Summary of SDS Issues

The following document is out of date.

WD has identified three areas as priorities for action under the current SDS:

• promoting sustainable development to Western Canadian SMEs;
• integrating sustainable development into the programs and services WD provides; and
• greening WD’s internal operations.

Through the Western Canada Business Service Network (WCBSN) and our business services, WD has an excellent means of disseminating information on sustainable development to SMEs in Western Canada. This information will enable SMEs to make more informed decisions about the environmental consequences of their management practices and to take advantage of the opportunities sustainable development is creating for businesses that provide environmentally and socially responsible products and services.

According to respondents to the consultation questionnaire, the top two sustainable development issues for WD to address are “Preserving the ecosystem” and “Building capacity within WD and with our stakeholders in sustainable development concepts.” In light of this stakeholder response and topics receiving emphasis in the federal government as a whole, WD will focus efforts on reducing the environmental impacts of our own physical operations and incorporating consideration of environmental, social and economic factors into the programs and services we deliver. As a relatively small department occupying leased facilities, WD’s targets are tempered by the limited scope of control over building operations and we are focusing on the issues that can be effectively managed given the staff and resources available.

Table 2: Initial Identification of Environmental Aspects and Impacts

Activity/Program/Policy	Aspect/Issue	Impact
Pysical Operations	Procurement	a. depletion of natural resources b. use/release of hazardous materials c. landfill loading
	Solid Waste Management	a. depletion of natural resources b. landfill loading
	Vehicle Management	a. air pollution b. consumption of fossil fuel c. use/release of hazardous materials
	Energy Consumption	a. consumption of fossil fuel b. air pollution
Policy and Program Development (Internal)	Training and Awareness	a. Reduction in potential for negative impacts on the environment, society, economy
	Strategic Environmental Assessment	a. Mitigation or prevention of negative impacts on the environment, society, economy
Expanding Access to Information	Training and Awareness	a. Reduction in potential for negative impacts on the environment, society, economy
Facilitating Access to Capital	Environmental Assessment	a. Mitigation or prevention of negative impacts on the environment, society, economy
	Supporting development of environemental technologies	a. Development and implementation of measures to reduce negative impacts on the environment

Environmental Aspect-An element of WD activities, policies, programs that can have an impact on the environment.Environmental Imact - A change that takes place in the environment as result of the aspect.

As indicated in the previous section, WD has committed to a procedure for identifying aspects/issues over which WD has control and can be expected to exert influence. On an annual basis, WD will undertake to identify these issues. In July of 2000, WD proceeded with this exercise in order to identify priority areas. Table 2: Initial Identification of Environmental Aspects and Impacts outlines specific items as significant issues or “aspects” that require action under the current SDS. Please note that this exercise was completed using the business lines that were in place at the time. As this procedure is slated to take place annually, it is expected that the activities, aspects and impacts may change from year to year.

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Note: WD has decided not to address water conservation at this time. As a tenant in leased facilities, WD has no effective means to control or measure consumption. Furthermore, potential reduction in consumption would be minimal given the small number of staff and limited types of use (washrooms and lunch areas only).