement and reporting of embodied carbon on construction projects. A % target will be set for 2021 to 2022, subject to continued engagement with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), and development of a PSPC program for measuring and reporting on embodied carbons. |
PHAC Internal Services |
| Other | Encourage and facilitate the use of sustainable work practices. | FSDS: Increased awareness of sustainable work practices could help to reduce the amount of GHG emissions produced by staff activities (e.g. encourage employees to consider less GHG intensive modes of transportation for business travel, or internalize SD-friendly consumer habits). SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts |
Indicator: PHAC will undertake 8 virtual outreach activities to employees, per FY, to raise awareness about climate change and to promote best practices and tools in support of Greening Government Objectives. Indicator: PHAC will undertake targeted outreach with employees, with the goal of establishing a Pan Regional SD Network to build capacity and share and promote best practices on sustainable workplace initiatives across the Agency. |
PHAC Internal Services |
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| Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions. | Promote environmental sustainability by integrating environmental performance considerations into departmental procurement process, including planning, acquisition, use and disposal, and ensuring there is the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement. | FSDS: Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Target 12.7 - Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities. |
Starting Point: In 2020 to 2021, 100% of procurement related documents, guides, and tools posted on Public Health Agency of Canada's Materiel and Assets Management intranet site were reviewed and updated to reflect green procurement objectives. Indicator: % of procurement related documents, guides, and tools posted on Public Health Agency of Canada's Materiel and Assets Management intranet site reviewed and updated to reflect green procurement objectives, where applicable. Target: 100% (annual). |
PHAC Internal Services |
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Starting Point: 100% in 2019 to 2020. Indicator: % of office supply purchases that include criteria to reduce the environmental impact associated with the production, acquisition, use and/or disposal of the supplies (excluding purchases made on acquisition cards). Target: 90% (annual). |
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Starting Point: 100% in 2019 to 2020. Indicator: % of information technology hardware purchases that include criteria to reduce the environmental impact associated with the production, acquisition, use and/or disposal of the equipment (excluding laboratory and field equipment as well as purchases made on acquisition cards). Note: This is done in conjunction with Shared Services Canada and/or Public Services and Procurement Canada as the IT procurement authority. Target: 95% (annual). |
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| Support for green procurement will be strengthened, including guidance, tools and training for public service employees. | Ensure material management and specialists in procurement have the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement. | FSDS: Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing and is expected to motivate suppliers to green their goods, services and supply chain. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities. |
Starting Point: 100% in 2019 to 2020. Indicator: % of specialists in procurement and materiel management who have completed training on green procurement or have included it in their learning plan for completion within a year. Target: 100% |
PHAC Internal Services |
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Notes: The commitment to develop a National Fleet Management Strategy has been removed from the DSDS. The strategy is intended to be a high-level roadmap for fleet management and will not yield relevant indicators for sustainable development. The DSDS targets will instead focus on initiatives that support the new Fleet Standard that was approved in Spring 2021 as well as Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat targets in support of the Greening Government Strategy. |
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Footnotes
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Effective action on climate change: A low-carbon economy contributes to limiting global average temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius and supports efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Responsible minister: Minister of Environment and Climate Change, supported by a whole-of-government approach to implementation
| FSDS target(s) | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target | Starting point(s) |
Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By 2030, reduce Canada's total GHG emissions by 30%, relative to 2005 emission levels. | Develop a solid base of scientific research and analysis on climate change. | Contribute to the implementation of the adaptation pillar of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change by developing and advancing the Infectious Disease and Climate Change Program, including a Grants and Contributions Fund (the IDCC Fund), to prepare for and protect Canadians from climate-driven infectious diseases that are zoonotic (diseases that can be transmitted from animals and insects to humans), food-borne or water-borne. | FSDS: The Infectious Disease and Climate Change (IDCC) Program addresses the impacts of climate change on human health by building and increasing access to infectious diseases evidence-base, and developing and disseminating education and awareness resources. The IDCC Program and Fund will (i) increase the knowledge base of the health risks associated with climate-driven infectious diseases, particularly within the health sector, communities and vulnerable populations, and (ii) enhance systems and/or tools to support decision-making and knowledge translation SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts |
Starting point: Baseline data was established in 2021 and data trends will be assessed over time. Indicator(s):
Target for 2022 to 2023:
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PHAC Infectious Diseases Programs Branch Foodborne and Zoonotic Diseases |
Clean drinking water: All Canadians have access to safe drinking water and, in particular, the significant challenges Indigenous communities face are addressed.
Responsible minister: Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
| FSDS target(s) | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target | Starting point(s) |
Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean Drinking Water. | Take action to help ensure safe drinking water. | Implement Potable Water on Board Trains, Vessels, Aircraft and Buses Regulations (Potable Water Regulations) including conducting inspections and assessments on international and interprovincial airplanes, trains, cruise ships, ferries and buses to protect the health and safety of the travelling public, ensuring that critical violations are mitigated in a timely manner. | FSDS: This action corresponds to the overall FSDS goal of clean drinking water for all Canadians. The implementation of Potable Water Regulations will ensure that passenger transportation operators are compliant with the regulations and the water on their transport is safe for travelling public consumption. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all |
Starting point: 88% in 2013 to 2014. Indicator: Percentage of inspected passenger transportation operators that meet public health requirements. Target: 95% |
PHAC Health and Security and Regional Operations Border and Travel Health |
Section 4: Integrating sustainable development
The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process is used by PHAC to promote environmental sustainability in decision- making. It helps ensure that the environment is considered when developing policy, plan and program proposals, as required by the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals (Cabinet Directive).
The Public Health Agency of Canada will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of FSDS goals and targets through its SEA process. A SEA for a policy, plan or program proposal includes an analysis of the impacts of the given proposal on the environment, including on relevant FSDS goals and targets.
PHAC conducts SEAs on proposals that meet Cabinet Directive requirements for assessment. Through the SEA process, FSDS goals and targets are systematically considered in decision-making. For example, the early integration preliminary scan of environmental considerations in the proposal development cycle allows proposal developers to understand and become aware of the scope and nature of the likely environmental effects. If effects are likely to occur, the detailed analysis of the SEA process can inform the importance (e.g. extent, significance long-term impacts) of any adverse environmental effects; and, the need for mitigation to reduce or eliminate the adverse effects.
Public statements on the results of the Public Health Agency of Canada's assessments are made public when an initiative has undergone a detailed SEA (see here).The purpose of the public statement is to demonstrate that the environmental effects, including the impacts on achieving the FSDS goals and targets, of the approved policy, plan or program have been considered during proposal development and decision making.
PHAC reports on annual SEA compliance through the Departmental Results Report.
The Sustainable Development Champion (SD Champion) and Sustainable Development Office (SDO) will continue to advance the FSDS agenda within PHAC by ensuring proposals that meet Cabinet Directive criteria undergo SEAs. PHAC's SD Champion and the SDO lead the development, promotion, and dissemination of SEA tools and resources within PHAC. The SD Champion and SDO have implemented SEA Operational Guidance, PHAC SEA Policy, PHAC SEA Standard Operating Procedure, and new SEA training tools to build capacity in the application of sustainable development considerations into policies, programs, and plans at the enterprise level.
Furthermore, the SD Champion and SDO lead the communication of sustainable development commitments to PHAC employees and senior management. For example, the SD Champion and SDO are engaged in outreach activities that raise awareness of FSDS goals and targets. To widen PHAC's outreach, the SDO maintains a dedicated Intranet space for sustainable development and SEA information, accessible to all PHAC employees. The SDO also works closely with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to improve compliance and develop capacity on governance and guidance for meeting the requirements of Bill C-57, an Act to Amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act; the Greening Government Strategy; and the Policy on Green Procurement.
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