Sustainable Development Strategy, 2018-2023

The NCC’s Sustainable Development Strategy, 2018–2023, provides a focused and innovative agenda for environmental leadership in Canada’s Capital Region, and serves as an overarching element to be included in all of the NCC’s plans, strategies, policies and operations. It reflects the NCC’s commitment to working with its partners, stakeholders and the public to continue building a greener and more sustainable Capital Region together.

Not only does this strategy aim to protect our natural and cultural heritage, it will also contribute to improving the health and well-being of all residents and visitors in the National Capital Region. It aligns with three important federal and international initiatives: the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, the Greening Government Strategy and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

This strategy was approved by the NCC Board of Directors in September 2018.

Our Principles

The strategy is founded on six principles which define how it is implemented: leadership, transparency and accountability, collaboration, public participation, natural capital in decision making & social equity. These principles are intended to send a clear message about the way that the NCC wants to do business. The NCC pledges to implement the commitments identified under each principle by 2023 and to report on progress annually.

Our Actions

Thirty-six actions have been identified to be completed by 2023. They call for the NCC to innovate and to improve the way it does business. They are presented under the 10 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy goals relevant to the NCC. Each action has a set of indicators and clear, concrete, measurable targets.

The NCC Forest Strategy

Guides the management and protection of trees and forests on lands managed by the NCC.

Learn more

2018-2019 Highlights

With positive indicators on 28 of the 36 planned actions, the first annual report on the NCC's Sustainable Development Strategy
shows early successes and steady progress. Highlights:

Under the Low-Carbon Government Goal

• The NCC has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 58 percent based on a 2005 baseline, exceeding the target of a 40 percent reduction by 2030. (Of this reduction, 77% is due to the greening of Ontario’s electricity grid and 23% is due to increased energy efficiency at the NCC.).
• Without the greening of the electricity grid, the NCC’s overall GHG reduction would be 13%.

Under the Effective Action Against Climate Change Goal

• In partnership with the City of Ottawa, and in collaboration with the Ville de Gatineau and Environment and Climate Change Canada, the NCC has launched a project to acquire and analyze climate change projections for the National Capital Region.
• Data will be used to assess key services, programs and assets in terms of climate change vulnerability and risk.
• A report will be presented to the general public and regional stakeholders in winter 2020.

Under the Sustainably Managed Lands and Forests Goal

• The City of Ottawa, Ville de Gatineau and NCC completed a tree canopy assessment for their lands.
• Forty-six percent of City of Ottawa, Ville de Gatineau and NCC lands are covered by forests and trees.
• NCC green spaces greatly increase the overall canopy of Canada’s Capital Region.