Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy for 2023 to 2027

Updated January 2025

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Section 1:Footnote 1 Introduction to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat 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 under 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 for Sustainable Development and sets out a balanced approach to the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development.

In keeping with the purpose of the act and to make decision‑making related to sustainable development more transparent and accountable to Parliament, this Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS) describes the activities the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) plans to undertake in 2023–27 to support the federal goals laid out in the FSDS.

The Federal Sustainable Development Act also sets out seven principles that must be considered in the development of the FSDS and DSDSs. These basic principles have been considered and incorporated into TBS’s DSDS.

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 the Canadian Indicator Framework targets and indicators. The strategy also now 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 describes TBS’s vision for sustainable development in the context of its leadership on the Greening Government goal and its support of other departments in advancing their priorities under the FSDS.

Section 3 supports the new legal requirement of the act that DSDSs must consider the comments that were provided on the draft 2022–2026 FSDS during the 120-day public consultation period.

Section 4 identifies indicators and targets that TBS will use to report on key actions under the Greening Government goal. While TBS undertakes many activities to improve the environmental sustainability of government, the list in this section focuses on those actions that relate directly to FSDS commitments and their corresponding SDGs, and on those for which progress indicators will be available in the relevant time period.

Section 5 expands on Section 4 by describing how TBS further integrates sustainable development into Government of Canada and TBS decision-making.

Section 2: TBS’s Sustainable Development Vision

TBS is a central agency located in the National Capital Region that serves as the administrative arm of the Treasury Board. It helps federal departments and agencies (departments) fulfill government priorities and achieve results for Canadians by providing oversight and leadership in relation to its four core responsibilities:

  1. Spending oversight

    TBS reviews spending proposals and authorities and existing and proposed government programs for efficiency, effectiveness and relevance and provides information to Parliament and Canadians on government spending.

  2. Administrative leadership

    TBS leads government-wide initiatives, develops policies and sets the strategic direction for government administration related to service delivery and access to government information, as well as the management of assets, finances, information and technology.

  3. Employer

    TBS develops policies and sets the strategic direction for people management in the public service, manages total compensation (including pensions and benefits) and labour relations, and undertakes initiatives to improve performance in support of recruitment and retention objectives.

  4. Regulatory oversight

    TBS develops and oversees policies to promote good regulatory practices, reviews proposed regulations to ensure they adhere to the requirements of government policy; and advances regulatory cooperation across jurisdictions.

In fulfilling its work, TBS helps advance the following specific FSDS goals:

FSDS goal TBS’s role in achieving the FSDS goal
Goal 10: Advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and take action to reduce inequality
  • Foster diversity, inclusion and accessibility in the federal public servicetable 1 note *
Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles
  • Lead the federal government’s efforts to consume sustainably
Goal 13: Take action on climate change and its impacts
  • Lead the federal government’s efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and improve its resilience to climate change
Goal 17: Strengthen partnerships to promote global action on sustainable development

Table 1 Notes

Table 1 Note 1

Also supports efforts to champion gender equality (Goal 5)

Return to table 1 note * referrer

In addition, TBS helps integrate the economic, social, environmental and governance aspects of sustainable development into government decision making through its work as a central agency and its internal operations (see Section 5 for further details).

Section 3: Listening to Canadians

As required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act, TBS has considered comments on the draft 2022–2026 FSDS that were 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

Based on all the submissions received, TBS identified sustainable development priorities and issues that were important to Canadians, including the need for:

  • a federal green procurement target to strengthen the emphasis on the government’s role in green procurement
  • strong accountability and reporting, including by:
    • emphasizing outcome targets to simplify the reporting process
    • ensuring that the target time frames go beyond the four‑year FSDS cycle

What we did

This input is reflected in different aspects of TBS’s Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy for 2023–2027. Examples:

  • TBS will be measuring and reporting on a target for green procurement
  • TBS will continue to make available to the public analysis of federal programs’ impacts on gender and diversity
  • TBS’s targets focus mostly on outcomes it is working to achieve, including increasing the representation of Indigenous people and members of other employment equity groups in the federal public service
  • TBS has set long‑term time frames for its targets where appropriate, such as targets for diverting waste from landfill by 2030

For more information on the FSDS public consultation and its results, see the FSDS Consultation Report.

Section 4: TBS’s commitments

In this section

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

FSDS context

Social, economic and environmental inequalities persist in Canada. These inequalities disproportionately affect people with multiple intersecting identity factors such as gender identity and expression, race and ethnicity, faith community, Indigeneity, disability, sexual orientation, and low socioeconomic status. Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples is essential to addressing social, economic and environmental inequalities and achieving substantive equality.

TBS works with departments to foster a diverse, accessible and inclusive public service that is representative of all employment equity groups. It also works across its core responsibilities to help advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Target theme: Taking action on inequality

Target: Each year, the federal public service meets or surpasses the workforce availability for women, Indigenous people, persons with a disability, and members of a racialized groupsFootnote 3 (President of the Treasury Board)

Implementation strategy Departmental action Performance indicator
Starting point
Target
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs

Foster diversity, equityFootnote 4, inclusion and accessibility in the federal public service

TBS will:

  • support the review of the Employment Equity Act and the implementation of recommendations the Government of Canada adopts
  • support career advancement, training, sponsorship and educational opportunities for public servants in employment equity groups
  • work with the Privy Council Office to help departments implement their plans in response to the Call to Action on Anti‑Racism, Equity and Inclusion
  • take positive action in support of the International Decade for People of African Descent, Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy and the development of the National Action Plan on Combatting Hate
  • implement the updated self‑identification questionnaire, which is designed to increase the accuracy, depth and breadth of the data on the representation of public service employees from the four designated employment equity groups and from other identity groups
  • provide policy guidance and resources to partners and departments on employment equity, diversity and inclusion
  • support departments in submitting robust accessibility plans and progress reports to fulfill the ambitions of the Accessible Canada Act by providing analysis of the published plans, developing and disseminating additional tools and guidance, and indicators to help organizations measure progress
  • lead a Federal Speakers Forum on Diversity and Inclusion, a platform for public servants to share experiences about diversity, inclusion, accessibility and other related topics
  • monitor the implementation of the Maturity Model for Diversity and Inclusion, a tool that organizations can use to assess their progress on their diversity and inclusion goals

Performance indicator 1: Percentage of employees (compared with workforce availability) who are persons with a disability

Starting point: As of 2021–22, 6.2% of employees are persons with a disability compared with the workforce availability of 9.1%

Target: Each year, the public service continues to meet or surpass the workforce availability for persons with disabilities

Performance indicator 2: Percentage of employees (compared with workforce availability) who are members of racialized groups

Starting point: As of 2021–22, 20.2% of employees are racialized persons compared with the workforce availability of 17.2%

Target: Each year, the public service continues to meet or surpass the workforce availability for all racialized persons

The Government of Canada is Canada’s largest employer. Creating a diverse, inclusive and accessible public service that is representative of persons with disabilities, Black people and all racialized persons in Canada helps reduce inequality in Canadian society. It also helps the public service better understand and address the needs of the diverse Canadians it serves.

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF ambition: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced

CIF target: No specific target

GIF target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or economic or other status

GIF target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard

GIF target 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality

Performance indicator 3: Percentage of employees who are Black

Starting point: As of 2021–22, 4.2% of employees are Black

Target: Not applicable. Workforce availability estimates are not calculated for Black employees.

Advance gender equality in the Government of Canada

In addition to its actions on diversity, equityFootnote 5, inclusion and accessibility that help advance gender equality, TBS will:

  • advance the implementation of the Pay Equity Act across the public service
  • develop and implement a modernized senior leaders’ strategy to promote career progression and inclusion, and to enable leadership development and targeted succession planning and recruitment for employment equity groups

Performance indicator 1: Percentage of employees (compared with workforce availability) who are women

Starting point: As of 2021–22, 56% of employees are women compared with the workforce availability of 53.3%

Target: Each year, the public service continues to meet or surpass the workforce availability for women

Performance indicator 2: Percentage of executive employees (compared with workforce availability) who are women

Starting point: As of 2021–22, 53.2% of executives are women compared with the workforce availability of 48.2%

Target: Each year, the public service continues to meet or surpass the workforce availability for women executives

The Government of Canada is Canada’s largest employer. Eliminating gender inequalities in the public service helps reduce inequality in Canadian society. It also helps the public service better understand and address the needs of Canadians of different genders.

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF ambition: Gender equality in leadership roles and at all levels of decision-making

CIF target: Greater representation of women in leadership roles

CIF ambition: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced

CIF target: No specific target

G IF target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere

GIF target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life

GIF target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or economic or other status

GIF target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard

GIF target 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality

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
Starting point
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 Indigenous employment in the federal public service

In addition to the other actions it is taking to foster diversity, inclusion and accessibility, TBS will implement Many Voices One Mind: a Pathway to Reconciliation, a whole-of-government strategy for reducing and removing barriers to public service employment encountered by Indigenous people through action in five areas:

  • encouraging and supporting Indigenous people to join the public service
  • addressing bias, racism, discrimination and harassment, and improving cultural competence in the public service
  • addressing learning, development and career advancement concerns expressed by Indigenous employees
  • recognizing Indigenous people’s talents and promoting advancement to and within the executive group
  • supporting, engaging and communicating with Indigenous employees and partners

Performance indicator 1: Percentage of employees (compared with workforce availability) who are Indigenous

Starting point: As of 2021–22, 5.2% employees are Indigenous compared to the workforce availability of 3.8%

Target: Each year, the public service continues to meet or surpass the workforce availability for Indigenous persons

Performance indicator 2: Percentage of executive employees (compared with workforce availability) who are Indigenous

Starting point: As of 2021–22, 4.9% of executives are Indigenous compared with the workforce availability of 5.2%

Target: Each year, the public service continues to meet or surpass the workforce availability for Indigenous persons

The Government of Canada is Canada’s largest employer. Increasing Indigenous employment in the public service helps reduce inequality in Canadian society. It also helps the public service advance reconciliation and better understand and address the needs of the Indigenous people it serves.

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF ambition: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced

CIF target: No specific target

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

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

TBS will:

  • support Justice Canada’s work, in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous partners, to implement and continue to evolve the United Nations Declaration on the Right of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan 2023–2028
  • identify action plan measures (APMs) where TBS has a leadership role
  • identify APMs where TBS has a role supporting other lead departments or agencies
  • work with Indigenous partners (and with other departments and agencies when appropriate) to identify actions to implement the APMs
  • undertake these actions, in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous partners

Actions will begin no later 2024–25.

Performance indicator: Implementation actions identified and undertaken in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous partners

Starting point: In 2023, TBS is identified as a co-leading department on two APMs:

  • supporting Indigenous data sovereignty
  • developing and implementing a process and further direction for federal government departments and agencies to ensure bills and proposed regulations are consistent with the Declaration

TBS is also working to identify further APMs, led by other departments and agencies, where it has a supporting role.

Target: By June 2028, APMs have been implemented in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous partners

The United Nations Declaration on the Right of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan 2023–2028 provides a roadmap of actions Canada needs to take in partnership with Indigenous people to implement the principles and rights set out in the UN Declaration and to further advance reconciliation in a tangible way.

Progress made in implementing each of the APMs will help break down barriers, combat systemic racism and discrimination, close socio-economic gaps, and promote greater equality and prosperity for Indigenous people. By contributing to the implementation of the UN Declaration Act, TBS will build a better, more equitable future for Indigenous people and, in doing so, a more inclusive Canada for this and future generations.

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF ambition: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced

CIF target: No specific target

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

GIF target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard

GIF target 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality

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, reusing the resources already extracted, and finding processes and technologies that take a holistic systems-based approach to minimizing waste throughout the economy, we can help reduce negative impacts on the environment.

TBS supports departments as they implement the Greening Government Strategy, which includes commitments to reduce the environmental impacts of the Government of Canada’s 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)

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

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
Starting point
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

For the federal conventional light‑duty fleet, TBS will facilitate the increased adoption of zero‑emission vehicles by departments, by:

  • tracking and disclosing the overall percentage of zero emission vehicles
  • tracking and disclosing the percentage of new annual purchases that are zero‑emission vehicles or hybrids in the vehicle groups where suitable options are available and meet operational needs

Performance indicator 1: Percentage of light‑duty on-road fleet that comprises zero-emissions vehicles, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

Starting point: 3.4% in 2021–22

Target: 100% by 2030

Performance indicator 2: Percentage of annual conventional light-duty on-road fleet vehicle purchases that are zero‑emission vehicles or hybrids in vehicle groups where suitable options are available and meet operational needs.

Starting point: 72% in 2021–22

Target: At least 75% each year

The purchase of zero‑emission vehicles and hybrid vehicles to replace internal combustion engine vehicles will reduce Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions from conventional fleet operations, in addition to other air pollutants.

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF ambition: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

CIF target: zero-emission vehicles represent 10% of new light‑duty vehicle sales by 2025, 30% by 2030 and 100% by 2040

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

Disclose embodied carbon in construction

Under the Policy on Green Procurement, TBS published the Standard on Embodied Carbon in Construction, which came into force on December 31, 2022. Starting in 2024–25, TBS will annually publish these Scope 3 emissions, as reported by departments for their 2023–24 construction projects.

Performance indicator: Average percentage reduction of the embodied carbon of the ready-mix concrete used in major construction projects subject to the standard, relative to the project baselinesFootnote 6

Starting point: Data for 2023–24 will be available in 2024–25 or once applicable projects have been completed

Target: Reduce the embodied carbon of the ready-mix concrete used in major construction projects subject to the standard by at least 10% relative to the project baseline

Green procurement incorporates environmental criteria into purchasing decisions. This is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with their goods, services and supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF ambition: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

CIF target: No specific target

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

Incentivize supplier disclosure

Under the Policy on Green Procurement, TBS published the Standard on the Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Setting of Reduction Targets, which came into force on April 1, 2023. Starting in 2024–25 for procurements from major suppliers, TBS will collect, consolidate and report annually on Government of Canada procurement processes that incentivize suppliers to adopt a science‑based target in line with the Paris Agreement, and to disclose supply chain greenhouse gas emissions.

Performance indicator: The percentage of Government of Canada procurement processes with major suppliers that applied the Standard on the Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Setting of Reduction Targets under the Policy on Green Procurement

Starting point: 81% in 2023–24Footnote 7

Target: By 2024–25, 100% of procurement processes with major suppliers applied the Standard on the Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Setting of Reduction Targets under the Policy on Green Procurement.

Performance indicator 2:Footnote 8 The percentage of Government of Canada contracts with a total value of $25 million or more that include a life cycle assessment as a contract deliverable

Starting point: Data for 2025–26 will be available in 2026–27

Target: By 2025–26, 100% of contracts with a total value of $25 million or more include a life cycle assessment as a contract deliverable

Procurement makes up a large portion of the Government of Canada’s Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. The requirement to incentivize suppliers to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and set reduction targets is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with their goods, services and supply chains so that net-zero procurement can be achieved by 2050.

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF ambition: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

CIF target: No specific target

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

Maximize diversion of waste from landfills

Each year, TBS will publish the rates of diversion from landfill by departments of both non-hazardous operational waste and construction, demolition and renovation waste.

Performance indicator 1: Percentage by weight of non‑hazardous operational waste diverted from landfill

Starting point: 35% in 2023-24Footnote 9

Target: At least 75% each year by 2030

Performance indicator 2: Percentage by weight of construction, demolition and renovation waste diverted from landfill

Starting point: 95% in 2023-24Footnote 10

Target: At least 100% each yearFootnote 11

Actions that reduce the generation of non‑hazardous operational waste will help reduce Scope 3 emissions for the production, transport and disposal of material. Diverting waste from landfill reduces landfill gas and transport hauling emissions. Material recovery through recycling reduces emissions for the extraction and production of virgin materials.

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF ambition: 12.3 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

CIF indicator: 12.3.1 Total waste diversion per capita

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

Strengthen green procurement criteria (action 1)

TBS will ensure that all its procurement and materiel management specialists have taken training in green procurement (such as the Canada School of Public Service course on green procurement, or equivalent) within one year of being identified.

Performance indicator: Percentage of procurement and materiel management specialists at TBS trained in green procurement within one year of being identified

Starting point: In 2022–23, 100% of procurement and materiel management specialists trained in green procurement

Target: 100% of procurement officers and material management specialists receive training with one year of being identified

Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF ambition: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

CIF indicator: 12.2.1Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management practices

CIF target: No specific target

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

Strengthen green procurement criteria (action 2)

TBS will demonstrate how it has incorporated environmental considerations into its management control frameworks according to the Policy on Green Procurement by:

  • identifying departmental categories of procurement with highest environmental impact (HICATs)
  • establishing criteria, if no centrally established criteria already exist, that reduce their impact
  • implementing these criteria

Performance indicator 1: Percentage of HICATs for which criteria to reduce their environmental impact have been established

Starting point : New commitment starting in 2024

Target: By 2025, 100% of HICATs have criteria established to reduce their environmental impact

Performance indicator 2: Percentage of HICATs for which criteria to reduce their environmental impact have been implemented

Starting point: New commitment starting in 2024

Target: By 2026, 100% of HICATs have criteria implemented to reduce their environmental impact

Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF ambition: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

CIF indicator: 12.2.1 Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management practices

CIF target: No specific target

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

Climate change is one of the top drivers of global biodiversity loss, which further threatens ecosystems and the beneficial services they provide to society. It affects the health of Canadians, especially the most at‑risk populations such as youth, seniors, Indigenous populations, those with chronic health conditions, and marginalized low‑income, and racialized communities.

TBS supports departments as they implement the Greening Government Strategy, which includes commitments to transition the Government of Canada’s operations to reach net-zero carbon and become more climate‑resilient.

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)

Target: The Government of Canada will transition to net-zero carbon national safety and security fleet operations by 2050 (all ministers)

Target: The Government of Canada will transition to climate resilient operations by 2050 (all ministers)

Implementation strategy Departmental action Performance indicator
Starting point
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

TBS will:

  • lead and coordinate federal emissions reduction, climate‑resilience and greening government initiatives
  • integrate knowledge from other leading organizations and share best practices broadly
  • track and disclose government environmental performance information centrally
  • drive results to meet greening government objectives

Performance indicator: The level of government greenhouse gas emissions from real property and conventional fleet operations relative to 2005–06 levels

Starting point: 39.8% in 2022–23

Targets:

  • Interim target of 40% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from real property and conventional fleet operations by 2025–26Footnote 12
  • Emissions from Government of Canada operations will be net-zero by 2050

Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions from federal real property operations can be reduced by improving efficiency and switch to cleaner sources of energy.

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF ambition: Canadians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions

CIF target: By 2030, reduce Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 40% to 45%, relative to 2005 emission levels. By 2050, achieve economy‑wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions

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

Reduce risks posed by climate change impacts to federal assets, services and operations (action 1)

TBS will lead the federal government’s efforts to facilitate and encourage the understanding of risks posed by the impact of climate change to federal assets, services and operations, and taking action to reduce these risks.

Performance indicator 1:Footnote 13 Percentage of federal departments and agencies that have initiated or completed assessments of climate risks to their critical services and activities, including the establishment of plans

Starting point: In 2023–24, 82% of departments surveyed have initiated or completed climate risk assessments

Target: By 2027–28, 90% of departments and agencies surveyed have established plans to address risks to their critical services and activities

Performance indicator 2:Footnote 14 Percentage of critical assets reported that have been assessed for climate risk

Starting point: In 2023–24, 10% of critical assets reported have been assessed for climate risk.

Target: By 2027-28, 30% of critical assets have been assessed for climate risk

Understanding and taking action to reduce identified risks contributes to more resilient services and operations

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF ambition: Canadians are well‑equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change

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

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

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

Reduce risks posed by climate change impacts to federal assets, services and operations (action 2)

TBS will develop measures to address risks identified in its departmental climate risk assessment.

In 2025–26, TBS will start reviewing and updating its departmental climate risk assessment to comply with the Greening Government Strategy.Footnote 15

Performance indicator: Measures are taken to address the top three risks identified in TBS’s climate risk assessment

Starting point: Based on the 2020 Climate Risk Assessment, TBS assessed the risks posed by the impact of climate change and identified the top 3 risks

Target: By 2024–25, measures are identified and action has been taken to address the top three identified risks

Understanding and taking action to reduce identified risks contributes to more resilient services and operations

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF ambition: Canadians are well‑equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change

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

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

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

Improve environmental performance of national safety and security fleets

TBS will implement a Low‑carbon Fuel Procurement Program, which will support the purchase of clean, low‑carbon fuels for federal air and marine fleet operations.

Performance indicator: Cumulative volume of neat clean, low carbon fuels purchased

Starting point: 0 litres in 2022–23

Target: At least 300 million litres of neat clean, low‑carbon fuels has been purchased cumulatively by the end of fiscal year 2030–31

The purchase of low carbon fuels reduces the Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of the fuel in federal air and marine fleet vehicles.

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF ambition: Canadians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions

CIF target: By 2030, reduce Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 40% to 45%, relative to 2005 emission levels. By 2050, achieve economy‑wide net-zero

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

Section 5: Integrating Sustainable Development

TBS will help integrate the economic, social, environmental and governance aspects of sustainable development into government decision‑making by, for example:

  • applying the Quality of Life Framework, to support evidence-based decisions that ensure government policies and programs benefit Canadians’ quality of life
  • requiring departments to report on their contributions to sustainable development through their Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports
  • supporting federal departments and agencies in the reporting of their program impacts on diverse communities, as required by the Canadian Gender Budgeting Act
  • making sure Treasury Board submissions take sustainable development into account, where appropriate
  • providing advice and leadership on the development of regulations that maintain or improve the health, safety, security, social and economic well‑being of Canadians, and protect the environment

TBS will also integrate sustainable development into its internal operations, including by:

  • working to meet the Government of Canada’s commitment to award at least 5% of the total value of contracts to Indigenous businesses annually
  • building a diverse, inclusive and accessible TBS workplace by:
    • recruiting and supporting the development of Indigenous, Black and other racialized employees
    • working with employee networks to address systemic barriers and improve inclusion for all equity‑seeking groups
    • implementing TBS’s accessibility plan and taking specific actions to comply with the Accessible Canada Act
  • replacing traditional on‑premises data centres with cloud computing that will enable TBS to both deliver services efficiently and reduce its carbon footprint

In addition, TBS will continue to ensure that its decision‑making process includes consideration of FSDS goals and targets through its strategic environmental assessment (SEA) process. An 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 TBS’s assessments are reported in its Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Reports when an initiative that 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.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, represented by the President of the Treasury Board, 2025,
ISSN: 2561-2662

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