Frequently Asked Questions?
Sustainable Development
- What is sustainable development?
- Who is the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development?
- Why does Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada have a sustainable development strategy?
- What are the four overarching goals of Agenda 2006, A Sustainable Development Strategy for the Departments of Foreign Affairs and International Trade?
- Is Canada in step with other countries in progress on SD?
- What about the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)?
Environmental Assessment: Strategic Environmental Assessment (EA), Project EA and EA of Grants and Contributions
- What is an environmental assessment?
- What is the relationship between a sustainable development strategy and environmental assessments?
- What are the most common types of environmental assessments that Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC) and International Trade Canada (ITCan) conduct?
- How do FAC and ITCan conduct these environmental assessments?
- When do FAC and ITCan conduct these environmental assessments?
- For which types of initiatives do FAC and ITCan undertake environmental assessments?
- Who conducts these environmental assessments?
- What challenges are faced when conducting environmental assessments of policies, plan and program proposals compared to environmental assessments of projects?
- Do FAC and ITCan also conduct Environmental Assessments of Grants and Contributions?
Environmental Management
- What does it mean to "green operations"?
- What is an environmental management system (EMS)?
- What is the International Organization for Standardization's (ISO) 14000 series?
- What are the key elements of an EMS?
- What is the relationship between a sustainable development strategy (SDS) and an environmental management system (EMS)?
- What priority areas are identified by the Foreign Affairs Canada's environmental management system?
- Does Foreign Affairs Canada celebrate environment week?
United Nations Human Resettlement Programme and the World Urban Forum
- What is the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat)?
- What is UN-Habitat's World Urban Forum?
- Who will be attending the WUF III?
- What are the themes of the Forum?
- Why is Canada hosting the WUF III?
- How is Foreign Affairs Canada involved in the WUF III?
- Is the WUF III programme designed to be interactive?
- What is the Habitat JAM?
Sustainable Development
1. What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development is an approach to decision making that takes a long-term focus; incorporates social, economic and environmental factors; and recognizes the interdependence of domestic and global activities. It is an ethical principle that incorporates a commitment to equity between the current generation and those that will follow; and between the poor and the more affluent. It means working to ensure a fair distribution of the costs and benefits of development between the nations of the developed and developing worlds. Sustainable development is also about ensuring that choices we make as citizens, consumers, producers and investors are compatible with an excellent quality of life for all Canadians and the global community, now and in the future.
The term "sustainable development" and its operating definition originate from the World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission) and Brundtland Report in 1987;
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
2. Who is the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development?
The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development is part of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada. As mandated by amendments to the Auditor General Act (1995), the Commissioner encourages the federal government to be more accountable for greening its policies, operations, and programs, and reports directly to parliament.
The Commissioner's main responsibilities are: monitoring of sustainable development strategies; conducting audits and special reports on targeted environmental areas, such as climate change; receiving environmental petitions from Canadians; and presenting an annual report to parliament on sustainable development.
3. Why does Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada have a sustainable development strategy?
Each federal department in the Canadian government is legislated to table a sustainable development strategy (SDS) in Parliament every three years, and to report annually on progress in meeting the identified commitments. The Departments of FAC and ITCan developed the most current SDS prior to the separation. It is called Agenda 2006, A Sustainable Development Strategy for the Departments of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The Strategy sets out new initiatives and builds on notable achievements made within the context of Agenda 2000 and Agenda 2003.
Agenda 2006 and annual progress reports are posted on the Departments' SD website.
4. What are the four overarching goals of Agenda 2006, A Sustainable Development Strategy for the Departments of Foreign Affairs and International Trade?
The four overarching goals of Agenda 2006, A Sustainable Development Strategy for the
Departments of Foreign Affairs and International Trade are:
- Ensure greater integration of sustainable development in Departmental policies, programs and operations.
- Ensure better integration of sustainable development considerations in our multilateral, regional and bilateral relations.
- Promote international security and respect for human rights, good governance and the rule of law as prerequisites for sustainable development.
- Implement the Department's priority commitments related to the World Summit on Sustainable Development: Johannesburg 2002.
5. Is Canada in step with other countries in progress on SD?
Many developed countries already have national strategies in place and are only now developing departmental ones to operationalize the commitments relative to them. Canada must now develop either a federal or national strategy as an overarching framework for the departmental strategies. Canada made a commitment along with other countries at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 to have a national sustainable development strategy in place by the end of 2005,
6. What about the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)?
In 1992, the first Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This conference brought global attention to the intricate links between social, economic and environmental issues, and produced Agenda 21, a programme of actions to achieve SD. Marking the 10-year anniversary of the first Earth Summit in 1992, government, civil society and private sector representatives convened in Johannesburg in late August of 2002 for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The international community gathered to review progress, discuss SD issues and to solidify an action plan for further implementation of Agenda 21. The result of these consultations was the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JpoI) agreed to by participating governments.
Discussions continue in Ottawa as to how the federal government will manage its commitments in the JPoI. Four departments have incorporated the commitments for which they have the lead into their departmental strategies but others have not done so.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (EA), project EA and EA of grants and contributions
7. What is an environmental assessment?
Environmental assessment is a process for identifying, predicting, evaluating, mitigating and managing environmental impacts from proposed initiatives. Environmental assessment is a powerful tool for sustainable development that assists in integrating environmental considerations and public input into government decision-making.
8. What is the relationship between a sustainable development strategy and environmental assessments?
Environmental assessments are tangible components of the sustainable development strategy of FAC and ITCan, Agenda 2006. To achieve the goals outlined in Agenda 2006, each Department is accountable to Parliament to report how their actions mitigate any environmental risks as well as support sustainable development.
9. What are the most common types of environmental assessments that FAC and ITCan conduct?
FAC and ITCan engage in two main types of environmental assessment - project environmental assessment and strategic environmental assessment.
Project environmental assessment is a requirement under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) and pertains mainly to initiatives with physical attributes, such as the construction of a building or parking lot. The Projects Outside Canada Environmental Assessment Regulations (POC Regulations), which came into force in November 1996, clarify the obligations of federal departments and agencies for conducting environmental assessments outside Canada.
Strategic environmental assessment, on the other hand, is a non-statutory requirement under the 2004 Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals. It is a systematic process for evaluating the environmental consequences of policies, plans, programs or proposals to ensure that they are addressed early in the decision-making process on par with economic and social considerations.
10. How do FAC and ITCan conduct these environmental assessments?
Policies and guidelines are available on how to conduct strategic and project environmental assessments for FAC and ITCan based on legislated and Cabinet requirements.
Project Environmental Assessments: Guidelines for Conducting Environmental Assessments of Projects Outside Canada
Strategic Environmental Assessments: Guidelines for Conducting Strategic Environmental Assessments of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals
Environmental Assessments of Trade and Investment Negotiations: Framework for Conducting Environmental Assessments of Trade Negotiations and Handbook for Conducting Environmental Assessments of Trade Negotiations.
11. When do FAC and ITCan conduct these environmental assessments?
Project Environmental Assessment: An environmental assessment under CEAA and the POC Regulations is required when there is a project as defined under CEAA that is not excluded, and a federal authority is taking a decision on the project such as being a proponent, funding, land interest or regulatory requirement.
Strategic Environmental Assessment: Ministers expect a strategic environmental assessment of a policy, plan or program proposal to be conducted when the following two conditions are met:
i. the proposal is submitted to an individual Minister or Cabinet for approval; and
ii. implementation of the proposal may result in important environmental impacts, either positive or negative.
12. For which types of initiatives do FAC and ITCan undertake environmental assessments?
Project Environmental Assessment: FAC undertakes environmental assessments for real property initiatives, such as building an embassy, and for projects arising from funding programs, such as the dismantling of nuclear submarines in Russia under the Global Partnership Program.
Strategic Environmental Assessment: FAC undertakes strategic environmental assessments for Memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board submissions and for other policy, plan and program initiatives as appropriate.
Environmental Assessment of Trade Negotiations: The Framework for Conducting Environmental Assessments of Trade Negotiations is applied to negotiations for bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade negotiations, as well as negotiations for Foreign Investment Protection Agreements (FIPAs).
13. Who conducts these environmental assessments?
Project Environmental Assessments: FAC Officers or third parties (e.g., consultants) complete project environmental assessments depending on the nature of the project and receiving environment according to departmental Guidelines.
Strategic Environmental Assessments: FAC and ITcan Policy Officers responsible for a given proposal complete the strategic environmental assessment according to the departmental Guidelines. In the case of an EA of a trade negotiation, interdepartmental committees are established, and the lead negotiator acts as the chair of the committee.
The Sustainable Development Division provides guidance and assistance to officers conducting all types of environmental assessments.
14. What challenges are faced when conducting environmental assessments of policies, plan and program proposals as compared to environmental assessments of projects?
Assessing the environmental implications of policies, plan and program proposals are generally conducted at a higher level than project assessments due to the increased uncertainly of outcomes and the influencing variables involved. This uncertainty is compounded by limitations on scientific data and constraints on the predictability of policy outcomes. Relatively speaking, environmental assessments of projects deal with site specific variables that are tangible and more easily quantified.
15. Do FAC and ITCan also conduct Environmental Assessments of Grants and Contributions?
Environmental Assessment of Grants and Contributions: Following the recommendations of a 1995 study by the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development on financial disincentives to sustainable development, an environmental assessment form and guidance document for was developed for use by FAC and ITCan officers administering grants or contributions. This initiative reflects a commitment made in Agenda 2003 to develop a program to evaluate the environmental consequences of its grants and contributions to domestic and international bodies.
Environmental Management
16. What does it mean to "green operations"?
To green operations is to integrate environmental considerations into day-to-day operations. It ensures that operations are conducted in a manner consistent with good environmental stewardship principles and practices while taking into account competing demands on financial and human resources. The typical areas which are targeted for greening operations are: procurement, waste management, water use, energy use, vehicle fleet management, land use management, human resources and project environmental assessments.
17. What is an environmental management system (EMS)?
An environmental management system (EMS) is a framework used to manage an organization's environmental affairs in relation to its physical operations. It is a structured approach which allows for setting environmental objectives and targets, achieving these and demonstrating that they have been achieved. It encompasses practices, procedures, and processes for implementing environmental management, monitoring and reporting on progress, and ensuring that environmental goals are being met effectively and efficiently.
An EMS should form part of an organization's overall management system and have at its core an environmental policy endorsed by senior management. An EMS establishes standard practices, procedures, processes, roles and responsibilities to implement the policy, with designated resources to establish and maintain an environmental program.
FAC's EMS is designed to manage the environmental affairs related to our physical operations. The EMS encompasses policies, practices, procedures, and processes for implementing environmental management principles, monitoring and reporting on progress, and ensuring that environmental goals are being met effectively and efficiently. It also provides a framework to ensure that environmental risks and liabilities are properly identified, minimized, managed and/or eliminated.
18. What is the International Organization for Standardization's (ISO) 14000 series? (www.iso.org)
ISO 14000 is a series of international, voluntary environmental management standards.
The ISO series of standards effectively address the needs of organizations worldwide by providing a common framework for managing environmental issues; they promise to effect a broadly based improvement in environmental management, which in turn can facilitate trade and improve environmental performance worldwide
19. What are the key elements of an environmental management system (EMS)?
According to International Organization for Standardization's (ISO) 14000 series the key elements of an EMS are:
1) Commitment and Environmental Policy
2) Planning: Goals, Objectives, and Targets
3) Environmental Management Program
4) Auditing and Corrective Action
5) Management Review
6) Continual Improvement
20. What is the relationship between a sustainable development strategy (SDS) and an environmental management system (EMS)?
An EMS is an important component of a SDS. It sets out the department's environmental policy and action plan to achieve its sustainable development objectives related to physical operations. It encompasses practices, procedures, and processes for implementing the commitments set out in the SDS as well as monitoring and reporting on progress. An EMS helps to ensure that environmental goals are being met effectively and efficiently.
21. What priority areas are identified in Foreign Affairs Canada's environmental management system?
The EMS is focused on twelve priority areas: contaminated sites, fuel storage tanks, ozone depleting substances, energy, procurement, land use management, water, solid waste, sustainable buildings, hazardous materials, emergency response and vehicle fleet. Environmental objectives, targets and action plans are developed and updated annually as established by the EMS Committee for each priority area, taking into account the local infrastructure, size of mission and economic feasibility.
22. Does Foreign Affairs Canada celebrate Environment Week?
Foreign Affairs Canada celebrates Environment Week every June with weeklong activities to engage employees on environmental issues. This helps to increase awareness among employees on what can be done to be more environmentally minded in the workplace and in the home. Highlights of past Environment Week activities include roundtable discussions, noon hour films, photo contests, and nature walks.
United Nations Human Settlements Programme and World Urban Forum
23. What is the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat)?
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the UN focal point
for work on human settlements. UN-Habitat is mandated by the UN General
Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with
the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. To oversee the functioning of UN-Habitat, UN-Habitat's Executive Director is United Nations Under Secretary-General Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka. The Executive Director and UN-Habitat are based in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Governing Council is the governing structure of UN-Habitat and reports directly to the UN General Assembly through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It has a membership of 58, which is made up of 16 seats from Africa, 13 from Asia, six from Eastern Europe, ten from Latin America and the Caribbean, and 13 from Western Europe and other states. Canada was elected for the period 2005-2008.
The Governing Council meets every two years to approve UN-Habitat's work program and budget. It also provides overall policy guidance, direction and supervision to UN-Habitat.
The Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) serves as the inter-sessional subsidiary body of the Governing Council. The CPR meets four times a year, with Working Groups created from the Committee to focus on budget and programme issues.
UN-HABITAT promotes awareness and action in the area of human settlements worldwide. To support the HABITAT agenda, two main campaigns are in place: (1) the Global Campaign for Secure Tenure; and, (2) the Global Campaign on Urban Governance. UN-Habitat also oversees two key global events: World Habitat Day (annually on the first Monday in October) and the World Urban Forum.
24. What is UN-Habitat's World Urban Forum?
Occurring every two years, in-between the Governing Councils, the World Urban Forum (WUF) offers an opportunity for those involved in sustainable urbanization to share experiences.
The WUF is a key international event on cities, shelter and urbanization. WUF does not follow formal rules of procedure that usually govern official UN meetings. It is unique because proceedings are kept informal to encourage frank discussion between government leaders, local authorities, non-governmental organizations, grass-roots movements, urban professionals, academics, youth and the private sector.
Reports and recommendations from the WUF III will be submitted by the Executive Director to the Governing Council of UN-HABITAT for consideration and appropriate action.
The third World Urban Forum (WUFIII) will be hosted by Canada in Vancouver from June 19-23, 2006 with over 6,000 delegates from over 100 countries expected to attend.
25. Who will be attending the WUF III?
The WUF III is open to everyone who has an interest in the welfare and future of cities. This will include government leaders, local authorities, non-governmental organizations, grass-roots movements, urban professionals, academics, youth and the private sector. There is no admission charged to enter the Forum site. To be admitted into the WUF III, all interested participants must register on www.wuf3-fum3.ca.
26. What are the themes of WUF III?
Canada has successfully advanced an action-oriented theme "Sustainable Cities: Turning Ideas Into Action" which will provide opportunities to address issues related to planning, finance, energy, security, governance and social cohesion in an urban context.
The three sub-themes address the various dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economic. One day will be devoted to discuss and engage Forum participants on each sub-theme with dialogue sessions and networking events.
1. "Urban Growth and Environment" will focus on urban planning and energy.
2. "Social Inclusion and Cohesion" will focus on slum upgrading and public engagement.
3. "Partnership and Finance" will focus on municipal finance and urban safety.
27. Why is Canada hosting the WUF III?
In August 2002, at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Prime Minister extended an invitation to host the Third World Urban Forum in Vancouver, June 2006.
The year 2006 will mark the 30th anniversary of Habitat 1 held in Vancouver in 1976, the birth of UN-Habitat. It is also an occasion to position Canada as a global leader in sustainable development.
28. How is FAC involved in the WUF III?
FAC works closely with the WUF Canada Organizing Secretariat, facilitating preparations at headquarters in Ottawa and at Canadian Embassies and High Commissions ("missions") around the world. The Environment and Sustainable Development Affairs Bureau provides on-going advice on international human settlements issues and on Canada's responsibilities as host of this event, including on a host country agreement, programme and logistics, visa and protocol issues, as well as liaising with the missions, and distributing information messages to missions.
29. Is the WUF III programme designed to be interactive?
Yes, the Forum is designed to promote discussions and spur plans of actions among its participants. The physical layout of the Forum will allow participants to walk among various local, national and international expositions on various urban issues. Areas of
the Conference Centre will facilitate the gathering of ideas pre- and post events with cafes and sitting areas. The content of the Forum will encourage dialogue and interaction on the various dimensions of sustainable development, to include dialogue
sessions, and networking events.
30. What was the Habitat JAM?
The Habitat JAM was a three-day on-line discussion on urban issues, including security, sanitation, governance and the environment, held from December 1-3, 2005.
The Habitat Jam was a lead-up event to the WUF III. The content of the online discussions will be developed into a report of common ideas and themes. This will then be filtered into the dialogue sessions at the WUF III.
Advanced technology will be used to attempt to reach 100,000+ participants from around the world simultaneously, track the discussion, and extract key issues and actionable solutions with the objective of informing the WUF III proceedings.
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