This strategy has been developed and adopted under the Federal Sustainable Development Act. The purpose of this Act is to provide the legal framework for developing and implementing a Federal Sustainable Development Strategy that will make environmental decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament. This Act was assented to in 2008 and the regulations are binding.
The first Federal Sustainable Development Strategy was developed in 2010, followed by updated every three years, as mandated by the Act.
Canada commits to reducing GHG emissions by 17 percent below its 2005 level by 2020 under the new Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.