Defence Energy and Environment Strategy (DEES) 2020-2021 Results Report
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This report on progress supports the commitment in the Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA) to make sustainable development decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament. It also contributes to an integrated, whole‑of‑government view of activities supporting environmental sustainability.
1. Introduction
The 2019 to 2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (2019-22 FSDS) presents the Government of Canada’s sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. In keeping with the purpose of the Act, Defence has developed this report to demonstrate progress in implementing its Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy, namely, the Defence Energy and Environment Strategy.
2. Sustainable development in the Department of National Defence
As an integrated energy and environment strategy, the 2020-23 Defence Energy and Environment Strategy (2020-23 DEES) allows Defence to support the Government of Canada to meet the commitments set out in the 2019-22 FSDS, and implement changes outlined in Canada’s Defence Policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE). The targets in the 2020-23 DEES contribute to the Greening Government, Healthy Wildlife Populations, and Safe and Healthy Communities goals in the FSDS.
Previous years’ reports are posted on the National Defence website.
3. Departmental performance by FSDS goal
The following tables provide performance information on departmental actions in support of the FSDS goals listed in section 2. The 2020-23 DEES provides the department with renewed direction to evolve as an environmentally sustainable organization, better manage our energy use, and minimize our environmental footprint across a broad spectrum of activities. This is the first year reporting on the 2020-23 DEES. Defence continues to focus on four key themes: improving energy efficiency, integrating climate change adaptation into our programs, maintaining sustainable real property, and strengthening DND’s green procurement processes. These themes support the net zero objective and sustainability goals set forth by the Government of Canada.
Context: Greening Government
As the largest user of energy and the single largest emitter of GHGs in the federal government, Defence has a key role to play in helping the GoC reach its net-zero targets. The Defence team considers energy and environmental factors in all areas of our business and is committed to reducing GHG emissions from its infrastructure and commercial light-duty vehicle fleets. It is important to note that most of the reductions in 2020-21 can be attributed to reduced activity due to COVID and a mild winter. An increase in emissions is expected in future years as we resume normal operations. In addition, the real property portfolio is facing a considerable range of new and evolving pressures. According to the Horizontal Fixed Asset Review (HFAR) led by Treasury Board Secretariat, all custodial departments face similar pressures brought on by an accumulation of deferred maintenance. Improvements are needed to comply with health and safety, workplace risk mitigation and environmental sustainability standards while addressing the demand for infrastructure to support operational requirements in the Arctic, for continental defence, to avoid climate change impacts, and to support the GoC’s Indigenous Reconciliation agenda.
The affordability and market availability of technological solutions remain a challenge for reducing emissions from real property and military equipment. The HFAR has identified funding sustainability as an impediment for implementing policy related premiums such as greening. DND, like many other custodial departments, has an older real property portfolio that requires significant investments in order to improve its environmental performance. With no new funding, greening is competing for the same funds as program delivery.
Greening Government: The Government of Canada will transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient and green operations.
| Greening Government Communities – FSDS target(s) | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) | Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reduce GHG emissions from federal government facilities and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 (with an aspiration to achieve this target by 2025) and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050 (with an aspiration to be carbon neutral) |
All new buildings and major building retrofits will prioritize low-carbon investments based on integrated design principles, and life-cycle and total-cost-of ownership assessments which incorporate shadow carbon pricing |
Reduce GHG emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by 2025 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 |
Performance indicator: % GHG emissions reduction in DND buildings and commercial light-duty vehicle fleet relative to a 2005 baseline |
38% reduction in buildings and commercial light-duty vehicle fleet relative to a 2005 baseline |
FSDS: GHG reductions from the DND infrastructure and commercial light-duty vehicle portfolio are critical to achieving the Government of Canada’s FSDS goal |
Revise the Green Building Directive to include construction renovation and demolition waste, net-zero, and available industry standards on embedded carbon requirements by 2021 |
Performance indicator: Completed Green Building Directive by 2021 |
The Green Building Directive was approved in March 2021 |
FSDS: Buildings built to the latest industry standards for green construction produce less GHG emissions |
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Develop net-zero carbon ready designs for two residential building archetypes by 2023 |
Performance indicator: Completed net-zero building designs for two residential building archetypes by 2023 |
The first milestone which is a Statement of Work for two net-zero carbon ready design was met in August 2021 |
FSDS: The net-zero carbon (or net-zero carbon ready) construction will reduce energy consumption leading to reduced GHG emissions from building operations |
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Departments will adopt and deploy clean technologies and implement procedures to manage building operations and take advantage of programs to improve the environmental performance of their buildings |
Assess 75% of eligible bases or wings for an energy performance contract and move 50% to the implementation phase by 2023 |
Performance indicator: % of eligible bases assessed, % of energy performance contracts moved to the implementation phase |
On track to meet the target by 2023 71% of eligible bases have been assessed for EPC implementation 46% of eligible bases have moved to implementation phase
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FSDS: Implementation of energy performance contracts will reduce energy consumption leading to reduced GHG emissions from building operations |
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Fleet management will be optimized including by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced |
See administrative fleet |
- | - | - | |
Divert at least 75% (by weight) of non-hazardous operational waste from landfills by 2030 |
other |
Establish a baseline for non-hazardous waste and develop a reduction and diversion plan by 2023 |
Established baseline and completed plan by 2023 |
An outline of a waste reduction and diversion plan was completed Bases/wings have been prioritized for waste audits Waste audits were postponed due to COVID-19 limiting base access to only essential personnel |
FSDS: Diverting and reducing waste will help to reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions Diverting waste from landfills also reduces landfill gas emissions and recycling reduces emissions from the extraction and production of virgin materials |
Divert at least 75% (by weight) of plastic waste from landfills by 2030 |
other |
See non-hazardous waste |
- | - | - |
Divert at least 90% (by weight) of all construction and demolition waste from landfills (striving to achieve 100% by 2030) |
other |
See Green Building Directive |
- | - | - |
Our administrative fleet will be comprised of at least 80% zero-emission vehicles by 2030 |
Fleet management will be optimized including by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced |
100% of DND commercial light-duty vehicle fleet purchases will be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) or hybrid when available, with a ZEV procurement target of 50% by 2023 |
Performance indicator: % of purchased administrative fleet vehicles that are ZEVs or hybrid (must meet operational requirements) |
85% of commercial light-duty vehicles purchased were ZEVs or hybrid (limited by availability) 55% of purchases were ZEVs |
FSDS: Replacing conventional vehicles with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric vehicles will reduce GHG emissions |
By 2022, departments have developed measures to reduce climate change risks to assets, services and operations |
Increase training and support on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments and developing adaptation actions to public service employees, and facilitate sharing of best practices and lessons learned |
Develop an adaptation risk assessment framework and assess DND programs as well as critical infrastructure by 2023 |
Performance indicator: Completed framework by 2023; % of identified programs assessed |
DND identified key stakeholders to involve in the design and development of the adaptation risk assessment framework The framework is expected to be completed by March 31, 2022 The program assessments are delayed to March 2024 due to impacts of COVID on contracting as well as the complexity of the department |
FSDS: Incorporating the impacts of climate change into policy, programs, and operations is paramount to adapting to a changing climate and ensuring resilience |
Assess the impacts of climate change on Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Canadian Army (CA) and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) activities, by 2023 |
Performance indicator: The RCN, CA and RCAF will identify the impacts of climate change on its activities and operations in 3 separate reports by 2023 |
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has begun drafting a climate change risk assessment The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is in the planning phase of the climate change risk assessment. The Canadian Army (CA) completed its climate change risk assessment in October 2020 |
FSDS: Incorporating the impacts of climate change into policy, programs, and operations is paramount to adapting to a changing climate and ensure resilience |
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By 2021, adopt climate-resilient building codes being developed by National Research Council Canada |
See Green Building Directive |
- | - | - | |
Use 100% clean electricity by 2025 |
other |
Use 100% clean electricity by 2022, where available, and by 2025 at the latest by producing or purchasing renewable electricity |
Performance indicator: % of clean electricity consumption across provinces with carbon-intensive grids (Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and Ontario) |
74% of electricity consumed across carbon intensive grids is clean electricity |
FSDS: The use of clean electricity eliminates GHG emissions from the grid in jurisdictions with emitting generation sources |
Actions supporting the Goal: Greening Government |
Minimize the use of carbon-intensive and hazardous materials in construction and renovation |
See Green Building Directive |
- | - | - |
The market availability and feasibility of using alternative energy options for national safety and security-related fleet operations will be evaluated |
Develop a strategy for aviation fuels that supports the GoC’s goal of achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 |
Performance indicator: Complete strategy by 2023 |
The RCAF has developed an approach for an aviation fuels strategy |
FSDS: In preparation for the potential use of sustainable aviation fuels, developing a strategy for aviation fuels supports the GOC’s goal of achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 |
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Complete baseline energy and fuel use evaluations for select marine vessels by 2023 |
Performance indicator: % of select ships with baseline energy and fuel use evaluations |
On track to having 100% of select ships with a baseline energy and fuel evaluation by 2023 43% of the selected 7 ships have had a baseline study completed |
FSDS: Optimizing energy performance will reduce the Navy’s energy consumption and GHG emissions |
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Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions |
In partnership with PSPC, complete industry consultations to inform a new National Master Standing Offer on sustainable packaging by 2023 |
Performance indicator: Complete industry consultation by 2023 |
On track to meet target by 2023 Preparation work currently underway to develop targeted questions for industry consultation |
FSDS: Factoring sustainable packaging into procurement will reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decision |
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Greening Government - Other |
Achieve an energy efficiency of 85% for fossil-fuel electrical generation and distribution utilities in major deployed camps by 2023 |
Performance indicator: Efficiency of electrical generation and distribution utilities, with a target of 85% |
Select major deployed infrastructure was operated at an energy efficiency of approximately 30% |
FSDS: Modern and energy efficient deployable camps will reduce energy consumption leading to reduced GHG emissions |
Context: Healthy Wildlife Populations
Defence administers large tracts of land across Canada that provide habitat for many species of flora and fauna, including those considered endangered or at risk. Defence is centralizing information that was previously maintained at individual Defence establishments into a national geographic information system to enable national planning that will reduce or avoid impacts of Defence activities on the environment.
The purpose of this goal is for all species to have healthy and viable populations.
| Healthy wildlife populations FSDS target(s) | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) | Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Actions supporting the Goal: Healthy Wildlife Populations |
Healthy Wildlife Populations - Other |
Implement a centralized geographic information system (GIS) tool for species at risk information and capture 40% of historic data by 2023 |
Performance indicator: % of historic data entered into the system |
On track to meet target by 2023 Species at Risk Geographical Information System standard in development Historic data entry to begin Sept 2021 |
FSDS: Implementation of a centralized geographic information system will support compliance with the Species at Risk Act and the protection of species at risk, their residences and critical habitat on DND lands SDG: SDG 15 (Life on Land) |
Context: Safe and Healthy Communities
Defence manages its contaminated sites consistent with Treasury Board policy, by prioritizing sites based on human health and environmental risks using approved criteria, developing and implementing management strategies, executing projects, and reporting on results. Defence will continue to leverage the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan to clean up contaminated sites to reduce its environmental liability related to real property.
Defence uses a high volume of hazardous substances such as ammunition, explosives, gases, and flammable liquids and has a responsibility to manage them properly to protect the safety of personnel and the environment. Defence is committed to managing hazardous materials with care throughout their lifecycle, reducing their use where and when possible, and to seek out less hazardous alternative substances that meet Defence needs.
The purpose of this goal is for all Canadians to live in clean, sustainable communities that contribute to their health and well-being.
| Safe and Healthy Communities FSDS target(s) | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) | Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Actions supporting the Goal: Safe and Healthy Communities |
Demonstrate leadership on assessing and remediating contaminated sites |
Reduce DND’s contaminated sites liability by an average of 10% per year by 2023 |
Performance indicator: % of reduction in contaminated sites liability based on the closing liability of the previous year |
10% reduction in contaminated sites liability based on closing liability of the previous year Liability is calculated as the expected cost of cleaning up a contaminated site |
FSDS: By managing contaminated sites in a manner that is consistent with TB Policy, DND is reducing risks to human health and the environment |
Safe and Healthy Communities - Other |
Develop a project plan, including costs, timelines and alternative products to eliminate PFAS Class B foam at DND locations, by 2023 |
Performance indicator: Completed project plan by 2023 |
On track to meet target by 2023 |
FSDS: Managing harmful substances protects human health and the environment, and benefits Canada’s economy |
4. Report on integrating sustainable development
The Department of National Defence (DND) will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of FSDS goals and targets through its strategic environmental assessment (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.
Public statements on the results of DND’s assessments are made public when an initiative has undergone a detailed SEA. 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.
During the 2020-21 reporting cycle, DND had no proposals that required a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and no public statements were produced.
In addition, DND has integrated environmental considerations into decision making at multiple levels through the implementation of the Impact Assessment Act (IAA), project planning and management steps, and departmental business processes.
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