Sustainability Indicators and the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy

Sustainability Indicators and the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network (CSIN) 2010 Conference March 2010

Purpose • To outline the Government of Canada’s new approach to sustainable development governance which seeks to: – Better reflect international best practices; – Address issues noted in internal management reviews, research findings and input from the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD); and, – Strengthen the science-policy connection through the strategic use of indicator information. • The presentation argues that the new approach has the potential to be a step forward in transparency and public accounting on sustainability for the benefit of Canadians, in part because of its connection to indicators. DRAFT – Page 2 – 31 October 2020

Overview • Best Practices for Governance in Sustainability • Former Federal Practices • Background: Federal Sustainable Development Act • • (FSDA) Implementing the FSDA with Best Practices in Mind The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) Indicators and the FSDS Bridging the Science-Policy Divide Through Indicators DRAFT – Page 3 – 31 October 2020

Best Practices for Governance in Sustainability • The following elements are typically seen as key for national or federal SD governance structures and strategies: ▪ ▪ ▪ Legislative underpinning; Top-level leadership and accountability; Relevant and comprehensive strategy involving as many departments as possible; Connected into the fundamental planning & budgetary processes; Formalized involvement of a wide range of stakeholders; and, Connectivity with other governments. DRAFT – Page 4 – 31 October 2020

Former Federal Practices • From 1995 to June 2008, the Auditor General Act required Ministers to table departmental Sustainable Development Strategies every three years – No overarching Federal strategy. • The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD) conducted 11 highly critical audits of this approach; last report tabled in Parliament November 2008: – – – Lack of clearly defined federal priorities, a common vision and ‘meaningful’ targets; Poorly defined federal accountabilities and lack of senior level leadership; Departmental compartmentalization discouraging horizontal collaboration; Lack of a means to measure and report on federal progress as a whole; and, Strategies were not the ‘drivers of change’ they were intended to be. • Management Review of previous process (completed by Environment Canada in November 2008), confirmed that: – – – Clear direction setting and leadership must be established; Strategies need to be focused, with clear goals and targets; Sustainable development should be integrated into federal planning and reporting; and, processes. DRAFT – Page 5 – 31 October 2020

Background Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA) • Very quick history ▪ • Purpose ▪ • s. 3 “…to provide the legal framework for developing and implementing a Federal Sustainable Development Strategy that will make environmental decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament. ” Requirements ▪ ▪ • Amended private members’ bill which gained all-party support. Received Royal ascent in June, 2008. ▪ Draft FSDS, Final FSDS, Progress Report. CESD reports: 1) Whether targets and Implementation Strategies can be assessed; and, 2) Fairness of info in Progress Report. Consultation on Draft – Public, Parliament, SD Advisory Council. Key dates ▪ ▪ ▪ FSDSs – June 2010 and every 3 years thereafter. First DSDSs – June 2011 and every 3 years thereafter. First Progress Report – June 2011 and every 3 years thereafter. DRAFT – Page 6 – 31 October 2020

Implementing the FSDA with Best Practices in Mind Material Secret – to come. DRAFT – Page 7 – 31 October 2020

The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) • Structure & Contents – The Act requires the establishment of Goals, Targets (measurable objectives) and Implementation Strategies. – [EC will be in a position to share this at the time of the presentation, but is not presently able to do so] ▪ Goal themes ▪ Target lists ▪ Examples of implementation strategies DRAFT – Page 8 – 31 October 2020

Indicators & the FSDS • For each element of the FSDS there will be indicators: ▪ ▪ ▪ • Goals will strive to have high-level, State of the Environmenttype indicators; Targets will have some state-of-the environment-type indicators and some pressure-driver indicators; and, Implementation Strategies will have lower-level, related performance indicators. Gaps and future work ▪ ▪ Indicators will largely come from CESI and existing performance management frameworks. Plan-do-check-improve cycle established. DRAFT – Page 9 – 31 October 2020

Strengthening the Policy-Science connection through indicators • How present governance structure gets closer to recommendations & best practices: – – – SDO formation & its roles; Integration into mainstream planning; TBS Management Accountability Framework (MAF); Higher profile and connectivity to population through consultation; and, Greater meaning to Canadians through transparency, accountability and indicator use. DRAFT – Page 10 – 31 October 2020

Thank You • Please contact: Sustainable Development Office Environment Canada 10 Wellington Street, 25 th Floor Gatineau, QC, K 1 A 0 H 3 email: sdo-bdd@ec. gc. ca DRAFT – Page 11 – 31 October 2020