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From
the Minister of National Defence
In the years since the United Nations Commission on Environment
and Development (UNCED) first coined the phrase "sustainable
development", the practical dimensions of "development
that meets
the needs of the present without compromising those of future
generations" have assumed an increasingly high profile
in the daily activities of government, business and industry.
The pragmatic application of sustainable development principles
assumes ever greater urgency as increasing evidence of environmental
degradation prompts such international measures as the Kyoto
Protocol on greenhouse gases, the Montreal Protocol on halocarbon
releases, and the Basel Convention on the transboundary shipment
of hazardous waste.
In 1995, the Government of Canada
responded to this challenge
both abroad and at home. Amendments to the Auditor General Act
have created a legislated requirement for Ministers to table
in Parliament their plans for achieving sustainable development
and to update those plans at least every three years.
The Department of National Defence's
Sustainable Development Strategy 2003 recognizes the environmental
impacts of our activities on the world around us. It declares
our commitment to minimize negative impacts and sets out a plan
for achieving positive outcomes in terms of our stewardship
of Canadian lands. The Defence Environmental Management System
provides the management framework for achieving that plan. These
two tools provide realistic targets as well as clear direction
to members of the Defence team.
I am confident that the Department
of National Defence and the Canadian Forces will continue to
show leadership in support of this important government initiative.
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