CCME State of the Environment Reporting Harmonization Workshop ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

A Preface or Forward is required to underline the jurisdiction's different stages. How do we measure the success of SOE Reporting? Through an Ecosystem approach? How and what does it mean? The Introduction requires no changes. The summary checklist format was well received, but the boxes should be empty. It was suggested that above each component, the question for each element should be boxed and highlighted for quick reference. 4) WORKPLANNING Overview Rosaline Frith outlined a number of points for consideration by the participants. The CCME SOER Task Group will be faced with a reduced budget in the coming year, as are each of the SOE reporting groups in the jurisdictions. As a result, the annual meeting next fiscal year will be hard pressed for funding from all possible sources. To continue as a task group in the current form, we must be innovative in our planning. The Strategic Directions Working Group and the Strategies for Strategic Direction, which is compiling information, will assist in the developing of the 1996/97 workplan and the work group structures. The funding request will be included. Note: November 20, 1995 is a Strategic Direction Working Group meeting and January 26, 1996 is the tentative deadlinefor task group participants to submit their information. There will be a meeting of the Joint Strategic Planning Committee - Environmental Protection in February. All participants should continue to speak with their Strategic Directions Workplanning Group members. The SOE Reporting Task Group falls under the Harmonization Strategy. Short Term 1) Raise concerns over budget constraints. 2) Outline the irrwortanceof the SOER Task Gro""". CCME has taken the lead in developing and nurturing a cooperative approach between the participating jurisdictions. Direct contact and workshop meetings play essential roles in information sharing, leading to a consensus towards a future direction. An example of jurisdictional input is the Guidelines document which is to be completed this fiscal year. Long Term Each jurisdiction has benefited from the process through the sharing of information and through a consensus approach. Therefore, the will of all participants is to continue. The strategies to move ahead must take declining budgets into consideration. Suggestions include reduced travel, more teleconferencing, electronic mail, and Internet communication. Continued information sharing avoids duplication. The importance of the SOER Task Group is reflected in the work we do. There is a concern that some jurisdictions, however, seem uninterested or act unfavourably to the overall approach. We must continue to work with all jurisdictions to understand their needs. Proceedings: CCME SOE Harmonization Workshop IV Page 8
To continue to evolve as a task group, we must be innovative. A suggestion was made that each jurisdiction could do the work themselves, leading up to a national workshop for comparative purposes. However, it was thought that inconsistencies may result. Jurisdictions Each of the jurisdictions present discussed its workplans for the coming years: National Perspectives Research, development and production of environmental indicators for the national set are continuing. The first in a series of indicators on sustaining Canada's forest was produced in September. Work is ongoing to update the stratospheric ozone depletion, climate change, energy consumption and urban air quality indicators. The first acid rain indicator bulletin is expected later this year, and draft indicator packages relating to marine resources on both east and west coasts will be ready for review in January. SOED and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) sponsored a national workshop on urban sustainability indicators in June. There is considerable interest in this area and SOED, CMHC and the National Round Table are collaborating on follow-up. A pilot project to develop and test the use of sustainability indicators is underway for the Fraser River Basin (British Columbia), sponsored by SOED, Environment Canada's Pacific and Yukon Region and the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. An interim report was distributed at the workshop. Also distributed was a report, commissioned by SOED, entitled "Connecting with Decisionmakers' Concerns", which provides an analysis of how to relate the usefulness of indicators to different types of decision-makers. The last official meeting of the Public Advisory Committee meeting on SOE Reporting was November 14, 1995. The priority is to find innovative ways to move forward. Environment Canada is re-examining the basic elements of the reporting program. The information base may have to be mUTowed.The concept of a living document (updating as is required) will allow for work to be completed on a priority basis. Perhaps SOE Progress Repons will be part of the process. Quebec is preparing guidelines which are to be delivered by 1996. The indicators work continues. The use of geometrics in SOER is planned for 1995/96. Plan St. Laurent SOE is due for release in 1998. Ontario has completed an Issues Analysis report in 1995. This repon analyzed a series of environmental issues (smog, acid rain, etc.) from an SOE perspective and developed a relative rating of these issues in terms of ecological and human health impacts. Current plans include a provincial SOE repon for completion in the spring of 1996 and a series of quarterly SOE bulletins also beginning in the spring of 1996. Manitoba Environment has begun preparation of their SOE Repon. The report will be transitional towards sustainable development reporting, as the proposed Sustainable Development Act will have a requirement for a Sustainable Development Report. The 1997 report will take the ecozone approach with a focus chapter on "Sustainability of the PrairieEcozone." A pilot project to developsustainabilityindicatorsfor the prairieecozoneis Proceedings: CCME SOE Harmonization Workshop IV Page 9
Page 1 and 2: CCME CanadianCouncil Le Conseilcana
Page 3 and 4: CCME Background ExecudveSununtlTY..
Page 5 and 6: EXECUTIVES~ARY On October 23 and 24
Page 7 and 8: 1) INTRODUCTION The chair of the Ca
Page 9 and 10: F) Our strengths · Partnerships: -
Page 11: continue discussions and provide a
Page 15 and 16: . To identify if standard protocols
Page 17 and 18: officials that develop the specific
Page 19 and 20: Internet Demonstration - Guide to E
Page 21 and 22: . Data No work unless budget approv
Page 23 and 24: --------------..------ Environment
Page 25 and 26: Chanfes and Comments The changes an
Page 27 and 28: -- - - - 4.4 Standards and Procedur
Page 29 and 30: Reference Document 3 Alberta Propos
Page 31 and 32: Reference Document 4 Template for C
Page 33 and 34: Table 1 continued: Template for CCM
Page 35 and 36: Reference Document 5 CCMECoreIndica
Page 37 and 38: ... -. IU;l'.). .;:[L('.,:' \;,.."
Page 39 and 40: DRAFT APPENDIX B 1995/96 BUDGET For
Page 41: - -- ---- Participants: Cynthia Bau

CCME State of the Environment Reporting Harmonization Workshop ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?