2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
ISSN 2817-7215
Contents
- Executive Summary
- Section 1: Introduction to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
- Section 2: Global Affairs Canada’s Sustainable Development Vision
- Section 3: Listening to Canadians
- Section 4: Global Affairs Canada’s Commitments
- Goal 5: Champion Gender Equality
- Goal 10: Advance Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and Take Action on Inequality
- Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles
- Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts.
- Goal 17: Strengthen Partnerships to Promote Global Action on Sustainable Development
- Section 5: Integrating Sustainable Development
Executive Summary
Sustainable development is one of the greatest challenges of this century. It is critical for collective security, equity and well-being, particularly in a time of increasing social and environmental instability. Global Affairs Canada (GAC) remains steadfastly committed to sustainable development and the advancement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This 2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS) shares how GAC plans to contribute to Canada’s 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) and is complemented by the department’s sustainable development reporting through the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals Supplementary Information Table, the International Assistance Report (IAR), contributions to Canada’s second Voluntary National Review (VNR) and annual reports.
The 2022 to 2026 FSDS is based on extensive public consultations that helped shape a more comprehensive plan for Government of Canada departments. The FSDS now reflects all 17 SDGs and includes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The strategy remains primarily domestic in focus, with GAC responsible for contributing to the achievement of five FSDS goals:Footnote 1
- Champion gender equality (Goal 5) through investments in women’s skills, employment and leadership.
- Advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and take action on inequality (Goal 10) through implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Act .
- Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles (Goal 12) by continuing to maximize diversion of waste from landfills, to transform the federal light-duty fleet and to strengthen green procurement criteria.
- Take action on climate change and its impacts (Goal 13) by continuing to implement Canada’s climate plans and actions; by implementing the Greening Government Strategy; by modernizing through net-zero carbon buildings; by applying a greenhouse gas reduction life cycle cost analysis to major building retrofits; and by reducing climate change risks to federal assets, services and operations.
- Strengthen partnerships to promote global action on sustainable development (Goal 17) to increase support to and help build capacity in developing countries to mitigate and adapt to climate change, support a clean energy transition, promote responsible business conduct by Canadian companies abroad, advocate for environmental protection in trade agreements and other engagement mechanisms, and advance international collaboration on critical minerals.
In addition to contributions to these five FSDS goals, the department further supports all the SDGs across its international mandate. Sustainable development is integrated into policies and operational processes that support diplomacy and advocacy, trade, international assistance, consular services and the GAC mission network.
The department welcomes the opportunity to make important contributions to the advancement of the FSDS and the 2030 Agenda more broadly.
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 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, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) 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 the DSDS. These basic principles have been considered and incorporated in Global Affairs Canada’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 and Canadian Indicator Framework targets and indicators. The strategy also captures SDG initiatives that fall outside the scope of the FSDS to inform the development of Canada’s Annual Report on the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.
Section 2: Global Affairs Canada’s Sustainable Development Vision
As we stand at the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda, Global Affairs Canada’s (GAC) commitment to supporting Canada’s sustainable development vision has never been more important. GAC will continue to undertake a full range of actions to support Canada’s achievement of its goals and targets. This will be accomplished as GAC continues to:
- apply the Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) to place gender equality and empowerment of women and girls at the centre of efforts to eradicate poverty and reach the poorest and most vulnerable
- undertake effective climate action and diplomacy; strengthen the rules-based international order; foster and uphold human rights and democracy; and support sustainable and inclusive growth, peace and security
- advance our inclusive trade agenda by leveraging trade as an engine to eradicate poverty and by ensuring all benefits and opportunities that flow from trade are more widely shared, most importantly among under-represented groups, including women and Indigenous Peoples
- ensure Canada’s consular work contributes to our SDG efforts by assisting vulnerable Canadians, including those who face mental health issues, arrest and detention, women and children, and those who experience sexual and gender-based violence
- manage internal policies and procedures, including enhanced green procurement, to reduce our carbon footprint, green our physical presence at HQ and at missions, and ensure all of our internal programming and budget processes incorporate SDG considerations
Section 3: Listening to Canadians
As required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act, Global Affairs Canada 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 in both chambers of Parliament, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Sustainable Development Advisory Council for their review and comment. These public consultations led the final FSDS to have a broader frame which strikes a better balance between social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
What We Heard
In many submissions received, sustainable development priorities with international dimensions were mentioned. Below are a few examples of the specified priority areas that need to be included in the federal strategy:
- Voices from marginalized groups and Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC)
- Circular procurement
- More action toward social and economic aspects of sustainable development
What We Did
GAC took the above-mentioned key priorities and issues into consideration in this DSDS in the following ways:
To better include marginalized voices in the SDG discussion, we are working with First Nations, Inuit and Métis rights holders or their national designates to co-develop new distinctions-based, whole-of-government policy guidelines on fully and effectively engaging with Indigenous peoples on international issues that affect them, with a commitment to exploring policy development in specific areas where appropriate. See Goal 10 for more information.
The calls for circular procurement encouraged such GAC procurement practices as the proposed appointment of a sustainability champion to provide oversight on green procurement; the development of a departmental procurement plan that clearly indicates how GAC will achieve its Indigenous reconciliation, supplier diversity and environmental goals in procurement; the establishment of robust green procurement criteria for departmental contracts, standing offers and supply arrangements; and the ongoing green procurement training. See Goals 10 and 12 for more information.
To reflect the greater inclusion of social and economic aspects, we have added departmental commitments that reflect these other pillars, such as supporting women’s technical training, implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and implementing the department’s Responsible Business Conduct Abroad Strategy. See Goals 5, 10 and 17 for more information.
Please find more information on the FSDS public consultation and its results in the FSDS Consultation Report.
Section 4: Global Affairs Canada’s Commitments
Goal 5: Champion Gender Equality
FSDS Context:
Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) recognizes that supporting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is the best way to build a more peaceful, inclusive and prosperous world. To do this, Canada supports targeted investments, partnerships, innovation and advocacy efforts with the greatest potential to close gender gaps and improve everyone’s chance for success, with a particular focus on the poorest and most marginalized. Global Affairs Canada also recognizes that supporting efforts to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls needs to underpin work across all that we do in order to achieve true sustainable development.
Canada’s feminist international assistance programming strives to protect and promote the human rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups and to increase their participation in decision-making. This includes supporting women and girls to achieve more equitable access to and control over the resources that they need to secure economic and social equality, in addition to providing support that allows women to actively participate in the economy, including through training and capacity building.
Target theme: Take Action on Gender Equality
Target: By 2026, at least 37% of the environmental and clean technology sector are women
(Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry)
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance indicator | Target | How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 agenda national strategy and SDGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invest in women’s skills, employment, and leadership | Enhanced equitable provision of inclusive, gender and environmentally responsive, demand-driven Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and skills for employment through the delivery of GAC's international assistance Program: Multilateral International Assistance | Number of people trained in demand-driven technical and vocational education and training (gender disaggregated) Starting point (2021–2022):
| 30,000 Date to achieve target: March 31, 2024 | GAC supports FSDS Goal 5 and SDG 5, in addition to SDGs 4 (Quality Education) and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), by creating an enabling environment for individuals—particularly women—and economies to grow through the delivery of international assistance. Guided by the FIAP, the department’s TVET programming aims to build individual skills and knowledge to enable meaningful employment, improved household and community health, and peace and stability. Investing in women’s skills and leadership, particularly in non-traditional and better paying fields, directly supports gender equality and economic outcomes. |
Initiatives advancing Canada’s implementation of SDG 5 – Gender Equality
The following initiatives demonstrate how Global Affairs Canada’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 |
|---|---|
| Enhanced effectiveness and influence of women’s rights organizations and movementsFootnote 2 to advance the rights and empowermentFootnote 3 of women and girls in all their diversity in developing countries where Global Affairs Canada engages, for example, through the Women’s Voice and Leadership Program. | Indicator: Number of women’s organizations and women’s networks advancing women’s rights and gender equality that receive GAC supportFootnote 4 for programming and/or institutional strengthening. Target: 2000 |
| Enhanced prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence by state, non-state actors and individuals in developing countries where Global Affairs Canada engages. | Indicator: Number of people reached by GAC-funded projects that help prevent, respond to and end sexual and gender-based violence, including child, early and forced marriage and/or female genital mutilation. Target: 45 million |
Goal 10: Advance Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and Take Action on Inequality
FSDS Context:
Global Affairs Canada is committed to advancing the rights, perspectives and prosperity of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and around the world. To this end, we have created the Action Plan on Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, 2021–2025. The Action Plan sets out specific goals and actions to guide the department’s efforts toward its commitments to Indigenous Peoples, both in Canada and abroad. It includes an annual implementation plan with measurable deliverables. The Action Plan was developed in close collaboration with GAC’s Indigenous Peoples Network, as well as other self-identified Indigenous employees. Indigenous employees are important partners in the plan’s implementation and in the assessment of its progress.
GAC’s Action Plan is further informed by the UN Declaration Act Action Plan, which was developed in consultation and cooperation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis from across Canada. This includes commitments to work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis right holders or their national designates to co-develop new distinctions-based, whole-of-government policy guidelines on fully and effectively engaging with Indigenous peoples on international issues that affect them. The implementation of the Action Plan and of the UN Declaration will contribute to the Government of Canada’s continued efforts to break down barriers, combat systemic racism and discrimination, close socio-economic gaps, and promote greater equality and prosperity for Indigenous peoples.
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 | Departmental action | Performance indicator | Target | How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 agenda national strategy and SDGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act | Increase domestic Indigenous procurement to achieve the federal minimum Program: Material Management | Percentage of domestic procurement officers that have taken the course “Indigenous consideration in procurement” (COR409) from the Canada School of Public Service Starting point (March 31, 2023): 90% | 95% Date to achieve target: March 31, 2025 | GAC supports FSDS Goals 10 and 12 and SDGs 10 and 12 by achieving the minimum target of 5% for contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses by the end of 2023–2024. To enable this, GAC will strive to ensure its procurement officers are trained on Indigenous considerations in procurement, all with the goal of advancing reconciliation and sustainable consumption and production. |
Percentage of the total value of federal domestic contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses Starting point (fiscal year 2022–2023): 4.5% | 5% Date to achieve target: March 31, 2024 and maintain annually thereafter |
Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles
FSDS Context:
Global Affairs Canada works to support Goal 12 and advance the net-zero procurement and waste diversion targets through numerous initiatives, both at home and abroad. For the first time, the department is appointing a sustainability champion to oversee green procurement within the department and has established a project and policy team (ecoGAC) dedicated to the implementation of the Treasury Board Secretariat-led Greening Government Strategy to accelerate efforts to green national government operations and build climate resilience in the public sector. GAC is implementing a data tool to measure GHG emissions while also working to provide up-to-date information on environmentally preferable products, services and suppliers. The department also continues to establish governmental sustainable procurement policies and increase awareness through training and communications with the department’s international missions.
GAC assesses the extent to which procurement activities align with established green procurement policies and guidelines and tracks and reports this data regularly to further strengthen green procurement within the department. As an example, biodiversity considerations are incorporated into landscaping contract processes. The department continues to work with partners to support the global advancement of responsible consumption and to collectively and collaboratively work to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
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 | Departmental action | Performance indicator | Target | How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 agenda national strategy and SDGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximize diversion of waste from landfill | Continue to analyze annual audit of operational waste to support performance measurement of waste diversion and public transparency Continue the 2-year pilot project for Oscar Sort, an artificial intelligence device that helps employees sort their waste correctly Continue to implement the ecoBoutique program, which redistributes surplus office supplies and raises awareness about circular economy processes among employees Focus procurement activities on sustainable products Program: Real Property (Domestic); Material Management | Percentage of waste diverted in high-occupancy National Capital Region (NCR) buildingsFootnote 5 from landfill Starting point (2022–2023): | 75% Date to achieve target: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 12 and SDG 12 through the diversion of waste from landfills by installing and operating on-site composting facilities at some offices, by helping employees sort waste, by reducing plastic use and through the ecoBoutique. These investments are expected to directly reduce waste and increase recycling and reusing, thus reducing haulage and GHG emissions. |
Total waste to landfill from high occupancy NCR buildings (tonnes/year) Starting point (2022–2023): | 35 (tonnes) Date to achieve target: | |||
Total GHG emissions (Mt CO2) from waste from high occupancy NCR buildings Starting point (2022–2023): | 13 (Mt CO2) Date to achieve target: | |||
Continue awareness campaigns to reduce the amount of plastic waste produced Implement reusable dishware (eat-in and takeout) program at GAC cafeterias Programs: Real Property (Domestic); Materiel Management | Percentage of plastic diverted from landfill from high occupancy NCR buildings Starting point (2022–2023): | 50% Date to achieve target: | ||
| Total plastic to landfill from high occupancy NCR buildings (tonnes) Starting point (2022–2023): 7.15 (tonnes) | 5 (tonnes) Date to achieve target: | |||
Continue to operate the on-site composting unit at 111 Sussex (w/ BGIS) Install and operate the on-site composting unit at 125 Sussex (w/ BGIS) Operate the installed on-site composting unit at 200 Promenade du Portage (w/ BGIS) Programs: Real Property (Domestic); Materiel Management | Percentage of organic waste diverted from landfills from high occupancy NCR buildings Starting point (2022–2023): | 35% Date to achieve target: | ||
Total organic waste to landfill from high occupancy NCR buildings (tonnes) Starting point (2022–2023): | 13 (tonnes) Date to achieve target: | |||
| Maximize diversion of waste from landfill | Continue support of Print-Release function Program: Information Management | Percentage of users who use Print-Release capability Starting point (2022): | 99% Date to achieve target: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 12 and SDG 12 by reducing printing, which in turn reduces paper use and waste. The Print-Release capability ensures pages are only printed when a user is at the printer, eliminating pages that are printed and never picked up. Results in the first 3 months showed a reduction of 10–15% in unwanted printing. |
Number of pages printed per user per year in the NCR? Starting point (2022): | 250 per user per year Date to achieve target: |
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 | Departmental action | Performance indicator | Target | How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 agenda national strategy and SDGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximize diversion of waste from landfill | Renovation of GAC’s headquarters building at 125 Sussex in Ottawa, ON, Canada Program: Real Property (domestic) | Percentage by weight of total construction waste diverted from landfill Starting point: | 95% Date to achieve target: March 31, 2028 (project completion) | GAC supports FSDS Goal 12 and SDG 12 through the reduction of construction waste going to landfills, which directly reduces waste. Departmental action is reducing construction waste for the extensive renovation projects that are underway and is expected to make a major contribution to construction and overall waste reduction.Footnote i |
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 | Departmental action | Performance indicator | Target | How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 agenda national strategy and SDGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transform the federal light-duty fleet | GAC domestic fleet greening initiative Program: Platform Corporate Services | Percentage of vehicles that are zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) Starting point (2023): 81.4% of the departmental domestic fleet is composed of low-emission vehicles | 100% ZEV domestic fleet Date to achieve target: 2030 | GAC supports FSDS Goal 12 and SDG 12 through the greening of the domestic fleet, which directly contributes to the goal of increasing the number of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV). This is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from federal government domestic fleets by 100% by 2030, directly contributing to the FSDS goal.Footnote ii |
| Strengthen green procurement criteria | Increase capacity of departmental employees to recognize, evaluate and apply green procurement criteria in procurement processes Program: Acquisition Management | Percentage of procurement officers that have taken the Canada School of Public Service’s Green Procurement training (COR405) Starting point (March 2023): | 95% Date to achieve target: March 31, 2027 | GAC supports FSDS Goal 12 and SDG 12 by increasing knowledge of green procurement through training and the use of green procurement criteria to better inform more sustainable procurement choices. Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of their goods and services and supply chains. Footnote iii |
Percentage of administrative support staff, staff with delegated authority and accommodation support staff Starting point: | 50% Date to achieve target: 50% by March 31, 2025 | |||
| Strengthen green procurement criteria | Determine and integrate robust green procurement criteria (for example, certifications, life cycle analysis, recycled content, circularity, carbon footprint) in departmental contracts, standing offers and supply arrangements to ensure the inclusivity and sufficiency of environmental criteria, including biodiversity and social criteria Program: Acquisition Management Services | Percentage of total departmental contracts, standing offers and supply arrangements that include robust green procurement criteria Starting point: | 100% Date to achieve target: | |
| Strengthen green procurement criteria | Encourage facilities management employees to take climate change awareness training Program: Management & Oversight | Percentage of facility management employees that have taken climate change awareness training Starting point: New Initiative | 80% Date to achieve target: | |
| OTHER | Implement a Departmental Digital Support Program to reduce the number of devices and ensure all devices meet ENERGY STAR® efficiency requirements and have energy-saving features enabled Program: Information Technology | Ratio of printers to employees Starting point (2017): | 25 employees to 1 printing device Date to achieve target: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 12 and SDG 12 by reducing the number of devices and implementing requirements for electronic devices to be more energy efficient. The Departmental Digital Support Program reduces environmental impacts by increasing the use of digital platforms, thus reducing both paper use and the number of printers. The Device Allocation Policy ensures efficient use of departmental resources in order to reduce power consumption and environmental footprint. |
Percentage of employees converted to a single device (laptop or desktop computer) Starting point (2018): | 85% of employees worldwide converted to a single device Date to achieve target: |
Initiatives advancing Canada’s implementation of SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
The following initiatives demonstrate how GAC’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 |
|---|---|
| Identify an inventory management solution for missions and establish an asset management framework | Support the domestic ambition for Canadians to consume in a sustainable manner and for businesses to adopt environmental protection activities and management practices (12.2.1) |
For domestic operations, the following additional initiatives are underway or planned:
| FSDS targets:
|
Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts
FSDS Context:
Climate change and biodiversity loss do not respect borders. Not only do they represent existential threats in their own right, but they are also catalysts for instability, conflict, food insecurity and pandemics. The SDGs will not be achieved unless collective action on climate change mitigation and adaptation is prioritized. In 2021, as the global community called for increased climate ambition, Canada stepped up and announced a doubling of its international climate finance, from $2.65 billion (2015 to 2021) to $5.3 billion (2021 to 2026).
Within GAC, in addition to providing support to developing countries for climate change mitigation and adaptation, the department is taking significant action to ensure that its own operational emissions are reduced, to target the government’s net-zero carbon goals and to help reduce risks to federal assets posed by climate change. Further actions and targets supporting climate action are included under Goal 17.
Target theme: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption
Target: Achieve 40 to 45% greenhouse gas emission reductions below 2005 levels by 2030, and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (Minister of Environment and Climate Change supported by all other Ministers)
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance indicator | Target | How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 agenda national strategy and SDGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continue to implement Canada’s climate plans and actions | Collaborate with a range of bilateral and multilateral partners, including developing country governments, non-governmental organizations in Canada and around the world, and climate finance institutions to support global reductions of greenhouse gases Program: 24 – Multilateral International Assistance | GHG reductions resulting from international initiatives funded by Canada Starting point (August 2022): | 300 cumulative megatonnes of GHGs Date to achieve target: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 13 and SDG 13 by funding activities that reduce GHG emissions. While the FSDS target is domestically focused, the department’s support for developing countries will help reduce global GHG emissions and contribute to implementation of the Paris Agreement. It is expected that the GHG reductions will result in the equivalent of removing nearly 67 million combustion-engine cars from roads for one year. |
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 | Departmental action | Performance indicator | Target | How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 agenda national strategy and SDGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government’s overall operations | Encourage employees to adopt the ecoCommute application Program: Management and Oversight Services | Number of employees using ecoCommute Starting point (March 31, 2023): | 700 employees Date to achieve target: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 13 and SDG 13 by implementing measures identified in the Greening Government Strategy that reduce GHG emissions. This includes adopting low-carbon mobility solutions, deploying supporting infrastructure in its facilities and modernizing its fleet.Footnote v |
Encourage employees to commute to and from the office sustainably by providing the tools and infrastructure to make more sustainable decisions Program: Management and Oversight Services | Percentage of employees commuting with active or shared transportation options Starting point: | 22% Date to achieve target: | ||
Provide an EV shuttle service for business travel between GAC buildings in the NCR instead of non-EV taxis. Program: Management and Oversight Services | Tonnes of CO2e avoided from shuttle usage in the National Capital Region Starting point (2022–2023): | 158.80 Mt CO2 avoided Date to achieve target: | ||
| Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government’s overall operations | Implement the Global Portfolio Strategy (GPS) and the Sustainable Development Strategic Framework (SDSF) with direction from the Greening Government Strategy Program: Real property Planning and Stewardship | Percentage of missions reporting energy, water and waste metrics Starting point: | A minimum of 80% of missions report on energy, water, and waste Date to achieve: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 13 and SDG 13 by implementing measures identified in the Greening Government Strategy that reduce GHG emissions, including green building certification for all major construction and renovation projects, and is committed to reducing the demand for energy or switching to lower carbon sources of energy in order to reduce GHG emissions from real property operations. In addition, GAC will aim to pursue and complete green building certifications (BOMA BEST, LEED, TRUE, etc.) for existing buildings, operations and maintenance.Footnote vi |
Number of energy, water and waste audits completed Starting point (April 1, 2023): 22 completed energy, water and waste audits | 5–10 energy, water and waste initiatives Date to achieve target: | |||
Percent change in GHG emissions from international crown-owned real property from fiscal year 2005–2006 Starting point (2005–2006): | Net-zero emission, climate resilient Crown-owned portfolio Date to achieve target: | |||
Continue to deliver projects with green building certifications (BOMA BEST, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)) Continue to integrate green building certifications into major capital projects Program: Real Property Planning and Stewardship | Number of completed certifications Starting point (2022–2023): 10 | 8 new certifications Date to achieve target: | ||
| Modernize through net-zero carbon buildings | Taking steps to design and construct net-zero carbon buildings, reducing both operational and embodied carbon emissions Program: Real Property Planning and Stewardship | Percentage of new projects that are designed for and achieve net-zero Starting point (2022–2023): 0% | 100% Date to achieve target: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 13 and SDG 13 by using net-zero emission construction techniques and products in new buildings and retrofits to reduce GHG emissions. Actions that allow facilities to be shared, reduce the demand for energy or switch to lower carbon sources of energy will lead to reductions in GHGs from the department’s real property operations.Footnote vii |
| Apply a greenhouse gas reduction life cycle cost analysis for major building retrofits | All major building retrofits, including significant energy performance contracts, are the subject of a GHG reduction life cycle cost analysis to determine the optimal GHG savings Program: Real Property Planning and Stewardship | Percentage of major building retrofit projects that undergo life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) Starting point (2022-2023): 0% | 100% Date to achieve target: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 13 and SDG 13 through life cycle cost analyses aimed at reducing GHG emissions over the life cycle of major international retrofits.Footnote viii |
| Apply a greenhouse gas reduction life cycle cost analysis for major building retrofits | Reduce non-renewable energy consumption by installing rooftop solar panels, LED lighting, triple glazed windows, heat recovery from data centres and enhanced insulation, tower by tower in the renovation of the Lester B. Pearson building Program: Real Property (Domestic) | Percentage reduction in GHG emissions from building energy usage as compared to pre-retrofit usage Starting point (2018): | 67% by end of project Date to achieve target: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 13 and SDG 13 through the implementation of real property decisions that lower GHG emissions by reducing energy consumption, which will in turn reduce GHG emissions from energy production.Footnote ix |
Target: The Government of Canada will transition to climate resilient operations by 2050 (All Ministers)
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance indicator | Target | How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 agenda national strategy and SDGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduce risks posed by climate change to federal assets, services and operations | Climate resilience assessment for projects and existing buildings Program: Real Property Planning and Stewardship | Number of completed climate change risk assessments (CCRA). Starting point (2022–2023): New initiative | 6 annually Date to achieve target: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 13 and SDG 13 by undertaking climate change risk assessments to understand the risks associated with climate change. By assessing the risks of climate change impacts for mission critical assets and developing plans to reduce these risks, the likelihood of disruption to critical services for Canadians is reduced. Footnote x |
Percentage of crown-owned mission critical assets where the risk of climate change impacts has been assessed Starting point (April 1, 2023): 3% | 100% Date to achieve target: |
Initiatives advancing Canada’s implementation of SDG 13 – Climate Action
The following initiatives demonstrate how GAC’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 |
|---|---|
| Implement process and mechanism to collect data to report progress on sustainability to TBS through NRCan RETscreen software. | Supports reporting on the Greening Government Strategy commitments. |
For domestic operations, the following initiatives are planned or underway:
| FSDS targets:
|
Goal 17: Strengthen Partnerships to Promote Global Action on Sustainable Development
FSDS Context:
Global Affairs Canada is working to advance sustainable development partnerships by increasing support for capacity building in developing countries in order to help them adapt to and mitigate climate change and support a clean energy transition.
Great results have already been achieved through Canada’s $2.65 billion climate finance commitment from 2015 to 2021, the majority of which was delivered by GAC. Through these efforts, Canada has helped over 50 developing countries by funding targeting clean energy, adaptation support, forest and agriculture initiatives and other cross-cutting programming. These efforts are expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 228 megatonnes—the equivalent of removing about 47 million combustion-engine cars from the road for one year—and help at least 6.6 million people adapt to the effects of climate change. Canada’s investments from the $2.65 billion climate finance commitment have also mobilized important climate finance contributions from the private sector.
In order to support the green energy transition, GAC further commits to advancing international collaboration on critical minerals to improve their availability and the resiliency of their supply chains and to promoting environmental protection in trade agreements and other mechanisms and the use of goods and services related to clean growth and the transition to a low-carbon future. GAC also continues to implement the Responsible Business Conduct Abroad Strategy (2022–2027) to help ensure Canadian companies contribute to sustainable development and support Canada’s commitments to human rights by integrating responsible business practices throughout their operations, including in international supply chains.
Target theme: Sustainable Development Partnerships
Target: By 2026, implement Canada’s climate finance commitment of $5.3 billion with at least 40% of funding going toward climate adaptation and at least 20% to projects that leverage nature-based climate solutions and projects that contribute biodiversity co-benefits (Minister of Environment and Climate Change)
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance indicator | Target | How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 agenda national strategy and SDGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increase support to and help build capacity in developing countries to adapt to and mitigate climate change | Canada continues to collaborate with a range of bilateral and multilateral partners, including developing country governments, non-governmental organizations in Canada and around the world, multilateral organizations, and dedicated climate funds and financial mechanisms to build capacity in developing countries to adapt to and mitigate climate change Program: Multilateral International Assistance | Cumulative number of people in developing countries who benefitted from Canada’s adaptation financing Starting point (April 1, 2021): An estimated 6.6 million people | 10 million people Date to achieve target: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 17 and SDG 17 by working with international partners to contribute to the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the collective commitment to mobilize financing for developing countries to mitigate and adapt to climate change. GAC also supports Partnering for Climate to fund climate change adaptation projects from Canadian civil society working in Sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world.Footnote xii |
Ratio of private finance mobilized through Canada’s public sector investments Starting point : New initiative | $0.75 mobilized in private sector for every $1 spent by Canada on projects involving the private sector. Date to achieve target: | |||
Number of national, regional and local governments that improve or implement their Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans with support from Canadian climate finance Starting point (April 1, 2021): 17 | 19 Date to achieve target: March 31, 2026 | |||
| Support a clean energy transition | Canada’s climate finance is supporting developing countries to phase out coal-powered emissions (including through accelerated retirement of coal power assets) Program: Multilateral International Assistance | Number of beneficiaries (male/female) with enhanced access to clean energy Starting point (2021): | At least 200,000 Date to achieve target: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 17 and SDG 17 through Canada’s $5.3 billion climate finance commitment aimed at enhancing the adoption of gender-responsive clean energy and energy-efficient solutions for nature-positive climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. Footnote xiii |
Megawatts of new clean energy capacity installed, financed by Canadian climate finance resources Starting point (2021): | At least 10,000 Date to achieve target: 2050 | |||
Number of beneficiaries (male/female) with new employment in the renewable energy sector Starting point (2021): | At least 70,000 Date to achieve target: 2050 | |||
| Support a clean energy transition | Continue to implement GAC’s International Business Development Strategy for Clean Technologies Program: International Business Development | Number of outcalls related to climate financeFootnote 6 by the Trade Commission Service (TCS) with TCS clients, climate fund representatives and investors per region (Indo-Pacific, Africa, the Americas and Europe-Middle East) Starting point (2022-2023): | 260 outcalls per year (average of 65 per region: Indo-Pacific, Africa, the Americas and Europe-Middle East) Date to achieve target: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 17 and SDG 17 through the ongoing implementation of the International Business Development Strategy for Clean Technologies, which was designed to encourage and support Canadian firms in their efforts to capitalize on growing opportunities in the global market for clean technology. |
Annual client satisfaction rate for TCS clean technology services received Starting point (2022-2023): | 85% Date to achieve target: | |||
Number of Canadian clean technology and climate finance services delivered by TCS to Canadian companies Starting point (2022–2023): | 5700 Date to achieve target: Annually |
Implementation strategies supporting the goal
This section is for implementation strategies that support thegoal “Strengthen partnerships to promote global action on sustainable development” but not a specific FSDS target
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance indicator | Target | How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 agenda national strategy and SDGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promote responsible business conduct by Canadian companies abroad | Continue to implement the Responsible Business Conduct Abroad Strategy (2022–2027) Program: International Business Development | Number of stakeholders engaged annually, including Canadian companies and associations, to promote Canada’s approach and expectations on Responsible Business Conduct Starting point: New Initiative | 100 stakeholders Date to achieve target: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 17 and SDG 17 by providing support to Canadian companies abroad that allows them to adopt world leading responsible business practices, gain a competitive advantage, mitigate risks and contribute to a strong and inclusive economy (including international supply chains), all of which support better international partnerships. |
| Promote environmental protection in trade agreements and other engagement mechanisms | Strengthening environmental cooperation in Free Trade Agreements Program: Trade Policy, Agreements, Negotiations and Disputes | Percent of Free Trade Agreements that contain ambitious collaborative mechanisms to support environmental protection, climate change cooperation and action on sustainable development Starting point: | 100% Date to achieve target: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 17 and SDG 17 through its negotiation of Free Trade Agreements. Canada seeks opportunities to engage in cooperative activities with trading partners to promote the use of goods and services related to clean growth and the transition to a low-carbon future, in addition to advancing work through partnerships that combat climate change and supporting Canada’s leadership on sustainable development. |
| Advance international collaboration on critical minerals | GAC assists NRCan by providing Canadian advocacy, for example, by helping to secure a commitment on critical minerals in the 2022 G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers’ Communiqué. GAC also maintains and advocates for stronger bilateral action on critical materials with our major trading partners. GAC is also developing new frameworks to deepen bilateral cooperation on critical minerals with a number of commercial partners. GAC’s Trade Commissioner Service also supports this commitment by connecting Canadian firms with commercial and investment opportunities. Program: International Business Development | Actions to support international collaboration on critical minerals Starting point: | N/A – qualitative indicator Date to achieve target: | GAC supports FSDS Goal 17 and SDG 17 by working with international partners to help secure and increase the critical minerals supply chains resilience, thereby contributing to the availability of the minerals needed for a green energy transition. |
| Other: | Increase support to and help build capacity in developing countries to halt and reverse biodiversity loss Program: Multilateral International Assistance | Number of hectares of terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine ecosystems under long-term active restoration and/or protection Starting point: New Initiative | Target: To be established in collaboration with partners by March 31, 2025 | GAC supports FSDS Goal 17 and SDG 17 by supporting global work on biodiversity through international partnerships that align with the Global Biodiversity Framework’s key conservation target, which aims to conserve 30% of the earth’s land and sea by 2030. Canada has committed $350 million from 2023 to 2026 in new and additional funding to support developing countries in implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) to help halt and reverse biodiversity loss. Proposed projects will directly support efforts aimed at enhancing and reducing threats to biodiversity, meeting peoples’ needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing, and providing tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming.Footnote xiv |
Number of people (m/f) with improved capacity to implement gender-responsive solutions leading to the enhancement of biodiversity through its sustainable use. Starting point: New initiative | Target: To be established in collaboration with partners by March 31, 2025 |
Section 5: Integrating Sustainable Development
In addition to supporting the specific goals above, GAC integrates sustainable development into its practices and decision-making through the Strategic Environmental Assessment process and through a sector-by-sector approach to integrating sustainability considerations, as detailed below.
Strategic Environmental Assessment
Global Affairs Canada will continue to ensure that its decision-making processes include consideration of FSDS goals and targets through its Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process.
Global Affairs Canada applies the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals to every proposal submitted to Cabinet. 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. GAC also assesses the environmental implications of international trade negotiations in order to reduce environmental risks and enhance positive environmental outcomes of Canada’s trade agreements, as outlined in the departmental approach to environmental assessments of trade negotiations.
Public statements on the results of Global Affairs Canada’s assessments are made public when an initiative has undergone a detailed SEA. The public statements demonstrate how 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.
Sector-by-Sector Approach
International Diplomacy and Advocacy
There are nearly 200 countries in the world and Canada has diplomatic relations with almost all of them. GAC collaborates to build constructive relationships with partner countries, international institutions and a wide variety of other stakeholders to champion the rules-based international system. These relationships are critical to confronting collective global challenges, including those defined in the UN 2030 Agenda. Canada’s feminist foreign policy guides all of its international engagement and reinforces the overarching objectives of strengthening a rules-based international system, supporting lasting peace and security, fostering prosperity, and advancing human rights, gender equality, and diversity and inclusion.
Recognizing that advancing gender equality is key to making progress on all of the SDGs, the department applies an intersectional feminist approach across all of its international policies and programming. Canada’s feminist foreign policy, including the Feminist International Assistance Policy, Inclusive Approach to Trade, and the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security all work toward achieving the 2030 Agenda.
Maintaining this complex web of international relationships takes time, effort and investment. This is why the department is undertaking the GAC Transformation Initiative, launched in May 2022, to advance the ambitious agenda of becoming a best-in-class foreign, trade, development and consular department focused on increasing our influence and engagement where it matters most to leverage our strengths and advance Canada’s national interests. The Transformation Implementation Plan for GAC also commits to leveraging GAC’s unique global assets to work with partners, including Indigenous Peoples, in delivering whole-of-government approaches to climate change, the green transition and critical minerals.
International Trade
GAC remains focused on expanding trade, investment and supply chain resilience, enabling Canada to seize economic opportunities and strengthen and diversify our partnerships to build a stronger and more secure economy. The department accomplishes this through its inclusive approach to trade which integrates sustainable development directly into trade policy. This inclusive approach seeks to ensure that everyone can take advantage of and benefit from the opportunities that may flow from trade and investment, including groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in international trade and investment, such as women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, 2SLGBTQI+, and small and medium-sized enterprises.
The department seeks to negotiate standalone inclusive trade chapters (e.g., trade and gender, trade and Indigenous Peoples, and trade and small and medium-sized enterprises chapters) in our Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), in addition to assessing the environmental and gender implications across these FTAs. This includes undertaking a comprehensive gender-based analysis plus process to examine the varying effects of a trade policy, plan, program or other initiative on diverse groups of people in order to more effectively remove existing barriers for these groups.
GAC will continue to undertake various efforts to ensure that all trade policies, programs and initiatives are informed by meaningful engagements with a broad range of diverse partners, including underrepresented groups in international trade, such as women, small and medium-sized enterprises, and Indigenous Peoples. To support this, GAC hosts a Gender and Trade Advisory Group and an Indigenous Working Group. The ultimate goal is to ensure the benefits of trade are more widely shared across all of Canadian society.
International Assistance and Development
GAC manages Canada’s international assistance in support of efforts to eradicate global poverty and contribute to a more peaceful, prosperous and inclusive world. The department’s Feminist International Assistance Policy seeks to reach the poorest and most marginalized through a gender-responsive approach to sustainable development, so that no one is left behind. It supports the achievement of the SDGs internationally and for the benefit of Canadians. This includes by targeting Canada’s international assistance towards programs that tackle hunger and malnutrition (SDG 2), invest in quality education (SDG 4), advance human rights (SDG 16), enhance global health (SDG 3) and promote gender equality (SDG 5), thereby improving the lives of millions of people around the world.
In 2020-2021, the ESDC-led Sustainable Development Goals Funding Program, co-funded by GAC and other core departments in support of Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy provided funding to projects to:
- increase public awareness of the SDGs,
- facilitate improved social, economic and environmental outcomes for Canadians, and
- advance Canada’s implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda in general.
When establishing results frameworks with partners for the initiatives the department funds, efforts are made to ensure that they align as much as possible with the SDG goals, targets and indicators. GAC also emphasizes the alignment of its international assistance programming with partner country priorities, specifically the SDGs that they are working to achieve. As well, each international assistance project the department funds is assessed through the lens of sustainable development, including environmental sustainability, climate change, biodiversity, pollution, water and energy, with the support of an environmental specialist.
For more details on how Canada’s international assistance supports the SDGs, please refer to the most recent Report to Parliament on the Government of Canada's International Assistance.
Consular Services
GAC works to ensure all consular services respond to the complex needs of Canadians travelling, living and working abroad. These services include providing timely and accurate travel information so Canadians can plan for their safety and security when travelling and individualized services to assist Canadians in managing unexpected situations, including arrest and detention, assault, medical emergencies and children, and family-related situations like parental child abductions. Consular service officials can also help Canadians in locations affected by a large-scale emergency such as a natural disaster and civil unrest.
Consular services are informed by the 2030 Agenda and consider the SDGs by continuously adapting, developing and implementing policies, tools and guidance that respond to the needs of a diversity of clients, including those in potentially vulnerable situations (such as those with mental health issues, women and children, and those who have experienced sexual and gender-based violence). Advocacy efforts with stakeholders and partners are also put in place to address the issues and trends that affect vulnerable clients.
Each consular case is unique, and by adapting the department’s approach to local and personal circumstances, GAC’s consular services are delivered in line with Canada’s feminist foreign policy and the SDGs. They aim to account for the needs of people affected by discrimination and those in vulnerable situations.
Furthermore, in support of sustainable development (SDG 10) and the Truth and Reconciliation’s Call to Action 17, GAC is waiving consular fees from May 31, 2021, to May 30, 2026, for all Indigenous people who hold a currently valid travel document in order to allow them to obtain a replacement document displaying a reclaimed name.
International Platform
GAC provides a single window for common service delivery to all of its staff, 21 other government departments and agencies, three Crown corporations and six provincial governments working abroad in its 194 missions. With such an expansive network, the department is making significant efforts to green its operations and consider sustainability across the mission network, including through the development of an internal Sustainable Development Strategic Framework for Canada’s Missions Abroad. This Framework details how the Government of Canada’s Greening Government Strategy will be adapted to the unique international context of our diplomatic missions. This includes the acquisition of low-emission or zero-emission vehicles for our missions abroad where infrastructure and maintenance capacities exist. Currently, about 10% of GAC’s international vehicles (excluding armoured vehicles) are low-emission or zero-emission vehicles.
The department is also aiming to achieve sustainability across its mission network by leveraging credible green building certifications (e.g., LEED and BOMA BEST). GAC is using green building certifications to assess existing buildings for opportunities for greater efficiency and to support the design and construction of major capital projects abroad. The department now has several missions that have achieved green certification abroad, including one that has achieved net-zero carbon.
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