2019-20 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

January 2019

1. Context for the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

Although NSERC is not bound by the Federal Sustainable Development Act and is not required to develop a full departmental sustainable development strategy, NSERC 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, NSERC 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.

2. Commitments for NSERC

FSDS goal: low-carbon government
FSDS target	FSDS contributing action	Corresponding departmental action(s)	Support for UN Sustainable Development Goal target	Starting point(s), target(s) and performance indicator(s) for departmental actions	Link to the department’s Program Inventory
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.	Integration into processes: Integrate environmental consideration into procurement management processes and controls.	12.7* Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.	Performance indicator: Update the statement of work / request for quotes templates to include language referencing environmental considerations. Starting point: 90% in 2018 Target: 100% by 2020	Discovery Research Research Training and Talent Development Research Partnerships
				Performance indicator: Update procurement review checklists to include environmental considerations. Starting point: 90% in 2018 Target: 100% by 2020
				Performance indicator: Raise awareness on the importance and benefits of green procurement by establishing and incorporating a procurement review function for high value contracts to an existing management committee. Starting point: N/A Target: Add a procurement review function to 1 committee by 2020
				Performance indicator: Insert in all contracts a procedure to provide Finance with an electronic copy of invoices instead of a paper copy. Starting point: 75% in 2018 Target: 100% by 2021
				Performance indicator: Provide information to bidders to send Procurement their bids electronically instead of via paper copy. Starting point: 75% in 2018 Target: 100% by 2021
				Performance indicator: Accommodation stays will take place in establishments that have a high environmental rating (three green environmental keys or higher) based on an industry recognized tool. Starting point: 92% in 2018 Target: 98% by 2020
				Performance indicator: Percentage of copy paper, commercial printing and /or envelope purchases that contain 100% recycled content and be certified to a recognized environmental standard to reduce the environmental impact of its production. Starting point: 93% of paper purchases contain 30% recycled content and 7% of paper purchases contain 100% recycled content in 2018 Target: 100% of paper purchases contain 100% recycled content by 2021
		Performance agreement: Ensure key officials include contribution to and support for the Government of Canada Policy on Green procurement objectives in their performance evaluations.	12.7* Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities. *See the web page for SDG 12.	Performance indicator: Percentage of procurement and/or materiel management specialists who have completed the Canada School of Public Service Green Procurement course (C215) or equivalent. Starting point: 80% in 2018 Target: 100% by 2020	Discovery Research Research Training and Talent Development Research Partnerships

3. Integrating sustainable development

NSERC 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.

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