The role of governmental institutions Charting Sustainable Development in Canada François Bregha October 18, 2007

2 Looking back Background conditions 2. New institutions 3. New instruments 4. Is it enough?

1. Background conditions  Changes in Government  Public opinion  Program review  Competing priorities  Federal-provincial relations  Environment Canada  Economic departments 3

2. New institutions  National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy  International Institute for Sustainable Development  Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development  Sustainable Development Technology Canada 4

3. Instruments External focus: New statutes:  Canadian Environmental Protection Act  Canadian Environmental Assessment Act  Species at Risk Act Non-regulatory instruments  Encouragement of voluntary measures  Little use of economic instruments 5

3. Instruments Internal focus:  Strategic environmental assessment  1990  1999 Cabinet Directive  2004 amendment  Leadership by Example  1992 Code of Environmental Stewardship  1995: Directions on Greening Government Operations  1999: Sustainable Development in Government Operations  2001: Federal House in Order  2005: Office of Green Government Operations 6

3. Instruments Instruments with dual purpose  Sustainable development strategies:  Every three years  Most federal departments  Purpose (GGG): sustain natural resources, protect health of Canadians and ecosystems; meet international obligations; promote equity, improve quality of life  Environmental information  Environmental indicators  State of the environment reporting  Pollutant release information 7

4. Is it enough?  Achievements:  Greatly strengthened regulatory and policy framework  New institutions with real capacity to do research, analysis, public engagement, public reporting  Substantive progress in various areas: ecosystem initiatives, air quality, land conservation, toxics management, etc. 8

4. Is it enough?  Overall environmental performance lags OECD leaders, e.g.,:  Emissions to air  Protected areas  Fundamental institutional barriers remain:  Misleading economic signals  Poor interdepartmental coordination  Inadequate planning  Lack of consensus on objectives  Incomplete information base 9