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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CANADA A SHORT REVIEW AND STATUS

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

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CANADA A SHORT REVIEW AND STATUS

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  1. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CANADAA SHORT REVIEW AND STATUS Conference on Sustainable Development - Measurement and Policies, Oslo Bill Jarvis Environment Canada June, 2005

  2. 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.

  3. 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 • 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.

  4. 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

  5. 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 …

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. Supported by five pillars: • Decision-making • Information • Science and technology • Performance promotion and enforcement • Education and engagement

  9. that is comprehensive … • takes an integrated approach to the full range of sustainability challenges: • Climate change • Clean air • Clean water • Land use • Biodiversity • applies to three key areas: • Industrial base • Cities • Citizens • forges a national partnership among F/P/T governments • Based on shared goals

  10. 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,...

  11. and working with industry on real, long-term 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.

  12. 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...

  13. 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

  14. The National Round Table on Environment & Sustainable Development Initiative • Based on a natural capital framework for SD reporting • Recommendations to the Government: • Report 6 easy to interpret indicators in every federal budget: • Natural CapitalAir Quality Freshwater Quality GHG Emissions Forest Cover Extent of Wetlands • Human Capital Educational Attainment • Expand the System of National Accountsto include natural, human and social capital • Improve Canadian Information System for the Environment (national environmental information system)

  15. Environment Canada Reporting: • 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 • waste & recycling Environmental Signals, 2003

  16. Central Agency Reporting: Treasury Board of Canada Reports to Parliament • 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 • 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

  17. 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

  18. ESI 2002 Keeping Score EWI 2001 EPI 2002 EF 2004 net 4 2 6 3 3 18 10 14 14 29 27 9 18 12 26 17 14 8 21 11 19 19 7 10 24 12 25 22 22 22 25 11 18 16 10 4 22 1 2 3 3 7 28 6 29 20 10 3 1 1 1 5 23 5 7 6 Canada’s Environment: Ranks highly in 6 of 8 international comparisons ESI 2005 EF 2004 gross UVic 2001 Canada 6 25 28 18 USA 29 29 UK 21 18 13 France 15 21 23 Germany 13 13 6 Japan 12 8 21 Italy 23 7 18 13 Australia 28 27 2 Norway 22 17 27 Mexico 2 2 Sweden 3 27 10 14 Russia 9 na

  19. Canadians’ intensive use of the environment creates high stress per capita. Canada’s Rank Among 12 peer countries Among 146 countries Elements of Sustainability Environmental Systems 1 4 USA Reducing Environmental Stresses 104 66 France 31 Reducing Human Vulnerability 2 Japan 69 Australia Social and Institutional Capacity 14 Mexico 95 Global Stewardship 133 Russia 33 Rank on Environmental Sustainability Among 146 Countries (ESI, 2005) Canada 6 45 UK 4 36 Germany 30 1 Italy 13 Norway 6 2 Sweden 4 12

  20. In Summary • Canada remains committed to • advancing SD domestically and internationally; and • to accountability and reporting • 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 • 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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