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SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT IN
CANADA
A SHORT REVIEW AND STATUS
Conference on Sustainable Development Measurement and Policies, Oslo
Bill Jarvis
Environment Canada
June, 2005
Canada is committed to advancing SD
domestically and internationally...
POLICIES

Canada takes a national long-term approach to achieving SD
OUTCOMES, by
 making environmental sustainability a key part of competitiveness
 taking balanced approach to policy making that is based on:
 an explicit policy framework; and
 integrated information
 Canada recognizes that SD is ultimately a global issue as as a
national issue
 Integrating international aspects into environmental policy
MEASUREMENT

Canada is Committed to accountability
 completed a 4year process to develop a set of national SD indicators
THE STATE OF CANADA’S ENVIRONMENT
 continues to be excellent.
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In Canada, SD is not an end point, but an
approach to decision making
SD is about


how to meet the needs of Canadians today, without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
needs.
It recognizes that
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
social, economic, and environmental issues are interconnected,
and
that decisions must incorporate each of these aspects if they are
to be good decisions in the longer term.
An approach

that will help Canadians achieve a healthy environment, a
prosperous economy, a high standard of living, and a vibrant
and just society for current and future generations.
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Advancing SD requires a balanced
approach to policy-making...


Based on an Explicit Policy Framework that:

integrates the environment and the economy;

protects the health of Canadians;

protects ecosystems; and

help meet international obligations.
And Based on Integrated Information

gaps in our knowledge prevent us from making integrated
policy decisions.

Due to a lack of policy relevant information, the
environment is not sufficiently represented in policy
decisions.
In Canada, advancing SD is about strengthening
the weakest of the three pillars – the
Environment
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But, the environment is a shared
jurisdiction...




like many federations, environment is not explicit
in the constitution
yet unlike other federations, natural resources
are, constitutionally, owned by the provinces
the dividing lines between respective jurisdictions
–federal/provincial/territorial- are not always
clear
as well, the structure of the Canadian federal
government (The Westminster style) makes
policy integration across different departments
particularly challenging
And, that is why Canada needs a framework …
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A Competitiveness And Environmental
Sustainability Framework (CESF)


Vision:
Strengthening Canada’s long-term
competitiveness, its natural environment and
the well-being of Canadians
Mission:
to attain the highest level of environmental
quality as a means to enhance the health and
well being of Canadians, preserve our natural
environment, and advance out long term
competitiveness – improving Canadians’
quality of life
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Is a national policy framework for
integration, to be developed
in collaboration with:





provinces and territories,
industry,
NGOs,
Aboriginal groups, and
other key stakeholders
and, based on shared goals achieved through:





A long-term focus based on business realities
Rewarding results
Decisions informed by science
Predictability and transparency
A smart regulation, “single window” approach
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Supported by five pillars:
Decision-making
 Information
 Science and technology
 Performance promotion and
enforcement
 Education and engagement

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that is comprehensive …

takes an integrated approach to the full
range of sustainability challenges:






applies to three key areas:




Climate change
Clean air
Clean water
Land use
Biodiversity
Industrial base
Cities
Citizens
forges a national partnership among
F/P/T governments

Based on shared goals
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building on existing institutions...







Parliamentary Standing Committee on the
Environment and SD
Ad-hoc Cabinet Committee on Environment and
SD
Deputy Minister’s Committee on Environment and
Sustainability
Commissioner for Environment and SD
P.M. Advisory National Round Table on
Environment and Economy (NRTEE)
Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment
Civil Society -- ENGOs, IISD,...
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and working with industry on real, longterm outcomes …
Value-chain sector sustainability tables
 Mining, forestry, energy and chemicals
industries.
 Set long-term goals, as well as recommending
more immediate action and results.
 The goal will be to increasingly integrate
environmental and economic signals
 In the short term, Tables will focus on shared
priorities
 Over time the Tables will focus on longer-term
environment and health outcomes.
 Long-term targets will be world-leading,
ambitious, transformative, and sustainable, and
based on next generation technologies.
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integrating international aspects and
commitments...
Canada’s international priorities
 agenda 21
 MDGs
 WSSD
Integrating actions




Hosting CoP11/MoP1 in Montreal
Ambassador of the Environment
Ambassador of Climate Change
International Policy Statement
And, Canada is committed to accountability...
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GoC completed a 4 year process to
develop a set of national SD indicators



to provide early signals of environmental
deterioration
to ensure accountability to citizens
“In the years ahead, these environmental
indicators could well have a greater impact
on public policy than any other single
measure we might introduce.”
-Paul Martin
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The National Round Table on Environment
& Sustainable Development Initiative
•Based on a natural capital framework for SD reporting
•Recommendations to the Government:
1.
Report 6 easy to
2.
interpret indicators
in every federal
budget:
–
–
Natural Capital
Air Quality
Freshwater
Quality
GHG Emissions
Forest Cover
Extent of
Wetlands
Human Capital
Educational
Attainment
3.
Expand the
System of
National
Accounts to
include natural,
human and social
capital
Improve
Canadian
Information
System for the
Environment
(national
environmental
information
system)
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Environment Canada Reporting:
Environmental Signals,
2003
•
•
Report in two parts:
• Short “Headline Indicators”
and
• longer technical document
Indicators of:
– climate change
– air quality
– water quality
– biodiversity
– toxic substances
– water use
– wastewater treatment
– acid rain
– stratospheric ozone layer
– wildlife and wilderness
– toxic substances
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– waste & recycling
Central Agency Reporting: Treasury Board
of Canada Reports to Parliament
•Economy and Innovation
–GDP per capita
–disposable income per capita
–innovation
–employment
–literacy
–educational attainment
–performance information
•Environment
–climate change
–air quality
–water quality
–biodiversity
–toxic substances
•
Health
– life expectancy
– self-rated health
status
– infant mortality
– healthy lifestyles
•
Strength and Safety of
Communities
– volunteerism
– attitudes toward
diversity
– cultural participation
– political participation
– safety and security
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The state of Canada’s environment
continues to be excellent...

consistently ranks highly on international SD
comparisons

2004 OECD Review of Canada’s Environmental
Performance: Good Progress -- towards achieving
environmental objectives and international
commitments since 1995.

Large territory with sparse population results in
excellent state of environment

But, measures of pressures show Canada with
high impact per person
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Canada’s Environment: Ranks highly in
6 of 8 international comparisons
ESI
2005
ESI
2002
EPI
2002
EWI
2001
EF
2004
net
EF
2004
gross
UVic
2001
6
4
2
6
3
3
25
28
USA
18
18
10
14
14
29
29
29
UK
21
27
9
12
18
26
18
13
France
14
8
11
21
17
21
23
Germany
15
13
19
7
10
19
13
6
Japan
12
24
12
22
25
22
8
21
Italy
23
25
11
18
22
16
7
18
Australia
13
10
4
22
1
28
27
Norway
2
2
3
3
7
22
17
Mexico
27
28
6
20
29
10
2
2
Sweden
3
3
1
1
1
5
27
10
Russia
14
23
5
7
6
9
na
Canada
Keeping
Score
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Canadians’ intensive use of the
environment creates high stress per capita.
Rank on Environmental
Sustainability Among 146
Countries (ESI, 2005)
Canada
USA
UK
France
Germany
Japan
Italy
Australia
Norway
Mexico
Sweden
Russia
6
45
66
36
31
30
69
13
2
95
4
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Canada’s Rank
Elements of
Sustainability
Environmental
Systems
Reducing
Environmental
Stresses
Reducing
Human
Vulnerability
Social and
Institutional
Capacity
Global
Stewardship
Among 12 peer
countries
Among 146
countries
1
4
4
104
1
2
6
14
12
133
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In Summary

Canada remains committed to



Canada’s environmental outcomes continues
to be excellent...



ranks highly in most international comparisons
OECD Review of Canada’s Environmental Performance:
Good Progress o achieving environmental goals
Policies



advancing SD domestically and internationally; and
to accountability and reporting
CESF -- A national long-term approach to achieving SD
OUTCOMES,
Integrating international aspects and commitments
Measurement

completed a 4 year process to develop a set of national SD
indicators
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