ACHIEVING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE - Canada.ca

1 ACHIEVING A. SUSTAINABLE . FUTURE . A federal SUSTAINABLE development strategy FOR CANADA. 2016 2019. Unless otherwise specified, you may not reproduce materials in this publication, in whole or in part, for the purposes of commercial redistribution without prior written permission from Environment and Climate Change Canada's copyright administrator. To obtain permission to reproduce Government of Canada materials for commercial purposes, apply for Crown Copyright Clearance by contacting: Environment and Climate Change Canada Public Inquiries Centre 7th Floor, Fontaine Building 200 Sacr -Coeur Boulevard Gatineau QC K1A 0H3. Telephone: 819-997-2800. Toll Free: 1-800-668-6767 (in Canada only). Email: Photos: Environment and Climate Change Canada Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 2016.

2 Aussi disponible en fran ais CONTENTS. Message From The Minister.. I. Introduction.. 1. Listening To Canadians.. 2. Canada In The World.. 5. A SUSTAINABLE development Vision For Canada.. 7. Realizing Our Vision .. 9. Working With Partners.. 11. Our Commitments And Plans.. 12. Effective Action On Climate Change.. 16. Low-Carbon Government.. 22. Clean Growth.. 26. Modern And Resilient Infrastructure .. 30. Clean Energy .. 34. Healthy Coasts And Oceans .. 38. Pristine Lakes And Rivers.. 42. Sustainably Managed Lands And Forests.. 48. Healthy Wildlife Populations .. 52. Clean Drinking Water .. 56. SUSTAINABLE Food.. 60. Connecting Canadians With Nature .. 64. Safe And Healthy Communities.. 68. Conclusion .. 72. Annex 1: About The federal SUSTAINABLE development strategy .. 73. Annex 2: Performance Measurement .. 75. Annex 3: Canada In The World Detailed Information.

3 78. Annex 4: List Of Departments And Agencies.. 84. List Of Abbreviations .. 85. Glossary Of Terms.. 86. References.. 87. MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER. This past February, I asked you to help make our 2016 2019 federal SUSTAINABLE development strategy stronger to help us establish a shared SUSTAINABLE development vision , improve our goals and targets, and define the actions we will take to create a more SUSTAINABLE FUTURE in Canada. Your response was But we won't wait three years to update the strategy . Our overwhelming. In new approach this time is to continually bring on board our hundreds of insightful policy decisions as they happen rather than wait three years and informed comments, like in the past. So stay tuned as we continually add to our you put forward your commitments and actions. SUSTAINABLE development priorities, pointed out As we move forward to implement our strategy and achieve the challenges we face, our goals and targets, I'm asking for your help again.

4 Our and provided clear and agenda is ambitious and your ideas will be invaluable in concrete suggestions helping us achieve it. What innovative approaches are for developing a more you using to advance SUSTAINABLE development in your effective strategy . community? What new idea could help us meet our targets sooner? We heard you. I also ask you to look to the FUTURE . In three years, we will With the final 2016 2019 strategy , I am pleased to present renew our strategy again. How can we further refine our a new plan that reflects your feedback. It shows what we're vision, and set even more ambitious goals and targets in the doing to make our environment cleaner and greener for all next federal SUSTAINABLE development strategy ? Canadians. It also reflects our Government's commitment to advance reconciliation and renew a nation-to-nation Tell us by sending an email or joining in the discussion relationship with Indigenous Peoples.

5 Online. I look forward to continuing the conversation we started and working with you for a more SUSTAINABLE Canada. The strategy includes 13 new aspirational goals for an environmentally SUSTAINABLE Canada. It outlines federal leadership on climate change and the environment-related 2030 SUSTAINABLE development Goals. It also includes specific and measurable targets, new short-term milestones to ensure we stay on track, and clear action plans that show how we will work toward our targets over the next three years. The Honourable Catherine McKenna Minister of Environment and Climate Change @ec_minister 2016-2019 federal SUSTAINABLE development strategy i EXECUTIVE EFFECTIVE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE. A low-carbon economy contributes to limiting SUMMARY. global average temperature rise to well below two degrees Celsius and supports efforts to limit the increase to degrees Celsius LOW-CARBON GOVERNMENT.

6 The Government of Canada leads by example by The federal SUSTAINABLE development strategy (FSDS) is making its operations low-carbon our primary vehicle for SUSTAINABLE development planning and reporting. It sets out our SUSTAINABLE development CLEAN GROWTH. priorities, establishes goals and targets, and identifies A growing clean technology industry in Canada actions to achieve them. The 2016 2019 FSDS contributes to clean growth and the transition to a Canada's third outlines what we will do to promote low-carbon economy clean growth, ensure healthy ecosystems and build safe, secure and SUSTAINABLE communities over the next three MODERN AND RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE. years. Modern, SUSTAINABLE , and resilient infrastructure supports clean economic growth and social inclusion In February 2016, we looked to you for input and advice on articulating a SUSTAINABLE development vision for Canada, CLEAN ENERGY.

7 Improving FSDS goals and targets, acknowledging the role All Canadians have access to affordable, reliable of the 2030 Agenda and its global SUSTAINABLE development and SUSTAINABLE energy goals (SDGs), and recognizing the contributions of our partners. In response, you contributed more than 540 HEALTHY COASTS AND OCEANS. Coasts and oceans support healthy, resilient and comments and 900 social media posts, providing ideas, productive ecosystems feedback and suggestions that have helped shape our strategy . PRISTINE LAKES AND RIVERS. Clean and healthy lakes and rivers support Drawing on this input, we will strive to realize a vision in economic prosperity and the well-being of which Canada is one of the greenest countries in the world Canadians and our quality of life continues to improve. Among other SUSTAINABLY MANAGED LANDS AND FORESTS. commitments, this will include responding to the priorities Lands and forests support biodiversity and of Canadians and stakeholders by reducing greenhouse provide a variety of ecosystem services for gas emissions from our own operations, reaffirming our generations to come commitment to apply strategic environmental assessment.

8 And working actively with business to advance SUSTAINABLE HEALTHY WILDLIFE POPULATIONS. All species have healthy and viable populations development . CLEAN DRINKING WATER. Our work in 2016 2019 will centre on 13 aspirational, All Canadians have access to safe drinking water long-term goals that reflect the Canada we want and are a and, in particular, the significant challenges Canadian reflection of the global SDGs, with a focus on Indigenous communities face are addressed their environmental dimensions: SUSTAINABLE FOOD. Innovation and ingenuity contribute to a world- leading agricultural sector and food economy for the benefit of all Canadians CONNECTING CANADIANS WITH NATURE. Canadians are informed about the value of nature, experiencing nature first hand, and actively engaged in its stewardship SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. All Canadians live in clean, SUSTAINABLE communities that contribute to their health and well-being ii 2016-2019 federal SUSTAINABLE development strategy .

9 Medium-term targets and short-term milestones support each goal. Between the draft and final FSDS, we've revised our targets to make them more specific, measurable, achievable and time-bound, and to ensure that they align with our current policy and priorities. Action plans describe what we will do to achieve our goals and targets. Over the next three years, our actions will include working with partners within Canada and internationally to advance shared priorities; providing Canadians with the information they need to embrace SUSTAINABLE lifestyles and safeguard their health; conducting scientific research; and investing in technology and infrastructure. Meanwhile, cross-cutting priorities such as ensuring robust and thorough environmental assessments, respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and implementing strong environmental legislation will support progress in all areas of the FSDS.

10 We acknowledge that we cannot achieve SUSTAINABLE development alone partners such as provinces and territories, Indigenous Peoples, communities, businesses, scientists, and non-governmental organizations all play a role in helping us meet our objectives. Finally, we need your help you can make a difference in areas such as addressing climate change, protecting ecosystems and improving air quality. We hope you'll take action, and that you'll continue to provide input and ideas to help us further refine our SUSTAINABLE development vision and long-term goals. 2016-2019 federal SUSTAINABLE development strategy iii INTRODUCTION. The federal SUSTAINABLE development strategy (FSDS) is our primary vehicle for SUSTAINABLE development planning and reporting. It sets out our SUSTAINABLE development priorities, establishes goals and targets, and identifies actions to achieve them.