CCME State of the Environment Reporting Harmonization Workshop ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Day Two 5) Indicators The indicators sukommittee of the CCME SOE Task Group, in consultation with other CCME task groups, developed a core set of environmental indicators that can be used by all jurisdictions as documented in the report "Development of Environmental Indicators" which was tabled at the meeting. To test the feasibility of using these indicators across all jurisdictions, the subcommittee commissioned a pilot study incorporating environmental data from British Columbia and documenting the difficulties in applying the indicators. While many issues emerged through this process related to data availability, the task group agreed to continue to test these indicators in other jurisdictions, namely, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick. In this way, it was hoped a more complete picture of data availability and technical feasibility for achieving common definitions, standards, and methods of measurement would emerge. Future actions required would be assessed after all the issues related to indicators were identified and evaluated. . 6) Status Reports The Strategic Overview for 1995 outlined four priorities for 1996/97. They are Harmonization, Air Issues, Toxic Substance, and Economic Dimensions of Environmental Management The contribution by each member jurisdiction has decreased at a rate of 10% each year for the past three years. The contribution levels were to be set in October 1995 and will ultimately determine the available budget for the upcoming year. How the declining resources will effect product development is yet to be determined. 7) Environmental Statistics Program Throughout the presentation given by Statistics Canada, the recurring theme was that the National Accounts and Environmental Division develops and collects information to promote the use of Statistics Canada for environmental applications, leading towards a set of standards and frameworksfor NationalStatistics. . Future directions are to extend the use of environmental information through State of the Environment Reporting; Sustainability Analysis, Environmental Impact Assessment; Integrated Small Area Information; and International Comparisons. 8) Workshop Wrap-up The proceedings concluded with the outlining of three tasks. The Guidelines document is to be completed for review by the end of November and for presentation to the Strategic Planning Committee in February 1996. Secondly, a presentation of the indicators work is to be prepared for the February meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee. And thirdly, the discussions over workplanning concluded with the need for a continued forward movement through consensus building. Priorities to be addressed are the completion of the 2005 Document, finding a home for What's Up? Newsletter, and examining possibilities for upgrading the federaVprovinciaV territorial database inventory. The task group will be co-chaired by Rosaline Frith and Lynda Langford, for the coming year. Other jurisdictions will be asked to assume a chair role in future years. Proceedings: CCME SOE Harmonization Workshop IV Page 2
1) INTRODUCTION The chair of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment State of the Environment Reporting Task Group, Rosaline Frith, welcomed the participants to Harmonization Workshop IV. Three main goalsfor the workshop were identified. 1) Move ahead with the State of the Environment Report Guidelines document. 11) Continued work, discussion and resolution of issues in the Development of Environmental Indicator document. 111) The task group needs to continue to work together through the sharing of information from each jurisdiction. The concern over the lack of resources to complete current projects and to continue as a task group needs to be addressed. Therefore, the task group must find innovative ways to avoid duplication and to ensure the survival of a healthy reporting program in Canadian jurisdictions. 2) NATIONAL STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT -1996 UPDATE Changing Behaviour Through Knowledge - The State of Canada's Environment - 1996 and Sustainability Indicators Rosaline Frith provided the task group with a status report on the preparation of the third national SOE report and the resource cuts to the federal reporting group. This was followed by a lively discussion on the merits of cost recovery and sponsorship. A) Objectives over the next 18 months. · Provide timely and easily accessible integrated information. - Completethe thirdNationalReport - Create electronic information base · Meetdepartmentalgoalson revenuegeneration. · Develop a new reporting program. It was stated that while developing a new reporting program is a key step, the program must continue to produce comprehensive environmental reporting products. Concern over the lack of resources within Environment Canada may lead to changes within the task group and what can be accomplished. The issue of chairing the task group and preparing quarterly news bulletins was raised. B) Current situation Morale low-productivity decline. State of the Environment Directorate to be disbanded July 1996. Productionprocessesaltered. · Scheduling still behind. Proceedings: CCME SOE Harmonization Workshop IV Page 3
Page 1 and 2: CCME CanadianCouncil Le Conseilcana
Page 3 and 4: CCME Background ExecudveSununtlTY..
Page 5: EXECUTIVES~ARY On October 23 and 24
Page 9 and 10: F) Our strengths · Partnerships: -
Page 11 and 12: continue discussions and provide a
Page 13 and 14: To continue to evolve as a task gro
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 ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?