Environmental-Economic Accounting in Canada: Policy Applications and Initiatives
This content discusses the policy initiatives and applications of Environmental-Economic Accounting in Canada, focusing on the System of Environmental-Economic Accounts (SEEA). It covers key initiatives such as Canada's Green Plan, measuring ecosystem goods and services, and development indicators for sustainable development. The interactions between the environment and the economy are explored through resource accounts and tracking economic impacts on natural assets. Statistics Canada plays a significant role in developing environmental and resource accounts to quantify physical flows, assets, and related indicators.
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Presentation Transcript
Policy Applications of Environmental-Economic Accounting in Canada Regional Seminar on the System of Environmental-Economic Accounts (SEEA) Central Framework in the Caribbean February 6-7, 2014 Castries, Saint Lucia Joe St. Lawrence Statistics Canada
Main Policy Initiatives linked to SEEA Main Policy Initiatives linked to SEEA 1990-97 Canada s Green Plan Environment and Sustainable Development Indicators 2000-07 Measuring Ecosystem Goods and Services 2011-13 2025-03-12 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada 2
The Green Plan The Green Plan Initiation Initiation Objectives Objectives resource accounts that would quantify the links between the environment and the economy. 1990 Federal Budget To initiate development of a system of environmental and Outcome Outcome Canadian System of Environmental and Resource Accounts Accounts: Physical Flows (water, energy, GHG) Assets (minerals, energy, timber), Land Related indicators Surveys: Environmental Protection Expenditures, Environmental Goods and Services 2025-03-12 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada 3
Environment and Sustainable Environment and Sustainable Development Indicators Development Indicators Initiation Initiation 2000 Federal Budget Objectives Objectives To find ways to track the impact of current economic practices on the natural and human assets that will be needed by future generations of Canadians. Outcome Outcome Reports: 2003 State of the Debate Report, 2006-08 Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators Indicators: Air Quality, Water Quality, GHG Emissions Surveys: Households and the Environment, Industrial Water Use, Agricultural Water Use, Drinking Water Treatment Plants Links: Ongoing contribution to Federal Sustainable Development Strategy indicators 2025-03-12 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada 4
Measuring Ecosystem Goods and Measuring Ecosystem Goods and Services Services Initiation Initiation 2011 Interdepartmental funding request Objectives Objectives To develop experimental ecosystem accounts with the specific objective of supporting policy needs related to the valuation of ecosystem goods and services. Outcome Outcome Reports: Human Activity and the Environment 2013: Measuring ecosystem goods and services in Canada Infrastructure: MEGS geospatial database, MEGS community of practice 2025-03-12 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada 5
Other policy work Other policy work related to SEEA related to SEEA Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and Development Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and Development DFATD`s Office of the Chief Economist has used the environmental accounts (GHG emission, Energy Use and Water use) for our environmental assessment of various international trade agreements since 2010. We use them to measure the scale, composition and technological impacts of trade on Canada`s environment. Without those data it would not be possible for us to measure the impact of trade as requested. 2025-03-12 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada 6
Other policy work Other policy work related to SEEA related to SEEA Department of Finance Department of Finance Use the environmental accounts to conduct strategic environmental assessments for select policies, notably analysis of changes in commodity taxes, including the Goods and Services Tax. 2025-03-12 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada 7
Other policy work Other policy work related to SEEA related to SEEA Ontario Ministry of Finance Ontario Ministry of Finance Statistics Canada s environmental accounts enable us to quantify some of the links between the economy and the environment. This improves decision making in many policy areas including natural resource management, climate change, and energy policy. 2025-03-12 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada 8
Other policy work Other policy work related to SEEA related to SEEA Natural Resources Canada Natural Resources Canada Natural Resources Canada was interested in building a comprehensive statistical framework and knowledge base for recycling with the belief that it would strongly contribute to the success of an eventual federal recycling initiative. Formulating effective policy in this regard would have been very difficult without reliable recycling data. Furthermore, these data were expected to be used as a component of the environmental indicator work that was encouraged by the year 2000 federal budget. This resulted in a four-year project whose aim was to investigate and initiate a means of improving information on the flows of recyclable materials in Canada. The focus of the project was the collection of physical data (tonnes of material). It was also proposed to assemble financial details for the main participants in the recycling industry. The pilot work was completed in 2003, but funding was not subsequently pursued to continue the activity. 2025-03-12 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada 9
Questions? Questions? Joe St. Lawrence Joe St. Lawrence Environment Accounts and Statistics | Environment Accounts and Statistics | Comptes R.H. Coats Building | R.H. Coats Building | Immeuble Immeuble R. Statistics Canada | 100 Tunney's Pasture Driveway, Ottawa ON K1A 0T6 Statistics Canada | 100 Tunney's Pasture Driveway, Ottawa ON K1A 0T6 Statistique Statistique Canada | 100, promenade Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa ON K1A 0T6 Canada | 100, promenade Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa ON K1A 0T6 Joe.St.Lawrence@statcan.gc.ca Joe.St.Lawrence@statcan.gc.ca Telephone | Telephone | T l phone T l phone 613 613- -951 951- -7709 7709 Facsimile | Facsimile | T l copieur T l copieur 613 613- -951 951- -0634 0634 Government of Canada | Government of Canada | Gouvernement Gouvernement du Canada Comptes et H.- -Coats / Floor | Coats / Floor | tage et statistique statistique de tage 25 M de l'environnement l'environnement R.- -H. 25 M du Canada 2025-03-12 Statistics Canada Statistique Canada 10
