Progress Report on the 2019 to 2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy - Executive summary

Making Progress on Canada’s Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Goals

The 2019 to 2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy includes 13 aspirational goals supported by measurable targets and clear action plans. All of the goals are aimed at realizing the vision that Canada is one of the greenest countries in the world and that our quality of life will continue to improve.

Forty-three departments and agencies across the government are involved in delivering the Strategy. Together, these organizations are taking joint federal action to implement sustainable development in Canada. They often work in close partnership with Indigenous governments and peoples, provinces, territories, and municipalities.

The 13 goals support a vision for sustainable development in Canada that acknowledges its unique responsibilities and circumstances.

To consult the report: 2021 Progress Report of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.

The Purpose of this Progress Report

This report shows how the Government of Canada has been doing in the three years since the last Progress Report was tabled in 2018, and almost two and a half years since the 2019-2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy was tabled in Parliament.

The Report shows where there is progress toward our goals and targets, and it shows where more work is required. These results inform the actions that the Government of Canada is taking now and will help to shape the 2022-2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.

For each of the 13 goals, this report sets out:

The current federal strategy is Canada’s fourth such document, and the current progress report is Canada’s fifth. It reflects 12 years of goals, targets, and progress toward environmental sustainable development with a core principle of continuous improvement.

Assessment of Progress on Medium-Term Targets in the 2019 to 2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy

Goal Target Progress
Effective Action on Climate Change

Reduce Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030, relative to 2005 emission levels

Attention required

Increase zero-emission, light-duty vehicle sales to 10% by 2025, 30% by 2030, and 100% by 2040

Underway
Greening Government

Reduce federal government greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030

Underway

Divert at least 75% of non-hazardous operational waste from landfills by 2030

No new data

Divert at least 90% of all construction and demolition waste from landfills

No new data

Achieve 75% carbon neutrality in federal office lease transactions where market conditions permit and a competitive environment exists

No new data

Achieve 80% zero-emission vehicles within the federal administrative fleet by 2030

Underway

Develop departmental measures to reduce climate change risks to asset services and operations by 2022

No new data

Use 100% clean electricity within the federal government by 2025

Underway
Clean Growth

Implement our Mission Innovation commitment to double federal government investments in clean energy, research, development and demonstration by 2020

Achieved

Increase the value of Canada’s clean technology exports to $15.6 billion by 2025

Attention required
Modern and Resilient Infrastructure

Invest $26.9 billion in funding for green infrastructure initiatives by March 31, 2028

Underway
Clean Energy

Generate 90% by 2030 and, in the long term, 100% of Canada’s electricity from renewable and non-emitting sources

Underway

Achieve 600 petajoules of total annual energy savings by adopting energy efficiency codes, standards, and practices, from a baseline savings of 20.0 petajoules by 2030

Underway
Healthy Coasts and Oceans

Conserve 10% of coastal and marine areas through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures by 2020

Achieved

By 2020, all major fish and invertebrate stocks are managed and harvested at levels considered to be sustainable, from a baseline of 96% harvested within established ecosystem limits in 2016

Attention required
Pristine Lakes and Rivers

Reduce phosphorus loading into Lake Erie by 40% to achieve the binational (Canada-US) phosphorus targets from a 2008 baseline

Attention required

Reduce nutrient loadings into the Lake Winnipeg Basin in support of Manitoba’s plan to reduce phosphorus in Lake Winnipeg by 50% to pre-1990 levels by 2022

Underway
Sustainably Managed Lands and Forests

Conserve at least 17% of terrestrial areas and inland water through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures by 2020

Attention required

By March 31, 2023, ecological integrity will be maintained or improved in 92% of national park ecosystems

Underway

Maintain Canada’s annual timber harvest at or below sustainable wood supply levels between 2019 and 2022

Underway
Healthy Wildlife Populations

Ensure species that are secure remain secure, and populations of species at risk listed under federal law exhibit trends that are consistent with recovery strategies and management plans by 2020

Attention required

Increase the percentage of managed migratory bird species whose population sizes fall within an acceptable range from a baseline of 57% in 2013 by 2025

Attention required
Clean Drinking Water

Resolve all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve by March 31, 2021

Attention required
Sustainable Food

Improve environmental performance of the agriculture sector by achieving a score of 71 or higher on the Index of Agri-Environmental Sustainability by 2030

No new data

Achieve 90% compliance with Fisheries Act regulations related to aquaculture

Underway

Grow Canada’s agri-food exports to $75 billion per year by 2025

Underway
Connecting Canadians with Nature

Increase or maintain the number of Canadians that visit parks and green spaces—and increase participation in biodiversity conservation activities relative to a 2010 baseline by 2020

Achieved
Safe and Healthy Communities

Increase the percentage of Canadians living in areas where air quality standards are achieved from 70% in 2015 to 85% in 2030

Underway

Decrease emissions of fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides and volatile organic compounds from all sources from 1990 levels

Underway

Take risk management actions in a timely manner for all substances found to be a risk to the environment or human health by 2022

Underway

Other Sources of Relevant Information

This progress report complements other sources of information on federal actions and results. These include:

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