Ottawa – The Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) released a strategy to improve its environmental sustainability and climate change resilience through our science, technology, and innovation research. DND/CAF manages an extensive portfolio of real estate, air, land and maritime fleets required for the defence of Canada. The DND/CAF Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability Science and Technology (CRESST) Strategy outlines how DND/CAF’s science and technology activities will be guided toward achieving our environmental and energy targets, and anticipating and mitigating the impacts of climate change, so that DND/CAF can continue to protect Canadians. The CRESST Strategy guides science and technology activities through 10 action areas organized under three strategic objectives:
- Conduct research to enable climate change mitigation and environmental sustainability.
- Assess challenges, risks, and opportunities associated with the environment and climate change.
- Conduct research to support climate change adaptation and resilience.
Outcomes are divided into short term (one to five years), medium term (five to 10 years) and long term (10+ years).
Our institution believes strongly in the importance of innovation to help us meet our climate-related commitments. DND/CAF will review the CRESST Strategy periodically to ensure that it remains fit-for-purpose, and up to date. Like all federal institutions, National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces have an important role to play in achieving federal emissions targets. Meeting our climate commitments will help fight climate change, and protect the safety and security of Canadians, who are seeing the impacts of climate change in the form of forest fires, floods, hurricanes and more.
“The Canadian Armed Forces have been on the front lines of the fight against climate change, by responding to forest fires, floods, and emergencies across Canada. It is crucial that National Defence takes measures to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and environmental footprint, in order to mitigate the security threat posed by climate change. By ensuring that DND/CAF’s science, technology and innovation activities directly address climate change and environmental impacts, we are helping to ensure the safety of Canadians.” – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence