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Section 3: Commitments for Veterans Affairs Canada

Section 3: Commitments for Veterans Affairs Canada
  1. 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, with an aspiration to achieve this reduction by 2025.
  2. 80% compared with 2005 levels by 2050Footnote 1
Low-Carbon Government:
The Government of Canada leads by example by making its operations low-carbon
Responsible Minister:
All Ministers
Low-Carbon Government FSDS Targets:
Reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from federal government buildings and fleets by:
FSDS contributing action(s):
Improve the energy efficiency of our buildings/operations.
Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target:
Actions that reduce the demand for energy will lead to reductions in GHGs.
Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur:
Internal Services
 
Corresponding departmental action(s) Starting point(s) where available, and your choice of performance indicators for departmental actions
Effective space utilization
  1. Apply Workplace 2.0 fit-up standards of 12m2/FTE in departmental facilities as leases expire.Footnote 2
  2. Explore / implement activity based workspace approaches, as opportunities arise.
 Density of use – the number of m2/FTE. Average for 2016-17 is 17m2/FTE.
FSDS contributing action(s):
Modernize our fleet.
Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target:
Actions that reduce the amount of fuel consumed for fleet operation or switch to less GHG intensive sources of fuels will contribute to GHG reductions.
Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur:
Internal Services
 
Corresponding departmental action(s) Starting point(s) where available, and your choice of performance indicators for departmental actions
Optimize vehicle fleet size and that the vehicle be the most fuel efficient vehicle in its class and / or is an alternative fuel vehicle. Percentage of vehicle purchases in any given year will meet the target. Current = 100%
FSDS contributing action(s):
Support the transition to a low-carbon economy through green procurement and the adoption of clean technologies and green products and services.Footnote 3
Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target:
These contributing actions will reduce GHG emissions by incorporating environmental considerations into purchasing decisions.
Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur:
Internal Services
 
Corresponding departmental action(s) Starting point(s) where available, and your choice of performance indicators for departmental actions
Integrate environmental considerations into 100% of procurement management processes and control. Number of departmental procurement processes and controls that incorporate environmental considerations relative to the total number of departmental procurement processes and controls.
Incorporate environmental considerations into the development of 100% of any common-use procurement instruments. Percentage of common-use procurement instruments developed that incorporate environmental considerations.
Ensure 100% of decision makers have the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement. Percentage of specialists in procurement and material management who have completed training on green procurement in 2016-17 = 100%.
Ensure key officials include contribution to and support for the Government of Canada Policy on Green Procurement objectives in their performance evaluations. Number and percentage of managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel whose performance evaluation includes support and contribution towards green procurement. 2016-17 standard = 2 staff (100%).
Set departmental targets to reduce the environmental impact of specific goods or services. Percentage of purchases that include criteria or clauses which reduce the environmental impact of the product or service being purchased
  • Copy paper, commercial printing, and envelope purchases will contain a minimum of 30% recycled content and be certified to a recognized environmental standard to reduce the environmental impact of its production.
 Percentage of copy paper, commercial printing and envelope purchases that meet the target objective relative to the total dollar value or volume of all copy paper, commercial printing and/or envelope purchases. 2016-17 rate = 95%.
  • Maintain or improve existing approaches to sustainable workplace practices.
    • Printer ratio = 1 printer for 8 FTEs
    • 10% reduction in paper usage per FTE
    • Senior Management approval of the green meetings awareness guide and distribution to all management teams.
  • Printers per FTE – current ratio is 1 printer/ 8 FTEs
  • Paper usage per FTE – current use is approx.. 7500 sheets/FTE
  • On track to achieve this goal by March 31, 2018.
  • Dispose of e-waste in an environmentally sound and secure manner.
    • Additionally, VAC Head Office locations in Charlottetown participate in a battery recycling program.
 Departmental locations with electronic and electrical equipment disposal plan implemented.
  • Weight (lbs) of batteries collected per year.
  • Train 100% of acquisition cardholders on green procurement as a best practice.
 Percentage of acquisition cardholders with green procurement training.
  • Increase awareness of the Policy on Green Procurement among managers as a best practice. Target is 100% of managers trained by 2020.
 Percentage of managers with purchasing ability who have had Policy on Green Procurement awareness training.
New: Integrate sustainability and life-cycle assessment principles in procurement policies and practices, including the government’s supply chainFootnote 4 To be determined.
New: Work with major suppliers to encourage the disclosure of their GHG emissions and environmental performance informationFootnote 4 To be determined.
New: Support departments in adopting clean technology and clean technology demonstration projectsFootnote 4 To be determined.
New: Increase training and support on green procurement to public service employeesFootnote 4 To be determined.
FSDS contributing action(s):
Promote sustainable travel practices.
Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target:
Actions taken to reduce the amount of business travel will reduce GHG emissions.
Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur:
Internal Services
 
Corresponding departmental action(s) Starting point(s) where available, and your choice of performance indicators for departmental actions
By March 31, 2021, reduce GHG emissions from business travel by 25% of 2008-09 levels. Emissions associated with business travel in tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq).
FSDS contributing action(s):
Understand climate change impacts and build resilience
Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target:
Factoring climate variability and change into policy, programs, and operations is one of the most important ways the government can adapt to a changing climate and is consistent with the government’s risk management approach of enhancing the protection of public assets and resources and strengthening planning and decision-making
Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur:
Internal Services
 
Corresponding departmental action(s) Starting point(s) where available, and your choice of performance indicators for departmental actions
Identify the range of climate change impacts and adaptation measures that could potentially affect departmental assets, programs, and services across the country.
  • Develop and begin to implement a departmental climate adaptation plan.
 Participate in an intradepartmental working group to develop a climate adaptation plan, as part of Business Continuity Planning by March 31, 2018.
Integrate consideration of climate change impacts and adaptation into departmental planning, policy, programs, and operations.
  • Review and revise departmental strategic environmental assessment tools to ensure that climate change impacts and adaptation are fully considered in the development of policy, plan and program proposals
 Development and Implement Strategic Environmental Assessment policy and process by March 31, 2018. Current status = complete.
Ensure service disruptions are avoided by incorporating climate change considerations and adaptation measures into corporate risk and business continuity planning.
  • Review and revise the departmental corporate risk and business continuity plans to integrate considerations of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
 Corporate risk and business continuity plans integrate considerations of climate change mitigation and adaptation by March 31, 2018.
Climate change impacts and adaptation inform investment planning.
  • Review and revise the departmental investment plan to integrate consideration of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
  • Key officials incorporate the Federal Adaptation Policy Framework in their performance evaluations.
  • Investment plan incorporates consideration of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures as part of the 2018-2023 Investment Plan.
  • Climate change adaptation is addressed in performance management agreements for executives.
New: Understand and address the wide range of climate change impacts that could potentially affect federal assets, services and operations across the countryFootnote 4 To be determined.
New: Minimize service disruptions, incorporate climate change impacts in business continuity planning, and explore how climate change impacts and adaptation can be integrated into program design and delivery considerationsFootnote 4 To be determined.
New: Incorporate climate-resilient design and delivery into all major real property projectsFootnote 4 To be determined.
New: Adopt climate-resilient building codes being developed by National Research Council CanadaFootnote 4 To be determined.
New: Incorporate adaptation in departmental risk planning or equivalent processesFootnote 4 To be determined.
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