1. Introduction to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
The 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada’s sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. This is the first FSDS to be framed using the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and provides a balanced view of the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development.
In keeping with the purpose of the Act, and to make decision-making related to sustainable development more transparent and accountable to Parliament, the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) supports the goals laid out in the FSDS through the activities described in this Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS).
The Federal Sustainable Development Act also sets out 7 principles that must be considered in the development of the FSDS as well as DSDSs. These basic principles have been considered and incorporated in CSE’s DSDS.
In order to promote coordinated action on sustainable development across the Government of Canada, this departmental strategy integrates efforts to advance Canada’s implementation of the 2030 Agenda National Strategy, supported by the Global Indicator Framework (GIF) and Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) targets and indicators. The strategy also captures SDG initiatives that fall outside the scope of the FSDS to inform the development of Canada’s Annual Report on the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.
Over the next three years, CSE will contribute to the following FSDS goals:
- Goal 10: Advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and take action to reduce inequality
- Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles
- Goal 13: Take action on climate change and its impacts
CSE commits to undertake the activities described in this DSDS over the next three years to ensure that the organization is doing its part in supporting Canada’s and the United Nations’s environmental sustainability goals. Furthermore, CSE will strive to consistently greening its own operations and better integrating sustainable development considerations in policies, programs, and decision-making.
2. Communications Security Establishment’s sustainable development vision
The Communication Security Establishment (CSE) recognizes that the principles of sustainable development are relevant to the achievement of its strategic objectives and mandate. As Canada's national cryptologic agency, providing the Government of Canada (GC) with information technology security and foreign signals intelligence, we take great pride in leveraging cutting-edge technology and maintaining a high level of specialized technical research. This helps us provide world-class cyber security and information advantage to protect Canadians and advance Canadian interests. Our mandate helps defend GC systems and Canada’s critical infrastructure (CI) from cyber threats and protect Canadians online.
CSE works in close collaboration with government departments, CIs, Canadian businesses, and international partners to respond to and mitigate cyber events. We help prevent malicious cyber activity against Canada’s CI such as the energy sector that could potentially lead to an environmental disaster. By promoting a secure digital presence, CSE helps Canadians do business online, including accessing GC services, with confidence. Strengthening and safeguarding Canada with advanced cyber security capabilities also enables new global realities such as working from home, telemedicine, and remote study, resulting in less commuting and a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. CSE contributes to the creation and maintenance of a modern and resilient digital infrastructure, which in turn promotes social and economic well-being and leads to a reduction in GHG emissions.
CSE strives to be a socially responsible member of the community we live and work in. Sustainability is one of the six values enshrined in CSE’s Ethics Charter and is reflected in the organization’s daily operations and in the design of our workspace. CSE adopts a comprehensive approach to sustainable development that does not stop at solving one problem in isolation of others, but rather tackles the issue from several fronts simultaneously and continuously. Our green initiatives are evergreen, supported by team members across CSE. As an organization, we are working together to define what it means for us to become a determined community; being more agile, innovative, and collaborative. Our vision is to seamlessly integrate sustainable development considerations into our policies, programs and decision-making, so that sustainability becomes a second nature. We aim to lead by example and to champion social responsibility in government operations.
CSE is committed to continuously greening its own operations by identifying opportunities for improvements. We’re driven to contribute to the GC’s social, economic and environmental sustainability goals. This motivates us to invest in sustainable solutions, embed our green initiatives in our day-to-day work, and produce better results so that we can collectively achieve a more equitable and sustainable future for all Canadians.
CSE is working to maintain an accommodating and inclusive work environment and a light environmental footprint throughout its facilities. To start, CSE’s Edward Drake Building (EDB) meets the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) GOLD certification, because it is designed to achieve high performance in six areas of human and environmental health:
- Location and transportation
- Sustainable site development
- Water savings
- Energy efficiency
- Materials selection
- Indoor environmental quality
EDB is also the recipient of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada (BOMA) BEST Platinum certification, an award that recognizes environmental excellence. CSE’s leased office space at our Vanier campus has also been awarded the LEED v4 Silver certification for its interior design and construction.
Inside EDB, there are a series of energy-saving initiatives to reduce power consumption and GHG emissions.
For example:
- The waste heat from IT equipment in the data centre is captured through water circulation and redirected through pipes to heat offices and melt snow in winter.
- There are CO2 sensors throughout the building to adjust fresh air intake as necessary based on building occupancy.
- The lighting at EDB uses a combination of motion sensors and scheduled controls to turn off automatically.
- The brightness of the perimeter lighting of every pod including the hub adjusts according to the amount of natural light entering the building.
- All exterior lighting, including the lights in the parking, is on a controlled schedule to help cut down energy consumption.
- Rainwater is collected from the roof, filtered, and used for non-potable purposes across the building, significantly reducing city water consumption.
- High efficiency low-emissivity windows, reflective film, and automated solar blinds in EDB minimize cooling needs and maximize natural lighting.
- Emergency backup power generators at EDB filter the contaminants from the exhaust air before releasing it to the atmosphere.
CSE has shifted numerous applications to the cloud, not only to be more efficient and leverage advanced technologies, but also to reduce the organization’s carbon footprint. Running CSE’s workload on the cloud reduces energy consumption compared to running it on premises. However, it should be noted that while using cloud may reduce EDB’s overall energy consumption, it does not necessarily mean that that cloud computing is impact-free. Moreover, CSE has implemented a hybrid work environment and has encouraged environmentally friendly ways to commute to work by allocating parking spaces for electric vehicles (EVs), motorcycles, and bicycles, and incentivizing carpooling and the use of public transportation. The EDB campus is conveniently located near an Ottawa Light Rail Transit station, providing easy access to alternative transportation options to employees.
The organization has also encouraged paperless environment, green meetings, sustainable business travel and the use of teleconferencing capabilities for meetings whenever possible. Additionally, CSE has ensured that its business consumables are redistributed in the community rather than sent to landfills and has put in place several recycling programs for office supplies and IT equipment. In the cafeteria, CSE has replaced Styrofoam containers with compostable ones and provided reusable lunch ware to its employees. Meanwhile, food waste from the cafeteria goes through an industrial incinerator to be converted into compost, further reducing waste. Finally, the organization always requires the use of environmentally safe products and services at all its sites.
CSE continues to support clean technologies, green products and services, and circular economy principles by taking environmental considerations into account while making procurement decisions. CSE leverages instruments established by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) designed to meet the GC’s green procurement standards. Additionally, CSE has recently set up a Procurement Compliance Program (PCP) to ensure and monitor the inclusion of green procurement provisions in the requests for proposal and contract templates. CSE will internally report on PCP overall compliance findings quarterly and will conduct an annual review of the program this year. Our eco-friendly practices include e-bidding, electronic communication, and providing green procurement training to all procurement employees, emphasizing leadership and prioritizing sustainability. Moving forward, CSE will integrate greening considerations into its Investment Plan and investment planning governance and process, particularly in regard to IT procurement, as per the Greening Government Strategy and the Policy on Green Procurement. Several green practices at CSE are led by employees called “Green Ambassadors” who are passionate about sustainability goals.
Outside EDB, CSE promotes sustainability by reducing the impact of its facility on the surrounding fauna and flora. We have kept the space around our facility in its natural state to avoid disturbing nature. In addition, the organization has started treating EDB windows to reduce the instances of bird strikes and has erected beehives on its grounds to promote pollination. To be a good neighbour, CSE maintains walking paths surrounding EDB all year around. These trails are open to the public who use them for walking and jogging promoting overall health and an active lifestyle.
Recognizing that our people are our most valuable asset, CSE is institutionalizing its equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) framework. The framework integrates a principles-based approach to EDI in all aspects of our work in order to make every employee feel valued and respected. CSE encourages the creation of internal affinity groups to empower diverse interests and create safe spaces to raise concerns and promote awareness through education and training. Additionally, CSE actively pursues opportunities to grow and expand its efforts to advance the goal of diversity, equal opportunities, and diversified paths in education and skills development. CSE donates to and participates in community mentorship programs that work to educate and empower elementary and high school students. In particular, CSE contributes to the persistence and representation of women, Indigenous peoples, and racialized individuals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through partnerships with organizations such as Hackergal, the Information and Communications Technology Council (Cyber Titan), Actua, Black Boys Code and the University of Ottawa’s Mathematics and Statistics Outreach program.
CSE also established a Women in Cyber and Intelligence network (WICI) to improve the organization’s ability to attract, develop and retain women of diverse backgrounds, which has been a key feature of gender equality, diversity and inclusion at CSE for many years. In addition to WICI, CSE has several other affinity groups to address a range of issues and promote inclusion and diversity at every level throughout the organization. This includes but is not limited to the following groups:
- EmbRACE – affinity group for racialized and Indigenous employees
- Pride network
- Disability group
- Neurodiversity group
- Réseau franco – official languages affinity group
- Jewish affinity group
At the same time, CSE is taking steps to ensure its employees are made aware of commitments under the Greening Government Strategy and the Policy on Green Procurement. This includes promoting employees’ involvement in greening activities and sharing of greening best practices. Ultimately, CSE plans to enhance staff awareness of sustainable development workplace practices to meet and exceed our environmental sustainability goals and align our operations with the FSDS and with Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy.
3. Listening to Canadians
As required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act, the Communications Security Establishment has taken into account comments on the draft 2022-2026 FSDS made during the public consultation held from March 11 to July 9, 2022. During the public consultation, more than 700 comments were received from a broad range of stakeholders, including governments, Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations, academics, businesses, and individual Canadians in different age groups and of various backgrounds. The draft FSDS was also shared with the appropriate committee of each House of Parliament, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Sustainable Development Advisory Council for their review and comment.
What we heard
Based on what was heard during the consultations, Canadians expressed significant interest in a broad range of social, economic and environmental sustainability issues such as:
- advancing reconciliation
- respecting Indigenous rights and self-governance
- addressing social inequalities, supporting sustainable economic growth
- transitioning to a net-zero future
- taking more action to conserve natural resources and biodiversity
From among these issues, CSE is committed to three key priorities:
- Contributing to the reconciliation with Indigenous people
- Contributing to climate change mitigation
- Adopting sustainable production and consumption practices
4. Communications Security Establishment's commitments
- No poverty
- Zero hunger
- Good health and well-being
- Quality education
- Gender equality
- Clean water and sanitation
- Affordable clean energy
- Decent work and economic growth
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Reduced inequalities
- Sustainable cities and communities
- Responsible consumption and production
- Climate action
- Life below water
- Life on land
- Peace, justice and strong institutions
- Partnerships for the goals
Reduced inequalities
Goal 10: Advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and take action on inequality
FSDS context
In support of goal 10 of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, CSE will:
- participate in Indigenous network events with international partners to learn from their initiatives and best practices
- launch internal sponsorship programs for Indigenous students, engage in open dialogue with Indigenous employees, and participate in relevant conferences
- explore effective ways to promote and deliver cyber security services to Indigenous communities
- continue to promote and support Indigenous learning and cultural activities across the organization
CSE’s values and ethics foster a culture that allows for safe spaces for discussions and learning. We promote transparency of our efforts and understand that there is always room for improvement. This has set the stage for innovation and experimentation across the whole organization. For example, to create more equitable career progression processes, CSE has launched a sponsorship pilot program for Indigenous and racialized employees. This program aims to break down systemic barriers affecting career progression and personal development. Participants (protégés) in this program are guided by a senior leader (sponsor) at CSE and they work together to ensure participants are actively considered for developmental opportunities and career advancement.
Moreover, CSE’s 2022-25 Accessibility Plan ensures accessible conditions for day-to-day work, life and career progression, because having a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to the challenging work we do. The plan accommodates employees’ and visitors’ needs by improving the physical space in our facilities, such as adding accessible parking spaces, scooters, ergonomic monitors, hands-free accessibility buttons, etc. Our goal is to maintain a barrier-free, equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace.
Target theme: Advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis communities
Target: 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.
Implementation strategy: Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act
Departmental action:
- CSE will implement its Indigenous Procurement Strategy that will direct more procurement activities toward Indigenous-owned and -operated businesses.
- Program: Internal Services
Performance indicator, starting point and target:
- Performance indicator: Percentage of procurement contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses.
- Starting point: 2% in the 2022-2023 fiscal year
- Target: 5% of CSE’s total procurement awarded to Indigenous-owned businesses annually.
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target, and to Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:
- CSE's Asset, Material, and Contract Management Division will implement CSE’s Indigenous Procurement Strategy that will direct more procurement activities towards Indigenous owned businesses in alignment with Treasury Board Secretariat policy (TBS) on Mandatory Procedures for Contracts Awarded to Indigenous Businesses.
- CSE is part of Phase 3 of the Government-wide Indigenous Procurement plan. CSE has developed its own Indigenous Procurement Strategy to ensure both the planning and reporting of procurement activities with Indigenous-owned business at CSE reaches a minimum of 5% of the organization’s total procurement in FY 2024-2025.
- Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF ambition: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced. - GIF target – 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
- GIF target – 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices, and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.
Target theme: Taking action on inequality
Target: 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.
Implementation strategy: Foster diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the federal public service.
Departmental action:
- CSE will implement measures to improve accessibility and inclusivity in our office building and office spaces.
- Program: Internal Services
Performance indicator, starting point and target:
- Performance indicator: Number of door operators installed in CSE’s Edward Drake Building.
- Starting point: Ten door operators in CSE buildings in the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
- Target: Install an additional 22 door operators by the 2026-2027 fiscal year, for a total 32.
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target, and to Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:
- CSE acknowledges the importance of an inclusive physical environment for everyone's benefit. Our office building may comply with building codes, but this does not automatically ensure accessible, inclusive and welcoming office spaces. To address this, we are implementing measures aimed at fostering a more inclusive and welcoming environment.
- Relevant targets or ambitions:
GIF target – 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
Responsible consumption and production
Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles
FSDS context
In support of goal 12 of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, CSE will:
- transition to zero-emission vehicles
- promote sustainable practices
For instance, the Greener CSE initiative focuses on waste diversion and recycling. CSE is collaborating with a non-profit organization to repurpose and recycle used business consumables to divert them away from landfills, such as the keyboard and mouse re-use program.
CSE promotes reducing the use of printers and other business consumables by providing alternate methods of working like electronic signatures, screen sharing during presentations, and teleconferencing.
Target theme: Federal leadership on responsible consumption
Target: 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.
Implementation strategy: Transform the federal light-duty fleet
Departmental action:
- In the long term, as permitted by the life cycling guidelines, CSE will replace our current vehicles with zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) or hybrid vehicles based on availability.
- Program: Internal Services
Performance indicator, starting point and target:
- Performance indicator: Number of vehicles replaced by a hybrid vehicle and/or an electric vehicle.
- Starting point: In 2022-2023, hybrid vehicles constituted 14% of CSE's light-fleet vehicles.
- Target: By the end of 2023-2024, CSE will have 42% of its light fleet as hybrid or ZEV (28% as hybrid vehicles and 14% will be ZEV).
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target, and to Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:
- Switching to ZEV or hybrid vehicles reduces GHG emissions from conventional fleet operations and enhances sustainable consumption.
- Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF ambition – 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner. - CIF indicator – 12.1.1: Proportion of new light-duty vehicle registrations that are zero-emission vehicles.
- GIF target – 12.1: Implement the 10-year framework of programs on sustainable consumption and production, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries.
Implementation strategy: Strengthen green procurement criteria
Departmental action:
- CSE will train all new procurement, goods, and services specialists in green procurement (such as through the Canada School of Public Service’s course on green procurement or equivalent) within their first year at CSE.
- Program: Internal Services
Performance indicator, starting point and target:
- Performance indicator: Percentage of procurement, goods and services specialists trained in green procurement within one year of their first day of work.
- Starting point: In 2022-2023, 100% of procurement, goods and services specialists trained in green procurement.
- Target: 100% of procurement, goods and services specialists will receive training within their first year at CSE, by the end of 2027.
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target, and to Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:
- Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and motivates suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of their supply chain and the goods and services they deliver.
- Relevant targets or ambitions:
GIF SDG target – 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.
Climate action
Goal 13: Take action on climate change and its impacts
FSDS context
In support of goal 13 of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, CSE will be:
- installing supplemental humidification for the Kyoto units to prolong their usage during cold winter months and take advantage of free cooling of the data centre
- implementing the Peak Shaving Program to reduce load on provincial electric grid during peak demand period
- changing chillers and cooling towers in the centralized utility plant
- encouraging alternative transportation and offer flexible remote work options
- working with an engineering consultant to explore a comprehensive review of EDB infrastructure, aimed at developing and implementing a long-term plan to investigate all possible options to reduce emissions and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 while maintaining CSE’s mandated operations
Target theme: Federal leadership on greenhouse gas emissions reductions and climate resilience
Target: The Government of Canada will transition to net-zero carbon operations for facilities and conventional fleets by 2050.
Implementation strategy: Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government’s overall operations.
Departmental action:
- CSE will develop and implement a strategic plan to reduce its GHG Emissions and prepare facilities for a warming climate.
- Program: Internal Services
Performance indicator, starting point and target:
- Performance indicator: Percentage reduction in GHG emissions.
- Starting point: Total GHG emissions tons from operations in 2022-2023
- Target: 15% reduction of GHG emissions by the end of 2030
Departmental action:
- CSE will work with an engineering consultant to explore a comprehensive review of EDB infrastructure. The aim is to develop and implement a long-term plan that will investigate all possible options to reduce emissions and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 while maintaining CSE’s mandated operations.
Performance indicator, starting point and target:
- Performance indicator: Explore all viable options to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to align CSE to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
- Starting point: 2023-2024 in the process of hiring an engineering consultant.
- Target: By 2027, CSE will complete a plan to explore all viable and possible options to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 while maintaining CSE’s critical mandated operations.
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target, and to Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:
- Actions that rationalize the portfolio, share facilities, reduce the demand for energy, or switch to lower carbon sources of energy will lead to reductions in GHGs from real property operations.
- Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF ambition: Canadians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. - CIF target – 13.1: By 2030, reduce Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45%, relative to 2005 emission levels. By 2050, achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
- CIF indicator – 13.1.1: Greenhouse gas emissions.