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This article provides a brief overview of Canada's commitment to sustainable development (SD) domestically and internationally. It discusses the policies, measurement, and the state of Canada's environment. It emphasizes the need for an explicit policy framework and integrated information for decision-making. The article also highlights the challenges and opportunities in advancing SD in Canada, including the need for a Competitiveness and Environmental Sustainability Framework (CESF) and a national partnership among different stakeholders.
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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CANADAA 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.
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.
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
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 …
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
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
Supported by five pillars: • Decision-making • Information • Science and technology • Performance promotion and enforcement • Education and engagement
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
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,...
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.
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...
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
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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