In accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals (2010), a detailed strategic environmental assessment was completed for the IC 2014 Sustainable Development Strategy.
Tabled by Industry Minister James Moore in Parliament on November 5, 2014, this assessment concluded that the strategy will likely have a positive net impact over time, which will advance the goals and targets of the 2013‐2016 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS).
Thirteen implementation plans make up the strategy, nine of which relate to the theme Addressing Climate Change and Air Quality. Under this theme, the goal is to “mitigate the effects of climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emission levels and adapt to unavoidable impacts.” These nine plans focus on:
- Greening aerospace and information and communications technologies sectors;
- Assessing the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative for environmental benefits;
- Encouraging greater corporate social responsibility;
- Compiling information and research for consumers, including sustainable consumption;
- Promoting sustainable manufacturing practices to Canadian businesses;
- Advancing environmental sustainability through support for co-operatives;
- Supporting the growth of business services to manufacturing that can result in environmental sustainability benefits;
- Better understanding hydrogen and fuel cell technology development and commercialization;
- Supporting the Automotive Innovation Fund.
The four remaining implementation plans will contribute to the FSDS theme of protecting nature and Canadians. Two of these plans will support research on, as well as develop and apply models for, economic valuation of ecosystem services and natural capital productivity. The goals laid out for protecting Canadians in the Environmental Disasters, Incidents and Emergencies section and the Chemicals Management section will be advanced, respectively, by plans for responding to environmental emergencies and other disasters, and through the implementation of the Computers for Schools program.