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AAFC(AAC ou Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada)
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

ACOA(APECA ou Agence de promotion économique du Canada atlantique)
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

ADM(SMA ou sous-ministre adjoint)
Assistant Deputy Minister

AFA(LCR ou Loi sur les carburants de remplacement)
Alternative Fuels Act

AFV(VCR ou Véhicule à carburant de remplacement)
Alternative Fuel Vehicle

Accountability (responsabilisation)
Formal Government Definition - Accountability is the obligation to answer for the exercise of one's responsibilities. Accountability to Parliament, program clients and ultimately the Canadian taxpayer is an essential ingredient of the government's management framework. It means accounting to Parliament on the efficient and effective use of appropriated resources to achieve program objectives. The aim is to ensure that parliamentarians and the public see that taxpayers' dollars have been spent with due regard for probity and prudence and that the intended objectives have been achieved.
General Definition - Accountability refers to the obligation to demonstrate and take responsibility for the performance in light of agreed expectations, and answers to question: Who is responsible to whom and for what?

Accountability Framework (cadre de responsabilisation)
Defines the nature and scope of responsibilities, identification of key results, performance expectations, and the monitoring and reporting strategies. These are often developed in collaboration with partners.

Acid rain(pluie acide)
Acid rain is rain, snow or fog that is polluted by acid in the atmosphere and damages the environment. Two common air pollutants acidify rain: sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxide (NO_X). When the environment cannot neutralize the acid being deposited, damage occurs.

Acquisition(acquisition)
Can mean the following: a transaction that adds new real property to the federal inventory by purchase, lease, exchange, gift, easement, expropriation, or any other means, such as the acceptance of the surrender of a lease or the acceptance of the relinquishment of a licence or easement; a transfer of administration of real property from a department or an agent Crown corporation to a department; or a transfer of administration and control of real property to the federal government.

Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change(Plan d'action 2000 sur le changement climatique)
Plan that targets key sectors and which, when fully implemented, will take Canada one third of the way to achieving the target established in the Kyoto Protocol. It will reduce Canada's greenhouse gas emissions by about 65 megatonnes per year during the commitment period of 2008-2012.

Agenda 21(Agenda 21)
The blueprint for making development socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable that was agreed upon at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

Air(air)
The air or atmosphere that surrounds the earth is one of the main components of our environment.

Air contaminant(contaminant atmosphérique ou polluant atmosphérique)
Any solid, liquid, gas, or odour or a combination of any of them that, if emitted into the air, would create or contribute to air pollution.

Air pollution(pollution atmosphérique)
A condition of the air, arising wholly or partly from the presence therein of one or more air contaminants, that endangers the health, safety, or welfare of persons, interferes with normal enjoyment of life or property, endangers the health of animal life, or causes damage to plant life or property.

Air quality(qualité de l'air)
Scientists collect and analyze samples of air in different regions of Canada on a regular basis to determine pollutant levels. This information is not only used by decision-makers to pinpoint the sources of air pollution and determine strategies for reducing it, but also to produce daily air-quality forecasts that warn Canadians when smog levels are high.

Alternative energy(énergie de remplacement)
Alternative energy is generally defined as including renewable energy sources, such as biomass, small hydro, solar, wind, geothermal, tidal energy and photovoltaic conversion systems. In addition, the term covers new transportation fuels (such as ethanol from renewable energy sources) and new applications of conventional energy sources (such as the use of propane and natural gas as automotive fuels, and batteries in electric vehicles).

Alternative fuel vehicle (AFV)(véhicule à carburant de remplacement ou VCR)
A vehicle purchased or leased from an Original Equipment Manufacturer (or converted in the aftermarket) that is capable of operating on an ATF. Flex-fuel and bi-fuel vehicles are also considered to be AFVs, as are vehicles that operate on blended fuels, when an ATF makes up at least 50 percent of the blend.

Alternative Fuels Act(Loi sur les carburants de remplacement)
The Alternative Fuels Act received Royal Assent on June 22, 1995, and took effect on April 1, 1997. The purpose of the Act is to accelerate the use in Canada of alternative transportation fuels (ATF) in motor vehicles in order to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and to reduce dependence on petroleum-based fuels for transportation. The Act targets the federal vehicle fleet and helps make the government a leader in the use of ATF.

Alternative transportation fuel(carburant de remplacement)
Under the Alternative Fuels Act, alternative transportation fuel, or ATF, must include, but is not limited to, ethanol, methanol, propane gas, natural gas, hydrogen or electricity, and these must be used as a sole source of direct propulsion energy.

Anthropogenic(anthropique)
Human-induced or human-caused. Derived from the Greek word anthropos meaning man.

Anthropogenic Emissions(émissions anthropiques)
Greenhouse gas emissions that result from the activities of humans, such as burning fossil fuels.

Appraisal(évaluation)
Means an adequately supported written opinion of the market value of the real property on a specified date that evaluates the real property rights involved according to accepted appraisal practices, and is obtained from, and signed by, a person who is a real property appraiser accredited by a provincial, national, or international real property appraisal organization, or who is experienced as an appraiser of real property and is either established in a real property-related business or employed in the federal Public Service.

Assets(biens)
Tangible or intangible things of the Government of Canada. Assets include but are not limited to information in all forms and media, networks, systems, materiel, real property, financial resources, employee trust, public confidence and international reputation.

Atmosphere(atmosphère)
The envelope of air surrounding the Earth. Most of the total mass of the atmosphere lies within the troposphere and the stratosphere. Most weather events are confined to the troposphere, the lower 8 to 12 km of the atmosphere. The ozone layer is found in the stratosphere which typically extends from 10 to 35 km above the Earth.

Auto$mart Program(programme Le bon $ens au volant)
The Auto$mart Program provides Canadian motorists with helpful tips on buying, driving and maintaining their vehicles to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Available local services(services locaux disponibles)
Reasonably priced services for multi-material recycling, composting, or reuse/recycling of construction and demolition waste that exist within the region where the properties are located.

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Best practices(pratiques exemplaires)
This is the search and adoption of processes, or initiatives, that have demonstrably improved organizational effectiveness, service delivery, or employee satisfaction in a similar work environment.

Bi-fuel vehicle(véhicule bicarburant)
This is a vehicle with two separate fuel systems that operates on either fuel (e.g., a bi-fuel gasoline/propane vehicle can operate on either gasoline or propane).

Bioaccumulation(bioaccumulation)
A process by which chemical substances are ingested and retained by organisms, either from the environment directly or through consumption of food containing the substances.

Biodegradable(biodégradable)
Capable of being broken down by living organisms into inorganic compounds.

Building area(aire du bâtiment)
The floor area (in square metres) of the building recorded in the Directory of Federal Real Property.

Buildings(bâtiments)
Individual structures recorded in the building count for properties within the Directory of Federal Real Property.

Business as Usual(affaires courantes)
A continuation of current activities or policies. In climate change, it refers to the scenario where no additional efforts are made to those already in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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CBIP(PEBC ou Programme d'encouragement pour les bâtiments commerciaux)
Commercial Building Incentive Program

CCME(CCME ou Conseil canadien des ministres de l'environnement)
Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment

CCRA(ADRC ou Agence des douanes et du revenu du Canada)
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency

CEAA(LCÉE ou Loi canadienne sur l'évaluation environnementale)
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act

CEAA(ACÉE ou Agence canadienne d'évaluation environnementale)
Canadian Environment Assessment Agency

CEC(CCE ou Commission de coopération environnementale)
Commission on Environmental Cooperation

CEPA(LCPE ou Loi canadienne sur la protection de l'environnement)
Canadian Environmental Protection Act

CESD(CEDD ou Commissaire à l'environnement et au développement durable)
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

CFC(CFC ou chlorofluorocarbure)
Chlorofluorocarbon

CH(PC ou Patrimoine canadien)
Canadian Heritage

CIC(CIC ou Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada)
Citizenship and Immigration Canada

CIDA(ACDI ou Agence canadienne de développement international)
Canadian International Development Agency

CSC(SCC ou Service correctionnel du Canada)
Correctional Service Canada

Canada and the Kyoto Protocol(Canada et le Protocole de Kyoto)
In December 1997, Canada and more than 160 other countries met in Kyoto, Japan, and agreed to targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement that set out those targets and the options available to countries to achieve them is known as the Kyoto Protocol. The legal text for the Protocol was negotiated in Marrakesh in November 2001 at the 7th Conference of Parties. The protocol commits 38 industrialized countries to cut their emissions of greenhouse gases between 2008 to 2012 to levels that are 5.2 per cent below 1990 levels. The Government of Canada ratified the Kyoto Protocol in December 2002.

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment National Classification System(Système national de classification du Conseil canadien des ministres de l'environnement)
The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (1992) has developed a national classification system to provide a basis for classifying sites according to their current and potential adverse impact on human health and the environment. The system provides a convenient basis for assessing the need for remediation at individual sites, and for establishing the relative priority for implementing remedial measures among the sites that have been classified.

Capital assets(immobilisations)
Assets, whether tangible or intangible that are durable in nature and have a useful or economic life that extends beyond one year. Such tangible and intangible assets are material in value and include land, buildings, engineering structures and works (such as canals, harbours and roads), machinery, furnishings, equipment, vessels, vehicles, and software.

Capital expenditures(dépenses en capital)
All expenditures made to acquire or improve capital assets. Acquisition includes the design, development, construction or purchase of capital assets.

Carbon dioxide(CO₂)(dioxyde de carbone)
One of the greenhouse gases, which is released to the atmosphere by both natural and human activities. Although it is reabsorbed by the biosphere in 50-200 years, while in the atmosphere it is an effective radiator of energy and contributes to the greenhouse effect.

Carbon monoxide(CO)(monoxyde de carbone)
A colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas released primarily by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels (especially by automobiles). At low doses, carbon monoxide impairs reflexes and perception; at high concentrations, it can cause unconsciousness and death.

Carbon neutral conferencing(conférences neutres en carbone)
Carbon neutral conferencing is based on the Kyoto Protocol principles of emissions trading, and allows for the greenhouse gas emissions associated with conference activities to be offset through the purchase of carbon credits. The carbon footprint of a meeting is calculated from the participants local and long distance travel and accommodation. Carbon neutral conferencing is not a substitute for emissions reduction activities, but it does allow conference organizers to offset those emissions that cannot be reduced through other means.

Carbon Source(source de carbone)
A pool (reservoir) that gives up carbon to another reservoir within the carbon cycle. For example, if the net exchange between the biosphere and the atmosphere is toward the ocean, then the atmosphere is the source. Common human sources include fossil fuel combustion, solid waste decomposition, land use change, and transport.

Carbon Stock(stock de carbone)
Carbon stocks include carbon stored in vegetation (above and below ground), decomposing matter, soils, wood products, and the carbon substituted by burning wood for energy instead of fossil fuels.

Carbon Tax(taxe sur les combustibles fossiles)
Policy instrument used to discourage the use of fossil fuels and to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions by placing a surcharge on carbon content in oil, coal and gas.

Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)(chlorofluorocarbure ou CFC)
A stable chemical containing only chlorine, fluorine and carbon atoms. Chlorofluorocarbons are ozone-depleting substances (ODSs). Synthetic compounds used as coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners, as solvents, and as a blowing agent to produce foam.

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)(Mécanisme pour un développement propre ou MDP)
A flexibility provision listed in the Kyoto Protocol that enables industrialized countries to finance emission-reduction projects in developing countries and to obtain emission-reduction credits for doing so.

Climate(climat)
The synthesis of day-to-day weather variations in a locality. The climate of a specified area is represented by the statistical collection of its weather conditions during a specified interval of time. It usually includes the following weather elements: temperature, precipitation, humidity, sunshine and wind velocity.

Climate change(changement climatique)
A warming of the Earth's atmosphere caused by increases in the atmosphere of certain gases that absorb the radiation emitted by the Earth, thereby retarding the loss of energy from the system to space.

Climate Change Plan for Canada(Plan du Canada sur les changements climatiques)
Plan that will enable Canada to successfully meet its climate change objectives. It proposes a national goal - for Canadians to become the most sophisticated and efficient consumers and producers of energy in the world, as well as leaders in the development of new, cleaner technologies. The Plan identifies action in five broad areas: transportation, housing and commercial/institutional buildings, large industrial emitters, small and medium-sized enterprises, and the international market. This Plan also proposes a personal greenhouse gas reduction target of one tonne per Canadian citizen known as the One-tonne challenge. In August 2003, the Government of Canada announced $1 Billion toward its implementation.

CO₂ equivalent(équivalent en CO₂)
The amount of CO₂ that would cause the same effect as a given amount or mixture of other greenhouse gases.

Commercial Building Incentive Program (CBIP)(Programme d'encouragement pour les bâtiments commerciaux ou PEBC)
This program encourages building owners to incorporate energy-efficient technologies and practices in designs for new commercial and institutional buildings.

Commuter options(options de navettage)
Ways for employees to travel to and from work other than driving alone in their car, such as walking, jogging, cycling, taking public transit, carpooling or teleworking. The increased use of commuter options can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve personal health, increase workplace productivity and reduce private and public expenditures on transportation.

Compliance(conformité)
Conformity with the law.

Compliance - storage tanks(conformité - systèmes de stockage)
Compliance with the Registration of Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products on Federal Lands Regulations and Technical Guidelines for Aboveground and Underground Storage Tanks.

Composting(compostage)
Using decomposing vegetable matter, including table scraps, grass clippings, leaves, peat and soil to fertilize the soil. Composting reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill, and helps put valuable nutrients back into residential and commercial gardens.

Conference of Parties (CoP)(Conférence des Parties ou CdP)
The collection of nations that have ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The primary role of the CoP is to review and manage the implementation of the Convention.

Conservation(conservation)
Environmental conservation is a general term that refers to the preservation of the natural environment-including wildlife, habitat, and the ecosystems they are a part of.

Contaminant(contaminant)
In the context of recycling, contaminants are undesired substances in a load of recyclable material. Plastic bags mixed in with recyclable paper, or ceramics mixed in with recyclable glass, would be contaminants. Contaminants interfere with recycling machinery and processes.

Contaminated site(site contaminé)
A site at which substances occur at concentrations: (1) above background levels and pose or are likely to pose an immediate or long term hazard to human health or the environment or (2) exceed levels specified in policies and regulations.

Contamination (water)(contamination - eau)
Water is considered contaminated if it contains chemical or biological pollutants that are harmful to human health or the environment.

Contingent liability(passif éventuel)
The estimated remediation costs (in current year $) related to contaminated sites assessed as classes 1 and 2. Contingent liability applies if it is unclear that the government is obligated, or if the government is unlikely, to incur remediation costs.

Contracting authority(autorité contractante)
The contracting authority is the department or common service organization exercising the powers of its minister to enter into contract.

Contracting process(processus de passation des marchés)
Includes bidding, negotiating, awarding, performance and termination of contracts.

Conventional fuel(carburant conventionnel)
The fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas.

Cost of water(coût de l'eau)
Cost for metered usage and any overhead cost that is independent of usage (includes municipal sewer charges where applicable).

Cost savings(économies)
Annual reductions in the cost of energy used in buildings.

Credit (or Permit, Allowance, Certificate, Assigned Amount)(crédit ou permis, droit, certificat, quantité attribuée)
Various terms used to denote the right to emit a unit of greenhouse gas emissions, which could be the subject of trade within a tradable permits system. Generally linked to a specific quantity e.g., one permit equals one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2). The term “credit” is sometimes used to refer to emissions rights earned or required for emissions below of above a baseline. It is also frequently used to denote the unit of trade within a system where participation is voluntary.

Custodian department(ministère ayant la garde de biens immobiliers)
Means a department whose Minister has administration of real property for the purposes of that department's programs.

Custody transfer(transfert de la garde de biens immobiliers)
Means a transfer of administration of real property that supports an adjustment to or transfer of program accountability, such as transfers to support the government's reassignment of program responsibility; transfers to support government restructuring; or transfers to recognize a more appropriate custodian (usually the existing federal tenant).

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DFAIT(MAECI ou Ministère des Affaires étrangères et du Commerce international)
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

DFO(MPO ou Pêches et Océans Canada)
Department of Fisheries and Oceans

DFRP(RBIF ou Répertoire des biens immobiliers fédéraux)
Directory of Federal Real Property

DGCC(CCDG ou Comité coordonnateur des directeurs généraux)
Director General's Coordinating Committee

DM(SM ou sous-ministre)
Deputy Minister

DND(MDN ou Ministère de la défence nationale)
Department of National Defense

DSL(LIS ou Liste intérieure des substances)
Domestic Substance List

Degradable(dégradable)
Capable of being broken down into smaller elements under specific conditions.

Department/agency or government approved green source lists(Listes de produits et services écologiques approuvés par le ministère, l'agence ou le gouvernement)
Lists of goods and services that have less impact on the environment (e.g. conserve energy, reduce waste, etc.) than other products or services that meet similar performance requirements, as selected/adopted by the department/agency.

Direct Emissions(émissions directes)
These are the emissions from sources generally within the boundary of an organization. Direct emissions mainly arise from the following activities: production of energy; manufacturing processes themselves (cement manufacture, for example); transportation of materials, products, waste and employees; use of mobile combustion sources, such as trucks and cars but not those owned and operated by another entity; and fugitive emissions which are intentional or unintentional greenhouse gas releases (such as methane emissions from coal mines).

Discharge(évacuation)
A release of untreated wastewater to surface water, ground water, storm sewer or land, and the run-off from land used for disposal of wastewater sludge, spray irrigation, or other wastes.

Disposal(élimination)
The placement of solid waste in a dump or engineered landfill, or incineration.

Diversion(détournement des déchets)
The reuse, recycling or composting of solid waste.

Due diligence(diligence raisonnable)
Due diligence is the reasonable standard of care for the environment and for the health and safety of others that individuals shall exercise in the course of their actions and duties.

Dump(dépotoir)
A land disposal site where there is little or no control over the disposal of wastes.

Dynamic efficiency(efficience dynamique)
The development of new technologies or processes (e.g., to enhance productivity, reduce the resource intensity or products, etc.).

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E10 (Gasoline)(essence E10)
Mixture or 10 percent ethanol, 90 percent unleaded gasoline.

E85 (Gasoline)(essence E85)
Mixture or 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent unleaded gasoline.

EC(EC ou Environnement Canada)
Environment Canada

EDQR(DÉRQ ou Développement économique pour les régions du Québec)
Economic Development for Quebec Regions

EMS(SGE ou Système de gestion de l'environnement)
Environmental Management System

EOG(OEG ou Opérations environnementales pour gouvernements)
Environmental Operations for Governments

EPAEnvironmental Protection Agency (United States)

Eco-efficiency(éco-efficacité)
Eco-efficiency is reached by the delivery of competitively-priced goods and services that satisfy human needs and bring quality of life, while progressively reducing ecological impacts and resource intensity throughout the life cycle, to a level at least in line with the earth's estimated carrying capacity.

Eco-fees(éco-droits)
In order to fund regulated industry stewardship programs including collection depot networks, some affected brand-owners (e.g. of paint, solvents/flammable liquids and pesticides) decided to increase their product prices and list the increases as a separate line item or "eco-fee" on distributor invoices and consumer receipts. "Eco-fees" are commonly managed by non-profit, industry associations. Governments neither set the amount of the "eco-fees" nor receive or administer funding that is collected. Regulated industry stewardship programs are usually required (i.e. via regulation and/or government approved stewardship plans) to submit annual statements of program revenues and expenditures to government.

Eco-labeling(éco-étiquetage)

Ecological approach(approche écologique)
Natural resource planning and management activities that assure consideration of the relationship among all organisms, including humans, and their environment.

Ecological approach to management(approche de gestion écologique)
The application of ecological principles to the management of resources to ensure the long-term maintenance of ecosystem structure, function, and composition at appropriate temporal and spatial scales.

Ecological footprint(empreinte écologique)
An accounting tool for sustainability which measures of the amount of productive land and water area that is required to indefinitely satisfy the existing resource consumption of a given human population using prevailing technology.

EcoLogo(ÉcoLogo)
The official mark of the Environmental Choice Program.

Ecology(écologie)
The relationship of living things to one another and their environment, or the study of such relationships.

Ecosystem(écosystème)
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Effluent(effluent)
Wastewater (treated or untreated) that flows out of a treatment plant, sewer, or industrial facility. Generally refers to wastes discharged into surface waters.

Emission Permit(droit d'émission)
A non-transferable, non-tradable allocation of entitlement by a government to an individual firm to emit a specified amount of a substance.

Emission Reductions from Federal Operations (ERFO) Report(rapport sur la Réduction des émissions causées par les activités du secteur public ou RESP)
Report produced annually to meet the Government of Canada's commitment to report on its progress in reducing greenhouse gas emission under the Federal House In Order initiative. This report, prepared by Natural Resources Canada on behalf of the federal government, is submitted to the Canada's Climate Change Voluntary Challenge and Registry Inc.

Emissions(émissions)
Substances released into the atmosphere or into water. In climate change, greenhouse gas emissions are the release of gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide through natural and human activities.

Emissions trading(échange de droits d'émissions)
System that would allow countries that have committed to reduction targets to buy or sell emissions permits among themselves. Emissions trading is included in the Kyoto Protocol. It provides participating parties with the opportunity to reduce emissions where it is most cost-effective to do so. (See also Kyoto Protocol.)

Employee awareness(sensibilisation des employés)
Process of informing, training and involving employees in any specific issue important to an organization, whether it be health and safety, waste reduction or climate change.

EnerGuide for Houses Program(ÉnerGuide pour les maisons)
The EnerGuide for Houses Program offers Canadians individualized, professional advice on how to improve the energy performance of their houses. Expanding on the well-known EnerGuide Labelling Program for home appliances, EnerGuide for Houses provides homeowners with the facts they need to make informed decisions about energy efficiency, whether they are m aking improvements to their home or buying a new one.

EnerGuide for Vehicles Program(ÉnerGuide pour les véhicules)
This program offers a series of tools to help Canadian motorist consider fuel efficiency in their vehicle purchase decisions and to encourage them to choose the most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets their needs.

Energy(énergie)
Anything that can be efficiently converted into heat or motion to provide power to run machines and vehicles and to supply heat and light is a source of energy.

Energy audits(vérifications de l'efficacité énergétique)
Systematic examinations of energy use and identification of energy efficiency retrofit opportunities (this includes a lighting audit).

Energy consumed(consommation énergétique)
The total energy used to operate buildings, including building systems (heating, water heating, ventilation, air conditioning), provision of lighting, and operation of equipment (computers, appliances, etc.).

Energy consumption(consommation d'énergie)
Energy consumption refers to the amount of energy used by an object, system or process to carry out a particular function.

Energy efficiency retrofits(rénovations énergétiques)
Modifications to lighting, heating, water heating, ventilating, air conditioning systems and auxiliary equipment, or modifications to building envelopes to reduce energy consumption and costs. They include capital investments and modifications to building operation and maintenance practices (this includes a lighting retrofit).

Energy Star(Energy Star)
International symbol which allow consumers to identify products that are among the most energy-efficient on the market.

Enforcement (Law)(application - loi)
Enforcement embodies those activities that compel adherence to legal requirements. These activities include inspection and monitoring; investigation of violations; issuance of notices to individuals or businesses to require them to correct improper practices; issuance of tickets for violations; seizure of wildlife, or their parts and products, and any item that may have been used to commit the offence; and prosecution.

Environment(environnement)
The components of the Earth, including air, land, and water, all layers of the atmosphere, all organic and inorganic matter and living organisms, and the interacting systems that include all of these components.

Environmental assessment(évaluation environnementale)
The systematic consideration of social, economic, and environmental factors during policy, program, and project development and decision making. Carrying out an environmental assessment means determining or estimating the value, significance or extent of damage to a particular ecosystem or aspect of it.

Environmental audit(vérification environnementale)
Environmental audits are a type of audit used to identify areas of non-compliance with environmental legal requirements, policies and best management practices.

Environmental Choice Program(Programme Choix environnemental)
A voluntary eco-labelling program created in 1988 by Environment Canada, to help Canadians identify products and services that place a much smaller burden on the environment than other similar products and services.

Environmental emergency plan(plan d'urgence environnemental)
A management-sanctioned document that sets out procedures to follow in the event of a release.

Environmental indicator(indicateur environnemental)
Environmental indicators are selected key statistics which represent or summarize a significant aspect of the state of the environment, natural resource sustainability and related human activities.

Environmental Management System (EMS)(système de gestion de l'environnement ou SGE)
Systems that provide a framework for monitoring and reporting on an organization's environmental performance.

Environmental monitoring(surveillance de l'environnement)
Monitoring, or making systematic geo-referenced observations of the environment-such as measuring water level or counting trees-is essential to detecting changes in ecosystems over time.

Environmental profile(profil environnemental)
The environmental impacts of the product at each stage in its life-cycle.

Ethanol(éthanol)
Liquid that is produced chemically from ethylene or biologically from the fermentation of various sugars from carbohydrates found in agricultural crops and cellulosic residues from crops or wood. Depending on how it is produced, it can be used as a substitute for gasoline, and can result in significantly less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline. Also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol.

Ethanol Fuel Initiative(stratégie relative au carburant à l'éthanol)
Initiative designed to increase the awareness and use of ethanol as a renewable and low greenhouse gas emitting transportation fuel. The current strategy is to promote and encourage the use of ethanol blended gasoline, in both low level (up to 10% ethanol, E10) and high level (up to 85% ethanol, E85) blends. Most vehicles can use low level blends today, and flexible-fuel vehicles can use E85.

Exceptional operations(activités exceptionnelles)
In the context of the Sustainable Development in Government Operations initiative, exceptional operations are operations that are not included in the measure of progress.

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FBI(IBF ou Initiative des bâtiments fédéraux)
Federal Buildings Initiative

FHIO(IFPPE ou Initiative fédérale Prêcher par l'exemple)
Federal House in Order

FIBP(PFCI ou Programme fédéral des chaudières industrielles)
Federal Industrial Boiler Program

Facility(installation)
A physical setting used to serve a specific purpose. A facility may be part of a building, a whole building, or a building plus its site; or it may be a construction that is not a building. The term encompasses both the physical object and its use.

Federal Buildings Initiative(FBI)(Initiative des bâtiments fédéraux or IBF)
The Federal Buildings Initiative can help federal departments manage energy costs while making it's facilities a more comfortable and productive place to work.

Federal Entity(entité fédérale)
Refers to all federal departments, agencies, and crown corporations. There are approximately 170 departments, agencies and crown corporations within the Government of Canada.

Federal House in Order (FHIO)(Initiative fédérale Prêcher par l'exemple ou IFPPE)
The Federal House in Order (FHIO) initiative is the Government of Canada's plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) within its own operations.

Federal Industrial Boiler Program (FIBP)(Programme fédéral des chaudières industrielles ou PFCI)
The Federal Industrial Boiler Program (FIBP) assists its clients to increase energy efficiency, reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and extend the useful life of existing heating and cooling systems and auxiliary equipment.

FleetSmart(Écoflotte)
The FleetSmart Program helps fleet managers to reduce fuel costs and vehicle emissions through energy-efficient practices.

Flex-fuel vehicle(véhicule polycarburant)
A flex fuel vehicle is one with a single fuel system that operates on one of two different fuels alone or on a blend of the two (e.g., an E85 vehicle can operate on gasoline alone or on any blend of gasoline and ethanol to a maximum of 85 per cent ethanol).

Flexibility Mechanisms(Mécanismes de flexibilité)
Refers to the three cooperative implementation mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol: Joint Implementation, International Emissions Trading and Clean Development Mechanism.

Floor space(surface utile)
The floor area (in square metres) of the building recorded in the Directory of Federal Real Property.

Fossil fuels(combustibles fossiles)
Oil, gas, coal, and other fuels that were formed under the Earth's surface from the fossilized remains of plants and tiny animals that lived millions of years ago.

Four R's(Quatre R)
Reduce (at source); reuse; recycle and recover (resources from waste).

Fuel (also known as combustible)(combustible)
Any form of matter that in its primary use is combusted or oxidized for the generation of energy.

Fuel Cell(pile à combustible)
Electrochemical engine with no moving parts that converts the chemical energy of a fuel such as hydrogen, and an oxidant such as oxygen, directly into electricity. The principal components of a fuel cell are catalytically activated electrodes for the fuel (anode) and the oxidant (cathode) and an electrolyte to conduct ions between the two electrodes, thus producing electricity.

Fuel consumption(consommation de carburant)
The actual or estimated amount of fuel used to operate the vehicle.

Full compliance with discharge guidelines(conformité entière aux directives d'évacuation)
The concentration of any constituents in wastewater discharges from a property does not exceed the discharge limits for such constituents, as established for discharge to receiving waters or sewer systems (according to regulation, bylaw or guidelines), at any time over the course of a recording year.

Future fuels program(Programme des carburants de l'avenir)
This initiative develops policy and programs to encourage the production and use of cleaner and lower carbon fuels and associated vehicle technology and infrastructure.

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GGO(EOG ou Écologisation des opérations gouvernementales)
Greening Government Operations

GHG(GES ou gaz à effet de serre)
Greenhouse gas

Global warming(réchauffement planétaire)
Strictly speaking, global warming and global cooling refer to the natural warming and cooling trends that the Earth has experienced all through its history. Today, it is also what we call the climate change brought about by an unnatural increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere caused by human activity (see greenhouse effect).

Governance (gouvernance)
Governance refers to the processes and structures through which power and authority are exercised, including the decision-making processes, i.e., who participates and how.

Grasshopper effect(effet sauterelle)
Some substances can travel great distances around the globe through the atmosphere. Touching down on land, oceans and freshwater bodies, they then volatize or evaporate into the atmosphere once again, and travel once more to touch down in another spot until they ultimately gather in the colder climates.

Green industry(industrie verte)
Industries that are based on technologies, knowledge and methods for cleaning up the environment, or for keeping the environment clean.

Green power(énergie verte)
Green power is electricity produced from renewable resources such as wind, small run-of-the-river hydro- electricity or solar energy.

Green procurement/Environmentally responsible procurement(approvisionnement vert/approvisionnement écologiquement responsable)
Choosing materials, products and systems (i.e. inputs) that offer environmental advantages.

Green purchases(achats de produits écologiques)
Purchases according to specifications with green statements or from department/agency or government approved green source lists.

Greenhouse effect(effet de serre)
Earth's warming of the Earth's atmosphere caused by certain heat-trapping gases present in the atmosphere: water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane. The Earth acts as a natural greenhouse.

Greenhouse gas (GHG)(gaz à effet de serre ou GES)
A gas that absorbs infrared radiation and in turn emits it in the atmosphere. The net effect is a local trapping of energy and a tendency to warm the earth's surface. Water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and ozone (O3) are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere.

Greening Government Operations (GGO)(Écologisation des opérations gouvernementales ou EOG)
An initiative aimed at establishing guidelines for all federal departments on how to integrate environmental considerations into the management of their operations.

Ground-level ozone(also known as tropospheric ozone)(ozone de la basse troposphère)
Ozone (O₃) that occurs near the surface of the Earth. It is a pollutant of concern in smog because of its toxic effects.

Groundwater(eau souterraine)
Supply of fresh water found underground. It occurs in the thin spaces between soil particles or in cracks in rock.

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HC(SC ou Santé Canada)
Health Canada

HRDC(DRHC ou Développement des ressources humaines Canada)
Human Resources Development Canada

Halon (also known as halocarbon)(halon ou hydrocarbure halogéné)
An industrial compound containing carbon and a halogen (usually fluorine, chlorine, or bromine), which is commonly used in fire extinguishers. Most are hydrocarbons (usually methane or ethane) in which atoms of hydrogen have been replaced by atoms of halogens. Halocarbons absorb longwave electromagnetic radiation (i.e., they are greenhouse gases). The two most widely used halocarbons are bromotrifluoromethane (halon 1301) and bromochlorodifluoromethane (halon 1211). CFCs are halons.

Hazardous substance(substance dangereuse)
Hazardous substance means any solid, liquid, gas or combination thereof resulting directly or indirectly from human activities, that exhibits characteristics of flammability, corrosivity, reactivity, toxicity, or infectiousness and which is an existing or potential threat to the environment, human health or other living organisms.

Hazardous waste(déchet dangereux)
The federal Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and Regulations defines 'waste' as any product no longer used for its original purpose. 'Hazardous wastes' are those wastes that pose a potential danger to human health and/or the environment due to their nature and quantity.

Hazardous waste facility(installation pour déchets dangereux)
Any land, excavation, or any fixed or mobile structure or work, whether in whole or in part, that is used to collect, possess, handle, store, treat, process, recycle, dispose, destroy or release hazardous waste.

Hazardous waste incinerator(incinérateur de déchets dangereux)
A special facility for the controlled burning of hazardous wastes.

Heavy-Duty Vehicles(véhicules lourds)
Any vehicle rated at more than 3900 kg GVWR or designed to carry more than 12 persons at a time.

Hybrid Vehicle(véhicule hybride)
Usually a vehicle which employs a combustion engine system together with an electric propulsion system. Hybrid technologies expand the usable range of electric vehicles beyond what an all-electric-vehicle can achieve with batteries only.

Hydrocarbons(hydrocarbures)
Organic compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon. Crude oil consists for the most part of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons.

Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)(hydrochlorofluorocarbure)
A chemical compound containing only hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons are less damaging to the ozone layer than chlorofluorocarbons. These compounds (HCFCs) are considered as an interim replacement for CFCs.

Hydroelectricity(hydroélectricité)
Electric energy produced by water-powered turbine generators.

Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)(hydrofluorocarbure)
A chemical compound containing hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon. With no chlorine or bromine, HFCs do not destroy the ozone layer but have a global- warming potential, as do ozone-depleting substances.

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IC(IC ou Industrie Canada)
Industry Canada

INAC(AINC ou Affaires indiennes et du Nord Canada)
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

Incineration(incinération)
The burning of waste in a special facility.

Indicator(indicateur)
A statistic or parameter measure that, tracked over time, provides information on trends in the condition of a phenomenon and has significance extending beyond that associated with the properties of the statistic itself.

Indirect Emissions(émissions indirectes)
Emissions from sources generally outside the boundary of an organization. Indirect emissions include emissions associated with waste disposed off-site (excluding sewerage) that are a consequence of the activities of a reporting company or project, but generated outside the organizational boundary by another company. These emissions are mainly associated with the generation of imported electricity (not generated on site), heat, steam, gas and the production and distribution of petroleum products.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)(lutte intégrée)
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a holistic approach to pest control that uses ail available methods in an attempt to keep pest populations below damaging levels.

Integrated resource management(intégration de la gestion des ressources)
The management of two or more resources in the same area; commonly includes water, soil, timber, grazing land, fish, wildlife and recreation.

Integrated waste management(gestion intégrée des déchets)
A planned approach to managing waste which includes a number of techniques, usually with an emphasis on minimizing the amount of waste requiring disposal.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)(Groupe d'experts intergouvernemental sur l'évaluation du climat)
The world's foremost authority on climate change science and impacts, this large conference of international scientists concluded in 1995 that human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, are affecting the global climate. In 2001, it stepped up the warning, pointing to evidence that most of the global warming of the last 50 years was due to human activities. The Kyoto Protocol was the first concerted response to these findings with legally binding commitments.

Inventory(stocks)
Materiel held in stock at storage facilities, and including materiel undergoing repair or in the supply system pipeline.

Inventory control(gestion des stocks)
The control of material by means of established materiel accounting and management methods and procedures.

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JMM(RCM ou Réunions conjointes des ministres de l'Énergie et de l'Environnement)
Joint Ministers of Energy and Environment meeting

Joint Implementation (JI)(Application conjointe or AC)
One of three Flexibility Mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol. An international project involving joint action by Annex B countries, which results in a real, measurable reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions in a host country.

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km(km ou kilomètre)
Kilometer

kt(km ou kilotonne)
Kilotonne

Kyoto Protocol(Protocole de Kyoto)
An international agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and signed by Canada in April 1998 that establishes binding targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. It will enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date on which not less than 55 countries responsible for at least 55 % of the total carbon dioxide emissions for 1990, have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. The Government of Canada ratified the Kyoto Protocol in December 2002.

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l(l ou litre)
Litre

Land use(utilisation des terres)
All arrangements, activities and inputs (sets of human actions) undertaken in a certain land cover type.

Landfill(site d'enfouissement)
Any parcel of land upon, into, in or through which waste is deposited, disposed of, handled, stored, transferred, treated or processed.

Landfill gas(gaz d'enfouissement)
A mixture of gases produced when organic matter in wastes decomposes in a land disposal facility in the absence of air.

Leadership Challenge(Défi du leadership)
Federal House in Order vehicle for encouraging all federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations to undertake a greenhouse gas reduction program of their own design and voluntarily report on results. The Leadership Challenge provides an overall focus for greenhouse gas emission reduction activity as part of the federal government's broader commitment to sustainable development and greening government operations.

Liability(passif)
The estimated remediation costs (in current year $) related to contaminated sites assessed as classes 1 and 2. Liability applies if it is clear that the government is obligated, or if the government is likely, to incur remediation costs.

Life-cycle analysis(analyse du cycle de vie)
The analysis of the environmental impact of a product during the entirety of its life-cycle, from resource extraction to post-consumer waste disposal. A comprehensive approach to examining the environmental impacts of a product or package.

Light-duty trucks(véhicules utilitaires légers)
This category includes pick-up trucks, mini-vans and SUVs with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 3900 kg or less which are designated primarily for transportation of light-weight cargo or that are equipped with special features such as four-wheel drive for off-road operation.

Light-duty vehicles(véhicules légers)
This category contains what we would commonly refer to as "Cars".

Low Impact Renewable Energy(énergie renouvelable à incidence limitée)
Non-fossil fuel energy sources that are replenished through the earth's natural cycles and have a minimal impact on the environment and human health. They include wind, solar, earth energy, run-of-river hydro and sustainable biomass fuels.

Low sulphur fuel (LSF) (carburant à faible teneur en soufre ou CFTS)
A general term used in this guide to refer to a fuel product that contains sulphur at a concentration that is lower than the maximum allowable level. As regulations governing the level of sulphur in fuels become more stringent, the definition of an LSF will change.

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Market(marché d'utilisation finale)
In recycling, an end user willing to purchase and recycle a material. Recyclable materials are not truly recycled until they have been delivered to end-use markets and used for new purposes.

Materiel(matériel)
Materiel in the Government of Canada refers to movable public property and all assets, including equipment and stores, other than money and real property.

Materiel life cycle(cycle de vie du matériel)
The phases through which materiel assets pass including: 1. Assess and plan materiel requirements; 2. Acquisition; 3. Operation, use and maintenance; 4. Disposal.

Materiel life cycle management(gestion de cycle de vie du matériel)
Management of the process phases that materiel moves through.

Materiel management(gestion du matériel)
Materiel management includes a number of related functions, such as determining requirements, cataloguing, the acquisition, distribution, storage, maintenance, and disposal of materiel, and the acquisition of related services, with the purpose of achieving the greatest possible efficiency and the least cost.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)(protocole d'entente)

Methane (CH₄)(méthane)
The most significant naturally occurring greenhouse gas next to carbon dioxide. CH₄ is released naturally when vegetation is burned, digested or decayed without oxygen. Large amounts of CH₄ are released by garbage, dumps, rice paddies and grazing cattle.

Mitigation(attenuation)
Effort to minimize or reduce the human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and/or to enhance their removal by sinks.

Monitoring(surveillance)
The process of checking, observing or keeping track of something for a specified period of time or at specified intervals.

Motor vehicle(véhicule automobile)
For the purposes of reporting on the Alternative Fuels Act, motor vehicle is defined to include automobiles, passenger vans, light- or medium-duty trucks and buses.

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NAAEC(ANACE ou Accord nord-américain de coopération dans le domaine de l'environnement)
North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation

NCR(RCN ou région de la capitale nationale)
National Capital Region

NGO(ONG ou Organisation non gouvernementale)
Non-governmental Organization

NOx(NOx or oxydes d'azote)
Nitrogen Oxides

NPRI(INRP ou Inventaire National des Rejets de Polluants)
National Pollutant Release Inventory

NRCan(RNCan ou Ressources naturelles Canada)
Natural Resources Canada

NRTEE(TRNEÉ ou Table Ronde nationale sur l'Environnement et l'Économie)
National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy

National Packaging Protocol(Protocole national sur l'emballage)
A set of policies and targets regarding packaging, which was adopted in Canada in 1990 to reduce waste and other environmental impacts from packaging.

Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV)(Véhicule au gaz naturel ou VGN)
Vehicle that is powered by compressed or liquefied natural gas.

Natural resources(ressources naturelles)
Raw materials found in nature.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx)(oxydes d'azote)
A group of gases released by fossil fuel combustion, forest fires, lightning, and decaying vegetation.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)(oxyde nitreux)
Colourless gas that occurs naturally in the environment and from human-made sources. In recent year, increased quantities have been released into the atmosphere through the use of chemical fertilizers in excess to plant requirements, and by automotives catalytic converters. Many other sources exist as well, including plants, manure, chemical production and other forms of combustion.

Non-Point Sources(sources non ponctuelles)
Diffuse pollution sources (i.e., without a single point of origin or not introduced into a receiving stream from a specific outlet). The pollutants are generally carried off the land by stormwater. Common non-point sources are agriculture, forestry, urban, mining, construction, dams, channels, land disposal, saltwater intrusion, and city streets.

Non-renewable(non renouvelable)
Something that cannot be replaced by nature once it is used up. Coal, crude oil and metal ores are some examples.

Non-renewable resources(ressources non renouvelables)
Those natural resources that are in fixed supply, but whose lifespan can be extended through more efficient or reduced use, re-use, or recycling (e.g. minerals, oil, coal).

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OAG(BVG or Bureau du vérificateur général du Canada)
Office of the Auditor General

ODP(PACO ou Potentiel d'appauvrissement de la couche d'ozone)
Ozone Depleting Potential

ODS(SACO ou Substance appauvrissant la couche d'ozone)
Ozone Depleting Substance

OECD(OCDE ou Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques)
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

Occupants(occupants)
People who work, reside or otherwise make use of a building. This includes indeterminate and term employees (members of the Public Service, Canadian Forces, RCMP), students, inmates, visitors, contractors etc.

Off-road vehicles, engines, and applications (véhicules, moteurs et usages hors route)
The off-road sector covers a broad range of applications, from small utility engines used to power lawn and garden equipment such as string trimmers and lawnmowers to multi-hundred horse power engines used in construction and mining machines. The sector also includes motorized recreational products, such as snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and outboard engines. The terms "spark-ignition" and "compression-ignition" engines refer to the combustion cycle off the engine. Spark-ignition engines typically operate on gasoline, compression-ignition on diesel fuel.

Office waste(déchets de bureau)
All solid waste except for food and construction and demolition material.

On-road vehicles and applications (véhicules et usages routiers)
On-road vehicles generally refer to self-propelled vehicles designed for or capable of transporting persons, property, material, or apparatus on a highway and typically include light-duty vehicles (passenger cars), light duty trucks (such as vans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles), heavy-duty vehicles (such as heavy trucks and buses), and motorcycles.

One Tonne Challenge(Défi d'une tonne)

Organic wastes(déchets organiques)
Wastes that are biodegradable under natural conditions, such as food, paper and yard wastes.

Outside emissions(émissions extérieures)
Outside emissions are greenhouse gases and other air emissions that are not directly attributed to federal government operations, but arise from government work-related activities, such as business travel and employee commuting.

Outside Emissions Program(Programme des émissions extérieures)
New program established under the Federal House in Order Initiative to help federal entities reduce greenhouse gas and other air emissions by promoting employee use of public transit, carpooling, walking, cycling and teleworking. The program also addresses business travel issues, such as videoconferencing and carbon neutral conferencing.

Ozone(ozone)
A pungent, faintly bluish gas composed of three atoms of the element oxygen. In the lower 10 km of the atmosphere, it occurs as a pollution product formed by combining nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight. In this portion of the atmosphere, it is also a greenhouse gas.

Ozone Depleting Substance (ODS)(substances appauvrissant la couche d'ozone ou SACO)
Chemicals that damage the ozone layer. CFCs are the major ozone-depleting substances. Other substances, with differing potential for ozone depletion, include carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform, methyl bromide, halons, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

Ozone depletion(appauvrissement de l'ozone)
Ozone is continuously being created and destroyed. In an unpolluted atmosphere, a natural balance is maintained so that ozone concentration remains relatively constant. Depletion happens when this balance is upset by pollution.

Ozone depletion potential or ODP(potentiel d'appauvrissement de la couche d'ozone ou PACO)
A measure of the capacity of a particular chemical to destroy ozone. It is measured against a standard: CFC-11 (chlorofluorocarbon), which has an ozone depletion potential of 1.0.

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PC(PC ou Parcs Canada)
Parks Canada

PCBs(BPC ou biphényles polychlorés)
Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PCPA(LPA ou Loi sur les produits antiparasitaires)
Pest Control Products Act

PM(particules ou matières particulaires)
Particulate matter

PMRA(ARLA ou Agence de réglementation de la lutte antiparasitaire)
Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency

PMSGO(MPODG ou Mesure de la performance des opérations durables du gouvernement - Comité)
Performance Measurement for Sustainable Government Operations (Committee)

POP(POP ou Polluant organique persistant)
Persistent Organic Pollutant

ppmv (parts per million by volume)(ppmv ou partie par million en volume)
Unit of measure often used in climate change terminology to express the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. Variations include parts per billion by volume (ppbv) and parts per trillion by volume (pptv).

PWGSC(TPSGC ou Travaux publics et Services gouvernementaux Canada)
Public Works and Government Services Canada

Packaging(emballage)
Material or items used to protect, contain or transport a commodity or product. A package can also be a material or item that is physically attached to a product or its container to provide information about the product.

Packaging stewardship(gérance en matière d'emballage)
A concept by which industry, governments, and consumers assume a greater responsibility for ensuring that the manufacture, use, reuse, recycling, and disposal of packaging has a minimum impact on the environment. Governments have a responsibility to promote packaging stewardship and to encourage the widespread recognition and adoption of the principles as outlined. Consumers have a responsibility to make appropriate packaging choices when purchasing products and, where facilities exist, to divert packaging from disposal.

Particulate matter (PM)(particules ou matières particulaires)
Microscopic solid and liquid particles, of human and natural origin, that remain suspended in the air for some time. Particles give smog its color and affect visibility.

Performance Information (information sur le rendement)
Performance information means reporting on the extent or impact of activities and products on clients and/or expected outcomes on clients and stakeholders.

Performance Measurement (mesure du rendement)
This means regular measurement of the results (outputs/outcomes) and efficiency of services or programs.

Performance Measurement Strategy (stratégie de mesure du rendement)

The approach used by an organization to demonstrate the extent to which performance expectations have been met. The accomplishments are supported by performance evidence, such as evaluation and audit findings.

Performance requirement(exigences de rendement)
Requirements that define what the product or service is to do.

Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) (Loi sur les produits antiparasitaires ou LPA)

Plug Load(charge électrique)
Electrical devices such as computers, task lights, and fans that are plugged into electrical outlets.

Point source(pollution ponctuelle)
A stationary location or fixed facility from which pollutants are discharged; any single identifiable source of pollution; e.g., a pipe, ditch, ship, ore pit, factory smokestack.

Pollutant(polluant)
Generally, any substance introduced into the environment that adversely affects the usefulness of a resource or the health of humans, animals, or ecosystems.

Polluter pays(principe du pollueur-payeur)
The polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution.

Pollution(pollution)
The release by humans, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into ecosystems that results or is likely to result in such deleterious effects as to harm living resources and life, be hazardous to human health, hinder human activities, impair the quality of the ecological resources, and reduce amenities.

Pollution prevention(prévention de la pollution)
The use of processes, practices, materials, products, or energy that avoid or minimize the creation of pollutants or wastes and reduce overall risk to human health or the environment.

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs)(biphényles polychlorés ou BPC)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic chemical compounds consisting of chlorine, carbon and hydrogen.
Groups of chemicals found in industrial waste. Synthetic chemical compounds consisting of chlorine, carbon and hydrogen which were used in cooling and insulating fluids and in consumer products between 1930 and the 1970s.

Post-consumer material(matière recyclée après consommation)
Material or item generated by households and commercial and institutional facilities, which has served its intended purpose and can no longer be used by the generator.

Post-use material(matière recyclée après utilisation)
Material generated by industry, commercial and institutional facilities, and households, which has served its intended purpose and can no longer be used by the generator. This does not include materials generated within an industrial plant that can be reused within the processes that generated them.

Primary wastewater treatment(traitement primaire des eaux usées)
First step in sewage treatment to remove large solid objects by screens (filters) and sediment and organic matter in settling chambers.

Procurement(achats)
The process of responsibility of obtaining materials, supplies, or services for any business operation, including the actual process of purchasing,the preparation of specifications, the submitting of invitations to bid, inspection of materials, etc.

Procurement lead time(délai d'approvisionnement)
The total lead time required to obtain a purchased item.

Producer compliance costs(coûts de conformité pour le producteur)
The direct and indirect costs incurred by the producer as a result of a stewardship program, including transportation and site remediation costs.

Product life cycle(cycle de vie du produit)
A product's life cycle is made up of the activities that go into making, using, transporting and disposing of that product.

Product stewardship(gérance des produits)
A management system based on industry and consumers taking life-cycle responsibility for the products they produce and use.

Production efficiency(efficience de production)
The efficiency with which inputs (of material, labour and capital) are allocated to produce the desired output (also known as technical efficiency).

Properties(propriétés)
Units of real property (Real Property Number), including rights, interests or benefits in land recorded in the Directory of Federal Real Property.

Property area(aire de la propriété)
The area (in hectares) of the properties recorded in the Directory of Federal Real Property.

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RCMP(GRC ou Gendarmerie royale du Canada)
Royal Canadian Mounted Police

RPP (RPP ou Rapport sur les plans et priorités)
Report on Plans and Priorities

Real property(biens immobiliers)
Means any right, interest or benefit in land, which includes mines, minerals and improvements on, above or below the surface of the land. Federal real property consists of land inside and outside Canada belonging to the Crown. It includes mines and minerals, buildings, structures, improvements and other fixtures on, above or below the surface of the land.

Recyclable(recyclable)
Refers to such products as paper, glass, plastic, used oil, and metals that can be reprocessed instead of being disposed of as waste.

Recycling(recyclage)
Set of processes for reclaiming, as a material input to a product or service system, material that would otherwise be disposed of as waste.

Reduction Target(objectif de réduction)
Through the Federal House in Order initiative, the Government of Canada has agreed to meet a greenhouse gas reduction target of 31% from 1990 levels to 2010. This reduction target will be achieved through improvements in buildings and fleet energy use, procurement of electricity from emerging renewable sources (wind power) and non-energy emissions.

Regulatory Measures(mesures réglementaires)
In the context of climate change, this term refers to government-enforced measures to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

Release(rejet)
To discharge, spray, inject, inoculate, abandon, deposit, spill, leak, seep, pour, emit, empty, throw, dump, place and exhaust a halocarbon from a refrigeration, air conditioning, solvent or fire extinguishing system other than for the purpose of fighting a fire not caused for training purposes. See also spill.

Renewable energy(énergie renouvelable)
Renewable energy refers to several energy sources that have little in common from a technology standpoint, but share one characteristic: they all produce electricity or thermal energy without depleting resources. Renewable energy sources include water, biomass, wind, solar, earth and waste stream energy.

Renewable Energy Deployment Initiative(REDI)(Programme d'encouragement aux systèmes d'énergies renouvelables ou PENSER)
Existing federal program that promotes renewable energy systems for space and water heating and for cooling, through an incentive that funds 25% of the cost of adopting new systems (to a maximum of $50,000). Eligible systems include solar air heating, solar water heating, and high efficiency/low emission biomass combustion. REDI also provides market support for earth energy systems and supports pilot projects in the public institutions and residential markets.

Renewable resource(ressource renouvelable)
Natural resource that is capable of regeneration. Renewable resources can essentially never be exhausted, usually because they are continuously produced (e.g., tree biomass, fresh water, and fish). Those natural resources that are naturally replenished, but whose continued supply depends, in many cases, on proper management (e.g. tree biomass, fresh water, fish).

Reporting guidelines(lignes directrices pour les rapports)
Proposed environmental performance measures to help departments and agencies measure their progress.

Resource recovery(récupération des ressources)
Extraction or recovery of valuable components, usually energy from a waste stream.

Retire(retrait)
Permanently remove a portion of emissions permits from the trade market. This accelerates the increase in the price of remaining permits, which makes it increasingly attractive to emitters to clean up their emissions instead of buying other permits or credits.

Retrofit(rénovation)
Upgrading of existing equipment or facilities for different or additional uses.

Reuse(réutilisation)
Repeated use of an item in its original form.

Risk assessment(évaluation des risques)
A risk assessment is an estimate of the chance that environmental or health problems will result from a particular activity. Risk assessments play an important role in determining controls for the manufacture, use and transportation of toxic chemicals.

Risk Management (gestion des risques)
Risk management involves determining the probability, impact, and materiality of an event happening. The objective of the risk management is to limit or minimize the damage to and liability of the Crown.
The risk management analysis and assessment process includes the identification of potential perils, factors and types of risks, including financial risks, to which departmental assets, program activities and interests are exposed. Departments must analyze and assess the risks identified, select safe options, and design and implement cost-effective prevention and control measures.

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SD(DD ou développement durable)
Sustainable Development

SDGO(DDOG ou Développement durable dans les opérations gouvernementales)
Sustainable Development in Government Operations

SDGO DGCC(CCDG du DDOG ou Comité coordonnateur des directeurs généraux chargé du Développement durable dans les opérations gouvernementales)
Sustainable Development in Government Operations Director General's Coordinating Committee

SDS(SDD ou stratégie de développement durable)
Sustainable Development Strategy

SGC(SGC ou Solliciteur général du Canada)
Solicitor General Canada

SMART(SMART ou Spécifique, mesurable, atteignable, réaliste et temporelle - cible)
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timebound (target)

Safe water(eau salubre)
Water that does not contain harmful bacteria, toxic materials, or chemicals, and is considered safe for drinking even if it may have taste, odor, color, and certain mineral problems.

Sanitary landfill(décharge sécuritaire)
A specially designed and operated land disposal site for solid wastes, where precautions are taken to minimize environmental hazards.

Secondary wastewater treatment(traitement secondaire des eaux usées)
After primary wastewater treatment, removal of biodegradable organic matter from sewage using bacteria and other microorganisms, inactivated sludge, or trickle filters. Also removes some of the phosphorus (30%) and nitrate (50%).

Sediments(sédiments)
Soil, sand, and minerals that are suspended in water, or are being transported, or that settle in loose layers, typically as mud.

Sequestration(séquestration)
A term that is used to refer to the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere by plants and its subsequent storage as biomass.

Sink(puit)
A process, activity or mechanism that removes greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere by chemical breakdown or by absorption or uptake in oceans, forests and soils for example.

Sites(sites)
Properties, or portions of properties, that are delimited by common characteristics related to function (past or present), topography or soil characteristics, as defined by the department/agency.

Smog(smog)
A noxious mixture of air pollutants that can often be seen as a haze in the air. Two main components of smog are airborne particulate matter and ground level ozone.

Solar Energy(énergie solaire)
Energy that comes from the sun. Passive solar heating uses building designs and features to take advantage of the sun throughout the year. An active solar system usually has solar collectors mounted on the roof to absorb solar energy that is used to heat water or to provide space heating. Solar energy can also produce electricity by using solar cells.

Solid waste(déchets solides)
Office waste, food waste, construction and demolition waste and waste from operations not characterised as hazardous, liquid or gaseous.

Solid waste incinerator(incinérateur de déchets solides)
A facility for the controlled burning of solid wastes.

Solid waste landfill(décharge de déchets solides)
A defined area of land or excavation that receives or has previously received waste that may include household waste, commercial solid waste, non hazardous sludge and industrial solid waste.

Source(source)
A natural or human activity or process that releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The opposite of a sink.

Source reduction(réduction à la source)
The reduction or elimination of waste at the point of generation.

Specifications with green statements(Spécifications avec énoncés d'écologisation)
Product or service specifications that contain one or more green standards.

Spill (or release)(déversement)
The accidental release of a liquid chemical, such as oil, into a body of water can have far-reaching impacts on the environment because spills may disperse widely or even mix with the water.

Stakeholder(intervenant)
This is an individual or organization who has an interest in the outcome of providing a particular service or product.

Stewardship(intendance ou gérance)
The act of entrusting the careful and responsible management of the environment and natural resources to one's care for the benefit of the general community.

Storage tank system(système de stockage)
An aboveground or underground partially buried storage tank, or a storage tank that is completely buried by or covered with earth, backfill, or concrete, that operates at atmospheric pressure plus or minus 10 kPa, with a single or total capacity of more than 4,000 litres. A storage tank system also means one or more commonly connected storage tanks, including all underground and aboveground connections, piping, pumps and dispensers, product transfer apparatus, diking, overfill protection equipment and associated spill containment and collection apparatus.

Strategy(stratégie)
Long-range policy designed for a particular purpose.

Stratosphere(stratosphère)
The layer of the atmosphere between about 10 and 50 kilometres above the Earth's surface within which temperatures rise with increasing altitude. Contains stratospheric ozone, which absorbs potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Stratospheric ozone(ozone stratosphérique)
In the stratosphere, solar radiation converts some oxygen molecules (O₂) into ozone (O₃). Ozone absorbs much ultraviolet radiation and prevents it from reaching the Earth.

Sulphur oxides (SOx)(oxydes de soufre)
A group of gases released by the combustion of fossil fuels and by natural sources such as volcanoes.

Sulphur dioxide (SO₂)(dioxyde de soufre)
A colourless gas with a pungent odour, irritates the upper respiratory tract in humans and leads to acidic deposition/acid rain.

Surface water(eau de surface)
All water naturally open to the atmosphere (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, streams, impoundments, seas, estuaries, etc).

Sustainability(durabilité)
The ability of an ecosystem to maintain ecological processes and functions, biodiversity, and productivity over time.

Sustainable consumption(consommation durable)
The use of services and related products which respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials as well as the emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle of the service or product so as not to jeopardize the needs of future generations.

Sustainable development (SD)(développement durable ou DD)
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Development that ensures that the use of ecological resources and ecosystems today does not damage prospects for their use by future generations.

Sustainable Development in Government Operations (SDGO)(Développement durable dans les opérations gouvernementales ou DDOG)
Government-wide initiative whose goal is to achieve coordination of the federal effort to green government operations.

Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS)(stratégie de développement durable ou SDD)
The strategy that each Minister responsible for a department is required to submit to Parliament. It includes the department's concrete goals and plans of action to integrate sustainable development into its policies, programs, and operations.

Sustainable Transportation(transport durable)
Sustainable transportation is about integrating economic, social and environmental considerations into decisions affecting transportation activity. A sustainable transportation system is one that is safe, efficient and environmentally responsible.

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TBS(SCT ou Secrétariat du Conseil du Trésor)
Treasury Board Secretariat

TC(TC ou Transports Canada)
Transport Canada

Telework(télétravail)
A flexible work arrangement whereby employees have approval to carry out some or all of their work duties from a telework place; working from a distance.

Telework place(lieu de télétravail)
The alternative location where the employee is permitted to carry out the work otherwise performed at or from their designated workplace.

Tenant department(ministère locataire)
Department which does not have custodial responsibility over real property, but rather is responsible to administer and control personnel of that department, and such machinery and equipment over which its personnel has control.

Terrestrial(terrestre)
Of or relating to land as distinct from air or water.

Tertiary wastewater treatment(traitement tertiaire des eaux usées)
Removal of nitrates, phosphates, organochlorine compounds, salts, acids, metals, and toxic organic compounds after secondary wastewater treatment.

Tipping fee(redevance de déversement)
A fee charged at a disposal or recycling facility for accepting wastes.

Toxic(toxique)
Pertains to any substance if it is entering or may enter the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions having or that may have an immediate or long-term effect on the environment (including living organisms within it) or constituting or that may constitute a danger to human life or health.
Harmful (poisonous or lethal) to humans or other living organisms, even in small quantities.

Toxic substances (Water)(substance toxique - eau)
Substances that have or may have an immediate or long-term harmful effect on the environment or human health. Toxic substances from industrial and agricultural activities often enter water and have been linked to health problems in animals and humans.

Toxicity(toxicité)
The inherent potential or capacity of a material to cause adverse effects in a living organism.

Toxics management(gestion des substances toxiques)
Focuses on the control of those substances most harmful to human and ecosystem health, with actions to: virtually eliminate from the environment substances that are predominantly anthropogenic, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic; and implement full life-cycle management of all other substances of concern.

Training(formation)
Formal training or participation in awareness sessions in green procurement.

Transboundary Pollutants(polluant transfrontalier)
Air pollution that travels from one jurisdiction to another, often crossing provincial or international boundaries. Also applies to water pollution.

Transit Pass Pilot Project(Projet pilote de laissez-passer de transport en commun TransitPasse)
A program that allows employees of Transport Canada, Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada and the Treasury Board Secretariat in the National Capital Region to purchase an annual discounted transit pass through monthly payroll deduction. This program is offered in association with OC Transpo in Ottawa and the Société de transport de l'Outaouais in Gatineau.

Troposphere(troposphère)
Lowest layer of the atmosphere, extending from ground level to about 11 km above the Earth. Contains about 95% of the Earth's air and ends at the tropopause, the point at which atmospheric temperature starts to increase instead of decrease as one moves farther from the Earth.

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UN(ONU ou Organisation des Nations Unies)
United Nations

UNEP(PNUE ou Programme des Nations Unies pour l'Environnement)
United Nations Environment Programme

UNFCCC(CCNUCC ou Convention-cadre des Nations Unies sur les changements climatiques)
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Untreated wastewater(eaux usées non traitées)
Wastewater that has not received minimum treatment (i.e. secondary treatment or equivalent).

Used oil(huiles usées)
Used oil is an oil from industrial and non-industrial sources which has become unsuitable for its original purpose due to the presence of impurities or the loss of original properties.

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VAC(MAC ou Ministère des Anciens Combattants)
Veterans Affairs Canada

VOC(COV ou composé organique volatil)
Volatile Organic Compound(s)

Vehicles(véhicules)
Automobiles, passenger vans, medium and light duty trucks and buses.

Vermicomposting(lombricompostage)
A type of indoor composting that uses a special kind of worm, called red wigglers, to break down organic wastes, producing a rich, sweet-smelling compost.

Volatile organic compound (VOC)(composé organique volatil ou COV)
Any organic gas, such as propane and benzene, and also found in the vapours of substances such as gasoline, numerous solvents, and oil-based paints (Greater Vancouver Regional District 1994). Volatile organic compounds participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions.

Voluntary Challenge and Registry (VCR) Inc.(Mesures volontaires et Registre Inc. ou MVR)
Originally a government program, the VCR is now a stand-alone public and private sector partnership with a mandate to promote, assess and recognize the effectiveness of the voluntary approach in addressing climate change. More than 870 companies across Canada have registered with the VCR Inc., including companies that generate more than 70 per cent of Canada's business and industrial greenhouse gas emissions.

Voluntary Measures(mesures volontaires)
Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are adopted by firms or other actors in the absence of government mandates. Voluntary measures help make climate-responsible products or processes more readily available or encourage consumers to incorporate environmental values in their market choices.

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WED(DÉO ou Diversification économique de l'Ouest)
Western Economic Diversification

Waste(déchet)
Any output from the product or service system that is disposed of.
Substance or material for which the owner or generator has no further use, and which is discarded.

Waste exchange(bourse de déchets)
Service that matches industrial, commercial and institutional waste generators with potential users of their wastes.

Waste reduction programs(programmes de réduction des déchets)
Formal procedures to reduce the amount of solid waste generated and to divert solid waste from disposal.

Wastewater(eaux usées)
A combination of the liquid and water-carried wastes from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants and institutions, together with any groundwater, surface water and storm water that may be present.

Water (H₂0)(eau)
A colourless, odourless and tasteless liquid compound made up of hydrogen and oxygen. In environmental terms, water is one of the three main components of our physical environment-which also includes land and air. Water in general refers to rainwater, groundwater, seas, lakes, rivers, etc.

Water conservation(conservation de l'eau)
Water conservation means reducing water usage or using water more efficiently, in order to reduce pollution and health risks, lower water costs, and extend the useful life of the existing supply and waste-treatment facilities.

Water conservation plans(plans de conservation de l'eau)
Formal plans (including budgets) for capital investments and operating changes to take advantage of water savings opportunities.

Water savings audits(vérifications sur les économies des ressources en eau)
Systematic examinations of water use and identification of water savings opportunities.

Water treatment(traitement de l'eau)
Primary treatment mechanically removes solid matter. Secondary treatment uses bacteria to break down dissolved organic matter. Tertiary treatment uses chemicals to remove additional contaminants.

Water used(eau utilisée)
Water taken from a water supply and distribution system.

Wind Energy(énergie éolienne)
A form of emerging renewable energy. Wind energy converts kinetic energy that is present in the wind into more useful forms of energy such as mechanical energy or electricity. Wind energy is a pollution-free, infinitely sustainable form of energy. It doesn't use fuel; it doesn't produce greenhouse gases, and it doesn't produce toxic or radioactive waste.

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There are no entries for the letter 'X' at the present time.

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There are no entries for the letter 'Y' at the present time.

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Zero Waste Program(Programme Zéro déchet)
Federal program that encourages the reduction of solid waste being sent to landfill from government operations and, as a result, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from solid waste. In order to assist Government of Canada departments and agencies in setting-up and/or improving solid waste management programs, the Zero Waste Program provides information and expertise in the areas of waste reduction, reuse and recycling.

The above terms and definitions have been compiled through numerous governmental and non-governmental sources.

Links to other glossaries

A Guide to Green Government - Sustainable Development Vocabulary

Environment Canada Glossary of terms

Freshwater - Glossary(Environment Canada web page)

Glossary of Environmental Terms(Natural Resources Defense Council web page)

Glossary - Selected climate change terms and acronyms(National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy web page)

Real Property Glossary(Treasury Board Secretariat web page)

Terms of Environment(U.S. EPA web page)