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WCS Canada Comments: Draft 2026-2029 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy

Raudsepp-Hearne, C., Goodday, V. & Ray, J.

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Key points

• A sustainable development strategy must recognize that long-term economic prosperity and social well-being depend fundamentally on healthy ecosystems.
• Biodiversity is not a discrete environmental issue to be addressed in isolation under a single environmental goal; it underpins climate stability, water security, Indigenous livelihoods, food systems, human health, disaster resilience, and long-term economic productivity – and therefore sustainable development, as a whole.
• The draft 2026-2029 Strategy shows weaknesses in key areas related to biodiversity and ecosystems. In response, we put forward six high-level recommendations for the final Strategy and discuss detailed actions under each:
  • Strengthen the FSDS as an integrated framework;
  • Embed the mitigation hierarchy across federal decision-making;
  • Broaden biodiversity, ecosystem services, and ecosystem protection goals;
  • Improve species at risk recovery and accountability;
  • Recognize Indigenous leadership and conservation economies; and
  • Address knowledge, monitoring, and data gaps.

Abstract

Under the federal Federal Sustainable Development Act, the Government of Canada is required to develop a new Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) at least once every three years. In January, they released their draft 2026-2026 Strategy for public comment.

Recommended citation

Raudsepp-Hearne, C., Goodday, V. & Ray, J. (2026). WCS Canada Comments: Draft 2026-2029 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. Wildlife Conservation Society Canada [WCS Canada]. https://wcscanada.org/resources/wcs-canada-comments-draft-2026-2029-federal-sustainable-development-strategy/