In a previous article, we looked at the history of eco-friendly transportation. Sustainability is a larger topic than vehicles, and it is time to look at sustainability in Canada more broadly.
In 2015, as a member state of the UN, Canada agreed to work towards 17 agreed-upon Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs for short. In 2020, Canada ranked 21st out of 193 states on the UN’s own list of countries progressing toward achieving the SDGs. To understand why this is the case, we have to look at projects spearheaded by both the government and the public.
In this article:
1. Government Goals for Sustainability
4. Where Things Need to Improve
1 Government Goals for Sustainability
The Federal Government of Canada has set out a variety of sustainable development guides and projects across the country in an effort to create a more sustainable and eco-friendly Canada.
Here are the 13 goals that broadly make up the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy:
Effective action on climate change
Low-carbon economy, carbon pricing, and zero-emission vehicles
Greening government
Greening federal operations, greenhouse gas emission reductions, clean energy, and green procurement
Clean growth
Zero plastic waste, clean technologies, and innovation and skills
Modern and resilient infrastructure
Climate-resilient initiatives and investments in green infrastructure
Clean energy
Renewable energy and energy efficiency
Healthy coasts and oceans
Conserve coastal and marine areas, manage fish stocks, and reduce ocean plastics
Pristine lakes and rivers
Watershed management, protecting lakes and rivers, and reducing water pollution and contamination
Sustainably managed lands and forests
Protecting lands and forests, along with establishing and conserving protected areas
Healthy wildlife populations
Biodiversity, species at risk, migratory birds, wildlife, and habitats
Clean drinking water
Safe drinking water, ending long-term drinking water advisories, and drinking water quality
Sustainable food
Sustainable food, agricultural practices, fisheries, and food waste
Connecting Canadians with nature
Nature, parks, protected areas, green spaces, and conservation activities
Safe and healthy communities
Clean and safe environments and communities, air quality, and harmful substances
2 Government Initiatives
An example of a sustainable agriculture project is the one taking place on Prince Edward Island, home of many potato farms. Farmers in this area have agreed to work with local governments to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers to maintain healthy soil, while also using water more responsibly. Farmers have consented to work with NGOs and government researchers to test out more sustainable initiatives and experiments, in the hope of finding something that can be used on a wider scale.
Sustainable initiatives have also affected the fishing industry in Canada, largely due to great necessity. Sustainable fishing Canada is something that’s only really existed since 1992, after the Cod Moratorium of that year. Northern Canada’s cod industry collapsed this year due to bad management and overfishing, and despite the moratorium helping to regrow some of the cod population in the area, things have still not fully recovered.
Sustainable Development Technology Canada is a branch of the Canadian government dedicated to aiding and abetting sustainable business initiatives. They provide valuable money for the seeding, starting-up, and scaling-up of small businesses all across the country.
3 Industry Initiatives
While economic growth is often considered the enemy of sustainability there are in fact a number of sustainable companies in Canada.
Sustainable clothing brands play their part by reducing the use of synthetic fabrics, reducing overall waste, and providing more versatile multi-wear designs. Sustainable brands have also been making waves with environmentally conscious footwear in Canada.
The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) has made strides towards sustainability in mining, with 44 of the country’s largest mining companies agreeing to the terms of the Towards Sustainable Mining initiative. The scheme involves using new technologies and forming more sustainable communities in Canada with those affected by local mining projects.
4 Where Things Need to Improve
While there are a number of great things being done in Canada that are positively influencing the fight for sustainability, from timber initiatives to the active reduction of greenhouse gases in cars, there are still some glaring problems in the country. One of the biggest issues facing Canada’s status as a sustainable state is the treatment of indigenous people across the nation.
In areas such as Southwestern Ontario and Northern Alberta, the development of petrochemicals and the oil-sand industry have caused pollution that harms indigenous communities. Similarly, there have been many cases of waters and lands that are sacred to indigenous folk being damaged due to development, in many cases violating indigenous rights and treaty agreements.
Canada may be on the right path with sustainability, but unless there are more protections for indigenous people and the government actions environmental policies more urgently, there will still exist a serious disconnect between what is being done, and what must be done.
For more on sustainability and other interesting topics, check out our blog here.
