Departmental Plan 2017–2018: Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
1. Overview of the federal government's approach to sustainable development
- The 2016–19 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada's sustainable development activities, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. In keeping with the objectives of the Act's objective of making environmental decision making more transparent and accountable to Parliament, the School supports the implementation of the 2016–19 FSDS through the activities in this supplementary information table.
- Although the School is not bound by the Federal Sustainable Development Act and is not required to develop a departmental sustainable development strategy, the School adheres to the principles of the FSDS.
2. Departmental commitments under the 2016–19 FSDS
Goal Low-carbon government: The Government leads by example by making its operations low-carbon.
FSDS target(s)
- Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from federal government buildings and fleets by 40 percent below 2005 levels by 2030, with an aspiration to achieve it by 2025Note*
FSDS indicator(s)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Starting point
In the 2016–19 FSDS, the Government of Canada identified its buildings as the largest source of GHG from government operations and therefore the key focus to reduce these emissions.
- In support of this priority, the School is partnering with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to develop and implement a long-term facilities plan for the School's operations. Under this plan and where applicable, the School and PSPC will seek to retrofit facilities to reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions.
- With respect to fleets, the School does not currently require motor vehicles for its operations. It will, however, use clean technologies such as electric or hybrid vehicles should the need arise.
- The School will also contribute to the goal of low- carbon government operations by continuing to implement green procurement measures.
FSDS milestone(s) and key priorities
Milestone(s) supported by the department
- Be an early adopter of building standards to be established through the pan-Canadian framework on clean growth and climate change for all new government buildings and leases, where applicable.
- Review procurement practices to align with green objectives.
Key priority supported by the department
Government buildings are the largest source of GHG emissions from operations and as such will be the key focus in reducing these emissions.
Contributing action: Improve the energy efficiency of our buildings
- Where applicable, be an early adopter of building standards to be established through the pan-Canadian framework on clean growth and climate change.
Departmental actions
The School is working with PSPC to develop and implement a long-term facilities plan for the School's operations. The primary objective is to modernize and make efficient use of work and classroom space to reduce the organization's footprint and energy consumption. This initiative is currently in the planning phase and will be gradually implemented beginning in 2017–18.
Link to department's Program Inventory
1.1 Learning Services
Expected results for 2017–18 and performance indicator(s)
Expected results
The modernization of the School's facilities is a multiyear initiative that is projected to begin in 2017–18. Once completed, the initiative is expected to reduce the School's carbon footprint and energy consumption. As previously noted, this initiative is in the planning phase, and the timeline for completion has not yet been determined.
Performance indicator(s)
Completion of the School's long term facilities plan and launch of the implementation phase
Alignment with 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development goals and targets
- Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
- Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate action
Contributing action: Support the transition to a low-carbon economy through green procurement
Support clean technologies and green products and services by taking environmental considerations into account in our purchasing decisions.
Departmental actions
- Continue to take action to embed environmental considerations in accordance with the Policy on Green Procurement
- Incorporate environmental considerations in all procurement administration
- Dispose of surplus material in a responsible manner
- Reduce disposal of e-waste and promote recycling of office supplies
- Continue to safely dispose of metal and chemical products, in accordance with international recycling standards
- Increase awareness of the Policy on Green Procurement among managers
- Leverage common-use procurement instruments where available and feasible
Link to department's Program Inventory
1.1 Learning Services
Expected results for 2017–18 and performance indicator(s)
Expected results
Environmentally responsible acquisition, use and disposal of goods and services
Performance indicator(s)
Continue to take action to embed environmental considerations in accordance with the Policy on Green Procurement
- Number and percentage of procurement and/or materiel management specialists who completed the Canada School of Public Service Green Procurement course (C215) or equivalent in 2017–18
- Number and percentage of managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel whose performance evaluation includes support and contribution toward green procurement in 2017–18
All procurement administration incorporates environmental considerations
- Release Request for Proposals and accept submissions of bids electronically whenever practical
- All contracts will be printed double-sided
Dispose of surplus material in a responsible manner
- Percentage of surplus material disposed through 's GCSurplus
Reduce disposal of e-waste and promote recycling of office supplies
- Percentage of printers' toner cartridges returned for recycling
Continue to safely dispose metal and chemical products, in accordance with international recycling standards
- Percentage of batteries being recycled
Leverage common-use procurement instruments where available and feasible
- Use of existing procurement instrument available through PSPC that include environmental considerations
Increase awareness of the Policy on Green Procurement among managers
- Communication to managers on policy requirements and roles and responsibilities
Alignment with 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development goals and targets
- Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
- Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate action
3. Additional departmental sustainable development activities and initiatives not captured by the 2016–19 FSDS
Goal Low-carbon government: The Government leads by example by making its operations low-carbon.
FSDS indicator(s)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Starting point
As the common learning service provider for the federal public service, the School's approach to the delivery of learning can promote sustainable practices for employee travel within the public service.
In May 2016, the School introduced a flexible, easy-to-access online platform called GCcampus. This online platform has become the main portal to an increasingly rich and diverse collection of learning resources, including online courses, virtual classrooms, peer and social learning, videos, webcasts, job aids, workshops and other learning events. All of these resources are available anytime and from anywhere, making learning more accessible to public service employees regardless of where they are located.
More accessible learning is also more efficient. Prior to the School's shift towards an online learning platform, public service employees outside the National Capital Region had fewer courses available to them. With an increased range of online learning opportunities that do not require travel, there has been an almost three-fold increase in public service employees taking on line training across Canada since 2011 (from 44,832 in 2011–12 to 129,651 in 2015–16).
- FSDS target(s)
- Not applicable.
FSDS milestone(s) and key priorities
Milestone(s) supported by the department
- Encourage departments to take action to innovate sustainable workplace practices.
Key priority supported by the department
No specific FSDS priority has been identified. The School's shift towards an online learning platform, however, supports the low-carbon government goal by reducing the need for employee travel to access learning opportunities.
Contributing action: Promote sustainable travel practices
Promote sustainable practices for employee travel—including business travel and commuting to work—such as teleconferencing, telecommuting, carpooling, and use of electric vehicles and public transportation. Where feasible, offer offsetting options to reduce the impact of government travel.
Departmental actions
The School will continue to update the learning content in GCcampus to ensure that it remains aligned with government priorities and responsive to the learning needs of public service employees. The percentage of online learners will also continue to be tracked to measure the level of participation and variations over time.
Link to department's Program Inventory
1.1 Learning Services
Expected results for 2017–18 and performance indicator(s)
Expected results
Reduced requirement for travel by public service employees to access learning opportunities will have a positive impact on the carbon footprint.
Performance indicator(s)
Reduced travel requirements to the National Capital Region for learners across Canada.
Alignment with 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development goals and targets
- Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
- Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate action
4. Sustainable development decision making
- In 2014–15, the School undertook a three-year transformation to support emerging learning needs in the public service. A key change as a result of this transformation involves a new whole-of-government approach to learning that provides access to learning opportunities to public service employees across the country.
- This new approach has allowed the School to deliver its public service-wide learning through a new online platform, GCcampus that is accessible anytime and from anywhere, and features a variety of learning options such as online courses, videos and seminars. With respect to environmental considerations, increased online learning through GCcampus reduces the requirement for employee travel, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint.
- The School will continue to provide public service employees with learning opportunities regardless of location and at their convenience. To this end, the School will continue to maximize the use of GCcampus when making decisions on learning content and delivery methods.
- Other areas where the School will continue to incorporate environmental considerations are procurement and facilities. The School is implementing procurement planning to develop procurement strategies that leverage supply methods that include environmental considerations. In collaboration with PSPC, the School is also planning to modernize work and classroom space and where applicable, retrofit facilities to reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption.
5. Strategic environmental assessment
- The School will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of FSDS goals and targets through the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process. An SEA for policy, plan or program proposals includes an analysis of the impacts of the given proposal on the environment, including on FSDS goals and targets.
- Statements on the results of the School's assessments will be made public when an initiative is announced. The purpose of the public statement is to demonstrate that the environmental effects, including the impacts on achieving the FSDS goals and targets, of the approved policy, plan or program have been considered during proposal development and decision making.
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