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ISSN 2561-4754
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Section 1: Context for the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
Section 2: Sustainable development in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Section 3: Commitments for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Section 4: Integrating sustainable development
Executive summary
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has been a voluntary participant in the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) since 2010. The FSDS is the Government of Canada's primary vehicle for sustainable development planning and reporting. It sets out sustainable development priorities, and establishes goals and targets. The 2016 – 2019 FSDS presents the Government of Canada's sustainable development activities, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA). In keeping with the objectives of the Act to make environmental decision making more transparent and accountable to Parliament, the CFIA supports the implementation of the 2016 – 2019 FSDS through the activities in this 2017 – 2020 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS).
The CFIA voluntarily contributes to three (3) of the FSDS goals. These include: Low Carbon Government, Sustainably Managed Lands and Forests, and Sustainable Food. In contributing to these three goals, the CFIA is working towards attaining the following targets:
- Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from federal government buildings and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, with an aspiration to achieve this reduction by 2025.
- By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial areas and inland water are conserved through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.
- Ensure safe and accessible food supply by mitigating risks to animal and plant resources from pests, diseases, and other health hazards, and prevent risks to health of Canadians.
The CFIA will table a new DSDS every third year as part of that year's Departmental Plan. Reports on DSDS progress will continue to be produced yearly, through the Departmental Results Report. Updates to DSDS content (e.g., new/revised actions, performance indicators) will be reported through the yearly Departmental Plan.
Section 1: Context for the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
The 2016 – 2019 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada's sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. The CFIA adheres to the principles of the FSDS and, while not bound formally by the Act, has developed this Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS).
Section 2: Sustainable Development in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
As a voluntary participant in the FSDS, the CFIA has not been named as a key department or agency with respect to any of the FSDS goals. The Agency does, however, participate as a voluntary contributor toward three (3) of the FSDS goals.
FSDS Goal: Low Carbon Government – At the CFIA, greenhouse gas emissions are largely derived from vehicle fleet and facility operations. To reduce the release of contaminants, the CFIA conducts routine emissions monitoring to ensure that appropriate operating procedures are in place. The Agency also works to ensure that air emissions from its stationary sources meet all applicable environmental guidelines and legislation and do not adversely affect adjacent properties. Stationary sources of air emissions from CFIA operations include generators, incinerators, boilers, steam plants, and other combustion equipment. Our large footprint means we have an opportunity to support the transition to a low-carbon economy, stimulate the clean technology sector, contribute to Canada's international climate change commitments and achieve cost savings.
FSDS Goal: Sustainably Managed Lands and Forests – Canada's natural spaces, including forests, wetlands, peatlands, prairies and tundra, as well as agricultural lands, provide habitat that wildlife populations need to thrive. They also provide ecosystem services that are essential for our well-being, such as filtering our air and water an storing carbon dioxide, an important greenhouse gas. Forests are fundamental to the cultural and spiritual values of Indigenous Peoples, while many Canadians have a profound attachment to wilderness. While Canada enjoys large tracts of forest land and other wilderness area, we cannot take them for granted. Protecting and sustainably using lands and forests is necessary to ensure they provide benefits for the long term. The CFIA leads the implementation of the Invasive Species Strategy for Canada (2004) as it relates to preventing the introduction of new and emerging invasive plants and pests. Through continued development and implementation of programs and policies related to the practical prevention, early detection, response and management activities identified in the Invasive Species Strategy and our Plant Protection mandate and priorities, the CFIA contributes to the protection and preservation of Canada's natural spaces.
FSDS Goal: Sustainable Food – Canada's food system, including aquaculture and fisheries, provides safe and healthy food for Canadians and helps ensure long-term food security. To ensure safe, sustainable and secure food, the CFIA protects food systems from threats to animal health and plant resources, such as diseases, pests and invasive alien species. The introduction and spread of invasive species into Canada is prevented by the CFIA through various regulatory programs, activities and initiatives.
More information on the CFIA's work towards contributing to sustainable development can be found in the Departmental Results Report (DRR) and Departmental Performance Report (DPR)
Section 3: Commitments for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
|
Low-Carbon Government FSDS target(s) |
FSDS Contributing Action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target | Starting point(s) where available, and your choice of performance indicators for departmental actions | Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduce GHG emissions from federal government buildings and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, with an aspiration to achieve this reduction by 2025 | Modernize our fleet |
|
Actions that reduce the amount of fuel consumed for fleet operations, or switch to less carbon-intensive sources of fuels will reduce GHG emissions. |
Starting point:
Target(s)/performance indicator(s):
|
Fleet Procurement and Management |
| Reduce GHG emissions from federal government buildings and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, with an aspiration to achieve this reduction by 2025 | Support the transition to a low-carbon economy through green procurement |
|
Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to green their goods, services, and supply chain. GHG reductions are one area of consideration in green procurement. |
|
Green Procurement |
|
Sustainably Managed Lands and Forests FSDS target(s) |
FSDS Contributing Action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target | Starting point(s) where available, and your choice of performance indicators for departmental actions | Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial areas and inland water are conserved through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures | Use legislation and regulations to manage the spread of invasive alien species |
|
The CFIA minimizes the spread and introduction of invasive alien species by promoting compliance and carrying out enforcement activities. The CFIA is working to design, develop, and implement initiatives to limit the introduction and spread of invasive alien plants and pests to Canada's environmental resources, such as forests and agricultural lands. |
Starting point:
Target(s)/performance indicator(s):
|
Plant Health and Biosecurity |
|
Sustainable Food FSDS target(s) |
FSDS Contributing Action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target | Starting point(s) where available, and your choice of performance indicators for departmental actions | Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ensure safe and accessible food supply by mitigating risks to animal and plant resources from pests, diseases and other health hazards and prevent risks to health of Canadians | Work with partners to address invasive alien species |
|
Canada's food system, including aquaculture and fisheries, provides safe and healthy food for Canadians and helps ensure long-term food security. To ensure safe, sustainable and secure food, the CFIA protects food systems from threats to animal health and plant resources, such as diseases, pests, and invasive alien species |
Starting point:
Target(s)/performance indicator(s):
|
Plant Health and Biosecurity |
Section 4: Integrating Sustainable Development
The CFIA will continue to ensure that its decision-making 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 the CFIA'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 of the approved policy plan or program, including the impacts on achieving the FSDS goals and targets, have been considered during proposal development and decision making.