This report supports the Government of Canada's commitment included in the Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA) to make sustainable development decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament. It also contributes to an integrated, whole‑of‑government view of activities supporting environmental sustainability.
The departmental information reported accounts for information previously prepared in accordance with the National Research Council of Canada's (NRC's) 2020 to 2023 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS).
1. Introduction to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
The 2019 to 2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada's sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. The development by the NRC of its first stand‑alone DSDS was completed on a voluntary basis and this report on implementation progress demonstrates its adherence to the principles of the FSDS.
This is the first year the NRC is reporting on the actions included in its own DSDS. In previous years, actions from the NRC were reported through other departments' sustainable development strategies, primarily that of the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
2. Sustainable development at the NRC
In collaboration with government, academia and industry, the NRC plays a leadership role within the Canadian science, technology, and innovation (STI) ecosystem to move sustainable development forward.
The NRC's 2020 to 2023 DSDS describes the organization's actions in support of achieving the following FSDS goals:
- Greening government communities
- Effective action on climate change
- Clean growth
- Modern and resilient infrastructure
- Clean energy
- Safe and healthy communities
This report presents available results for the organizational actions specified in the NRC DSDS, as well as additional NRC efforts that contribute to the above FSDS goals. The report also highlights where the NRC is contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Summary of Results
Greening government communities
The COVID-19 pandemic has required all government departments to make significant changes to how they operate, and the NRC is no different. In light of the pandemic, the NRC has continued its work in greening its own operations and reducing energy consumption to contribute to the FSDS targets. In 2020-21, the NRC continued to modernize and optimize its workplace with actions such as completing major energy retrofits and converting facility lighting systems to LED, leading to reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its facilities. The NRC has also lowered its emissions by optimizing its facility and fleet management, including recommissioning buildings to achieve optimized performance, updating maintenance systems and increasing the percentage of zero-emission vehicles in the NRC's administrative fleet. Furthermore, the NRC contributed to the FSDS targets by improving its waste management through actions such as implementing an organic waste pilot program in a number of NRC facilities to reduce the environmental impact of operational waste, as well as making improvements to procurement procedures by incorporating environmental considerations in maintenance and service contracts. The NRC has continued to implement an environmental management system across the organization to continually improve and green its operations.
Effective action on climate change
While the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Canadians' health and prosperity over the past year, climate change is still the biggest long-term threat to Canada and the world. Taking effective action on climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are key priorities for the federal government and Canada's Climate Plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy sets a strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The NRC has continued to contribute to this goal through the National Energy Codes for Buildings (NECB), which provide energy efficiency guidance for carbon emission reductions from buildings. In 2020-21, in partnership with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Infrastructure Canada (INFC), the NRC also produced new research to better understand wild fires and their impacts on buildings and infrastructures, which will support mitigation efforts and help reduce a significant source of GHG emissions. The NRC also furthered its activities in bioenergy and published papers exploring how waste and bio-based feedstock may be used for low-carbon intensity fuels.
In addition to the actions specified in its 2020 to 2023 DSDS, the NRC continued to work with its partners on research supporting actions against climate change. In 2020‑21, the NRC worked in partnership with the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), NRCan, INFC, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) initiative to support the Government of Canada's commitment to be net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. With its federal partners, the NRC is producing data and developing guidelines for the quantification of embodied carbon in construction materials which will support the selection of materials and designs that offer the lowest carbon footprint with the lowest total cost of ownership.
Clean growth
The federal government has committed to supporting economic development in a manner that addresses climate change while also delivering a stronger economy that benefits all Canadians. A clean technology industry supports the transition to a prosperous and sustainable low-carbon economy. Through the Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), the NRC provides business advice and funding to innovative small and medium-sized companies in Canada that are developing clean technologies. In the past year the program helped fund 405 clean technology projects, with a total value of $59.6M.
The NRC also continued to invest in clean energy research, development, and demonstration through its collaboration centre with the University of Toronto on Green Energy Materials— which advances critical platform technologies to accelerate the development of clean materials and production processes— and its Materials for Clean Fuels Challenge program— which focuses on working with leading Canadian innovators to accelerate discovery, development and scale-up of new materials for zero-emission transportation fuels and chemical feedstocks. So far, the program has supported $12.8M in research across 44 projects, leading to 15 publications.
Throughout the pandemic, the NRC continued construction on a new advanced materials research facility in Mississauga, which officially opened in November 2020. This facility will serve as a national clean energy hub, bringing together private sector, government and academic researchers to collaborate on breakthrough projects in clean technologies and advanced materials.
To accelerate technology development for low-emissions propulsion systems in aviation applications, in 2020-21 the NRC commissioned a new research facility capable of evaluating hybrid-electric propulsion systems in a range of different configurations. This will support the development of future industrial capabilities in aircraft electrification in Canada, and supplements ongoing research that the NRC is conducting in low-carbon combustion for aviation and energy generation in collaboration with academia and industry partners. The NRC also launched the Canadian Advanced Air Mobility Consortium (CAAM) in collaboration with partners across government, academia, industry and the investor community. This consortium supports a sustainable, equitable and profitable advanced air mobility industry in Canada.
The NRC sought to reduce the environmental footprint of the freight, passenger and heavy duty transportation sector through the development and the performance assessment of new technologies to improve aerodynamic, fuel efficiency and electrification. One ongoing project on safe, high performance battery pack for a heavy-duty electric mining vehicle is currently done in collaboration with l'Institut du véhicule innovant (IVI) and Propulsion Québec and will support the mining industry in reducing its use of vehicles running on fossil fuels, lower operating costs and potentially lead to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
The NRC also continued to support the development of a sustainable Canadian value chain for vehicle electrification with the development higher energy density silicon/graphite anode for use in lithium-ion batteries; hydrogen fuel cell air filter sensor technology and new technologies for electric motor manufacturing and designs for high efficiency and power density electric motors. In addition, the NRC participated in the International Energy Agency's Energy Storage Technology Collaboration Programmes (TCP), playing a leadership role in an international consortium dedicated to developing energy storage models and guidelines. In the same vein, as part of the World Bank Energy Storage Partnership, the NRC led the development of standards for safe energy storage in developing countries, resulting in a best practice guide.
Modern and resilient infrastructure
The Government of Canada committed to support green infrastructure to protect against a changing climate, reduce the impacts natural hazards and support resilient communities. The NRC supports this goal through multi-disciplinary research activities focused on developing modern and resilient infrastructures. In 2020-21, the NRC conducted experimental work in Cambridge, Nunavut, to demonstrate how an innovative-wastewater treatment system will meet environmental standards while producing biogas suitable for renewable energy. The NRC also collaborated with the UK Satellite Applications Catapult to develop a first-in-the-world decision support tool for structural monitoring of bridges based on satellite imagery; and continued to collaborate with Infrastructure Canada on the Climate Resilient Buildings and Core Public Infrastructure Initiative. Through this initiative, the NRC developed national guidance documents to support the integration of climate resilience into building and infrastructure design, guides, and codes. This initiative has already contributed to numerous updates to codes and standards, including the 2020 National Building Codes and the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code 2019. These updates support Canadian infrastructure in having the resilience necessary to withstand extreme weather and climate events brought on by climate change.
The NRC supported this FSDS goal through a wide range of additional research activities not included in its DSDS. Through its Arctic Program, the NRC provided expert advice and analysis on building designs, and wind and solar photovoltaic renewable energy systems to support Northern-based builders in constructing more energy efficient residential buildings. In collaboration with the Gjoa Haven community, the Arctic Research Foundation, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Space Agency, the NRC contributed to the Naurvik project, a community-led hydroponic food production system powered almost entirely by renewable energy sources that aims to help develop methods and solutions to grow plants in harsh environments. The NRC is also collaborating with government, academia, and community partners through the Ocean program to support the development of technologies that will mitigate the impacts of extreme weather and climate change on Canada's shorelines, rivers, waterfront communities and industries.
Clean energy
To reach the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, the Government of Canada committed to support developing and adopting renewable energy and other clean energy. The NRC has been supporting this goal through research activities centered on supporting the development, deployment and adoption of clean technologies in key sectors of the Canadian economy. In 2020-21, the NRC worked with communities to de-risk microgrid installations, which will help resolve operational hurdles for clean technology integration. The NRC also provided users with the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB), which supports the energy efficiency of buildings and can lead to reduced costs for building owners and operators.
In addition to the actions included in its 2020 to 2023 DSDS, the NRC has done additional work to support clean energy development. Through the Materials for Clean Fuel Challenge program, the NRC is supporting the development of technologies that will convert carbon dioxide into net zero fuels and the production of clean hydrogen, using renewable electricity.
Safe and Healthy Communities
To provide Canadians with clean, safe environments, the Government of Canada committed to reducing air pollution and protecting the population from harmful substances. In 2020-21, the NRC supported this goal by developing and commercializing PyroLIBS™ technology, a new technology optimizing the converting processes of smelter operations to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions. The NRC also conducted long-term risk management on contaminated sites identified under the Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory (FCSI), and closed 10 contaminated sites in 2020-21, which will reduce the potential environmental and human health risk from these sites.
3. Progress on DSDS Commitments
The following tables provide performance information on departmental actions in support of the FSDS goals listed in section 2.
| Greening government communities FSDS target(s) |
FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Performance indicator(s) starting point(s) Target(s) |
2020-21 results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target | Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduce GHG emissions from federal government facilities and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 (with an aspiration to achieve this target by 2025) and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050 (with an aspiration to be carbon neutral) | All new buildings and major building retrofits will prioritize low-carbon investments based on integrated design principles, and life-cycle and total-cost-of ownership assessments which incorporate shadow carbon pricing | Continue to modernize and optimize the departmental workplace to achieve more efficient and productive use of space and reduce emissions through energy efficiency, fuel switching and a reduction in floor space. |
Performance indicator: Percentage (%) change in GHG emissions from NRC facilities from fiscal year 2005-2006 to current reporting fiscal year Starting point: GHG emissions 72,576 ktCO2e from NRC facilities in fiscal year 2005-06 Target: 40% in 2022-23 |
50% reduction |
The NRC's initiatives to modernize and optimize the departmental workspace will reduce emissions, specially, through major energy retrofits, conversion of all lighting systems to LED, space rationalization and energy awareness campaigns. |
Special Purpose Real Property |
|
Performance indicator: Percentage (%) of NRC footprint with completed major energy retrofits Starting point: 0% in 2005-2006 Target: 36% in 2022-23 |
38% of NRC footprint | |||||
|
Performance indicator: Percentage (%) change of NRC footprint with LED lighting retrofit Starting point: 0% in 2005-2006 Target: 64% in 2022-23 |
64% increase of NRC footprint with LED lighting retrofit | |||||
| Departments will adopt and deploy clean technologies and implement procedures to manage building operations and take advantage of programs to improve the environmental performance of their buildings | Continue to lower emissions through the optimization of facility management and carbon awareness. |
Performance indicator: Percentage (%) of NRC footprint fully operational on SAP Plant Maintenance* Starting point: 60% Target: 95% in 2022-23 * SAP Plant Maintenance is a software that aids in management of maintenance activities for equipment and systems identified within an organization, including tracking and scheduling of inspections, corrective/preventative maintenance, and repairs. |
70% of NRC footprint Actions: |
By optimizing facility management through actions such as, recommissioning buildings, updating maintenance systems, increasing awareness, and providing real property with training centered on energy optimization, the NRC is greening its operations, which will lead to reduced emissions. SDG: SDG 13: Climate action |
Special Purpose Real Property | |
|
Performance indicator: Percentage (%) of real property employees having completed job-specific energy optimization training courses Starting point: 0% |
N/A (first year of reporting in 2022-23) Actions: 100% mechanical design team completed RETScreen Certified Energy Manager Training 100% of mechanical design team completed HTS Engineering: Get Off the Gas 12-Module Webinar Series 100% of energy team completed HTS Engineering: Get Off the Gas 12-Module Webinar Series Operations and maintenance: Evaluation and determination of relevant training opportunities for all O&M team (managers, supervisors, trades, trades support, etc.) is underway. Real property: |
|||||
|
Fleet management will be optimized including by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced. |
Continue to equip vehicles with telematics to lower emissions through optimized fleet management. |
Performance indicator: Percentage (%) change in GHG emissions from fleet from fiscal year 2005-2006 to current reporting fiscal year Starting point: GHG emissions 357 ktCO2e from NRC fleet in fiscal year 2005–06 Target: 40% in 2022-23 |
64% reduction |
Thorough analysis of current on-road fleet allows the NRC to determine the feasibility of including more low-emission vehicle options where operationally appropriate; and will contribute to the government wide efforts on zero-emission vehicle targets for future fleet acquisitions. |
Special Purpose Real Property |
|
|
Performance indicator: Percentage (%) of vehicles equipped with telematics Starting point: 100% Target: 100% in 2022-23 |
100% of vehicles | |||||
|
Performance indicator: Percentage (%) of zero-emission vehicles in current administrative fleet Starting point: 7% Target: 8% in 2022-23 |
21% of current administrative fleet | |||||
| Divert at least 75% (by weight) of non-hazardous operational waste from landfills by 2030 | Other | Develop organic waste program for national implementation to divert non-hazardous waste from landfill to reduce environmental impact from operational waste generation. |
Performance indicator: Percentage (%) of non-hazardous operational waste diverted Starting point: Development of a framework for non-hazardous operational waste diversion, including tracking and reporting mechanisms, policy and procedures, will occur over the next 2 years, with baseline reporting expected in 2022-23. Target: Baseline reporting in 2022-23. |
N/A (first year of reporting in 2022-23) Actions: Collection of data from waste haulers to establish information related to regional waste profiles including elements such as haulers, frequency of pick-up, region specific reporting requirements, and identification of reporting gaps Review of ongoing food service provider and waste management contracts for alignment with Draft National Waste Management Program Successful implementation of Organic Waste Pilot Program at the NRC with collection bins throughout five NRC facilities |
The NRC’s work to establish a framework to track construction and demolition waste is an important first step to divert construction and demolition waste from landfills. | Special Purpose Real Property |
|
Performance indicator: Percentage (%) footprint with waste audits complete Starting point: 44% footprint in 2019-2020 Target: 76% footprint in 2022-2023 |
44% of NRC footprint Actions: |
|||||
| Divert at least 90% (by weight) of all construction and demolition waste from landfills (striving to achieve 100% by 2030) | Other | Develop framework to track construction and demolition waste. Include and incorporate procedures and policy requirements for construction and demolition waste diversion requirements into construction Requests for Proposals (RFPs). |
Performance indicator: Percentage (%) of construction and demolition waste diverted Starting point: Development of a framework for construction waste management and diversion, including tracking and reporting mechanisms, policy and procedures, over the next 2 years, with baseline reporting expected in 2022-23. Target: Baseline reporting in 2022-23. |
N/A (first year of reporting in 2022-23) Actions: Consultations with local municipalities in locations with NRC-owned facilities were conducted to strengthen understanding of local landfill construction, renovation and demolition waste management diversion and recycling opportunities. A working group for the development of a framework for construction waste management and diversion was established. Construction waste for the Mississauga facility is being segregated and diverted from landfill in accordance with LEED Silver certification requirements. |
The NRC's work to establish a framework to track construction and demolition waste is an important first step to divert construction and demolition waste from landfills. | Special Purpose Real Property |
| Other | Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions | Enable public and private sector asset owners to incorporate life cycle carbon and total cost of ownership into their procurement decisions through the life cycle assessment for low-carbon assets project |
Performance indicator: Number of national Canadian-specific life cycle assessment databases for use by industry and government Starting point: 0 Target: 1 in 2022-23 |
0 databases Actions: |
The NRC’s development of databases, datasets and guidelines will support the selection of materials and designs that offer the lowest carbon footprint while offering the lowest total cost of ownership. | Construction |
|
Performance indicator: Number of national life cycle inventory datasets Starting point: 0 Target: 1 in 2022-23 |
0 datasets Actions: 10 reports were completed for 10 Canadian construction material categories to identify what datasets should be developed. |
|||||
|
Performance indicator: Number of national Canadian-specific life cycle assessment guidelines Starting point: 0 Target: 1 in 2022-23 |
0 assessment guidelines Actions: A procurement report was completed that provides advice on how procurement officials can incorporate life cycle assessment into procurement processes. |
|||||
| Other | Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions | Support the transition to a low-carbon economy through green procurement, or procuring goods and services with a reduced environmental impact and after considering environmental performance along with other priorities such as price, availability, quality and performance. |
Performance indicator: Percentage of "green"-trained procurement officers Starting point: 100% Target: 100% |
91% of procurement officers Actions: |
The green procurement training better equips NRC procurement officers to reduce the environmental impact of government procurement decisions. The NRC's maintenance and service contracts now require proponents to include green considerations as part of their services. |
Internal Services |
|
Performance indicator: Percentage of maintenance and service contracts with "green" considerations Starting point: 86% Target: 90% in 2022-23 |
100% of maintenance and service contracts | |||||
| Other | Other | Conduct research and develop guidelines for the retrofit of government heritage buildings to improve their energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their operation |
Performance indicator: Number of government heritage buildings that adopt new retrofit guidelines Starting point: 0 Target: 5 by 2022-23 |
0 government heritage buildings Actions: A Best Practices Guide for Heritage Buildings is being developed to provide potential retrofit strategies informed by evaluations on building air leakages. The guide will be used by consultants and heritage architects on heritage retrofit projects (e.g. the Lester B. Pearson Building Tower B and C). |
The NRC’s development of databases, datasets and guidelines will support the selection of materials and designs that offer the lowest carbon footprint while offering the lowest total cost of ownership. | Construction |
| Effective action on climate change FSDS target(s) |
FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Performance indicator(s) Starting point(s) Target(s) |
2020-21 Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target | Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By 2030, reduce Canada's total GHG emissions by 30%, relative to 2005 emission levels | Use legislation and regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions | Publish National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) to help Canada reduce energy use in buildings |
Performance indicator: Number of downloads of the electronic version of the NECB Starting point : 1,500 in May/June 2020 Target: 7,500 per year |
9,540 downloads (version 2015-2017) |
The NRC's NECB guidance will contribute to reducing carbon emissions from heating, lighting, ventilation and other energy uses in buildings. |
Construction |
|
Performance indicator: Number of purchases of the paper version of the NECB Starting point: 15 in April/May 2020 Target: 80 per year |
193 purchases (version 2015-2017) | |||||
| Other | Conduct research and analyses of wildland-urban interface fires and their impacts on buildings and infrastructure, to develop scientific knowledge |
Performance indicator: Number of NRC publications, conference proceedings, and reports related to wildland-urban interface fires (primary authorship and co-authored) Starting point: 0 Target: 2 by 2022-23 |
24 (5 papers and 19 research reports) |
The NRC's development of scientific knowledge about the mitigation of wildland-urban interface fires will contribute to reducing a significant source of GHG emissions, as well as increasing the resiliency of communities and infrastructure. SDG: SDG 9: Industries, Innovation and Infrastructure |
Construction | |
| Other | Evolve the NRC's current activities in Bioenergy to focus on the conversion of low-value waste feedstocks for the production of low-carbon fuels. This will help reduce GHG emissions in the energy sector by switching out conventional fossil fuels for low-carbon intensity fuels. |
Performance indicator: Number of NRC publications in bioenergy Starting point: 239 Target: 300+ by 2022-23 |
257 publications (18 publications in 2020-21) | The NRC's development of new scientific knowledge in bioenergy will support the development of new ways to produce future fuels with reduced or zero-emission life-cycles, which will then make them easier to access and use. SDG: SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy |
Energy, Mining and Environment |
| Clean growth FSDS target(s) |
FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Performance indicator(s) Starting point(s) Target(s) |
2020-21 Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target | Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Implement our Mission Innovation pledge to double federal government investments in clean energy research, development and demonstration from 2015 levels of $387 million to $775 million by 2020 | Invest in clean technologies | Continue to implement the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) on Clean Technology. A division of the NRC, IRAP provides advice, connections, and funding to help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses increase their innovation capacity and take ideas to market. |
Performance indicator: Number of clean technology projects supported Starting point: Number of projects supported has had significant fluctuation over past 5 years making no clear starting point. Target: 125 per year* * This target was set following consultation within IRAP on budget flow and projections going forward. Over the past five years, some years were below this target, and some were above. |
405 projects The NRC IRAP intakes project proposals from small and medium-sized enterprises, and the number of clean technology projects supported by the NRC IRAP over a given fiscal year is dependent on the projects presented by clients and whether those are meeting the criteria in place. |
The NRC IRAP Clean Technology investments in air, water and energy projects and technologies will contribute to the transition to a low carbon economy. SDG: SDG 9: Industries, Innovation and Infrastructure |
Industrial Research Assistance Program |
|
Performance indicator: Value ($) of clean technology projects supported Starting point: Between FY2015-2020, the number of projects supported has had significant fluctuation making no clear starting point. Target: $15M per year* * This target was set following consultation within IRAP on budget flow and projections going forward. Over the past five years, some years were below this target, and some were above. |
$59.6 M The NRC IRAP intakes project proposals from small and medium-sized enterprises, and the number of clean technology projects supported by the NRC IRAP over a given fiscal year is dependent on the projects presented by clients and whether those are meeting the criteria in place. |
|||||
| Support Canada's Mission Innovation pledge by contributing to scientific and research activities in Innovation Challenge 6: Clean Energy Materials including the establishment of a collaboration centre with the University of Toronto on Green Energy Materials (CC-GEM) which will support collaborative research between the UofT and the NRC on new clean energy materials. |
Performance indicator: Increase in clean energy research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) spending Starting point: $0.4M as of 2019-20 Target: Cumulative $5.0M through 2022-23 |
8 initial projects were co-sponsored between NRC and UofT for a total of planned expenditures of $4.7M over 2 years |
The NRC's collaborative research projects with UofT will bolster the ability of Canadian clean technology companies to develop, scale up, and access international markets. SDG: SDG 9: Industries, Innovation and Infrastructure |
Energy, Mining and Environment | ||
|
Actions supporting the Goal: This section is for actions that support the Clean Growth Goal but do not directly support a FSDS target |
Other | The NRC will build a new facility in Mississauga focused on accelerating the discovery, development, and scale-up of new materials with an emphasis on clean energy materials. This facility will be an accelerator hub between industry and academia. It is also home to the 7-year $57M Materials for Clean Fuels Challenge program – a collaborative research program focused on discovering high-risk high-reward technologies to sustainably transition Canada's energy and chemical sectors to a low-carbon economy. |
Performance indicator: Number of publications Starting point: 0 Target: 30+ by 2022-23 |
15 publications Actions: |
The NRC's new facility in Mississauga will bolster the ability of Canadian clean technology companies to develop, scale up, and access international markets. SDG: SDG 9: Industries, Innovation and Infrastructure |
Energy, Mining and Environment |
| Develop our understanding of the clean technology landscape in Canada (a project carried out with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), part of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and included in their DSDS) | Conduct an analysis of inventions by Canadian and global researchers and corporate institutions in the field of clean technologies as it aligns with the NRC's Materials for Clean Fuels (MCF) Challenge program |
Performance indicator: Presentation at March 2021 CIPO Intellectual Property (IP) Research Workshop. Starting point: CIPO to develop a robust patent search strategy. Target: A published report that explores the three main themes related to the MCF Challenge program and presents the patent story, including: top assignees and inventors, collaboration maps, landscape maps, geographical clustering, relative specialization and trend analysis. |
Reporting delayed to FY 2021-22 Actions: A collaborative project was initiated in partnership with the CIPO. Due to capacity constraints, the report from the project has been delayed to 2021. |
The NRC's efforts in promoting the creation and use of clean technologies through the MCF Challenge program contributes to a better understanding of the clean technology landscape in Canada. SDG: SDG 9: Industries, Innovation and Infrastructure |
Joint research project between CIPO and the NRC (Energy, Mining and Environment) |
| Modern and resilient infrastructure FSDS target(s) |
FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Performance indicator(s) Starting point(s) Target(s) |
2020-21 Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target | Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By the end of 2027-28 fiscal year, invest $26.9 billion in funding for green infrastructure initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve climate resilience and environment quality | Work with partners on green infrastructure | Reduce environmental impact of waste treatment in the North by demonstrating a bioelectrochemical wastewater treatment system (a system that combines wastewater treatment with energy generation and resource recovery) at an operational facility, which can treat challenging, high carbon-loading wastewater to meet the relevant environmental standards while producing biogas suitable for renewable energy production. |
Performance indicator: Demonstrate energy recovery and compliance with BOD5 and phosphorous environmental standards (BOD5 below 25 mg/L and total phosphorus below 1 mg/L) during treatment of high-strength wastewater in remote or northern communities Starting point: In waste stabilization ponds used for biological treatment of industrial and domestic wastewater, the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) often exceeds 25mg/L and phosphorus often exceeds 1 mg/L, which exceeds environmental standards. Target: Full compliance with wastewater treatment standards (BOD5 below 25 mg/L and total phosphorus below 1 mg/L) by 2022-23. Energy positive treatment with 80% energy recovery (heat or biomethane) by 2022-23. |
Not compliant Actions: Experimental work was carried out in collaboration with Polar Knowledge (PK) using high-strength wastewater from a triplex located at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (Cambridge Bay, NU). This wastewater was treated in a bioelectrochemical anaerobic sewage treatment (BEAST) bench-scale reactor resulting in BOD5 values below 10 mg/L and energy recovery. Although over 50% of total phosphorous was removed by the previous process, the effluent requires additional chemico-physical removal of phosphorus. The NRC is developing a cost-effective approach to achieve the target concentration of 1 mg/L by 2022-23. |
Bydemonstrating a bioelectrochemical wastewater treatment system (a system that combines wastewater treatment with energy generation and resource recovery), the NRC will ensure communities have more reliable water and wastewater systems, with drinking water and effluent that meet legislated standards. SDG: SDG 9: Industries, Innovation and Infrastructure |
Energy, Mining and Environment |
| Support low-carbon, resilient infrastructure | Collaborate with UK Catapult Centre to develop satellite-based structural health monitoring technologies to increase infrastructure resiliency |
Performance indicator: Value ($) of investment in the UK Catapult Centre collaboration Starting point: $0 in 2017 Target: $500K by 2022-2023 |
$89K |
The NRC's new tools for designers, owners and operators of infrastructure will improve the resiliency and carbon footprint of new and existing infrastructure. SDG: SDG 9: Industries, Innovation and Infrastructure |
Construction | |
|
Performance indicator: Number of pilot demonstrations and operational prospects using satellite-based structural heath monitoring technologies Starting point: 0 in 2017 Target: 2 by 2022-2023 |
2 pilot demonstrations | |||||
|
Performance indicator: Number of scientific publications on satellite-based measurement technology Starting point: 0 in 2017 Target: 6 by 2022-2023 |
2 (1 paper and 1 book chapter) | |||||
| Actions supporting the Goal: Modern and Resilient Infrastructure |
Modern and Resilient Infrastructure] | Transfer knowledge from Climate Resilient Buildings and Core Public Infrastructure (CRBCPI) initiative to designers, owners and operators of buildings and infrastructure assets through scientific publications, standards and guidelines, and the 2020 national building codes. |
Performance indicator: Number of NRC scientific publications, standards and guidelines produced from the CRBCPI Initiative Starting point: 0 in 2016 Target: 136 by 2020-2021 |
209
|
The NRC's new tools for designers, owners and operators of infrastructure will improve the resiliency and carbon footprint of new and existing infrastructure. SDG: SDG 9: Industries, Innovation and Infrastructure |
Construction |
|
Performance indicator: Number of updates made to codes/standards Starting point: 0 in 2016 Target: 50 by 2021 |
39 updates (3 updates to 2020 National Building Codes, 5 changes to 25th edition of Canadian Electrical Code, updates to Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code 2019, updates to 23 Underwriters Laboratories of Canada standards, updates to 4 CSA standards) |
| Clean energy FSDS target(s) |
FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Performance indicator(s) Starting point(s) Target(s) |
2020-21 Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target | Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By 2030, 90% and in the long term, 100% of Canada's electricity is generated from renewable and non-emitting sources | Promote collaboration and work with partners on clean energy infrastructure | Utilize smart grid facility at the NRC to de-risk clean technologies and train local operators for subsequent deployment in remote and indigenous communities, which will stimulate economic growth and reduce energy costs. |
Performance indicator: Number of remote and Indigenous communities engaged to de-risk microgrid installations and/or train at the facility. Starting point: 0 Target: 3 by 2022-23 |
2 communities engaged Actions:
|
The NRC is working with territorial and Indigenous governments to advance the economic elements of the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework by developing a Pan-Territorial Growth Strategy which will stimulate sustainable and diverse economic growth in Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. |
Energy, Mining and Environment |
| Reduce energy costs and work with partners to increase energy efficiency | Update the National Energy Code for Buildings to increase the energy efficiency of buildings |
Performance indicator: Number of downloads of the electronic version of the NECB Starting point: 1,500 in May/ June 2020 Target: 7,500 per year |
9,540 downloads (version 2015-2017) |
By updating and releasing the NECB, which includes technical requirements for the design and construction of energy efficient buildings, the NRC is helping reduce energy usage and cost incurred by building owners and operators |
Construction | |
|
Performance indicator: Number of purchases of the paper version of the NECB Starting point: 15 in April/May 2020 Target: 80 per year |
193 purchases (version 2015-2017) |
| Safe and healthy communities FSDS target(s) |
FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Performance indicator(s) Starting point(s) Target(s) |
2020-21 Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target | Program(s) in which the departmental actions will occur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continued decrease in emissions from 1990 of fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides and volatile organic compounds from all sources | Use legislation and regulations to address outdoor air pollutant emissions and harmful substances | Develop the NRC's current PyroLIBS™ technology to optimize the converting processes of smelter operations to reduce the sulphur dioxide emissions |
Performance indicator: Technology licensed to commercialization partner Starting point: Currently working with an industry partner to develop this technology Target: License agreement is signed with commercialization partner by 2022-23 |
Completed Actions: |
The NRC's development of technology in collaboration with industry will help managing levels of harmful substances in the environment. | Energy, Mining and Environment |
|
Actions supporting the Goal: This section is for actions that support the Safe and Healthy Communities Goal but do not directly support a FSDS target |
Better understand air pollutants and harmful substances | Develop new technologies and update standards and guidelines under the Addressing Air Pollution Horizontal Initiative with respect to indoor air quality. |
Performance indicator: Number of IP disclosures for new technologies Starting point: 2 at end of FY19/20 Target: 5 by end of FY20/21 |
0 IP disclosures Actions: |
The NRC's development of technologies and updated standards produced through the Addressing Air Pollution horizontal initiative will contribute to improving air quality and the health of Canadians. |
Construction |
|
Performance indicator: Number of new technologies evaluated in research projects Starting point: 4 at end of FY19/20 |
0 new technologies Actions: |
|||||
| Demonstrate leadership on assessing and remediating contaminated sites | In accordance with the Treasury Board Policy on Management of Real Property and consistent with the Federal approach to contaminated sites as well as to ensure appropriate application of the precautionary principle, the NRC will continue to monitor, risk-manage and/or remediate its identified contaminated sites. |
Performance indicator: Number of site file closures and/or long term risk management plans Target: 12 of site files closed or long term risk managed by 2022-2023 |
10 site files closed or risk managed |
The NRC's assessment and remediation activities will reduce potential environmental and human health risks from identified NRC contaminated sites. |
Internal Services |
4. Report on integrating sustainable development
During the 2020–21 reporting cycle, the NRC had no proposals that required a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and no public statements were produced.