The 2026-2029 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy

Message from the Minister

Sustainable development is about building a stronger, more resilient, and more prosperous Canada. One that protects our environment, creates good jobs and economic opportunities, supports communities and the people in them, and improves the quality of life for Canadians today and for generations to come.

Clean air and clean water support healthy communities, strong ecosystems, and a thriving economy. Clean, reliable, and affordable energy can help families and businesses manage costs while powering our homes, transportation, industries, and the technologies of the future. Stronger, more resilient communities are better prepared for floods, wildfires, and other climate-related challenges. And building sustainably means that we can meet today’s needs without making life harder for future generations. It also means creating safe, healthy communities where Canadians feel included and a sense of belonging. The 2026-2029 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy sets out our government’s sustainable development priorities for the next three years. It provides a framework for advancing a cleaner environment, stronger communities, and a competitive, prosperous economy while establishing a plan to track progress and strengthen accountability.

Canada’s sixth Federal Sustainable Development Strategy comes at a time of significant change. Canadians are navigating affordability pressures, economic transformation, climate impacts, and evolving global and geopolitical challenges. These realities reinforce the importance of building a Canada that is more resilient, competitive, and energy secure. They also create opportunities to invest in infrastructure, innovation, and clean growth that will strengthen our economy and communities for decades to come.

The Strategy reflects input from 59 federal organizations, as well as feedback received from Canadians and stakeholders through public consultation. I sincerely thank all the participants who took the time to share their views. Your feedback helped strengthen the Strategy by improving its structure, clarifying how progress will be measured, and further integrating equity, accessibility, and Indigenous perspectives.

Building a stronger and more sustainable Canada is a shared effort. It requires collaboration among all orders of government, provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, businesses, non-governmental organizations, communities, and Canadians across the country.

Over the coming year, each federal department will develop its own Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy, setting out the actions it will take to advance the federal Strategy within its organization. Departments will also measure and report on their progress to support transparency and accountability.

Canada’s sustainable future will be shaped by the choices and investments we make today. By working together to build clean, reliable, and affordable energy systems; protect our natural environment; build safe and inclusive communities; strengthen community resilience; and support innovation and economic growth, we can create lasting benefits for Canadians.

The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, P.C., M.P.
Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature

List of contributing federal organizations

The Federal Sustainable Development Act requires federal organizations named in Schedule I, I.1, and II of the Financial Administration Act to contribute to the development of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS). The following federal organizations contributed to the development of this FSDS.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)
Canada Energy Regulator (CER)
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Canada School of Public Service (CSPS)
Canada Water Agency (CWA)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Canadian Heritage (PCH)
Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC)
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)
Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
Correctional Service Canada (CSC)
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)
Department of Finance Canada (FIN)
Department of Justice Canada (JUS)
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor)
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
Health Canada (HC)
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC)
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
Invest in Canada (IIC)
Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI)
Library and Archives Canada (LAC)
National Capital Commission (NCC)
National Defence (DND)
National Film Board (NFB)
National Research Council Canada (NRC)
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (OSFI)
Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan)
Parks Canada (PC)
Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR)
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
Privy Council Office (PCO)
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
Public Safety Canada (PS)
Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC)
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
Shared Services Canada (SSC)
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
Statistics Canada (StatCan)
Transport Canada (TC)
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS)
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC)
Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE)

Introduction

About the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy

Sustainable development means meeting the needs of the present without compromising those of future generations. It involves improving quality of life by balancing environmental protection, economic growth, and social inclusion. A healthy environment underpins a strong Canadian economy and a more resilient and inclusive society. By taking a sustainable approach, Canada strengthens communities, fosters innovation, advances clean growth, and builds a healthier, more equitable future.

The 2026-2029 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS, the Strategy) sets out the Government of Canada’s sustainable development priorities, along with corresponding goals and targets, and federal plans to achieve them. It is Canada’s legislated, whole-of-government framework for sustainable development and is renewed every three years as required under the Federal Sustainable Development Act (the Act).

The Act lists seven principles to consider in the development of sustainable development strategies:

• efficient use of natural, social, and economic resources with integrated decision-making
• recognizing sustainable development as a continually evolving concept
• intergenerational equity
• openness and transparency
• involving Indigenous Peoples
• collaboration
• a results and delivery approach

The 2026-2029 FSDS is the sixth Strategy developed since the Act came into force in 2008. Unless stated otherwise, information in this Strategy is current as of October 2026.

How the FSDS is organized and how to read it

The Strategy is organized to reflect how sustainable development works in practice. Environmental systems, social conditions, and economic activity are closely interconnected and shape one another over time, and progress in one area supports progress in others.

To reflect this, the FSDS is structured into four interconnected sections:

• "Protecting Canada’s environment" focuses on environmental systems—such as ecosystems, climate, air, water, and land—that underpin human health, community well‑being, and economic activity
• "Supporting people and communities" focuses on social conditions and lived experiences, including access to essential resources, protection from harm, and a sense of belonging
• "Building a strong and low‑carbon economy" focuses on economic outcomes, including productivity, competitiveness, and access to opportunity, while supporting the transition to a low‑carbon economy within environmental limits
• "Reducing the federal government's environmental impact through the Greening Government Strategy" focuses on advancing net-zero government operations, strengthening climate resilience across federal assets, services, and activities, as well as advancing other environmental performance indicators

These sections are designed to be read together.

Within each section, goals are ordered to reflect how progress builds over time. Earlier goals focus on foundational conditions, while later goals capture the outcomes that emerge as those conditions improve. The order of goals and targets does not indicate priority—all goals are pursued at the same time and reinforce each other.

Why the FSDS matters

The FSDS shows how federal actions are aligned with shared Canadian priorities. These include addressing climate change, building a strong and resilient economy, advancing reconciliation and inclusion, and improving quality of life.

The Strategy focuses on areas within federal responsibilities and authority, while recognizing that achieving outcomes depends on actions taken across Canada by provinces and territories, municipalities, Indigenous governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals.

In this context, the FSDS supports alignment and collaboration by helping to connect federal actions with broader efforts across the country. By setting clear targets, the Strategy helps ensure that the linkages and synergies across environmental, social, and economic priorities are better understood and that actions contribute to shared long-term outcomes.

How the FSDS is implemented

Under the Act, each federal organization required to contribute to the FSDS must prepare its own Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS) within one year of the federal strategy's tabling. DSDSs set out the actions organizations will take to support FSDS targets.

The FSDS sets out high-level goals, measurable targets, and implementation strategies. Goals reflect the Government of Canada's sustainable development priorities. Targets, supported by indicators, are specific, measurable objectives that contribute to achieving those goals. Implementation strategies set out the federal actions that support each target. Departmental actions, identified in DSDSs, are the concrete activities that contribute directly to these implementation strategies.

Federal organizations must reflect the seven principles set out in the Act (efficient use of resources with integrated decision-making; sustainable development is a continually evolving concept; intergenerational equity; openness and transparency; involving Indigenous Peoples; collaboration; and a results and delivery approach) in their DSDSs and DSDS reports. They also integrate the FSDS into decision-making through the Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessments of proposals submitted to Cabinet. A specific section of these assessments examines how proposals may affect FSDS goals and targets.

While the FSDS focuses on federal roles and responsibilities, it can also inspire and support broader action across Canada. Provinces and territories play key roles in areas such as natural resource management, land use, education, health care, and infrastructure. Municipalities shape communities through decisions about transit, housing, and local planning, among other areas. Together, these orders of government contribute to the national objectives found in the Strategy. Indigenous governments and communities provide essential leadership grounded in Indigenous Knowledge, rights, and governance systems, stewarding lands and waters in ways that support long-term sustainability.

Civil society organizations advance community-based solutions. Business and industry are essential partners in delivering FSDS outcomes through investment, innovation, supply chains, and operational practices. Individual Canadians also play an important role through everyday choices and community action.

How progress is measured and reported

Under the Act, the Minister responsible for Environment and Climate Change Canada must report at least once during each three-year FSDS cycle on progress toward achieving the FSDS targets. Federal organizations must also track and publicly report annually, for at least two years after tabling their DSDSs, on the actions they are making in support of these targets.

The FSDS Progress Report is the Government of Canada’s primary accountability mechanism for assessing progress toward FSDS targets. The 2025 Progress Report on the 2022-2026 FSDS was released in December 2025. To support continuity between FSDS cycles, information on which 2022-2026 FSDS targets have been carried forward to the 2026-2029 FSDS can be found in Annex 1.

The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development supports federal accountability by reviewing each draft FSDS, assessing progress reports, and evaluating the extent to which organizations are implementing their DSDSs and achieving their targets.

Together, these mechanisms help the federal government assess progress, inform action, and advance sustainable development for current and future generations. More information about performance measurement is found in Annex 2.

How this Strategy was developed

The Sustainable Development Office, housed within Environment and Climate Change Canada, coordinates the development of the FSDS. The Strategy was developed collaboratively with 59 federal organizations, ensuring a whole-of-government approach. A full list of participating organizations can be found at the beginning of this Strategy.

The FSDS reflects the seven principles set out in the Act and reaffirms the Government of Canada’s commitment to advancing reconciliation and upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples, as reflected in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

To promote policy coherence and respect Canada’s international commitments, the FSDS focuses on the federal government's role in advancing sustainable development in Canada with consideration for the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Where possible, indicators are aligned with key Canadian frameworks, including the Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) and the Quality of Life Framework (QoL). The CIF is a tool created to measure and track Canada's domestic progress toward the SDGs. The QoL measures well-being in Canada and supports federal budgeting and policy development.

Aligning with these frameworks helps promote coordinated action to advance sustainable development across the Government of Canada while supporting Canada’s domestic and international commitments.

Listening to Canadians

From January to May 2026, Environment and Climate Change Canada invited Canadians to share their views on the draft 2026-2029 FSDS through a public consultation. The input from the consultation helped shape the Strategy and supported federal organizations in developing their own sustainable development strategies.

A wide range of respondents took part including individuals, businesses, labour representatives, non-governmental organizations, Indigenous governments and organizations, and provincial, territorial, and municipal governments. The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Sustainable Development Advisory Council also gave their input.

More than 1,400 people and organizations from across Canada participated, reflecting diverse regions, sectors, and perspectives, including different age groups and identities. Respondents shared over 4,000 comments through online questionnaires, meetings, webinars, and in-person events, as well as more than 200 written submissions. Youth, students, academics, and local communities offered their perspectives during university engagement sessions.

What we heard

Areas of strong support

Respondents across sectors and regions expressed strong support for the overall direction of the draft Strategy. Many noted that it provided a comprehensive framework that brings together environmental, social, and economic priorities, and reflects key issues facing Canada today in a clear and accessible way.

Respondents also welcomed the three-pillar structure and the inclusion of a dedicated focus on building an inclusive and resilient society, alongside clean growth and environmental protection.

Across groups—including governments, Indigenous organizations, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and individuals—there was broad agreement that the FSDS sets out a strong foundation to advance sustainable development and aligns with widely recognized principles and frameworks.

The full What We Heard report can be accessed on our website.

Your suggestions and what we did

Respondents identified several areas where the Strategy could be strengthened. Their feedback directly informed key changes to the final FSDS.

Respondents called for improved structure, clarity, and prioritization, including fewer goals and clearer relationships between different parts of the Strategy.

• In response, the Strategy has been reorganized to better reflect how sustainable development works in practice and to make it easier to understand and navigate. The FSDS now begins with environmental goals, followed by social and economic goals. The number of goals has been reduced while narrative content has also been streamlined to enhance readability.

Many respondents highlighted the importance of integrated, systems-based approaches, noting that the interconnections between environmental, social, and economic issues should be better reflected.

• In response, some goals were consolidated and the narrative was strengthened to better connect priorities throughout the document. The revised content more clearly demonstrates how actions in one area support outcomes in others, reflecting a more integrated approach to sustainable development.

A consistent message across submissions was the need for clearer implementation and delivery. While the FSDS sets out important goals, it could provide more clarity on how they will be achieved or measured.

• In response, the Strategy includes strengthened implementation strategies and clarifies how implementation will be carried out and how the federal government works with partners (i.e., provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations). To improve readability, program and initiative details have been moved to Annex 3, allowing the main Strategy to focus on priorities and outcomes. Additional details on how federal organizations will implement the FSDS will be provided in their 2027-2030 DSDSs.

Respondents called for stronger accountability and transparency, including interim targets for long-term targets, clearer alignment with other frameworks, and greater continuity across FSDS cycles.

• In response, interim targets were added to the Strategy to strengthen near-term accountability. Links to the CIF, the QoL, and the SDGs have also been made clearer. To improve continuity, information on how targets from the 2022-2026 FSDS have been carried forward to the 2026-2029 FSDS has been included in Annex 1.

Respondents from equity-deserving groups—including persons with disabilities, racialized communities, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, newcomers, and official language minority communities—emphasized that equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility should be more clearly reflected throughout the FSDS and translated into concrete actions.

• In response, the Strategy better embeds equity considerations across goals, targets, and implementation strategies. Federal organizations will be encouraged to include disaggregated performance indicators, where available, in their 2027-2030 DSDSs.

Indigenous respondents—including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis individuals, governments, and organizations—emphasized the importance of Indigenous leadership, self-determination, and distinctions-based approaches throughout the Strategy.

• In response, the FSDS’s narrative was strengthened to better reflect the importance of working with Indigenous governments, organizations, and rights holders. Additional content has also been included to support Indigenous self-determination, self-governance, and overall prosperity.

Respondents identified gaps in content and areas for stronger focus, including sectors such as energy, agriculture, and well-being.

• In response, the Strategy contains an additional target on mental health and the target on the financial health of farms was replaced with a target on sustainable agriculture. An implementation strategy has also been revised to better highlight the role of the energy sector in supporting sustainable development.

Respondents noted that national goals and targets do not always reflect the realities of different regions and communities.

• In response, the goal narrative was updated across the FSDS to better reflect regional and community challenges and priorities.

Input from advisory and oversight bodies—the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development; the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources; and the Sustainable Development Advisory Council—reinforced many of these themes and the importance of a clear, results-driven Strategy.

Continuing the conversation

Although the final FSDS has been tabled in Parliament, this is an ongoing conversation. Sustainable development is a shared responsibility and it is never too late to share your thoughts on how to build a more sustainable path forward. The Sustainable Development Office wants to hear from you as the government implements this Strategy and plans for the future.

We invite you to provide comments on your sustainable development priorities, goals, and targets, and tell us how to improve future strategies. You can contact us at SDO-BDD@ec.gc.ca.

Protecting Canada’s environment

The environmental systems that support life, health, a stable climate, and economic activity in Canada are interconnected and essential. Healthy ecosystems, clean air and water, and responsible resource use provide the foundations on which social well-being and economic prosperity depend. Protecting these systems supports public health, underpins sustainable economic growth and job creation, and strengthens both ecosystem and economic resilience while helping to ensure that the needs of the present are met without compromising those of future generations.

The goals in this section follow a clear logic. They start with the state of land, water, and biodiversity in Canada, which are the foundation of a sustainable economy and a healthy society. The goals then address climate change, which increases risks across environmental, social, and economic systems. The remaining goals focus on the pressures that continue to degrade ecosystems and affect human health, including air and water pollution, waste, and unsustainable resource use.

The federal government's own operations are also part of these systems. Through decisions on procurement, transportation, buildings, and resource use, it can reduce its footprint while advancing sustainability objectives and showing leadership. Integrating sustainability into government operations makes federal action more credible and reinforces that sustainable development is a shared responsibility. For more information on the Government of Canada's approach to greening its operations, see "Reducing the federal government's environmental impact through the Greening Government Strategy" at the end of this FSDS.

Goal: Canada has healthy lands, waters, and biodiversity

Land, water, and biodiversity are essential to Canada’s identity, well‑being, and prosperity. Healthy ecosystems support physical and mental health, culture, recreation, and livelihoods, while reducing climate risks such as flooding, drought, and extreme temperatures.

But these interconnected environmental systems remain under pressure. Habitat loss, ecosystem degradation, pollution, and declining biodiversity continue to affect our natural environment, including species at risk. They also reduce nature’s ability to provide clean water, food, and medicine, as well as to regulate the climate by absorbing and storing carbon. These pressures are often driven by the cumulative impacts of activities across sectors—including resource development, agriculture, infrastructure, and urban expansion—which interact over time and across ecosystems. Together, they weaken ecosystem resilience, lower quality of life, and put pressure on communities and local economies.

These impacts are not abstract. Agriculture, forestry, fishing, tourism, and other activities all depend on healthy ecosystems. In addition, a 2025 survey found that nature and national parks ranked as the most meaningful sources of Canadian identity. These connections are especially strong in rural, coastal, northern, and Indigenous communities, where land and water shape livelihoods, culture, and daily life.

Protecting lands and waters requires coordinated action. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, including modern treaty holders and self-governing Indigenous governments, have distinct rights related to the natural environment and play a central role as stewards of nature. Provincial, territorial, and municipal governments also play key roles through land-use planning, the designation and recognition of protected and conserved areas, and local conservation initiatives. The federal government contributes by protecting, conserving, and restoring nature, including through managing contaminated sites for which it is responsible; supporting stewardship and collaborative conservation with Indigenous Peoples, community partners, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector; supporting the recognition of other effective area-based conservation measures; and integrating the value of nature in federal decision-making.

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Support the recovery, protection, restoration, resiliency, and sustainable use of Canada’s terrestrial, freshwater, marine, and coastal ecosystems through protected and conserved areas such as national parks, privately protected areas, marine protected areas, national marine conservation areas, other effective area-based conservation measures, and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas.

• CSA, CWA, DFO, DND, ECCC, JCCBI, NRC, PC, TC

Implementation strategy: Promote and provide access to Canada’s natural heritage, encouraging Canadians to learn more about the environment and connect with nature, including in urban environments.

• NCC, PC

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Regularly review regulatory and policy tools to ensure their effectiveness in the legislated protection of Canada’s wildlife.

• ECCC, PC

Implementation strategy: Partner with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples, provinces, territories, municipalities, non-governmental organizations, and private landowners through bilateral/multilateral agreements, funding programs, and other tools to protect Canada’s wild plants and animals.

• DFO, ECCC, NCC, NRCan, PC

Implementation strategy: Prevent, detect, respond to, control, and manage invasive alien species and plant pests, and address the illegal wildlife trade in Canada by working with domestic and international partners.

• CBSA, CFIA, DFO, ECCC, NCC, NRCan, PC, TC

Goal: Canada reduces greenhouse gas emissions

Climate change is already affecting communities across Canada and placing growing pressure on the ecosystems that support life and economic activity. Extreme weather is becoming more frequent and severe, straining infrastructure, food systems, housing, and public health. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the most direct way to slow these impacts and reduce future risks, while also supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy and helping position Canadian industries to compete in global markets that are increasingly demanding low-carbon options. In addition, reducing greenhouse gas emissions improves air quality and supports peoples' health.

Since 1970, Canada has warmed nearly twice as fast as the global average and the Canadian Arctic has warmed three times as fast. This makes sustained emissions reductions urgent. Canada committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement to help limit the global temperature increase to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C over the long term. Canada has also enshrined in legislation the federal government's commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act.

Climate change affects some groups more than others. Indigenous communities often face higher risks due to their close connections to the land, as well as the realities of living in rural, remote, and northern regions. Ongoing social and economic inequities can make these impacts more severe for vulnerable populations. Reducing emissions, protecting carbon stored in nature, and transitioning to clean energy can help reduce these risks and support communities as they adapt to changing conditions.

Cutting emissions requires coordinated action to reduce emissions at their source across sectors of the economy. All orders of government, Indigenous Peoples, businesses, and individuals play a crucial role. The federal government partners with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous governments and Peoples, and industry to support clean growth and ensure that major decisions align with Canada's long-term emissions trajectory.

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Advance the development and deployment of clean energy, including clean electricity and clean fuels, and modernized energy systems to accelerate renewable generation, energy storage, grid modernization, and low-emissions energy production.

• CER, CRA, ECCC, FIN, NRC, NRCan

Implementation strategy: Support emissions reductions in Canada’s resource extraction and primary processing sectors, including mining, forestry, agriculture, and related industrial activities.

• AAFC, CRA, ECCC, NRC, NRCan

Implementation strategy: Develop and implement solutions to support emissions reductions in high-emissions sectors, including transportation, heavy industry, buildings, waste, and manufacturing.

• CRA, ECCC, FIN, HICC, ISED, JCCBI, NRC, PSPC, TC

Implementation strategy: Work with provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, and municipalities to accelerate decarbonization through partnerships and engagement activities, including with National Indigenous Organizations and Indigenous rights holders, organizations, and community leaders.

• ECCC, HICC, NRCan, TC

Goal: Canada reduces environmental pressures on water, air, and soil

Clean water, clean air, and healthy soil are essential to health, well-being, biodiversity, and a strong economy. They support safe drinking water, food production, recreation, and cultural practices, while sustaining the ecosystems that communities depend on. Protecting these interconnected environmental systems reduces direct risks to human health, strengthens resilience to climate change, and helps ensure that people and communities can continue to benefit from clean and productive ecosystems.

Despite progress in many areas, human activities continue to place pressure on water, air, and soil across Canada. While many of Canada's freshwater ecosystems are in good condition, human activities continue to affect lakes, rivers, and watersheds, reducing water quality and creating environmental, social, and economic costs. These pressures also affect air quality: while more Canadians now live in areas meeting national standards, extreme weather events, such as wildfires, can quickly reverse progress. Soil degradation, contamination, and unsustainable land-use practices can also affect agricultural productivity, water quality, and long-term environmental health. Improving environmental quality reduces health care and infrastructure costs, supports economic activity, and improves quality of life for communities across Canada.

First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, whose relationships to water, land, and food systems are deeply connected to cultural identity and well-being, often face disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards and pollution. Communities in rural, remote, and northern regions may have less access to water treatment infrastructure and fewer resources to respond with when environmental quality declines. Children, older adults, people with pre-existing health conditions, and those with lower socio-economic status are also more vulnerable to pollution and other environmental risks.

Freshwater governance in Canada is complex. Responsibilities are shared between federal, provincial, municipal, and Indigenous governments, and with the United States for boundary and transboundary waters. The federal government shares the responsibility for wastewater systems on reserves with First Nations communities while regulating wastewater systems in Canada where provinces, territories, and municipalities don’t have primary jurisdiction. Air quality management requires collaboration across jurisdictions and with industry and international partners. Soil quality likewise depends on coordinated standards, monitoring, and stewardship. The federal government contributes through environmental regulation, monitoring, research, freshwater protection initiatives, pollution prevention measures, and collaboration with Indigenous governments, provinces, territories, municipalities, industry, and international partners.

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Deliver, enable, or support ecosystem protection and pollution prevention initiatives in the water bodies prioritized under the Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives, including supporting partner and Indigenous-led efforts as well as investments in infrastructure.

• CNSC, CWA, DFO

Implementation strategy: Advance research, monitoring, and data availability/collection for decision-making on water quality and quantity, and provide expert guidance in partnership with Indigenous, provincial, and territorial governments, and domestic and international partners.

• CWA, ECCC, HC, NRCan

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Promote and enforce regulatory compliance and invest in priority wastewater projects, including support for First Nations communities in identifying priority infrastructure projects, capacity building, and securing financial support.

• ECCC, HICC, ISC

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Develop, administer, and enforce regulatory and non-regulatory measures to reduce air pollution from industry, transportation, and other sources, and support and collaborate with Indigenous, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments.

• CSA, ECCC, HC, NRC, TC

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Build knowledge for sustainable agriculture and the safety of food systems through research on their impacts on land, biodiversity, air, soil, water, and risk management tools.

• AAFC, CSA, HC

Implementation strategy: Develop and promote sustainable agricultural practices that increase climate resiliency, improve carbon sequestration, improve air and water quality, regenerate soil, improve biodiversity, and protect sensitive habitat and natural resources.

• AAFC, CWA, ECCC, NCC, NRC

Goal: Reduce waste in Canada

Reducing waste is essential to protecting ecosystems, human health, and long-term resource sustainability. Inefficient use of materials puts more pressure on lands, waters, and biodiversity, and contributes to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Moving toward a circular economy—where materials are reused, repaired, refurbished, and recycled—reduces resource use, limits pollution, and lowers emissions while also supporting healthier communities and local economic growth.

Waste generation strains natural systems and creates direct risks for human health and the environment. Industrial, construction, and household activities produce waste at every stage, from production to disposal. When collection and recovery infrastructure is limited or absent, waste enters the environment rather than being reused. In 2024, Canada generated 36.1 million tonnes of solid waste, of which only 8.6 million tonnes were diverted. Plastics that are not recovered can persist in landfills, enter waterways, and accumulate in food chains, creating long-term environmental risks. Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (“ghost gear”) in oceans and waterways pose ongoing risks to marine species and aquatic ecosystems, adding to the sustainability challenges of our natural resources and biodiversity.

Northern, remote, and Indigenous communities often face limited access to waste management infrastructure, recycling programs, and safe disposal options. These constraints can increase exposure to environmental and health risks, especially when waste is openly burned.

Reducing waste requires coordinated action across sectors of the economy, from the design and production of goods to their use, recovery, and end of life. Responsibilities are distributed across all orders of government, including efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of their operations, with significant roles for industry, communities, and individuals. The federal government works with partners across jurisdictions, with Indigenous rights holders, and with industry, academia, and communities to reduce waste, prevent pollution, protect ecosystems, and advance a circular economy across Canada.

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Reduce waste and marine pollution, including plastics and "ghost gear", by prioritizing reuse, repair, and recycling in cooperation with provinces and territories, industry, academia, Indigenous communities, and civil society.

• DFO, ECCC, ISC

Implementation strategy: Assess the national waste stream, research and create new technologies, and invest in innovation to drive market transformation to support waste reduction, recycling, and reuse.

• ECCC, ISED, NRC

Supporting people and communities

The conditions that allow people and communities to live with dignity and safety are central to sustainable development. These conditions are shaped by environmental conditions, economic structures, and the effectiveness of public institutions. They determine how well people can participate in society, maintain well-being, and respond to change over time. Sustaining these conditions over time ensures that progress today supports the well-being of current and future generations.

The goals in this section progress from people's basic needs to broader social outcomes. Access to adequate income and acceptable housing shapes stability and vulnerability to harm. These conditions form the foundation for other aspects of well-being. Mental wellness reflects people’s ability to manage stress, maintain relationships, and function in their daily lives. The ability of households to adapt to climate-related disruptions affects how individuals and households prepare for, respond to, and recover from these impacts. Protection from harm—including violence, discrimination, and substance use-related harms—underpins health, safety, and participation in society.

The goals closing this section address social cohesion and trust. A sense of belonging reflects whether people feel included and able to participate in community and cultural life. Confidence in government reflects whether institutions are seen as responsive to people’s needs and priorities. These outcomes build over time and are strengthened through progress across all areas of this Strategy.

Goal: Canadians have essential resources and supports

Income security and housing stability are fundamental to health, well-being, security, economic participation, and capacity to adapt to climate change. These foundations are closely interconnected: income insecurity can lead to housing instability, while unstable housing creates barriers to employment, health care, and education, among other services. Reducing poverty and improving access to housing, as well as to federal programs, services, and benefits, strengthens resilience, improves health outcomes, and contributes to a more equitable and economically secure society.

Poverty in Canada declined significantly between 2015 and 2020, but has risen in recent years, reflecting factors such as rising inflation, economic pressures, and the phase-out of temporary COVID-19 supports. Housing costs have increased in many areas of the country due to factors including demand associated with population growth, supply constraints, and rising material costs. Housing is also vulnerable to climate change and the increasing risks associated with extreme weather. These persistent housing challenges are increasing barriers to acceptable housing (housing that is affordable and not overcrowded or in need of major repairs). The lack of access to acceptable housing contributes to homelessness, with approximately 65,000 people across 75 communities experiencing homelessness on a given night in 2025.

Marginalized groups, including Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities, recent immigrants, and persons with disabilities, are disproportionately affected by poverty and housing challenges. Housing outcomes are shaped by household income, housing needs, and the broader socio-economic environment. Housing challenges are most common among renters, low-income households, and Indigenous Peoples, including those living in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. These challenges may also be shaped by geographic and socio-economic factors, including in northern and Arctic regions, where remoteness, higher living costs, and the lasting impacts of historical and colonial policies can influence poverty and housing conditions. In these contexts, housing construction and maintenance can face specific obstacles that contribute to higher housing costs and limited supply. These may include restricted access to materials and labour, as well as short construction seasons. In First Nations communities, barriers to securing financing and insurance for on-reserve construction can further constrain housing construction and maintenance activities.

Improving outcomes depends on decisions across jurisdictions—including income supports, skills training, employment programs, and measures aimed at encouraging labour force participation, housing supply, land use, and social services—which makes coordination essential as responsibilities are distributed across governments.

The federal government reduces poverty through income support measures while lowering costs through investments in child care, school food programs, and dental care, and by working with different orders of government, including Indigenous governments and other partners, to improve income security. It also plays a key role in Canada's housing sector in collaboration with other orders of government and has committed to improving access to acceptable housing by addressing key challenges, including rising costs, productivity and innovation in residential construction, financing, labour, and regional disparities in affordable housing. In this context, federal efforts focus on ensuring Canadians have access to acceptable housing; expanding Indigenous-led housing initiatives, which contribute to reconciliation by ensuring that solutions are culturally appropriate and community-driven; and building more resilient, low-carbon, and energy-efficient homes. Increasing the share of households living in acceptable housing would improve housing outcomes for hundreds of thousands of households in a complex and dynamic environment shaped by housing market conditions, government policies and investments, and broader economic factors.

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Support families with the cost of living and raising children, offer ongoing support to older adults and persons with disabilities, implement measures that promote labour force participation including employment supports and skills training, simplify tax filing through automation, and raise awareness of rights and benefits to improve financial resilience.

• CHRC, CRA, ESDC, ISC, VAC

Implementation strategy: Provide access to health-related information, benefits, and services to reduce disparities in health and improve job opportunities, educational outcomes, and overall well-being.

• HC, ISC, PHAC

Implementation strategy: Support the co-development and implementation of Indigenous-led poverty-reduction strategies, informed by culturally appropriate indicators on Indigenous experiences of poverty, to improve quality of life in Indigenous communities, reduce poverty, and advance reconciliation.

• CIRNAC

Implementation strategy: Support local and Indigenous-led food systems and improve access to traditional or country food, and healthy store-bought food, for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples and residents of remote areas, including the Arctic and the North, to increase food security and support food sovereignty.

• CIRNAC, DFO, ISC, NRC

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Reduce the cost of homebuilding, encourage the adoption of new technologies and innovative practices in housing construction, and increase the size and skills of the housing construction workforce.

• ESDC, HICC, ISED, NRC

Implementation strategy: Implement initiatives that increase the availability of affordable housing.

• HICC, ISC, NCC

Implementation strategy: Promote building in low-risk areas, the adoption of updated building codes, standards, and guidance for climate and disaster resilience, and the use of low-carbon materials and designs to support the construction of low-emission, climate- and disaster-resilient housing.

• HICC, ISED, NRC, PS

Implementation strategy: Support the development of culturally appropriate Indigenous housing delivered by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments, organizations, and housing and service providers, and support the development and implementation of community-based initiatives to prevent and reduce homelessness and improve knowledge about homelessness through research and data collection.

• CIRNAC, HICC, ISC

Goal: Support Canadians’ mental health and address substance use-related harms

Mental health and wellness affect how people experience and engage with every aspect of their lives—their relationships, their work, their physical health, and their ability to seek help and manage adversity. They are shaped by the social and economic conditions in which people live, including the stability of income and housing, experiences of belonging, and access to care. Mental health challenges and substance use-related harms can occur together and are shaped by many of the same underlying conditions: poverty, housing instability, trauma, and unequal access to care. Strengthening mental wellness across the population improves health outcomes, supports participation in work and community life, and builds resilience to social, economic, and environmental change.

In recent years, more Canadians have reported worsening mental health and unmet care needs. There is also an increase in harms related to substance use, including overdose deaths. Overdose deaths and substance use-related harms are having a devastating impact on people and communities across the country. For many people, there are significant barriers to getting help: cost, time pressures, stigma, limited services, and difficulty navigating systems. These barriers make it harder for people to access prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery supports.

The impacts of mental health challenges and substance use-related harms are not experienced evenly. Children, youth, and young adults report higher levels of unmet mental health needs during critical periods of development. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities face disproportionate impacts shaped by historical and structural factors, including the ongoing impacts of colonial policies and barriers to culturally appropriate care. People living in rural and remote communities often encounter significant gaps in local service availability, while income, gender, and housing insecurity influence both susceptibility and access to care across the population. People living with other health conditions, including mental health conditions and chronic pain, are at increased risk of overdose. Communities impacted by substance use-related harms are increasingly concerned about safety, social cohesion, and community well-being.

Mental health and substance use services are delivered primarily by provinces and territories, with essential contributions from Indigenous governments, community organizations, and service providers. The provision of health services for Indigenous Peoples is an area of shared jurisdiction. The federal government funds or directly provides health programs and services for First Nations and Inuit communities that supplement those provided by provinces and territories. In many cases, programs and services are delivered directly by First Nations and Inuit communities and organizations, along with non-governmental organizations. The federal government supports research; promotes mental health and stigma reduction; supports prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery; and protects public safety. It also works with partners to improve access to community-based and culturally appropriate supports, including distinctions-based approaches for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Undertake research activities and monitor, collect, and analyze scientific evidence to inform strategies, address emerging issues, and identify data gaps related to mental health.

• CIHR, TBS

Implementation strategy: Collaborate with Indigenous partners to support distinctions-based, Indigenous-led, culturally relevant, and community-based approaches to mental wellness for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

• CIHR, CSC, ISC

Implementation strategy: Collaborate with stakeholders to increase mental health promotion and prevention, improve availability of community-based mental health services, expand mental health literacy, and advance stigma-reduction efforts, including in federal workplaces.

• HC, PHAC, TBS

Our Plans to Achieve the Target

Implementation strategy: Develop evidence-informed prevention and education initiatives, support harm reduction measures, expand access to treatment and recovery, and develop, implement, and enhance substance controls to minimize substance use-related harms for individuals, families, and communities in Canada.

• HC, PHAC, RCMP

Implementation strategy: Strengthen laws and ensure law enforcement has the tools to strengthen border security, combat organized crime, and disrupt the illegal supply chains for synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals.

• CBSA, HC, JUS, PS, RCMP

Goal: Canadian households are resilient to climate change

Climate resilience is essential to protecting people’s health, safety, and well-being, including their ability to maintain stability and mental health. Climate resilience means anticipating, planning for, and responding to the impacts of climate change. At the household level, this includes making informed decisions about how to prepare for and adapt to climate-related risks, such as improving a home's resilience, adjusting daily activities during extreme weather events, seeking information about climate hazards, and considering insurance coverage for climate-related disasters. Households that can understand and navigate a changing climate are better prepared to manage risks and reduce disruptions to their daily lives.

Climate-related risks are increasing. Data show that Canadian households increasingly report experiencing an extreme weather event or a natural disaster. Events such as floods, wildfires, and heat waves can damage homes, disrupt transportation and essential services, affect energy and food systems, threaten people's physical and mental health, and increase costs for households and communities. As these impacts become more frequent and severe, they can undermine financial security, affect well-being, and make it more difficult for households to plan for the future.

Rural, remote, northern, and Indigenous communities often face higher climate-related risks due to geographic isolation, greater reliance on climate-sensitive resources, and limited access to infrastructure and services. A 2024 survey reported that an extreme weather event or disaster severely disrupted daily activities of approximately 80% of First Nations (living off reserve), Inuit, and Métis, over the course of their lives. Climate-related disruptions can also affect energy, housing, and food security, increase costs, and reduce household stability. These pressures can have serious consequences for both physical and mental health, particularly as extreme weather events become more frequent and severe. Children, youth, and older adults are especially vulnerable because they may have fewer resources to prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate-related disruptions.

Building climate resilience depends on decisions about infrastructure, housing, emergency management, land-use planning, and service delivery, which are governed by different orders of government and implemented locally. Because households rely on systems that span multiple jurisdictions and vary significantly across regions, improving resilience requires coordination across governments and sectors. The federal government supports household resilience by improving access to timely, trustworthy, and accessible weather and climate information and decision-making tools, advancing research and knowledge, investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, and working with partners across jurisdictions. It also works with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments and leaders to ensure that national climate planning reflects their distinct priorities and governance approaches through the Assembly of First Nations National Climate Strategy, the National Inuit Climate Change Strategy, and the Métis Nation’s National Climate Change Strategy.

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Support households, especially in northern, remote, Indigenous, and higher-risk communities, to build resilience and plan for climate-related emergencies.

• ECCC, NRCan

Implementation strategy: Provide tools, information, and improved guidance on climate-related hazards and emergency preparedness.

• ECCC, HC, HICC, NRCan, PS

Implementation strategy: Support research and the development and dissemination of knowledge, including Indigenous-designed and led research, on the impacts and risks of climate change in Canada and adaptation measures for resilient action.

• CIRNAC, DFO, HC, HICC, POLAR, SSHRC

Goal: Canadians are safe

Safety is a foundation for health, well-being, and participation in society. When people are free from violence, discrimination, and the fear of harm, they are better able to contribute to social and economic life, participate in their communities, and access essential services. Safety from violence and discrimination is closely linked to physical and mental health, trust in institutions, and overall quality of life—and when safety is undermined, the consequences extend across all these dimensions.

Harm affecting people's safety takes many forms, including gender-based violence, discrimination, and barriers within systems meant to protect people. These barriers can increase vulnerability by limiting access to support and delaying help-seeking, and result in people being more exposed to harm. Gender-based violence, which includes violence directed at someone because of their gender, gender identity, gender expression, or perceived gender, causes serious and lasting harm. Between 2011 and 2021, there were 1,125 gender-related homicides of women and girls in Canada, two thirds (66%) of which were perpetrated by an intimate partner. Furthermore, in 2025, 13.6% of women experienced some form of emotional, psychological, or economic abuse on at least one occasion in the previous year.

Harm can also arise through systemic discrimination and inequitable exposure to risk. Systemic discrimination can deny people equal opportunities, limit access to protection and supports, and contribute to conditions that increase vulnerability to harm. For example, environmental racism can result in some communities, including Indigenous, Black, and other racialized communities, being excluded from environmental decision-making and facing greater exposure to environmental hazards and pollution. These inequities can also be reflected in the systems intended to keep people safe. Systemic discrimination in the criminal justice system can lead some groups to be both over-policed and under-protected, reducing trust in institutions and creating barriers to accessing safety and supports.

Some groups face disproportionate impacts of violence and discrimination. Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities, women and girls, 2SLGBTQI+ (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and additional people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities) people, persons with disabilities, and people living in northern, rural, and remote regions are more likely to experience violence, discrimination, or barriers to supports. These higher risks are shaped by social and economic conditions, including poverty and housing instability, and can be compounded when people belong to multiple equity-deserving groups. In 2024, the homicide rate for Indigenous women was more than eight times higher than that for non-Indigenous women (7.02 versus 0.81 per 100,000 population).

Federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous governments, as well as community organizations and local service providers, share responsibility for safety. Provinces, territories, and Indigenous governments play central roles in justice administration, policing, health care, and social services, while municipalities and community organizations play key roles in prevention, early intervention, and supports for those who have experienced harm. The federal government strengthens laws and institutions, supports prevention and protection efforts, advances efforts to address discrimination and systemic barriers, and works with partners to promote safe, inclusive communities. It also supports community-identified capacity building through funding and improving access to community organizations and culturally appropriate services, developing local violence prevention initiatives and prioritizing victim-centered approaches to restorative justice, and funding training and awareness activities. Recognizing that persistent and systemic violations of Indigenous and human rights are root causes of the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people, the Government of Canada continues to advance the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice through the Federal Pathway and work with partners to drive meaningful progress.

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Support access to, and the development of, culturally appropriate and competent services and supports that are trauma- and violence-informed, and responsive to the needs of victims, survivors, and their families, including Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQI+ people, in their communities.

• ISC, JUS, PHAC, RCMP, WAGE

Implementation strategy: Support the development of community-identified capacity building and social infrastructure priorities to provide opportunities and options for those who are experiencing, are at risk of experiencing, or have experienced gender-based violence, and address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice.

• CSC, JUS, RCMP, WAGE

Implementation strategy: Promote community-based and evidence-based public awareness efforts to prevent gender-based violence, improve its reporting, and increase the use of support services.

• PS, RCMP, WAGE

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Reduce systemic barriers to economic, social, and cultural participation and decision-making alongside all orders of government and populations experiencing discrimination in Canada.

• CHRC, CRTC, ESDC, JUS, PC, PCH, RCMP, VAC

Implementation strategy: Address systemic barriers, improve data on representation, foster diversity of senior leaders, and promote engagement and awareness in the federal public service.

• CSPS, OSFI, PCO, PSC, TBS

Implementation strategy: Expand the collection and disaggregation of data and research on people’s experiences of racism and discrimination to inform strategies aimed at reducing discrimination and unfair treatment.

• RCMP, TBS

Implementation strategy: Assess, prevent, and address environmental racism and advance environmental justice.

• ECCC

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Implement Canada’s Black Justice Strategy in consultation with provinces and territories and Black communities, and implement the Indigenous Justice Strategy in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples and provinces and territories to reduce the overrepresentation of Black people and Indigenous people in the criminal justice system.

• CSC, CSPS, JUS, RCMP

Implementation strategy: Review and update existing legal frameworks to address and reduce racism and systemic discrimination in the criminal justice system.

• JUS

Implementation strategy: Support the development of culturally and developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed, and responsive victim services for underserved victims of crime, promote access to them, and expand their geographic reach into underserved areas to improve support for victims, survivors, and their families.

• JUS, RCMP

Implementation strategy: In consultation with racialized and marginalized communities, provide access to cultural competency-type courses and recruit and retain a diverse and skilled workforce that reflects the communities served.

• JUS, RCMP

Goal: Canadians feel like they belong

A sense of belonging is essential to well-being, community connectedness, and participation in society. It is shaped by people’s experiences of safety and inclusion—whether they feel included, valued, and able to participate in cultural and community life. When a sense of belonging is strong, people are better able to build relationships, contribute to their communities, and navigate social, economic, and environmental change. Strengthening belonging reduces social isolation, supports individual and community well-being, and creates the conditions for a more inclusive and cohesive society.

Not all Canadians experience a strong sense of belonging. Barriers such as social isolation, discrimination, language differences, and limited access to cultural and community spaces reduce opportunities for participation and connection. When people cannot participate fully in community and cultural life, social ties weaken and well-being declines over time.

The experience of belonging differs across communities and groups due to structural, historical, and social factors that shape inclusion and access to community life. In 2024, half of Canadians reported a strong sense of belonging to their local community, with higher levels in small towns and rural areas than in urban centres. Persons with disabilities and 2SLGBTQI+ people may experience barriers related to accessibility, discrimination, and inclusion. Newcomers may face challenges related to language, integration, and access to community networks. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples can face additional barriers to belonging due to the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization and forced assimilation, including the loss of language and culture and barriers to maintaining cultural continuity and community connections.

A sense of belonging is shaped by institutions and spaces that fall under different areas of responsibility, including education, language, culture, heritage, immigration, and community life. These are governed and delivered across federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous governments, as well as by community and cultural organizations. The federal government contributes to promoting intercultural dialogue by supporting the arts and cultural sectors, strengthening Indigenous languages and official language minority communities, and enabling community-led and culturally grounded approaches. It supports the organization of welcome sessions and integration activities between newcomers and established minority communities, distributing educational content, and protecting and promoting access to Canada’s natural and cultural heritage, including through interpreter training with local minority language communities in the area.

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Promote intercultural dialogue and support the vitality and development of English and French minority communities to foster a sense of Canadian identity and belonging.

• ESDC, IRCC, JUS, NFB, PCH

Implementation strategy: Ensure participation in, and the expression, preservation, revitalization, creation, and promotion of, culture, arts, sports, ways of life, cultural diversity, and cultural expressions.

• LAC, NFB, PC, PCH

Implementation strategy: Support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis in their efforts to reclaim, revitalize, maintain, and strengthen Indigenous languages.

• ISC, PCH

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Support improvements to cultural facilities and expand access to exhibitions, cultural sites, and heritage sites to boost cultural participation.

• LAC, PC, PCH

Implementation strategy: Support research in the cultural sector, promote access to education, skills training, and job opportunities, and help improve working conditions so that more people can contribute to Canada’s creative and cultural economies.

• PCH, SSHRC

Implementation strategy: Ensure that Canadian content is easy to find and consume, including on digital platforms, to strengthen Canada's cultural sovereignty and increase the competitiveness of Canada’s creative and cultural products and industries in domestic and global markets.

• CRTC, NFB, PCH

Goal: Canadians have confidence in government

Confidence in government reflects whether people believe public institutions are responsive, effective, fair, and accountable. When confidence is strong, people are more likely to trust public information, use public services, and participate in decision-making. Strong confidence supports governments' ability to act on shared priorities and respond effectively to change and disruptions. Confidence is shaped by people's lived experiences, including whether they have equitable access to services, are treated fairly, and feel that their well-being, safety, and sense of belonging are supported.

While confidence in the federal government remains above the OECD average of 37%, it declined from 60.42% in 2019 to 50.91% in 2024. Misinformation, disinformation, foreign interference, and the rapid spread of unreliable information in digital environments can make it harder for people to access trusted information and engage confidently with public institutions.

Confidence in public institutions tends to be lower among persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQI+ people, Indigenous Peoples, and people living in rural areas, often reflecting differences in access to services, experiences of discrimination, exposure to misinformation, and barriers to participation in public life. Lower confidence can reduce engagement with public services, government information, and decision-making processes.

Confidence in government is influenced by how people experience public systems, including service delivery, access to information, fairness, accountability, and protection from threats. These systems are governed and delivered by multiple orders of government. The federal government contributes by upholding transparency and accountability; protecting public institutions and systems; strengthening safeguards against cyber threats, misinformation, disinformation, and foreign interference; and supporting access to reliable information in ways that reinforce trust across the broader system of governance.

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Ensure responsible use of public funds, deliver accessible and effective government services, and support innovative ideas, tools, and processes to better meet the needs and expectations of Canadians.

• ESDC, FIN, SSC, TBS, VAC

Implementation strategy: Strengthen the Government of Canada’s capacity to proactively prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from cyber security events to safeguard government systems and protect Canadians’ information.

• SSC, TBS

Implementation strategy: Protect against foreign interference, boost digital literacy, counter misinformation and disinformation, and strengthen the resilience of Canadians and Canadian critical infrastructure to threats, including cyber threats.

• PCH, PCO, PS, RCMP, StatCan, TBS

Implementation strategy: Increase publicly available federal data, while respecting Indigenous data sovereignty, to enhance federal government transparency.

• CRTC, CSPS, DFO, IAAC, ISED, JCCBI, NRC, NRCan, PHAC, RCMP, TBS

Building a strong and low-carbon economy

A strong and sustainable economy depends on sound environmental systems and social conditions. It enhances affordability for households and businesses, strengthens financial stability and long-term economic prosperity, contributes to well-being, and reduces environmental impacts. Economic systems must adapt to global changes, including the transition to a low-carbon future, while maintaining productivity, competitiveness, and resilience.

The goals in this section set out the key factors that shape a strong and low-carbon economy. First, they address overall productivity, innovation, and competitiveness, which underpin long-term economic performance. Next, they examine energy use across the economy, recognizing that improving efficiency is essential to managing growing demand and reducing emissions. Finally, they tackle transportation systems, which shape how people and goods move and influence both economic activity and environmental outcomes.

The final goal focuses on expanding participation in the economy, particularly for Indigenous Peoples and women. Access to opportunity is not distributed evenly and barriers to participation can limit both individual well-being and overall economic performance. Expanding participation supports financial security, strengthens resilience, and enables a broader range of people, skills, and perspectives to contribute to economic growth. Together, these goals support a more productive, inclusive, and low-carbon economy that is better positioned to respond to change, reduce emissions, and share the benefits of growth more broadly for current and future generations.

Goal: Canada has a productive and low-carbon economy

A productive, low-carbon economy is essential to long-term prosperity, affordability, economic resilience, and health and well-being. Building this economy requires balancing economic growth with the protection of natural systems, including managing trade-offs where activities that support productivity and competitiveness may also place pressure on land, water, and air. As global markets shift toward lower-emissions goods, services, and investment, strengthening competitiveness while reducing emissions is increasingly important. Improving productivity enables firms to grow, adapt to changing conditions, and support rising living standards while contributing to the transition to a low-carbon future.

Productivity growth is central to economic performance. Improving how labour, capital, and technology are used helps Canadian businesses compete internationally, expand into export markets, and respond to global economic change. At the same time, advances in environmental and clean technologies are reshaping business practices and expectations, increasing access to new domestic and global markets in the low-carbon economy while supporting emissions reductions and creating new sources of growth. Canada has made progress, including reducing emissions per unit of output (greenhouse gas emissions intensity compares the amount of greenhouse gas emissions emitted per unit of activity or any other specific metric, such as GDP). Sustaining these gains requires continued investment and innovation, particularly as global competition intensifies and the low-carbon transition reshapes markets, supply chains, and investment flows.

The costs and benefits of this transition—and the trade-offs involved—impact some communities more than others. Households with lower incomes are often more affected by economic downturns and environmental change, while workers and communities in emissions-intensive sectors face greater adjustment pressures. These differences mean that supporting workers, industries, and communities through the transition—and ensuring that the benefits of economic growth and decarbonization are widely shared—requires approaches that reflect the distinct circumstances of different regions and communities.

Building a productive, low-carbon economy depends on decisions about investment, green financing and tax incentives, infrastructure, skills development, research, regulation, and industrial transformation. These decisions are shaped by federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous governments, and business and industry. Regional economies, emissions profiles, and industrial structures also differ significantly, which means the transition does not unfold the same way everywhere. The federal government contributes by working with provinces, territories, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments, and businesses and industry to promote innovation and investment, strengthen Canada’s security and sovereignty, and support economic growth that is competitive and aligned with Canada’s long-term climate objectives to build lasting prosperity for generations.

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Attract foreign investment, technology, talent, and expertise, and support domestic businesses in scaling production and expanding internationally.

• CBSA, ESDC, GAC, IRCC, ISED

Implementation strategy: Support investments in tools, automation, equipment, software, processes, and the responsible use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence.

• ISED, NRC

Implementation strategy: Invest in transportation, economic, and communication infrastructure to enhance accessibility and the efficient, sustainable movement of goods, people, information, and ideas.

• CRTC, DFO, HICC, ISED, JCCBI, TC

Implementation strategy: Strengthen Canada’s research ecosystem, promote research dissemination, and encourage businesses to invest in research, development, and demonstrations to boost innovation.

• CIHR, CRA, CSA, DFO, HICC, ISED, JCCBI, NRC, NRCan, NSERC, SSHRC, TC

Implementation strategy: Intensify efforts to adapt regulations in consultation with Indigenous rights holders and key stakeholders to promote sustainable development, grow interprovincial trade, encourage fair competition, and reduce burdens on businesses.

• IAAC, ISED, NRCan, TBS

Implementation strategy: Expand access to skills development, training, and supports to provide economic opportunities to all, address skills shortages in sectors critical to sustainable growth, and equip workers for the global energy shift.

• ESDC

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Attract and enable businesses and organizations in the environmental and clean technology sector at any stage of their development to improve diversification and resilience of the sector, reduce environmental impacts, and drive clean growth.

• ACOA, CED, CRA, DFO, FedDev Ontario, FedNor, IAAC, IIC, ISED, NRC, PacifiCan, PrairiesCan

Implementation strategy: Facilitate the development and adoption of sustainable technologies and strengthen related value chains to ensure Canada remains a global clean technology leader.

• CRA, ISED, NRC

Implementation strategy: Invest in the responsible production, processing, and recycling of critical minerals to support the development of domestic and global value chains for clean technologies, the clean energy sector, and other industries.

• CRA, ISED, NRC, NRCan

Implementation strategy: Support the growth of a well-functioning sustainable finance market to improve investment decision-making and accelerate the movement of private capital for nature- and climate-positive outcomes.

• FIN

Goal: Canada moves toward an energy-efficient economy

Enhanced energy efficiency supports energy security, affordability, and a competitive and low-carbon economy. As demand for electricity grows—driven by electrification across housing, transportation, digital infrastructure, and industry—making better use of energy becomes increasingly important. Improving energy efficiency supports emissions reductions and helps ensure that energy systems remain reliable and resilient.

Energy efficiency also delivers direct benefits to households, businesses, and communities. It reduces energy costs, eases pressure from rising demand, and improves economic performance. Thanks to energy efficiency improvements, Canada improved energy efficiency by 13.8% between 2000 and 2023, while energy use grew only by 13.1% instead of 24.24%. These improvements translated into $40 billion in energy cost savings in 2023 alone for households, businesses, and industry. Sustaining these gains is essential to managing growing energy demand, supporting productivity, strengthening industrial competitiveness, and maintaining affordability as the economy continues to electrify.

Lower‑income households and renters often face greater barriers to building upgrades and accessing energy‑efficient technologies. Regional differences also shape affordability and access, reflecting variations in energy systems, housing stock, infrastructure, and emissions profiles. For example, regions that rely more heavily on carbon-intensive electricity generation face distinct transition pressures. Northern, remote, and Indigenous communities, many of which rely on carbon‑intensive energy systems, face distinct challenges related to housing stock, geography, and access to infrastructure. Addressing these differences requires approaches tailored to the circumstances of different regions and communities, so that the benefits of energy efficiency are broadly shared.

Improving energy efficiency depends on decisions made in the construction and renovation of buildings, electricity systems, industrial practices, and consumer choices. Responsibilities for developing, adopting, and implementing energy efficiency solutions are distributed across the federal government, provinces and territories, municipalities, utilities, Indigenous governments, industry, and property owners. Regional differences in housing stock, infrastructure, and electricity systems make coordination complex. The federal government contributes by working with partners to improve energy efficiency in homes, buildings, communities, and industries to support the adoption of more efficient building codes and standards; strengthen energy efficient technologies and practices; provide direct support for building retrofits; and improve access to information and energy-saving measures for households, businesses, and communities.

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Advance building retrofits in households, businesses, and community infrastructure, and accelerate the implementation of less energy intensive practices, products, and technologies in industries and institutions to support greater energy efficiency, affordability, and competitiveness.

• ECCC, HICC

Implementation strategy: Advance the development, deployment, and implementation of innovative building system technologies.

• HICC, NRC, PSPC

Goal: Canadians have access to sustainable transportation

Access to sustainable transportation is essential to economic activity, community connection, and quality of life. Transportation systems are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, and how they are designed influences whether people can move efficiently, affordably, and with lower environmental impact. Making transportation more sustainable supports affordability, reduces emissions, and improves air quality, productivity, and Canada’s transition to a low‑carbon economy.

Transportation choices affect people’s daily lives through costs, travel time, health, and environmental conditions. In 2024, transportation accounted for 22% of Canada’s overall greenhouse gas emissions and was a major contributor to air and noise pollution. Canada’s share of commuters using sustainable transportation, defined as the use of public transit or active transportation, continues to rise following the pandemic (18.2% in May 2025), though it remains below pre-pandemic figures (19.4% in May 2016). The vast majority of commuters still travel by car, truck, or van (80.9% in May 2025). Congestion affects large urban centres and is a growing challenge in smaller communities. Built environments that prioritize private vehicles over public transit, cycling, and walking can also make sustainable transportation less accessible and less attractive.

Access to sustainable transportation varies considerably across Canada. Residents outside major urban centres often have fewer alternatives to personal vehicles due to lower population density and infrastructure constraints, while persons with disabilities may face barriers to accessible transportation options. Rural, remote, and northern communities can also have limited access to public transit and public electric vehicle charging. These gaps can increase transportation costs, limit mobility, and reduce access to employment, services, and other opportunities.

Sustainable transportation depends on decisions about land use, transit systems, accessibility, and public infrastructure, which are shaped by provinces, territories, municipalities, and Indigenous governments, as well as by private sector providers. These responsibilities are distributed across jurisdictions, making coordination complex, as infrastructure, service delivery, and user behaviour must align to support more sustainable options. The federal government contributes by investing in planning, data, and infrastructure; working with partners to expand public and active transportation; and supporting the shift to electric vehicles.

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Invest in transportation projects that reflect best practices for active and public transit, address structural barriers in the built environment, and expand sustainable transportation options beyond major urban centres.

• HICC, JCCBI, NCC

Implementation strategy: Invest in transportation planning research, data collection, and monitoring of traveller behaviours to inform continuous improvements to the accessibility and efficiency of active and public transportation infrastructure.

• HICC, NCC, PHAC, TC

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Support the availability and affordability of a variety of electric vehicles and encourage innovation and competitiveness in Canada’s automotive sector.

• ISED, NRC, TC

Implementation strategy: Increase the number of electric vehicle chargers and hydrogen refuelling stations across the country and conduct research to increase confidence in and encourage public uptake of zero-emission vehicles.

• ECCC, NRC

Goal: All Canadians can participate in the economy

Inclusive economic participation is essential to long-term prosperity, financial security, and economic resilience. When people can access and participate in economic opportunities, they are better able to support themselves and their families, respond to change, and contribute to their communities. Broad participation also strengthens economic performance by expanding the pool of skills, experiences, and perspectives available to support growth, innovation, and productivity. It also helps employers respond to labour shortages and increases the availability of skills and talent across the economy.

Access to economic opportunity is shaped by social, economic, and structural conditions. Barriers such as limited access to education and training, inadequate infrastructure and services, discrimination, caregiving responsibilities, and insufficient workplace supports can restrict participation in paid work. These barriers affect people’s ability to enter, remain in, and advance within the labour market, limiting both individual opportunities and overall economic potential.

These impacts are not experienced evenly. Rural, remote, and northern communities across Canada often face more limited access to economic opportunities and supports. Indigenous Peoples face longstanding structural barriers due to historical and ongoing government policies that have restricted traditional governance structures and constrained access to infrastructure, capital, land use, education, and training opportunities. Women may experience lower participation due to the disproportionate burden of caregiving responsibilities, unequal access to supports, and workplace barriers. These challenges can be particularly pronounced in northern, rural, and remote communities, with Indigenous women often experiencing compounded and intersecting barriers to economic participation.

Removing barriers to economic participation requires coordination across education and training systems, labour markets, caregiving supports, economic development initiatives, and community infrastructure, which are shaped by federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous governments, employers, and civil society organizations. The federal government contributes by supporting skills development and education, reducing barriers to employment, supporting caregivers, strengthening conditions for self-determined Indigenous economic development, and promoting greater equity in labour force participation.

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Support capacity building, skills development, entrepreneurship, participation in major projects and supply chains, access to financing, supplier participation in federal procurement, and other actions that will generate employment and business opportunities for Indigenous Peoples to advance economic inclusion, prosperity, and reconciliation.

• CanNor, CED, DFO, ESDC, FedNor, ISC, JCCBI, PacifiCan, PrairiesCan, SSC, VAC

Implementation strategy: Support improved access to post-secondary education and community-based programming and remove barriers to access and completion to increase the number of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students who complete a post-secondary degree, diploma, and/or certificate.

• CIRNAC, ISC

Implementation strategy: Support elementary and secondary education on reserve, including access to adult education, while implementing the principle of First Nations control of First Nations education to improve secondary school completion rates and reduce socio-economic gaps experienced by First Nations.

• ISC

Implementation strategy: Support the implementation of co-developed, distinctions-based post‑secondary education strategies that meet the unique needs of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students and post-secondary institutions, and strengthen Indigenous self-determination, leadership, and capacity in research and research training.

• CIHR, ISC, NSERC, POLAR, SSHRC

Implementation strategy: Advance self-determination across social, economic, and cultural priorities, including through the implementation of historic and modern treaties, self-governance arrangements, agreements, and constructive arrangements.

• CIRNAC, ISC

Our plans to achieve the target

Implementation strategy: Invest in women’s skills development and training, improve access to employment, and support leadership development and career advancement, and increase access to family and care benefits and quality, culturally appropriate child care to improve women’s recruitment and retention in the workforce.

• CIHR, ESDC, NSERC, SSHRC, TBS

Implementation strategy: Support efforts that protect the right to equal pay for work of equal value, including establishing and maintaining pay equity plans under the Pay Equity Act in federally regulated workplaces.

• CHRC, TBS

Reducing the federal government's environmental impact through the Greening Government Strategy

The Greening Government Strategy (GGS) describes the Government of Canada’s approach to achieving net-zero emissions from federal operations by 2050 while strengthening climate resilience across federal assets, services, and activities. The day-to-day operations of the Government of Canada have a direct environmental impact as it occupies buildings, operates vehicles and fleets, procures goods and services, and manages land and assets across the country. By taking action within its own operations, the federal government is doing itself what it is asking of industry, institutions, and Canadians: reduce emissions, improve resilience to climate change, use resources more efficiently, and support a transition to a low-carbon economy.

Why this matters

As one of the country’s largest property owners, fleet operators, and purchasers of goods and services, the federal government is a key actor in accelerating market and societal shifts toward sustainability. Progress under the GGS contributes directly to achieving the goals of the FSDS by embedding sustainability, climate resilience, and net-zero considerations into federal administrative policies, decision-making, and day-to-day operations. A major focus of the GGS is real property. Federal organizations are developing long-term plans to achieve net-zero emissions and climate resilience across their building portfolios. This includes constructing new net-zero or net-zero-ready buildings, retrofitting existing facilities to improve energy efficiency, transitioning away from fossil-fuel heating, purchasing or generating clean electricity, reducing embodied carbon in construction projects, and significantly diverting construction, demolition, and operational waste from landfills.

Federal organizations are working to decarbonize federal fleets. On-road fleets are transitioning toward zero emissions through the purchase of electric vehicles. Fleet managers are also optimizing vehicle use, installing charging infrastructure, and procuring low-carbon fuels for aircraft, ships, and on-road vehicle types that are more difficult to electrify.

Given the impact of green procurement and materiel management, federal departments and agencies are incorporating environmental considerations into purchasing decisions to aid the transition to a net-zero emissions, climate-resilient, and circular economy. This includes incentivizing major suppliers to disclose emissions and set reduction targets, and embedding climate considerations into procurement policies, standards, and training.

Beyond reducing emissions, the GGS supports enhancing climate resilience by committing to assess climate risks to federal assets, services, and activities, and to adapt them according to future climate projections. Ultimately, applying the GGS climate resilience requirements to critical assets, services, and activities is expected to reduce disruptions and contribute to cost savings in the face of increasingly more frequent and severe climate-related impacts.

The GGS also drives collaboration across federal organizations and with industry, academia, other orders of government, Indigenous partners, and international partners to share expertise, foster innovation, and accelerate the adoption of low-carbon and climate-resilient solutions.

Transparency, accountability, and continual improvement underpin this work. Through the collection, measurement, and public reporting of environmental performance data, including greenhouse gas emissions inventories, the Government of Canada tracks progress toward its greening commitments and informs evidence-based action. Federal organizations report annually on key initiatives and on environmental performance, while the Centre for Greening Government at TBS provides central coordination and publicly discloses results to strengthen accountability and demonstrate progress toward government-wide sustainability and emissions reduction objectives.

As of March 31, 2025, greenhouse gas emissions from federal real property operations and conventional fleets had been reduced by 42.5% compared to 2005-2006 levels, surpassing its 40% reduction target for 2025. Reductions in energy use have saved an estimated $35M annually in conventional fleets and $150M annually in buildings. The Government is also working with industry to procure lower carbon materials such as clean electricity, low-carbon concrete, steel, and fuels.

Who delivers

All federal organizations are required to implement all parts of the GGS that are relevant to their operations and requirements to include key information in their Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy and reports.

The organizations that own real property, conventional fleets, or national safety and security fleets report to TBS on the percentage change in Scope 1 and Scope 2 federal greenhouse gas emissions relative to fiscal year 2005-2006 from real property, conventional fleets, and national safety and security fleets. Organizations with critical services, activities, and assets report to TBS on whether they have taken measures to address the risks to their critical services and activities, and for those with critical assets, have initiated or completed asset-level climate risk assessments. These organizations report progress on other environmental indicators such as waste diversion and green procurement.

What will be achieved

For more information on the GGS, its achievements, and its targets, we invite you to visit the following:

• Greening Government
• Greening Government Strategy
• Results Reporting
• Government of Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
• Greening Government Fund

Conclusion

The 2026-2029 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) reflects a shared vision for the future of Canada: one where a healthy environment, strong and inclusive communities, and a low-carbon economy reinforce one another to improve the well-being of current and future generations.

Protecting the environment helps build resilience and supports well-being. Strong and inclusive communities help people adapt and thrive as circumstances change. A productive and low-carbon economy creates opportunities while supporting long-term prosperity within environmental limits.

This Strategy has been shaped through collaboration. It reflects the expertise and contributions of federal organizations, Indigenous Peoples, advisory bodies, parliamentarians, stakeholders, and Canadians from across the country who shared their perspectives through the public consultation process. Their input strengthened the FSDS by informing its final content and helping ensure that it draws on a broad range of perspectives and expertise.

The publication of this Strategy marks only the beginning of the next phase of work. Achieving the goals and targets set out in the FSDS will require sustained effort and collaboration. While the FSDS provides a whole-of-government framework and shared direction for sustainable development, implementation will occur through the actions of the 59 federal organizations designated under the Federal Sustainable Development Act.

Through their Departmental Sustainable Development Strategies, federal organizations will translate this FSDS into concrete actions. These strategies describe specific actions that support FSDS targets and are developed within one year of the FSDS being tabled, taking into account comments received during the public consultation process. Progress toward the goals and targets set out in this Strategy will continue to be measured and publicly reported through the FSDS Progress Report and departmental reporting.

At the same time, sustainable development needs everyone to pitch in. Progress depends on collaboration across jurisdictions and with Indigenous governments and communities, provinces and territories, municipalities, businesses, civil society organizations, and individuals. By working together and continuing to adapt, Canada can build a future that is more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient.

Annex 1: 2022-2026 FSDS carry-over targets

To maintain continuity between Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) cycles, the 2026-2029 FSDS includes many 2022-2026 FSDS targets. The following tables describe whether each of the 2022-2026 FSDS targets have been carried over, their assessment according to the 2025 Progress Report, and where to find the carry-over targets in the 2026-2029 FSDS. The tables are labelled as:

• Targets carried over: the target uses the same indicator
• Targets represented in other content: 1) the target is measured by a different indicator or 2) the issue is captured under one or more implementation strategies
• Targets not carried over: the target is not represented in the 2026-2029 FSDS because 1) the target has been achieved or 2) the target is better addressed through departmental reporting mechanisms rather than as a strategic commitment in the FSDS.

For more information on the data used to analyze progress on the 2022-2026 FSDS targets, please see the 2025 Progress Report. For more information on progress toward the implementation of the 2022-2026 FSDS, please see each federal organization’s Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy reports.

2022-2026 FSDS targets carried over

Goal 2: Support a healthier and more sustainable food system

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By 2030, support improvement in the environmental performance of the agriculture sector by achieving a score of 71 or higher for the Index of Agri-Environmental Sustainability	Deterioration	Target under Goal: Canada reduces environmental pressures on water, air, and soil

Goal 5: Champion gender equality

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By 2026, reduce self-reported rates of intimate partner violence by up to 5%	Unable to assess	Target date updated under Goal: Canadians are safe

Goal 6: Ensure clean and safe water for all Canadians

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By December 2040, 100% of wastewater systems achieve effluent quality standards	Limited progress	Target under Goal: Canada reduces environmental pressures on water, air, and soil

Goal 11: Improve access to affordable housing, clean air, transportation, parks, and green spaces, as well as cultural heritage in Canada

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By 2030, 22% of commuters use public transit or active transportation	Deterioration	Target under Goal: Canadians have access to sustainable transportation
Increase the percentage of the population across Canada living in areas where air pollutant concentrations are less than or equal to the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards from 60% in 2005 to 85% in 2030	Progress made but acceleration needed	Target under Goal: Canada reduces environmental pressures on water, air, and soil

Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
Reduce the amount of waste Canadians send to disposal from a baseline of 699 kilograms per person in 2014 to 490 kilograms per person by 2030 (a 30% reduction); and to 350 kilograms per person by 2040 (a 50% reduction)	Limited progress	Target under Goal: Reduce waste in Canada

Goal 13: Take action on climate change and its impacts

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
Achieve 40 to 45% greenhouse gas emission reductions below 2005 levels by 2030, and achieve net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2050	Limited progress	Target under Goal: Canada reduces greenhouse gas emissions

Goal 14: Conserve and protect Canada’s oceans

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
Conserve 25% of marine and coastal areas by 2025, and 30% by 2030, in support of the commitment to work to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 in Canada, and achieve a full recovery for nature by 2050	Limited progress	Combined with land and inland waters conservation target under Goal: Canada has healthy lands, waters, and biodiversity

Goal 15: Protect and recover species, conserve Canadian biodiversity

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
Conserve 25% of Canada’s land and inland waters by 2025, working toward 30% by 2030, from 12.5% recognized as conserved as of the end of 2020, in support of the commitment to work to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 in Canada, and achieve a full recovery for nature by 2050	Limited progress	Combined with marine and coastal areas conservation target under Goal: Canada has healthy lands, waters, and biodiversity
By 2026, increase the percentage of species at risk listed under federal law that exhibit population trends that are consistent with recovery strategies and management plans to 60%, from a baseline of 42% in 2019	Deterioration	Target date updated under Goal: Canada has healthy lands, waters, and biodiversity

Goal 16: Promote a fair and accessible justice system, enforce environmental laws, and manage impacts

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By 2030, at least 70% of Canadians think the criminal justice system is fair and accessible to all people	Progress made but acceleration needed	Target under Goal: Canadians are safe

2022-2026 FSDS targets represented in other content

Goal 1: Reduce poverty in Canada in all its forms

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By 2030, reduce the poverty rate by 50% from its 2015 level	On track	Represented as an updated target with a new indicator under Goal: Canadians have essential resources and supports

Goal 3: Support mental health and adopt healthy behaviours

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By March 2027, reduce the percentage of Canadians (aged 15+) with a mental disorder who have expressed that they have an unmet care need to 22% at most	Deterioration	Represented as an updated target with a new indicator under Goal: Support Canadians’ mental health and address substance use-related harms

Goal 4: Promote knowledge and skills for sustainable development

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By March 31, 2026, regulated child care fees will be reduced to $10 a day, on average, everywhere outside of Quebec	On track	Related to targets and implementation strategies under Goal: Canadians have essential resources and supports and Goal: All Canadians can participate in the economy
By December 2025, Canada’s pool of science talent grows by 175,000 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduates	Progress made but acceleration needed	Related to a target and an implementation strategy under Goal: All Canadians can participate in the economy
By 2025, Canada’s Average Relative Citation (ARC) in natural sciences and engineering ranks within the top 10 of OECD countries, increasing from a ranking of 18 in 2020	Deterioration	Related to a target and an implementation strategy under Goal: All Canadians can participate in the economy

Goal 5: Champion gender equality

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By 2026, at least 37% of employees in the environmental and clean technology sector are women	Limited progress	Related to targets and implementation strategies under Goal: Canada has a productive and low-carbon economy and Goal: All Canadians can participate in the economy

Goal 6: Ensure clean and safe water for all Canadians

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By 2027, action plans are in place to advance restoration and protection of major lakes and rivers in Canada	On track	Related to targets and implementation strategies under Goal: Canada has healthy lands, waters, and biodiversity and Goal: Canada reduces environmental pressures on water, air, and soil
By March 2030, 85% of wastewater systems on reserves achieve effluent quality standards	Deterioration	Related to a target and implementation strategies under Goal: Canada reduces environmental pressures on water, air, and soil

Goal 7: Increase Canadians’ access to clean energy

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By 2030, 90%, and in the long term 100% of Canada’s electricity is generated from renewable and non-emitting sources	Deterioration	Related to a target and an implementation strategy under Goal: Canada reduces greenhouse gas emissions
By 2030, 600 petajoules of total annual energy savings will be achieved as a result of adoption of energy efficiency codes, standards and practices from a baseline savings of 20.0 petajoules in 2017 to 2018	Progress made but acceleration needed	Related to a target and implementation strategies under Goal: Canada moves toward an energy-efficient economy
By March 2030, increase Canada’s capacity to produce clean fuels by 10% over 2021 levels	Target achieved	Related to a target and implementation strategies under Goal: Canada has a productive and low-carbon economy

Goal 8: Encourage inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Canada

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By 2026, there are at least 245,000 jobs in the cleantech products sector, an increase from 2019	On track	Related to a target and implementation strategies under Goal: Canada has a productive and low-carbon economy
By 2030, ensure that 100% of Canadians have access to broadband speeds of at least 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload	On track	Related to a target and an implementation strategy under Goal: Canada has a productive and low-carbon economy

Goal 9: Foster innovation and green infrastructure in Canada

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By 2023 and each year thereafter until 2026, 30% of Sustainable Development Technology Canada’s portfolio of SD Tech Fund-supported technologies are commercialized annually	On track	Related to a target and an implementation strategy under Goal: Canada has a productive and low-carbon economy
By March 31, 2026, 34,500 new electric vehicle chargers and 25 hydrogen refueling stations are completed where Canadians, live, work and play, including in public places, on-street, at multi-unit residential buildings, rural and remote locations and the workplace	Progress made but acceleration needed	Related to a target and an implementation strategy under Goal: Canadians have access to sustainable transportation
By March 31, 2027, contribute to the deployment of 50,000 new zero-emission vehicle chargers and refueling stations	On track	Related to a target and an implementation strategy under Goal: Canadians have access to sustainable transportation
By fiscal year 2027 to 2028, the federal share of the value of green infrastructure projects approved under the Investing in Canada Plan will reach $27.6 billion	On track	Related to targets and implementation strategies under Goal: Reduce waste in Canada; Goal: Canada reduces environmental pressures on water, air, and soil; Goal: Canadians have essential resources and supports; Goal: Canada has a productive and low-carbon economy; and Goal: Canada moves toward an energy-efficient economy

Goal 10: Take action on inequality and advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
Each year, the federal public service meets or surpasses the workforce availability for women, Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, and members of a visible minority	Target not achieved	Related to targets and an implementation strategy under Goal: All Canadians can participate in the economy

Goal 11: Improve access to affordable housing, clean air, transportation, parks, and green spaces, as well as cultural heritage in Canada

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By 2028, reduce chronic homelessness by 50%	Deterioration	Related to targets and an implementation strategy under Goal: Canadians have essential resources and supports; Goal: Canadians are safe; and Goal: All Canadians can participate in the economy
By 2028, reduce or eliminate housing need for 530,000 households	Target achieved	Related to targets and implementation strategies under Goal: Canadians have essential resources and supports
Designate national urban parks as part of a network, with a target of up to 6 new national urban parks by 2026 and a total of 15 new national urban parks by 2030	Limited progress	Related to a target and an implementation strategy under Goal: Canada has healthy lands, waters, and biodiversity
By 2026, support at least 23.7 million visitors annually to Parks Canada places	Target achieved	Related to a target and an implementation strategy under Goal: Canada has healthy lands, waters, and biodiversity

Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By 2030, the amount of single-use plastics that are entering the environment as pollution will be reduced by 5% and that are sent to landfill by 3%	Unable to assess	Related to a target and implementation strategies under Goal: Reduce waste in Canada
For the 2030 model year, at least 60% of new light-duty vehicle sales are zero-emission vehicles, and 100% of vehicle sales will be zero-emission vehicles for the 2035 model year	On track	Related to a target and implementation strategies under Goal: Canadians have access to sustainable transportation
By 2030, the Government of Canada will divert from landfill at least 75% by weight of non-hazardous operational waste	On track	Related to a target and implementation strategies under Goal: Reduce waste in Canada
By 2030, the Government of Canada will divert from landfill at least 90% by weight of all construction and demolition waste	Target achieved	Related to a target and implementation strategies under Goal: Reduce waste in Canada
The Government of Canada’s procurement of goods and services will be net-zero emissions by 2050, to aid the transition to a net-zero, circular economy	On track	Related to a target and an implementation strategy under Goal: Canada reduces greenhouse gas emissions

Goal 14: Conserve and protect Canada’s oceans

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By 2026, at least 55% of Canada’s key fish stocks are in the Cautious and Healthy zone	Limited progress	Related to a target and implementation strategies under Goal: Canada has healthy lands, waters, and biodiversity

Goal 15: Protect and recover species, conserve Canadian biodiversity

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment	Location in 2026-2029 FSDS
By 2030, increase the percentage of migratory bird species whose population sizes fall within an acceptable range—neither too low nor too high—to 70% from 57% in 2016	Deterioration	Related to targets and implementation strategies under Goal: Canada has healthy lands, waters, and biodiversity

2022-2026 FSDS targets not carried over

Goal 3: Support mental health and adopt healthy behaviours

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment
By March 2035, at most 5% of Canadians (aged 15+) are current cigarette smokers	Progress made but acceleration needed

Goal 6: Ensure clean and safe water for all Canadians

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment
By March 31, 2026, 97% of Indigenous Services Canada-funded First Nations public drinking water systems produce treated water meeting prescribed bacteriological standards in the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality	Target achieved

Goal 10: Take action on inequality and advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment
Between 2023 and 2026, and every year on an ongoing basis, develop and table annual progress reports on implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act	On track

Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment
Aim is to have 35% of medium- and heavy duty vehicles sales being zero-emission by 2030 and 100% by 2040 for a subset of vehicle types based on feasibility	On track

Goal 13: Take action on climate change and its impacts

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment
The Government of Canada will transition to net-zero carbon operations for facilities and conventional fleets by 2050	Progress made but acceleration needed
The Government of Canada will transition to net-zero carbon national safety and security fleet operations by 2050	Limited progress
The Government of Canada will transition to climate resilient operations by 2050	On track

Goal 15: Protect and recover species, conserve Canadian biodiversity

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment
Between 2023 and 2026, Canada’s sustainable wood supply level (guided by sustainable forest management policies to reflect the current unique social, environmental and economic characteristics of managed forests), exceeds the annual timber harvests	On track

Goal 16: Promote a fair and accessible justice system, enforce environmental laws, and manage impacts

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment
By March 31, 2026, ensure that 100% of Environment and Climate Change Canada laws, regulations, and enforceable instruments have completed risk classifications	On track

Goal 17: Strengthen partnerships to promote global action on sustainable development

Target	2025 Progress Report assessment
By 2026, implement Canada’s climate finance commitment of $5.3 billion with at least 40% of funding going toward climate adaptation and at least 20% to projects that leverage nature-based climate solutions and projects that contribute biodiversity co-benefits	On track

Annex 2: Performance measurement

Sustainable development reporting in the Government of Canada

The Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA) requires the Minister responsible for Environment and Climate Change Canada to develop a Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) and report on its progress once in every three-year period. The FSDA requires federal organizations to prepare their own Departmental Sustainable Development Strategies (DSDSs) that comply with the FSDS. The FSDS, its progress reports, and the DSDSs foster transparency and accountability in federal sustainable development decision-making. They are complemented by the Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment that requires consideration of FSDS goals and targets in Cabinet, regulatory, and Budget proposals.

Departmental Sustainable Development Strategies

A DSDS describes an organization’s efforts in support of the FSDS implementation strategies for which they are responsible through SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) targets. Federal organizations report in their DSDSs on the departmental actions they have committed to undertake and on the progress made in implementing these actions.

FSDS Progress Report

A progress report must be prepared for every FSDS. It is the main accountability document for the Strategy and its primary focus is to assess progress toward FSDS targets. This assessment is made by comparing the observed rate of progression (or growth rate) of each indicator with the rate required to meet the target. The comparison of the two trends is expressed as a ratio which is used to provide an assessment for each target:

• On track: the ratio is 95% or above
• Progress made but acceleration needed: the ratio is between 60% and 95%
• Limited progress: the ratio is between 0% and 60%
• Deterioration: the ratio is negative
• Target achieved: the target has been met

Progress on some targets may not be linear, so while the Progress Report provides valuable information on sustainable development outcomes, mid-point measurements do not necessarily imply that the target will not be met. It is also important to note that responsibility for the actions needed to meet the targets is shared across orders of government as well as with public and private stakeholders. The Government of Canada supports sustainable development through federal action and collaboration with partners across jurisdictions and sectors.

Information on the targets

The following table lays out the information to be used for reporting and assessing progress on the Strategy's targets. It includes a description of the indicator and its source, a time frame for achieving the target, and a starting point for establishing a progression trend. Note that for many targets, indicators are reported on in a future year because data collection and processing timelines do not allow for reporting on the data's reference year.

Table 1. Protecting Canada’s environment

Target	Minister(s) responsible	Starting point	Indicator source	2025 Progress Report target assessment
By 2030, conserve 30% of land and inland waters, and 30% of coastal and marine areas, in support of Canada’s biodiversity commitments.	Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature; Minister of Fisheries	Conserved terrestrial area was 4.4% in 1990 Conserved marine area was 0.3% in 1990	Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators, Canada's conserved areas: Terrestrial and Marine	Limited progress
By 2030, 60% of species at risk listed under federal law exhibit population trends that are consistent with recovery strategies and management plans.	Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature	42% in 2019	Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators, Species at risk population trends	Deterioration
By 2050, achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Note: due to data collection and processing timelines, the data for the interim 2030 and 2035 targets will be reported on in 2033 and 2038, respectively.	Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature	Greenhouse gas emissions in megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2005 (see Greenhouse gas emissions indicator for value)	Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators, Greenhouse gas emissions and Greenhouse gas emissions projections	Limited progress
By 2033, 100% of water bodies of national significance supported by Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives achieve freshwater quality and aquatic ecosystem health indicators of good/fair with a trend of stable or improving.	Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature	29% in 2026	Canada Water Agency, Percentage of Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives* where freshwater quality and aquatic ecosystem health indicators are reported as good/fair (custom calculations based on report data) *The water bodies included in the Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives indicator for the 2026 to 2029 period are: the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Lake of the Woods, the St. Lawrence River, the Fraser River, the Mackenzie River, and the Wolastoq/Saint John River.	New FSDS target
By 2040, 100% of wastewater systems achieve effluent quality standards.	Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature	77% in 2015	Environment and Climate Change Canada, Percentage of wastewater systems in Canada where effluent quality standards are achieved	Limited progress
By 2030, 85% of the population across Canada lives in areas where air pollutant concentrations are less than or equal to the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards. Note: due to data collection and processing timelines, the data for this 2030 target will be reported on in 2033.	Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature; Minister of Health	63% in the 2005 to 2007 period	Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators, Population exposure to air pollutants	Progress made but acceleration needed
By 2030, support improvement in the environmental performance of the agriculture sector by achieving a score of 71 or higher on the Index of Agri-Environmental Sustainability.	Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food	64 in 2001	Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Index of Agri-Environmental Sustainability	Deterioration
By 2030, reduce the amount of solid, non-hazardous waste Canadians send to disposal by 30%.	Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature	699 kilograms per person per year in 2014 A 30% reduction from 2014 to 2030 is 209.7 kilograms per person.	Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators, Solid waste diversion and disposal	Limited progress

Table 2. Supporting people and communities

Target	Minister(s) responsible	Starting point	Indicator source	2025 Progress Report target assessment
By 2030, reduce poverty by 50%, relative to 2015 levels.	Minister of Jobs and Families	100, the Market Basket Measure Poverty Index level in 2015	Statistics Canada, Dimensions of Poverty Hub, Market Basket Measure Poverty Index	New FSDS target Assessed with a different indicator: On track
By 2036, more than 72% of the population lives in acceptable housing.	Minister of Housing and Infrastructure	69% in 2022	Statistics Canada, Persons living in acceptable housing	New FSDS target
By March 31, 2030, reduce the percentage of Canadians with a mental disorder who have expressed that they have an unmet care need to 22% at most.	Minister of Health	40.5% adults (18+) with a mental health disorder expressed that they have an unmet need for mental health care in 2024	Canadian Institute for Health Information, Canadians With a Mental Health Disorder Who Have an Unmet Need for Mental Health Care	New FSDS target Assessed with a different indicator: Deterioration
By March 31, 2028, reduce the rate of deaths attributable to substance use to 10 apparent opioid toxicity deaths per 100,000 population and six apparent stimulant toxicity deaths per 100,000 population.	Minister of Health	Pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels of opioid and stimulant toxicity deaths: 9.9 apparent opioid toxicity deaths in 2019; 6.0 apparent stimulant toxicity deaths in 2019 Target represents a reduction of 53% in apparent opioid toxicity deaths and 69% apparent stimulant toxicity deaths from 2023 levels.	Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada, Opioid- and Stimulant-related Harms in Canada	New FSDS target
By 2030, 60% of households factor climate change into their decision-making.	Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature	38% in 2024	Environment and Climate Change Canada, Percentage of Canadian households that factor climate change into their decision-making (custom calculations based on public opinion survey data)	New FSDS target
By 2030, reduce self-reported rates of intimate partner violence by five percentage points.	Minister of Women and Gender Equality	12.1% in 2018	Statistics Canada, Intimate partner violence	Unable to assess Note, at the time of this assessment, only one data point was available.
By 2030, the share of Canadians reporting discrimination or unfair treatment is reduced by five percentage points.	Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture	37% in 2024	Statistics Canada, Quality of Life Framework: Discrimination and unfair treatment	New FSDS target
By 2030, at least 70% of Canadians think the criminal justice system is fair and accessible to all people.	Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada	50% are confident or moderately confident that the criminal justice system is fair in 2022 58% are confident or moderately confident that the criminal justice system is accessible in 2022	Statistics Canada, Quality of Life Framework: Confidence in access to fair and equal justice	Progress made but acceleration needed
By 2030, 56% of Canadians have a strong sense of belonging to their local community.	Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture	53.5% in 2024	Statistics Canada, Quality of Life Framework: Sense of belonging to local community	New FSDS target
By 2030, the real gross domestic product of Canada’s cultural sector increases by 4%.	Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture	$55.15 billion in 2023	Statistics Canada, National culture and sport	New FSDS target
By 2035, confidence in Canada’s government reaches 55%.	All ministers	50.9% in 2023	Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Trust in Government	New FSDS target

Table 3. Building a strong and low-carbon economy

Target	Minister(s) responsible	Starting point	Indicator source	2025 Progress Report target assessment
By 2029, Canada’s annual labour productivity growth exceeds the G7 nations’ average.	Minister of Industry	Over 2022 to 2024, Canada’s labour productivity declined on average by 0.54% annually while G7 countries’ declined by 0.14%	Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Productivity levels: Labour (GDP per hour worked)	New FSDS target
By 2029, Canada’s environmental and clean technology sector is maintained at 3% of national gross domestic product.	Minister of Industry	3% in 2023	Statistics Canada, Environmental and Clean Technology Products and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, GDP and trade in Canada's environmental and clean technology sector	New FSDS target
By 2030, Canada saves the equivalent of the annual energy use of more than 12 million homes nationwide through energy efficiency improvements (1,200 petajoules).	Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature	0 petajoules of energy saved in 2000	Environment and Climate Change Canada, Difference in final energy use (in petajoules) with and without energy efficiency improvements (internal data)	New FSDS target
By 2030, 22% of commuters use sustainable transportation.	Minister of Housing and Infrastructure	13.9% in May 2021	Statistics Canada, Main mode of commuting Sustainable transportation includes public transit (bus, subway, elevated rail, light rail, streetcar, commuter train, and passenger ferry) and active transportation (walking, cycling, and the use of human-powered or hybrid mobility aids).	Deterioration
By 2040, electric vehicles represent 90% of new light-duty vehicle sales.	Minister of Transport	10.3% in 2025	Transport Canada, Light-duty electric vehicle (EV) market share	New FSDS target
By 2029, reduce the employment rate gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples to 6.3 percentage points.	Minister of Indigenous Services; Minister of Jobs and Families	Gap of 8.4 percentage points in 2016	Indigenous Services Canada, Difference in employment rate between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people (15+) [custom calculations based on census data]	New FSDS target
By 2029, reduce the gap between men and women’s labour force participation to six percentage points.	Minister of Jobs and Families	Gap of 6.5 percentage points in 2025	Statistics Canada, Labour force	New FSDS target

Annex 3: Contributing federal strategies

Several strategies, frameworks, and programs are used by the Government of Canada to advance sustainable development and improve quality of life. These tables show how they align with the FSDS goals.

Table 4. Protecting Canada’s environment

Goal	Related Government of Canada strategies and/or horizontal initiatives
Canada has healthy lands, waters, and biodiversity	A Force of Nature: Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy: Halting and Reversing Biodiversity Loss in Canada Indigenous Guardians Oceans Protection Plan
Canada reduces greenhouse gas emissions	2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy Faster and Further: Canada’s Methane Strategy Greening Government Strategy: A Government of Canada Directive Strategy on Short-Lived Climate Pollutants
Canada reduces environmental pressures on water, air, and soil	Air Quality Management System Canada’s Air Quality Program Chemicals Management Plan Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan Freshwater Action Plan Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership
Reduce waste in Canada	Ocean Plastics Charter Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste

Table 5. Supporting people and communities

Goal	Related Government of Canada strategies and/or horizontal initiatives
Canadians have essential resources and supports	Allowance: 60 to 64 years old Allowance for the Survivor Build Canada Homes Canadian Dental Care Plan Canada Disability Benefit Canada Learning Bond Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund Canada Student Financial Assistance Program Canada's Housing Action Plan Canada's National Housing Strategy Feeding the future today: Canada’s National School Food Program Food Policy for Canada Guaranteed Income Supplement National Food Security Strategy Nutrition North Canada Old Age Security Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy Solving the Housing Crisis: Canada’s Housing Plan Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy Veteran Homelessness Program
Support Canadians’ mental health and address substance use-related harms	Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy Mental Health Commission of Canada Mental Health Promotion Innovation Fund
Canadian households are resilient to climate change	National Adaptation Strategy National Adaptation Strategy Progress Report
Canadians are safe	Canada's Action Plan on Combatting Hate Canada’s Border Plan Canada’s draft National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice 2026-2031 Canada's National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet Combatting systemic racism and discrimination in Canada Canada's Disability Inclusion Action Plan Employment Strategy for Canadians with Disabilities Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan 2022 Federal Victims Strategy Indigenous Justice Strategy It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking The Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People Toward Transformative Change: an Implementation Plan for Canada’s Black Justice Strategy Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act
Canadians feel like they belong	Canada’s National Action Plan for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032) Creative Canada Policy Framework Indigenous Languages Act Your language – Your plan
Canadians have confidence in government	Digital Citizen Initiative Enterprise Cyber Security Strategy Government of Canada Trust and Transparency Strategy National Action Plan on Open Government Public Service Data Strategy Responsible use of artificial intelligence in government Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector

Table 6. Building a strong and low-carbon economy

Goal	Related Government of Canada strategies and/or horizontal initiatives
Canada has a productive and low-carbon economy	2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy Canada's Climate Competitiveness Strategy Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy Clean Economy Investment Tax Credits Industrial carbon pricing in Canada Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentives Program Sustainable Jobs Action Plans Team Canada Strong Youth Employment and Skills Strategy
Canada moves toward an energy-efficient economy	Canada Green Buildings Strategy: Transforming Canada’s buildings sector for a net-zero and resilient future Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program Codes Acceleration Fund Powering Canada Strong: A National Strategy for an Electrified Canadian Economy
Canadians have access to sustainable transportation	Canada's Automotive Strategy Canada Public Transit Fund Canada's National Active Transportation Strategy Electric and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure
All Canadians can participate in the economy	Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program: Access to Capital Community Opportunity Readiness Distinctions-based post-secondary education strategies Gender Results Framework Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program Skills and Partnership Fund Skills for Success Student Work Placement Program Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program Support to Northern Infrastructure Development Team Canada Strong