Canadian Institutes of Health Research 2019–20 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

December 2018

1. Context for the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

Although the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is not bound by the Federal Sustainable Development Act and is not required to develop a full departmental sustainable development strategy, CIHR 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, CIHR 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 the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

CIHR does not measure its progress on achieving low-carbon government by tracking Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from its operations due to the fact this organization does not have buildings or fleets. However, CIHR will continue its strategy to support clean technologies and green products and services by taking environmental considerations into account in its purchasing decisions and by promoting sustainable workplace practices.

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.

Integrate environmental considerations into procurement management processes and controls.

12.7

Starting point (baseline): 100%

Target: 100% by 2020

Performance indicator: Percentage of CIHR’s internal procurement training sessions, provided to Managers and Directors General, which include the roles and responsibilities related to the implementation of the Policy on Green Procurement.

N/A

Train procurement and materiel management functional specialists on green procurement.

12.7

Starting point (baseline): 4

Target: 100% by 2020

Performance indicator: Number and percentage of procurement and/or materiel management specialists who have completed the Canada School of Public Service Green Procurement course (C215) or equivalent, in fiscal year 2019–20.

N/A

Increase awareness of the Policy on Green Procurement among managers.

12.7

Starting point (baseline): 2

Target: 100% by 2020

Performance indicator: Number and percentage of managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel whose performance evaluation includes support and contribution toward green procurement, in fiscal year 2019–20.

N/A

Existence of organizational approach to maintain or improve the sustainability of workplace policies and practices.

Select and operate Information Technology (IT) and office equipment in a manner that reduces energy consumption and material usage.

12.2

Starting point (baseline): 54 servers

Target: 26 servers by 2020

Performance indicator: Reduce the number of in-use IT physical servers to 26 by March 31, 2020.

N/A

Starting point (baseline): 26:1

Target: 26:1 by 2020

Performance indicator: Maintain a full-time equivalent position to printing unit ratio of 26:1.

N/A

Reuse or recycle electronic and electrical equipment in an environmentally sound and secure manner.

12.2,12.5

Starting point (baseline): 100%

Target: 100% by 2020

Performance indicator: Percentage of toner cartridges recycled relative to the total number of all toner cartridges purchased.

N/A

Improve existing paper usage by using security employee card, green meetings and other digital initiatives.

12.2

Starting point (baseline): 1M pages

Target: 1M pages or less

Performance indicator: Maintain internal paper consumption level of less than 1M pages.

N/A

3. Integrating sustainable development

CIHR 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.

Public statements on the results of CIHR’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, including the impacts on achieving the FSDS goals and targets, of the approved policy, plan or program have been considered during proposal development and decision-making.

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