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The Government's commitment to sustainable development is reflected in the Federal Sustainable Development Act (the Act), which received Royal Assent on June 26, 2008.
The Act requires the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to table a Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, and a report on the federal government's progress in implementing the Strategy, every three years.
The Act also requires each Minister presiding over a Federal Sustainable Development Strategy department or agency to prepare a Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy.
2019-2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy
The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy sets out the Government of Canada's sustainable development priorities, establishes goal and targets, and identifies actions to achieve them. The 2019-2022 Strategy – Canada's fourth – was tabled in June 2019. It sets out 13 aspirational goals that reflect the Canada we want, and outlines what we will do across government to promote clean growth, ensure healthy ecosystems, and build safe, secure, and sustainable communities over the next three years.
It also demonstrates how Canada will continue to advance its sustainable development objectives and support the environmentally-focused United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The 2019-2022 Strategy will complement a National Strategy on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, being led by Employment and Social Development Canada.
Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
This 2020-2023 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy was tabled in September 2020.
It describes the department's objectives, vision and plans for sustainable development appropriate to its mandate. It articulates the department's contributions to the goals and targets of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, as well as the application of strategic environmental assessments.
The Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy is updated annually (as required) through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's departmental plan, and results are reported annually.
Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy annual reports
- 2021-2022 report on the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
- 2020-2021 report on the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
Previous departmental sustainable development strategies
- 2017-2020 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
- 2019-2020 update to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
- 2019-2020 report on the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
- 2018-2019 update to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
- 2018-2019 report on the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy