CCME State of the Environment Reporting Harmonization Workshop ...

. To identify if standard protocols exist for selected environmental indicators and, if so, to
propose a standardized set of methodologies and protocols for measurement of each selected
environmental indicator;
. To identify if targets exist for each indicator for each provincial/territorial jurisdiction and to
propose common targets; and
. To indicate possible social and economic linkages associated with changes to the
environmental indicators chosen for the top five environmental issue areas.
It was also noted that the development of a core set of indicators would assist in the consistent
presentation of environmental information for each CCME jurisdiction. The results of the first
phase of the study in refining the core set of indicators are documented in two reports prepared
by mI Group (Calgary) entitled "Development of Environmental Indicators: Final Report" and
"Development of Environmental Indicators: Presentation Format". The latter document includes
a presentation template that has been developed to assist in conveying the concept of
environmental indicators. The presentation template is expected to be used by a senior
government representative with the intended audience being senior government officials and
non-government corporate executives with the presenter's jurisdiction. The task group agreed
that it is important to present a package to the ministers and deputy ministers for information
purposes in order to highlight progress made.
As a follow-up to the first phase of the study in refining the core set of indicators, terms of
reference were developed for another study to assess the compatibility of the refined indicators in
a provincial context. The second study was to consist of two phases. In phase one of the study,
the availability and quality of the data for each of the refined indicators in British Columbia was
to be reviewed The intent was to complete phase one of the study by November 30, 1995.
Phase two of the study was to repeat the data review assessment process for Alberta,
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick. Upon completion of the data reviews
and assessments for each of these jurisdictions, a document was to be prepared identifying "how
to" measure and report on each of the refined indicators to ensure consistency across
jurisdictions.
The first phase of the study, assessing the compatibility of the refined indicators in a provincial
context, using British Columbia as a pilot province, was completed as planned The results are
documented in a report entitled "Harmonizing the CCME Environmental Indicators: A Case
Study of British Columbia" prepared by Westland Resource Group (Victoria). A summary of the
report's conclusions was presented to the task group by Aniko Szojka-Pamell (Indictors Sub-
Committee, Chair). In reviewing the availability and quality of the data for each of the refined
indicators within British Columbia, Westland Resource Group concluded that there was:
1) A lack of data to sUP1>rt the indicators. Although some indicators have comprehensive data
sets (e.g., ground-level ozone and municipal water use), there is a lack of data for others;
2) A lack of nationally accepted definitions. In some topic areas there is lack of clear,
nationally accepted definitions and standards on the use and application of particular
indicators;
3 Variability in data collection techniques. For most of the refined indicators there are no
standard methods/protocols relating to data collection (actual measurement/monitoring,
modelling and surveying) and data analysis (trend analysis, aggregation and generalization).
Proceedings: CCME SOE Harmonization Workshop IV Page 11