Sustainable development

The Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is committed to supporting the advancement of sustainable development.

ISED's 2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS), which was tabled in Parliament in November 2023, sets out how the department will advance this commitment over the next four years, including how it will support the goals and targets in the broader 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy and the United Nations' (UN) Sustainable Development Goals.

A report on progress on ISED's 2023 to 2027 DSDS will be published in the fall of 2024.

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The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The most common definition of sustainable development is "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.Footnote 1 "

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) sets out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to guide global efforts to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental – in a balanced and integrated manner by 2030. Canada, along with all UN Members, has adopted the 2030 Agenda and committed to advancing the SDGs both at home and abroad.

The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy

Governed by the Federal Sustainable Development Act (the Act), the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) describes the Government of Canada's vision and plan for coordinated federal action to advance the SDGs in Canada, with a view to improving Canadians' quality of life.

The 2022 to 2026 FSDS was tabled in Parliament in the fall of 2022 and sets out a comprehensive set of federal sustainable development goals, targets, milestones and implementation strategies for advancing sustainable development in the Canadian context over the next four years.

Archived strategies and reports

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