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2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

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Organization: Public Health Agency of Canada

Published: 2023-11-01

Table of Contents

Section 1: Introduction to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

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 (UN) 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, 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 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 PHAC's DSDS.

In order to promote coordinated action on sustainable development across the Government of Canada, this departmental strategy integrates efforts to advance Canada's implementation of the 2030 Agenda National Strategy, supported by the Global Indicator Framework (GIF) and Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) targets and indicators. The strategy also now captures SDG initiatives that fall outside the scope of the FSDS to inform the development of the Canada's Annual Report on the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

Section 2: Public Health Agency of Canada's sustainable development vision

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 approach incorporates economic, social and environmental considerations into departmental decision-making. This allows PHAC to realize the benefits and impacts of policies, programs and interventions on human health for both present and future generations.

This approach is guided by the following principles:

Support for the FSDS Goals and UN SDGs

PHAC's DSDS supports 5 of the 17 FSDS goals that reflect a vision for sustainable development in Canada. This is reflected through departmental actions supporting FSDS implementation strategies:

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an ambitious 15-year global framework centred on a set of 17 interrelated and indivisible SDGs, which cover the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy sets out an approach to accelerate progress toward meeting the SDGs in Canada and contributing to build the world envisioned in the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Implementation of the SDGs is tracked through the Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) and the Global Indicator Framework (GIF). The CIF lays the foundation for Canada to track and report on its progress on the 17 SDGs and complements the GIF used to track and report Canada's progress on the global indicators for the SDGs.

PHAC contributes to Canada's implementation of the SDGs through planned initiatives towards the following goals:

These planned initiatives are focused on health promotion programming, monitoring health inequalities, promoting health equity, implementing the Age-Friendly Communities model, contributing to climate change adaptation policies and activities, and collaborating with partners across relevant One Health sectors to address antimicrobial resistance threats.

Section 3: Listening to Canadians

As required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act, PHAC has taken into account comments on the draft 2022 to 2026 FSDS made during the public consultation held from March 11 to July 9, 2022.

During the public consultation, more than 700 comments were received from a broad range of stakeholders, including governments, Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations, academics, businesses and individual Canadians in different age groups and of various backgrounds. The draft FSDS was also shared with the appropriate committee of each House of Parliament, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Advisory Council for their review and comment.

What we heard

Across the submissions received, PHAC identified sustainable development priorities and issues that affect us. Of priority to PHAC were suggestions to expand the focus of Goal 3 to focus on mental health, healthy behaviours and other forms of health impacts experienced by Canadians. These suggestions provide a more balanced view of sustainable development and expand the socio-economic focus of health and well-being.

What we did

PHAC took the above mentioned key priorities and issues into consideration in this DSDS. This expanded focus on good health and well-being has been integrated into the applicable departmental actions and performance indicators included in the DSDS to highlight PHAC's role in supporting mental health initiatives and promoting healthy behaviours.

Please find more information on the FSDS public consultation and its results in the FSDS Consultation Report.

Section 4: Public Health Agency of Canada's commitments

Goal 3: Support mental health and adopt healthy behaviours

FSDS context:

About 1 in 3 Canadians will be affected by a mental illness during their lifetime. The Government of Canada recognizes that maintaining healthy lives and promoting the well-being of Canadians is essential to sustainable development and building prosperous, peaceful and inclusive societies. In addition, the Government of Canada also encourages Canadians to adopt and maintain healthy behaviours, and tracks progress through a number of key indicators such as smoking prevalence, healthy eating and movement behaviours, and substance use harms.

PHAC contributes to the implementation of FSDS Goal 3: Support Mental Health and Adopt Healthy Behaviours by providing timely, trusted and evidence-based information to Canadians related to positive mental health, physical health, and opioid- and stimulant-related harms and by funding tobacco cessation and prevention interventions. It is expected that the uptake and use of evidence by internal and external stakeholders will continue to influence and inform decision-making, policies, programs and practices.

PHAC also supports the advancement of SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being by supporting projects, programming and surveillance activities which address healthy behaviours and promote the well-being of all people living in Canada at all ages.

Target theme:

Mental health

Target:

By March 2027, reduce the percentage of Canadians (aged 15+) with a mental disorder who have expressed that they have an unmet care need to 22% at most (Minister of Health)

Implementation strategy:

Collect data and information to inform evidence-based decisions

Departmental action:

Utilize the Positive Mental Health Surveillance Indicator Framework to provide information on positive mental health outcomes and their associated risk and protective factors to be used by internal and external stakeholders to influence and inform decision-making, policies, programs and practices.

Program: Evidence for Health Promotion, and Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention

Performance indicator:

Percentage of respondents using the Positive Mental Health Surveillance Indicator Framework evidence

Starting point:

81% (2018 to 2019)

Target:

81% (by March 31, 2024)

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 3: Support Mental Health and Adopt Healthy Behaviours and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on Canadians having healthy and satisfying lives by monitoring the state of positive mental health and well-being in Canada to inform programs and policies to improve the mental health of people in Canada.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 3.7: Canadians have healthy and satisfying lives

CIF Indicator 3.7.1: Percentage of Canadians who perceived their mental health as very good to excellent

GIF Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being

Implementation strategy:

Collect data and information to inform evidence-based decisions

Departmental action:

Conduct National surveillance of opioid- and stimulant-related harms in Canada and publish reports on deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency medical services responses to support the federal government's ability to monitor, understand, and report on the overdose crisis at a national level and contribute to the evidence base to inform policy and program actions.

Program: Evidence for Health Promotion, and Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention

Performance indicator:

Number of surveillance reports published annually

Starting point:

4 (2022 to 2023)

Target:

4 (By March 31, 2024)

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 3: Support Mental Health and Adopt Healthy Behaviours and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on Canadians having healthy and satisfying lives as the Agency's national opioid surveillance system will address the need for timely, national level data to understand and measure the burden of the opioid crisis and will strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse by ensuring that a strong evidence base is in place to inform decision making and policy actions around the overdose crisis.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 3.7: Canadians have healthy and satisfying lives

CIF Indicator 3.7.1: Percentage of Canadians who perceived their mental health as very good to excellent

GIF Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being

Target theme:

Adopting healthy behaviours

Target:

By March 2035, at most 5% of Canadians (aged 15+) are current cigarette smokers (Minister of Health)

Implementation strategy:

Promote healthy behaviours

Departmental action:

Continue to support efforts to reduce the death and disease burden of tobacco in Canada, through the Health Canadians and Communities Fund. This is part of the coordinated approach under Canada's Tobacco Strategy to help achieve less than 5% tobacco use by 2035.

Program: Chronic Disease Prevention

Performance indicator:

Percentage of cessation intervention participants who have not smoked in the past 6 months

Starting point:

13% of cessation intervention participants who have not smoked in the past 6 months (2020 to 2021)

Target:

13% of cessation intervention participants who have not smoked in the past 6 months

Note: A comprehensive review of existing literature on Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Intervention has identified optimal ranges for indicators a and b as follows: Target range for indicator a is (12% to 18%) with a mean of (15% ± 3%), and target range for indicator b is (12% to 16%) with a mean of (14% ± 2%). Notably, PHAC's projects yielded baseline results of 13% for both indicators, aligning closely with these identified ranges. Hence, PHAC is dedicated to preserving these favorable baseline outcomes while concurrently striving to achieve the national target of 5%.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 3: Support Mental Health and Adopt Healthy Behaviours and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on reducing the prevalence of cigarette smoking by supporting projects that focus on tobacco cessation and prevention. Projects funded under this program focus on priority populations that have higher rates of tobacco use and address risk factors associated with chronic disease. The efforts of PHAC's Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund, and multiple departments, are aligned to help reach the common goal of reducing death and disease burden of tobacco under Canada's Tobacco Strategy.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Target 3.13: By 2035, less than 5% of Canadians (aged 15+) are cigarette smokers

CIF Indicator 3.13.1: Prevalence of cigarette smoking

GIF Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol

Implementation strategy:

Promote healthy behaviours

Departmental action:

Continue to support efforts to reduce the death and disease burden of tobacco in Canada, through the Health Canadians and Communities Fund. This is part of the coordinated approach under Canada's Tobacco Strategy to help achieve less than 5% tobacco use by 2035.

Program: Chronic Disease Prevention

Performance indicator:

Percentage of cessation intervention participants who have not smoked in the past 30 days

Starting point:

13% of cessation intervention participants who have not smoked in the past 30 days (2020 to 2021)

Target:

13% of cessation intervention participants who have not smoked in the past 30 days

Note: A comprehensive review of existing literature on Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Intervention has identified optimal ranges for indicators a and b as follows: Target range for indicator a is (12% to 18%) with a mean of (15% ± 3%), and target range for indicator b is (12% to 16%) with a mean of (14% ± 2%). Notably, PHAC's projects yielded baseline results of 13% for both indicators, aligning closely with these identified ranges. Hence, PHAC is dedicated to preserving these favorable baseline outcomes while concurrently striving to achieve the national target of 5%.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 3: Support Mental Health and Adopt Healthy Behaviours and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on reducing the prevalence of cigarette smoking by supporting projects that focus on tobacco cessation and prevention. Projects funded under this program focus on priority populations that have higher rates of tobacco use and address risk factors associated with chronic disease. The efforts of PHAC's Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund, and multiple departments, are aligned to help reach the common goal of reducing death and disease burden of tobacco under Canada's Tobacco Strategy.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Target 3.13: By 2035, less than 5% of Canadians (aged 15+) are cigarette smokers

CIF Indicator 3.13.1: Prevalence of cigarette smoking

GIF Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol

Implementation strategy:

Promote healthy behaviours

Departmental action:

Provide data disaggregated by social determinants of health, geography and demographics to the extent possible (for example, income quintiles, racialized groups, Indigenous Peoples, Immigrants, etc.) through the Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep (PASS) Indicator Framework to inform policy and program development that targets Canada's most vulnerable populations.

Program: Evidence for Health Promotion, and Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention

Performance indicator:

Number of sessions that the PASS Indicator Framework accessed

Starting point:

4,145 (2022 to 2023)

Target:

4,200 (By 2023 to 2024)

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 3: Support Mental Health and Adopt Healthy Behaviours and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on Canadians having healthy and satisfying lives as reporting on a range of PASS indicators gives a much clearer picture of how active Canadians really are and provides Canadians and health professionals with the information needed to develop effective policies and programs for a healthy and active population.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 3.7: Canadians have healthy and satisfying lives

CIF Indicator 3.7.1: Percentage of Canadians who perceived their mental health as very good to excellent

GIF Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being

Initiatives advancing Canada's implementation of SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being

The following initiatives demonstrate how PHAC programming supports the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, supplementing the information outlined above.

Planned initiatives:

Associated Domestic Targets or Ambitions and/or Global Targets:

These strategies contribute to:

Goal 6: Ensure clean and safe water for all canadians

FSDS context:

The Government of Canada is focused on restoring freshwater ecosystems and ensuring clean and safe water for Canadians.

PHAC supports the implementation of FSDS Goal 6: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Canadians through its administration of the Potable Water on Board Trains, Vessels, Aircraft and Buses Regulations. Through its inspections, PHAC will ensure that passenger transportation operators are compliant with the regulations, that the water on their transport is safe for travelling public consumption and any required actions are addressed in a timely manner.

Implementation strategies supporting the goal

This section is for implementation strategies that support the goal "Ensure clean and safe water for all Canadians" but not a specific FSDS target

Implementation strategy:

Work with partners on drinking water quality

Departmental action:

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.

Program: Border and Travel Health

Performance indicator:

Percentage of inspected passenger transportation conveyances and ancillary service facilities that meet public health requirements

Starting point:

88% (2013 to 2014)

Target:

95% (annual)

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to the achievement of FSDS Goal 6: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Canadians and the Canada 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on providing access to clean and safe water for all Canadians by conducting inspections on conveyances to verify compliance with the Potable Water Regulations.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 6.1: Canadians have access to drinking water and use it in a sustainable manner

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all

Goal 10: Advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and take action on inequality

FSDS context:

Canada's commitment to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples reflects the importance of working collaboratively with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to advance reconciliation and promote greater equality and prosperity for Indigenous Peoples and all Canadians.

PHAC supports the implementation of FSDS Goal 10: Advance Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and Take Action on Inequality by advancing work related to several Action Plan Measures contained in the UN Declaration Act (UNDA) Action Plan. This work includes leading on mental health promotion and prevention programming in Indigenous communities, co-leading with Health Canada and Indigenous Services Canada on improving bilateral mechanisms and linkages among federal, provincial, and territorial officials and Indigenous representatives across public health and health care systems, and supporting several other broader actions such as cultural competency training.

In addition, PHAC supports the advancement of SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by partnering with community-based organizations, researchers and others in Black communities to generate new evidence on culturally focused programs and interventions that address mental health and its determinants for Black Canadians.

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)

Implementation strategy:

Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

Departmental action:

Advance mental health promotion and prevention programming for Indigenous communities

Program: Health Promotion

Performance indicator:

In partnership with Indigenous Organizations, establish a target for (%) mental health promotion and prevention programming in Canada that is led by Indigenous Communities

Starting point:

New initiative

Target:

Discussions on a co-development relationship and structure will be initiated (By March 31, 2024). Future targets will be co-developed, updated and reported on an annual basis.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to the achievement of FSDS Goal 10: Advance Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and Take Action on Inequality and the 2023 UNDA Action Plan as 1 of the Action Plan's measures is to "Work with partners and Indigenous organizations on mental health promotion programming and prevention initiatives, including using distinctions-based approaches where feasible to support culturally safe, relevant and trauma-informed initiatives." PHAC has been identified as the lead for this APM to help advance reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis as part of efforts to uphold and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition: 3.7: Canadians have health and satisfying lives; 3.12: Canada prevents causes of premature death

CIF Indicator 3.7.1: Percentage of Canadians who perceived their mental health as very good to excellent; 3.12.1: Incidence of opioid and stimulant overdose related harms.

GIF Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being; 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.

Implementation strategy:

Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

Departmental action:

Advance Federal/Provincial/Territorial and Indigenous (FPT-I) governance on health priorities

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Establishment of the Circle for Indigenous Rights and Reconciliation for the Public Health Network

Starting point:

New initiative

Target:

By March 31, 2024

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to the achievement of FSDS Goal 10: Advance Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and Take Action on Inequality and the 2023 UNDA Action Plan as 1 of the Action Plan's measures is to "Strengthen Indigenous engagement by improving bilateral mechanisms with Indigenous partners, improve linkages between federal/ provincial/territorial officials and Indigenous representatives across public health and health care systems and better align the Health Portfolio and Indigenous Services Canada on strategic direction. Supporting FPT-I linkages." PHAC has been identified as co-lead (with Health Canada and Indigenous Services Canada) to help advance reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis as part of efforts to uphold and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 16.7: Canadians are supported by effective, accountable, and transparent institutions

CIF Indicator 16.7.1: Proportion of the population with high levels of confidence in selected institutions

GIF 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.

Implementation strategy:

Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

Departmental action:

Advance PHAC's efforts to become a culturally safe organization through the implementation of its Indigenous Cultural Competency Policy

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Number of learning opportunities made available to employees that help to build their Indigenous cultural competency across 6 pillars of knowledge and 4 depths of knowledge

Starting point:

237 learning opportunities offered to employees with at least 20 per knowledge pillar, including offerings in both official languages (2022 to 2023)

Target:

At least 50 learning opportunities offered for each of the 6 pillars of knowledge. These offerings take into account the different depths of knowledge being pursued, employee availability and regional, language, and learning style diversity.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to the achievement of FSDS Goal 10: Advance Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and Take Action on Inequality and the 2023 UNDA Action Plan as 1 of the Action Plan's measures is to "Develop and implement foundational training co-created by Indigenous subject matter experts, including with the Canada School of Public Service, for federal public servants that will build fundamental understanding and competence about the history, rights and title of Indigenous peoples, treaties, the UN Declaration, the UN Declaration Act, the dynamics of respectful relations, Indigenous-specific systemic racism, and meaningful reconciliation." PHAC is contributing to this broad APM through efforts to implement its Indigenous Cultural Competency Training Policy and Roadmap.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 10.1: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced; 4.1: Canadians have access to inclusive and quality education throughout their lives

CIF Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of the population reporting discrimination or unfair treatment

GIF 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; 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.

Implementation strategy:

Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

Departmental action:

Advance PHAC's efforts to become a culturally safe organization through the implementation of its Indigenous Cultural Competency Policy

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of PHAC employees having completed learning opportunities and self-reflections

Starting point:

40% of staff completed 3 hours of learning and self-reflections (2022 to 2023)

Target:

70% of staff engaging in Indigenous learning and completing self-reflections

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to the achievement of FSDS Goal 10: Advance Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and Take Action on Inequality and the 2023 UNDA Action Plan as 1 of the Action Plan's measures is to "Develop and implement foundational training co-created by Indigenous subject matter experts, including with the Canada School of Public Service, for federal public servants that will build fundamental understanding and competence about the history, rights and title of Indigenous peoples, treaties, the UN Declaration, the UN Declaration Act, the dynamics of respectful relations, Indigenous-specific systemic racism, and meaningful reconciliation." PHAC is contributing to this broad APM through efforts to implement its Indigenous Cultural Competency Training Policy and Roadmap.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 10.1: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced; 4.1: Canadians have access to inclusive and quality education throughout their lives

CIF Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of the population reporting discrimination or unfair treatment

GIF 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; 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

Initiatives advancing Canada's implementation of SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities

The following initiatives demonstrate how PHAC's programming supports the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, supplementing the information outlined above.

Planned initiatives:

Associated Domestic Targets or Ambitions and/or Global Targets:

This strategy contributes to:

Goal 11: Improve access to affordable housing, clean air, transportation, parks, and green spaces, as well as cultural heritage in Canada

FSDS context:

In Canada, making cities and communities sustainable means improving access to transportation, parks and green spaces. As Canada's senior population is growing, this makes it more important than ever to support the health and well-being of older Canadians. This way, seniors can lead healthy and active lives and stay involved in their communities.

PHAC supports the advancement of SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities through the implementation of the Age-Friendly Communities model by helping to ensure policies, services and structures related to the physical and social environment are designed to help seniors "age actively."

Initiatives advancing Canada's implementation of SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities

The following initiatives demonstrate how PHAC's programming supports the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, supplementing the information outlined above.

Planned initiatives:

Associated Domestic Targets or Ambitions and/or Global Targets:

This strategy contributes to:

Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles

FSDS context:

By transitioning to a cleaner and more circular economy that prioritizes reducing consumption and waste generation, we can help reduce negative impacts on the environment. As Canada aims to reduce the amount of waste produced, it will be important to look at circularity sector by sector to overcome unique barriers and take advantage of existing and emerging opportunities.

PHAC contributes to the implementation of FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles by supporting the principles of the circular economy in considering the full life cycle of our procurement decisions, supporting the transition to zero-emission vehicles, and tracking, monitoring and reporting publicly on waste diversion in order to identify opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of our operations.

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)

Implementation strategy:

Maximize diversion of waste from landfill

Departmental action:

Track and disclose waste diversion rates.

Assess the waste stream to inform future decisions and options to divert operational waste in custodial facilities from landfills.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of non-hazardous operational waste diverted from landfills

Starting point:

64.5% (2022 to 2023)

Target:

75% (By 2030)

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on sustainable consumption and waste reduction by analyzing waste audit results to communicate, strategize and develop additional waste diversion methodologies in support of sustainable consumption and waste reduction in custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through

prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

Implementation strategy:

Maximize diversion of waste from landfill

Departmental action:

Track and disclose waste diversion rates.

Reduce the unnecessary use of single-use plastics in custodial facilities.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of unnecessary use of single-use plastics waste diverted from landfills

Starting point:

65.5% (2022 to 2023)

Target:

75% (By 2030)

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on sustainable consumption and waste reduction by analyzing waste audit results to communicate, strategize and develop additional waste diversion methodologies to support the reduction of single-use plastics in custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

Target:

By 2030, the Government of Canada will divert from landfill at least 90% by weight of all construction and demolition waste (All Ministers)

Implementation strategy:

Maximize diversion of waste from landfill

Departmental action:

Track and disclose our waste diversion rates.

Continue to utilize the Construction Waste Diversion Program developed for custodial facilities to track and report on construction waste diversion.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of construction and demolition waste diverted from landfills in custodial facility real property projects >$500 thousand

Starting point:

84% (2022 to 2023)

Target:

90% (By 2030)

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on sustainable consumption and waste reduction by analyzing waste audit results to communicate, strategize and develop additional waste diversion methodologies in support of sustainable consumption and waste reduction of construction materials in custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

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)

Implementation strategy:

Strengthen green procurement criteria

Departmental action:

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.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of procurement related documents, guides, and tools posted on PHAC's Materiel and Assets Management intranet site reviewed and updated to reflect green procurement objectives, where applicable

Starting point:

100% (2022 to 2023)

Target:

100% (annual)

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on sustainable consumption and procurement by incorporating environmental considerations into purchasing decisions, which can motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Implementation strategy:

Strengthen green procurement criteria

Departmental action:

Identify the main categories of goods and services purchased by PHAC

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Complete an identification of PHAC's procurement spending to identify the main categories where 'greening' opportunities could be applied

Starting point:

New initiative

Target:

March 2024

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on sustainable consumption and procurement by incorporating environmental considerations into purchasing decisions, which can motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Implementation strategy:

Strengthen green procurement criteria

Departmental action:

Ensure that the process for procurements over $25 million, including taxes, induces suppliers to measure and disclose their GHG emissions and adopt a science-based target to reduce GHG emissions in line with the Paris Agreement as part of participating in the Net-Zero Challenge or in an equivalent initiative or standard.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of procurements over $25 million that included an incentive for suppliers to disclose their GHG emissions and adopt a science-based target to reduce emissions

Starting point:

New initiative - the Standard on the Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Setting of Reduction Targets took effect on April 1, 2023

Target:

100% (annual)

Note: Public Services and Procurement Canada's contracting authority and PHAC's technical authority play lead roles in achieving this target.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on sustainable consumption and procurement by incorporating environmental considerations into purchasing decisions, which can motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Implementation strategy:

Strengthen green procurement criteria

Departmental action:

Ensure material management and specialists in procurement have the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage 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

Starting point:

100% (2022 to 2023)

Target:

100%

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on sustainable consumption and procurement by incorporating environmental considerations into purchasing decisions, which can motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Implementation strategy:

Transform the federal light-duty fleet

Departmental action:

Use telematics analysis to right-size fleet.

Increase the percentage of departmental fleet that are zero-emission vehicles (ZEV), whenever operationally feasible.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of compatible and/or applicable vehicles logged via telematics

Starting point:

Telematics were installed on all vehicles in PHACs fleet (2019 to 2020)

Target:

100% (annual)

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on using zero-emission vehicles by using telematics to help inform decisions and planning related to fleet purchases which facilitates replacement of conventional vehicles over their lifetimes with ZEVs.

In addition, work to advance a National Fleet Management Strategy will also enable PHAC to continue to examine ways to support reductions in GHG emissions from fleet.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Implementation strategy:

Transform the federal light-duty fleet

Departmental action:

Use telematics analysis to right-size fleet.

Increase the percentage of departmental fleet that are ZEV, whenever operationally feasible.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicle purchases that are ZEV or hybrid.

Starting point:

PHAC had 17 vehicles in its administrative fleet, 1 of which was ZEV or hybrids (2019 to 2020)

Target:

75% (annual) aligns with annual procurement target per TBS criteria

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on using zero-emission vehicles by using telematics to help inform decisions and planning related to fleet purchases which facilitates replacement of conventional vehicles over their lifetimes with ZEVs.

In addition, work to advance a National Fleet Management Strategy will also enable PHAC to continue to examine ways to support reductions in GHG emissions from fleet.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 12.1: 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 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Implementation strategy:

Transform the federal light-duty fleet

Departmental action:

Use telematics analysis to right-size fleet.

Increase the percentage of departmental fleet that are ZEV, whenever operationally feasible.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of executive vehicle purchases that are ZEV or hybrid.

Starting point:

PHAC had 1 executive vehicle in its fleet, which was hybrid (2019 to 2020)

Target:

100% (annual)

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on using zero-emission vehicles by using telematics to help inform decisions and planning related to fleet purchases which facilitates replacement of conventional vehicles over their lifetimes with ZEVs.

In addition, work to advance a National Fleet Management Strategy will also enable PHAC to continue to examine ways to support reductions in GHG emissions from fleet.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 12.1: 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 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Goal 13: Take action on climate change and its impacts

FSDS context:

Effective and urgent action on climate change requires transitioning to a net-zero economy by reducing greenhouse gas and short-lived climate pollutant emissions while continuing to grow prosperity, and by realizing opportunities in emerging markets such as renewable energy and clean technology. At the same time, given the unprecedented climate-related events such as wildfires with widespread smoke pollution, record breaking heat and rainfall events, Canada needs to adapt to the changing climate by building resilience and reducing vulnerability to impacts in communities, regions, ecosystems, and economic sectors.

PHAC supports the implementation of FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts by monitoring its energy usage and GHG emissions to identify opportunities to improve the environmental performance of custodial buildings. In addition, PHAC has established a Public Health and Climate Change Hub to advance activities focusing on core public health functions of surveillance, assessment and science, public health guidance, emergency preparedness, programming and partnerships that build overall resilience to climate threats. Climate resilience is also being integrated into planning processes through the use of climate resilient building designs in applicable projects and through the Agency-wide climate change risk assessment which will help understand the impact of climate change on Agency assets, services and operations.

PHAC also supports the advancement of SDG 13: Climate Action by contributing to the mitigation of the impacts of climate change on health through its support of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, Canada's National Adaptation Strategy, as well as the Government of Canada's National Adaptation Action Plan. This work supports climate change adaptation and resiliency by equipping health professionals, individuals and communities with the information needed to protect and improve health from climate sensitive infectious diseases.

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)

Implementation strategy:

Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government's overall operations

Departmental action:

Undertake outreach activities to integrate sustainable development in Agency operations.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Number of outreach activities to employees to build capacity on strategic environmental assessments, raise awareness about climate change, and promote best practices and tools in support of Greening Government Strategy objectives

Starting point:

PHAC undertook 19 outreach activities (2022 to 2023)

Target:

25 (annual)

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on greening the government's operations by increasing awareness of climate change and sustainable development within the Agency.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 13.2: Canadians are well equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

Implementation strategy:

Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government's overall operations

Departmental action:

Adopt and maintain approaches and activities that reduce PHAC's energy use and improve the overall environmental performance of custodial facilities.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage change in GHG emissions from custodial facilities from fiscal year 2005 to 2006 (7.32ktCO2e)

Starting point:

GHG emissions from facilities in fiscal year 2005 to 2006 = 7.32ktCO2e (7.00 ktCO2e in 2022 to 2023)

Target:

40% below 2005 levels by 2030, and net zero by 2050

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on greening the government's operations by measuring emissions to strive toward reducing emission levels 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, and net zero by 2050 of custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Target 13.1: Reduce GHG emissions by 40 to 45%, relative to the 2005 emission levels. By 2050. Achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

CIF Indicator 13.1.1: Greenhouse gas emissions

GIF Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

Implementation strategy:

Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government's overall operations

Departmental action:

Identify opportunities to facilitate awareness about energy use and technologies that improve environmental performance of custodial facilities.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of water consumption at custodial buildings that is tracked and disclosed

Starting point:

New initiative (79,308m3 in 2022 to 2023)

Target:

100% (annual)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on greening the government's operations by utilizing building-level water meters to measure environmental performance and water use to identify opportunities to improve the energy efficiency and environmental performance of custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 13.2: Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of Climate change

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

Implementation strategy:

Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government's overall operations

Departmental action:

Identify opportunities to facilitate awareness about energy use and technologies that improve environmental performance of custodial facilities.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of custodial facility real property refrigeration equipment containing more than 10kg of halocarbons that has been inventoried

Starting point:

100% (2022 to 2023)

Target:

100%

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on greening the government's operations by utilizing custodial facility real property refrigeration equipment inventories to identify opportunities to improve the environmental performance of custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 13.2: Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of Climate change

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

Implementation strategy:

Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government's overall operations

Departmental action:

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 for custodial facilities.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of renewable energy purchased in custodial facilities

Starting point:

95% (2022 to 2023)

Target:

100% (By 2025)

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on greening the government's operations by analyzing electrical energy consumption, and percent used or purchased of renewable energy to reduce GHG emissions and increase the share of renewable energy used in custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Target 13.1: Reduce GHG emissions by 40 to 45%, relative to the 2005 emission levels. By 2050. Achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

CIF Indicator 13.1.1: Greenhouse gas emissions

GIF Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

Implementation strategy:

Modernize through net-zero carbon buildings

Departmental action:

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."

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of custodial facility real property projects >$10million and where more than 100m3 of ready-mix concrete is purchased which have reported on their embodied carbon in construction materials

Starting point:

New initiative

Target:

100% of custodial facility real property projects >$10million and where more than 100m3 of ready-mix concrete is purchased

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on reducing GHG emissions by integrating climate change measures to reduce overall embodied carbon levels in construction materials used in custodial facility real property projects.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Target 13.1: Reduce GHG emissions by 40 to 45%, relative to the 2005 emission levels. By 2050. Achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

CIF Indicator 13.1.1: Greenhouse gas emissions

GIF Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

Implementation strategy:

Apply a greenhouse gas reduction life-cycle cost analysis for major building retrofits

Departmental action:

Identify opportunities to facilitate awareness about energy use and technologies that improve environmental performance in order to improve the environmental performance of custodial facilities.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Number of energy performance analyses on building fit-ups, refits, major investments, and new construction projects

Starting point:

1 aggregate energy performance analysis completed (2022 to 2023)

Target:

3 energy performance analyses (By 2027)

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on reducing GHG emissions by integrating energy performance analyses to support the reduction of GHG emissions at custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Target 13.1: Reduce GHG emissions by 40 to 45%, relative to the 2005 emission levels. By 2050. Achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

CIF Indicator 13.1.1: Greenhouse gas emissions

GIF Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

Target:

The Government of Canada will transition to climate resilient operations by 2050 (All Ministers)

Implementation strategy:

Reduce risks posed by climate change to federal assets, services and operations

Departmental action:

Integrate climate change adaptation into the design, construction and operation aspects of custodial facility real property projects.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of custodial facility real property projects >$10million where climate resilient building designs are integrated in the project design process

Starting point:

New initiative

Target:

100% (annual)

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on building resilience to climate change by integrating climate resilient building designs in the construction of buildings to establish climate resiliency in custodial facility real property projects.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 13.2: Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of Climate change

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

Implementation strategy:

Reduce risks posed by climate change to federal assets, services and operations

Departmental action:

Understand the wide range of climate change impacts that could potentially affect the Agency's custodial assets, services and operations.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Develop a climate change adaptation plan addressing the risks and impacts of climate change on the Agency's custodial assets, services, and operations

Starting point:

The Agency's climate change risk assessment is currently in development with the results expected to inform the climate change adaptation plan (2022 to 2023)

Target:

Climate Change Adaptation Plan to be developed (By March 31, 2026)

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on building resilience to climate change by integrating climate resilient adaptation measures into the management of the Agency's custodial assets, services, and operations.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 13.2: Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of Climate change

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

Implementation strategies supporting the goal

This section is for implementation strategies that support the goal "Take action on climate change and its impacts" but not a specific FSDS target

Implementation strategy:

Support climate change adaptation across Canada

Departmental action:

Undertake activities to build Agency capacity and support prevention and response efforts to protect public health from the impacts of climate change

Program: Food-borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Performance indicator:

Establish a Climate Change and Public Health Hub within PHAC

Starting point:

New initiative

Target:

Establish the new Climate Change and Public Health Hub by March 31, 2024

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on climate resilience. This demonstrates leadership to the public health community by responding to multiple climate-related events. It also helps to build public health organizational and professional capacity, supporting prevention and response efforts to protect the public's health from immediate and ongoing climate threats.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 13.2: Canadians are well equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries; 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning; 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

Implementation strategy:

Support climate change adaptation across Canada

Undertake activities to build Agency capacity and support prevention and response efforts to protect public health from the impacts of climate change

Program: Food-borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Performance indicator:

Develop a coordinated Agency-wide Climate Change and Public Health Plan

Starting point:

New initiative

Target:

Develop a Climate Change and Public Health Plan for PHAC by December 31, 2024

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal and Target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs:

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on climate resilience. This demonstrates leadership to the public health community by responding to multiple climate-related events. It also helps to build public health organizational and professional capacity, supporting prevention and response efforts to protect the public's health from immediate and ongoing climate threats.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition 13.2: Canadians are well equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change

CIF Indicator: No specific indicator

GIF Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries; 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning; 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

Initiatives advancing Canada's implementation of SDG 13 – Climate Action

The following initiatives demonstrate how PHAC's programming supports the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, supplementing the information outlined above.

Planned initiatives:

Associated Domestic Targets or Ambitions and/or Global Targets:

These strategies contribute to:

Goal 17: Strengthen partnerships to promote global action on sustainable development

FSDS context:

Diverse and inclusive partnerships are required at the local, regional, national and global levels to achieve the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

PHAC supports the advancement of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by addressing health equity and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across One Health include working with domestic and international partners. This includes contributing to global AMR commitments through collaborations with partners to encourage innovation in AMR, sharing of best practices and promoting equitable access to new antimicrobials.

Initiatives advancing Canada's implementation of SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

The following initiatives demonstrate how PHAC's programming supports the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, supplementing the information outlined above.

Planned initiatives:

Associated Domestic Targets or Ambitions and/or Global Targets:

This strategy contributes to:

Section 5: Integrating sustainable development

Integrating sustainable development

Led by the Agency's Sustainable Development Champion and the Sustainable Development Office, PHAC continues to support the Greening Government Strategy, FSDS goals and targets, and Canada's implementation and advancement of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

To support capacity building on sustainable development, PHAC has made Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) training available for employees to learn more about the value and purpose of SEAs in the development of proposals, the roles and responsibilities of key participants in the SEA process, and linkages between SEAs and the FSDS.

PHAC undertakes outreach to build awareness and capacity in the application of sustainable development into policy and program development and planning processes. This includes online posts to employees, communications and presentations to individuals and senior management and addresses FSDS calls for departments to engage employees to encourage responsible workplaces.

Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs)

PHAC undertakes SEAs to promote sustainable development in decision-making. This process allows PHAC to consider the scope and nature of environmental effects, the need for mitigation, and the likely importance of any adverse environmental effects 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).

PHAC 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. In addition, the SEA process at PHAC also takes into account proposal contributions towards Greening Government Strategy commitments and other strategic considerations.

As per the Cabinet Directive, SEAs involve a multi-step process at PHAC, which includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

  1. Determination of whether the proposal is excluded based on the criteria outlined in PHAC's SEA Preliminary Scan Form.
  2. If the proposal is not exempt, completion of the Preliminary Scan to conduct an analysis on the environmental effects and to determine if a more detailed SEA is required.
  3. If a more rigorous examination of environmental effects is needed, then a detailed SEA analysis is conducted, including a Public Statement that demonstrates how environmental factors are incorporated into the decision making process and how these factors will be mitigated.

Proposals may be exempted from conducting a SEA Preliminary Scan due to Cabinet Directive guidelines or PHAC's pre-assessment criteria. This includes considerations regarding if the proposal elements of this proposal previously been assessed under the current FSDS for their environmental impacts.

Public statements on the results of PHAC's assessments are made public when an initiative that 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.

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