2.1 Global Environmental Trends and Commitments Environmental commitments have been undertaken globally over the past thirty years, starting with the United Nations' Conference on the Human Environment in 1972. The public awareness established by this conference prompted the Bruntland report, Our Common Future. This report, published in 1987, was responsible for establishing the term sustainable development, defined as "economic development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Two decades later, compounding evidence of human effects on the environment in such areas as acid rain, stratospheric ozone depletion, climate change and loss of biodiversity led to the first Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. Ten years after that, the 2002 Earth Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa reaffirmed the commitment to sustainable development by calling on each and every one of us to build a humane, equitable and caring global society. Most importantly, the Summit's declaration stressed an urgent need to address environmental deterioration. Specific actions, along with the supporting rationale for action that garnered the commitment of Canada and other Summit participants, are listed below:
Delegates at this Summit also committed to: develop specific plans to reverse degradation of agricultural lands, protect the global environment, and develop a ten-year framework of programs to accelerate the shift toward sustainable consumption and production. In addition to participating in the Johannesburg Earth Summit, Canada ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2002. This agreement committed Canada to reduce, by 2012, its greenhouse gas emissions to a level that is 6% below the 1990 levels. The Protocol is only binding at an international level if a sufficient number of countries sign with that number defined as enough countries to represent 55% of the total global carbon dioxide emitted in 1990. Should this condition not be met - we currently rest at approximately 44% - and the Kyoto Protocol not become legally binding at an international level, those nations that have signed will still proceed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. To respond to its ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, Canada released a Climate Change Plan in April 2003. This Plan identifies an approach and some of the measures to reduce our energy consumption and reliance on fossil fuels. Contributions to reduce greenhouse gases are identified for individuals, provinces, municipalities, industrial sectors and commercial enterprises. The Climate Change Plan notes that municipalities have direct and indirect control of approximately 50% of energy use, and thus greenhouse gas emissions, within Canada. Key areas of municipal involvement include influencing individuals, industrial sectors and commercial enterprises in reducing energy used in transportation, home and building construction and maintenance, and waste production and management. Municipalities can also reduce energy consumption by planning and implementing compact urban form, encouraging renewable energy sources and implementing energy efficiency in their own business. On August 12, 2003, the federal government announced a funding plan that will encourage individuals, business sectors and agencies to begin to implement greenhouse gas emission reductions. Opportunities for municipalities include potential access to transportation and building efficiency upgrades. International agreements Canada has joined in the past include:
|
Official site of the City of Ottawa
