2018–19 Departmental Plan: Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
February 2018
1. Context for the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
Although the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is not bound by the Federal Sustainable Development Act and is not required to develop a full departmental sustainable development strategy, CIHR adheres to the principles of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) by implementing the Policy on Green Procurement.
The Policy on Green Procurement supports the Government of Canada’s effort to promote environmental stewardship. In keeping with the objectives of the policy, CIHR supports sustainable development by integrating environmental performance considerations into the procurement decision‑making process through the actions described in the “FSDS goal: low-carbon government” table in section 2, below.
2. Commitments for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
The FSDS is the Government of Canada’s primary vehicle for sustainable development planning and reporting. It sets out its sustainable development priorities, establishes goals and targets, and identifies actions to achieve them.
The 2016–19 FSDS is the third whole-of-government strategy prepared in accordance with Subsection 9(1) of the Federal Sustainable Development Act. The Strategy presents 13 aspirational goals that are a Canadian reflection of the environmentally-related, sustainable development goals outlined in the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Leading by example, the Government of Canada is making its operations low-carbon. Although CIHR is not bound by the Act, and is not required to develop an organizational sustainable development strategy, it adheres to the Policy on Green Procurement.
By implementing the principles of the 2016–19 FSDS Goal 2, “Low-carbon government”, CIHR is demonstrating its willingness to contribute to Canada’s ability to honour its international climate change commitments and reduce our carbon footprint.
CIHR does not measure its progress on achieving low-carbon government by tracking Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from its operations due to the fact this organization does not have buildings or fleets. However, CIHR will continue its strategy to support clean technologies and green products and services by taking environmental considerations into account in its purchasing decisions and by promoting sustainable workplace practices.
| FSDS target | FSDS contributing action | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Starting points where available and performance indicators for departmental actions | Programs where the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from federal government buildings and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, with an aspiration to achieve it by 2025. |
Support the transition to a low‑carbon economy through green procurement. |
Integrate environmental considerations into procurement management processes and controls. |
Percentage of CIHR’s internal procurement training sessions, provided to Managers and Directors General, which include the roles and responsibilities related to the implementation of the Policy on Green Procurement. Target: 100% |
Investigator-Initiated Research Training and Career Support Research in Priority Areas |
Train procurement and materiel management functional specialists on green procurement. |
Number and percentage of procurement and/or materiel management specialists who have completed the Canada School of Public Service Green Procurement course (C215) or equivalent, in fiscal year 2018–19. Target: 4 (100%) |
Investigator-Initiated Research Training and Career Support Research in Priority Areas |
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Increase awareness of the Policy on Green Procurement among managers. |
Number and percentage of managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel whose performance evaluation includes support and contribution toward green procurement, in fiscal year 2018–19. Target: 2 (100%) |
Investigator-Initiated Research Training and Career Support Research in Priority Areas |
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Existence of organizational approach to maintain or improve the sustainability of workplace policies and practices. |
Select and operate Information Technology (IT) and office equipment in a manner that reduces energy consumption and material usage. |
Reduce the number of in-use IT physical servers compared to 2017–18 fiscal year. Target: 50% reduction |
Investigator-Initiated Research Training and Career Support Research in Priority Areas |
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Improve full-time equivalent position to printing unit ratio from 2017–18 target of 10:1. Target: 20:1 |
Investigator-Initiated Research Training and Career Support Research in Priority Areas |
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Reuse or recycle electronic and electrical equipment in an environmentally sound and secure manner. |
Percentage of toner cartridges recycled relative to the total number of all toner cartridges purchased. Target: 100% |
Investigator-Initiated Research Training and Career Support Research in Priority Areas |
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Improve existing paper usage by using security employee card, green meetings and other digital initiatives. |
Reduce internal paper consumption compared to 2017–18 fiscal year. Target: 5% |
Investigator-Initiated Research Training and Career Support Research in Priority Areas |
3. Integrating sustainable development
CIHR 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 policy, plan or program proposals includes an analysis of the impacts of the given proposal on the environment, including on FSDS goals and targets.
Public statements on the results of CIHR’s assessments are made public when an initiative that has undergone a detailed SEA 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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