Sustainable Development Strategy

As the largest landowner in the National Capital Region, the NCC is leading the way in fostering sustainability and climate resiliency in its operations.

The Sustainable Development Strategy is our roadmap and promise to present and future generations. We renew it every three years, to track progress on our goals. This strategy is fully aligned with the targets of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.

On November 2, 2023, we launched a new cycle for our Sustainable Development Strategy. The 2023–2027 Sustainable Development Strategy includes 28 actions under the following themes:

• Sustainable Communities
  • regional food production
  • reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
  • sustainable and active transportation
  • access to urban green spaces
  • affordable housing

• Responsible Consumption
  • green procurement
  • waste management
  • clean electricity
  • site remediation

• Climate Action
  • adapting to climate change
  • mitigating the impacts of climate change

• Natural Capital
  • nature and wildlife conservation

Here are some highlights of our accomplishments:

Sustainable Communities

• Enhanced two existing green spaces (NCC River house and LeBreton Flat pathway)
• 19% increase in trips on the Gatineau Park shuttles
• Over 320 citizen science volunteers

Responsible Consumption

• Acquisition of our first electric pickup trucks
• Remediation of an additional 0.73 hectares on Victoria Island (3.26 total hectares remediated)

Climate Action

• 54% reduction in GHG emissions since 2005
• Adoption of the Climate Adaptation Plan
• Development of the first Net-Zero Real Property Portfolio Roadmap

Natural Capital

• Training for employees on bird safe design and monitoring for bird collisions around buildings
• Protection of 17 hectares of forest within the Larrimac ecological corridor, adjacent to Gatineau Park

The previous cycle of the Sustainable Development Strategy ended in November 2023. Here are some of the highlights achieved from 2018 to 2023:

• Published key documents, including:
  • Climate Projections for the National Capital Region (2020)
  • Climate Change Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (2022)
  • NCC Tree Canopy Study (2019)
  • Forest Strategy (2021)
  • Bird Safe Design Guidelines (2021).

• Over 400 citizen science volunteers.
• Completed more than 25 projects under the Natural Resources Action Plan.
• 100% of new vehicles purchased were zero-emission or hybrid vehicles.
• Banned the use of gas-powered hand tools on NCC urban lands.
• Planted more than 25,000 trees between 2014 and 2023.

The government of Canada sets out its sustainable development priorities in The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. The Federal Strategy indicates the actions needed to support the 17 sustainable development objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The NCC’s Strategy adapts the principles and objectives of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy and the federal Greening Government Strategy to the NCC’s activities and areas of expertise.

Sustainability is a shared responsibility. Share your ideas and comments with us!