we canada consultation report

WHAT WE HEARD FROM CANADIANS

We Canada Consultation Report | June 11, 2012

We Canada Consultation Report //

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CREDITS

Lead Authors: Marie-Pierre Daigle, National Director & Dwayne Appleby, Funding Director

Contributors: Emmanuel Prinet, Victoria Wee, Bonnie Klohn, Edward Houghland, Andrea McArthur, Thomas Seymour, Alexandra Lucchesi, Katrina Sieniuc, Céleste Côté, Alexandra Rémillard-Marie, Lisa Hemingway and other volunteers

Special thanks to: Severn Cullis-Suzuki and Dr. David Suzuki

One Earth Initiative Society (host of the We Canada Initiative) Unit 1205-1255 Main Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6A 4G5 Web: www.oneearthweb.org E-mail: [email protected] Tel.: +1 604.669.5143

SPONSORS


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TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Summary of Recommendations to the Canadian Federal Government ................................... 5 BACKGROUND ON CROSS-COUNTRY TOUR AND EARTH SUMMIT DIALOGUES .. . . . . 8 INTRODUCTION .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

About We Canada..................................................................................................................... 9 About the Canadian Earth Summit Coalition ............................................................................ 9

METHODOLOGY .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 SECTION I : ENERGY .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

PART I: Market Instruments.................................................................................................... 11 PART II: Natural Resources Extraction................................................................................... 12 PART III: Clean and Renewable Energy................................................................................. 13

SECTION I I : GREEN CITIES……………………………………………………………………….14

SECTION I I I : SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 SECTION IV: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 SECTION V: WATER .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 SECTION VI : HUMANITARIAN ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 CONCLUSION .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 REFERENCES .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Appendix A: Par t ic ipat ing Inst i tu t ions in We Canada’s Cross-Country Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Appendix B: Background on the Earth Summit 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Appendix C: We Canada’s Cross-Country Tour: Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Appendix D: Tour quest ions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Appendix E: We Canada’s Cross-Country Tour: Fac i l i ta tors , Coord inators, Events Volunteers and Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

From January 28 to March 27 2012, We Canada visited 16 cities across the country, consulting Canadians from every region on sustainable development issues in the lead up to Earth Summit 2012. The purpose of these consultations was to gather the insights, opinions, and aspirations of Canadians and to carry them forward to the Government of Canada, the provincial, territorial and municipal governments, and the international community.

We Canada is a pan-Canadian, volunteer-run and non-partisan initiative that serves as a voice for Canadians who believe sustainable development should be a priority for their country and for the international community. It aims to increase civil society’s participation and representation in policy-making on the national and global stage in the lead up to the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, Earth Summit 2012 or Rio+20) in June 2012. To learn more about We Canada, please visit www.earthsummit.ca.

In total, 8,000 participants, mainly young people between 10 and 25 years of age, organized their own Earth Summit Dialogues or attended one of We Canada’s events, which were held in elementary, middle and secondary schools, colleges and universities.

Feedback gathered from the dialogues and We Canada events revealed that as the world seeks to transition toward sustainable and green economies, Canada should be a leader and lay the foundation to meet young people’s demand for green jobs. In order to improve transparency in decision-making, participants are asking the Federal Government to increase consultations with Canadians, including representatives of non-governmental organisations, indigenous communities and youth. The Earth Summit 2012 is a key opportunity for Canada to implement past commitments on sustainable development and restore its reputation as a responsible leader on the international stage.

We Canada is a pan-Canadian, volunteer-run and non-partisan initiative that serves as a voice for Canadians who believe sustainable development should be a priority…


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SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CANADIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Participants’ recommendations for ways that government can facilitate and prioritize the transition to sustainable economies were gathered from each consultation and from the Earth Summit Dialogues. They were then clustered into six thematic groups: Energy; Green Cities; Sustainable Consumption and Production; Environmental Conservation; Water; and Humanitarian Issues and Social Justice.

Energy

1. Phasing out the 1.38 billion dollars in subsidies given to the fossil fuel industry each year, and instead supporting the development of green industry is critical.

2. Reducing energy consumption by putting a price on carbon with the majority of respondents preferring the implementation of a phased-in carbon tax.

3. Diversifying Canada’s economy to decrease dependence on primary commodities, including crude derived from oil sands, which undermines the resilience of the economy and concentrates economic benefits in a few provinces while imposing costs on others.

4. Subsidizing research and development of renewable energy technologies, such as wind and solar, through a national programme.

Green cities

5. Implementing smart urban planning and design to set the stage for a sustainable future, and to lead to significant reductions in energy use, resource consumption, and harmful emissions.

6. Establishing new regulations to ensure that future buildings incorporate energy and resource efficiency upgrades, as well as the creation of more green urban space.

7. Increasing low-carbon public transit systems which are efficiently planned, easily accessible, and affordable.


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Sustainable consumption and production

8. Assisting both producers and consumers by establishing an easily accessible system for the disposal of harmful products and by-products, in partnership with provincial and municipal governments. The role of the federal government is key, as it sets the “rules of the game” at the national level through fiscal and regulatory instruments.

9. Supporting vibrant rural economies through educational programmes, training and apprenticeships.

Environmental conservation

10. Protecting valuable natural resources in order to ensure clean air, healthy forests, less pollution and negative health impacts in cities, and the survival of essential insect species such as bees.

11. Creating and maintaining parks and conservation areas as places that promote persona, well-being and recreation, respect for natural resources, and respect for other species.

12. Incorporating into policy-making the scientifically recognized links between the conservation of natural areas and resilience in the face of climate change, ozone depletion and the critical extinction rate.

13. Conserving four geographic areas of particular concern: the Boreal forest, the Arctic Tundra, the Great Lakes and the oceans.

Water

14. Protecting water resources both for biodiversity habitats and for the health of future generations of Canadians.

15. Promoting access to and preservation of adequate supplies of clean water, and acknowledging this as a fundamental human right, and a right for all other species.

16. Protecting and managing water resources by local government. The majority of participants disagreed with the privatization of water resources in general.


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Humanitarian issues and social justice

17. Supporting increased equality within Canadian society, especially in terms of income, gender, and intergenerational equity.

18. Integrating economic, environmental, and social imperatives as foundational considerations into all government decision making activities.

19. Participating actively in international organisations and championing responsible, sustainable development both in Canada and abroad.

20. Ensuring Canadian trade is fair and advances the economic, environmental, and social well-being of other people and places around the world.


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BACKGROUND ON CROSS-COUNTRY TOUR AND EARTH SUMMIT DIALOGUES From January 28 to March 27 2012, We Canada youth leaders visited 16 cities1 across the country to engage Canadians on sustainable development issues leading up to the Earth Summit 20122. In total, 7,837 participants, mainly young people between 10 and 25 years of age attended We Canada’s events. Thirty were held in an elementary, middle or high school, 18 in universities or colleges, and three at other locations. Forty-six were organized in English, four in French, and one was delivered bilingually.

To ensure open participation, Canadians were able to organize their own Earth Summit Dialogues including questions from the tour and additional questions about three policy priorities submitted for consideration to the United Nations’ Zero Draft of the outcome document.3 A step by step guide was made available online for download to easily organize the events.4 In total, 168 individuals participated.

Feedback gathered from the dialogues and We Canada events revealed that as the world seeks to transition toward sustainable and green economies, Canada should be a leader and lay the foundation to meet young people’s demand for green jobs. In order to improve transparency in decision-making, participants are asking the Federal Government to increase consultations with Canadians, including representatives of non-governmental organisations, indigenous communities and youth. The Earth Summit 2012 is a key opportunity for Canada to implement past commitments on sustainable development and restore its reputation as a responsible leader on the international stage.

The majority of participants called for a culture shift that would go hand in hand with the economic transition. Canadians were invited to change their priorities and not base them on economic wealth. To support this shift, it was recommended to ”measure what matters” and to “move beyond the Gross Domestic Product” to evaluate Canadians’ prosperity and well-being. Participants’ recommendations for ways that government can facilitate and prioritize the transition to sustainable economies were gathered from each consultation and from the Earth Summit Dialogues. They were then clustered into six thematic groups: Energy; Green Cities; Sustainable Consumption and Production; Environmental Conservation; Water; and Humanitarian Issues and Social Justice.

1 For a full list of participating cities and institutions, please refer to Appendix A. 2 For information on the themes discussed at the Earth Summit 2012, please refer to Appendix B or visit www.uncsd2012.org. 3 The Coalition’s three policy priorities are: Measuring What Matters – Moving beyond GDP; Getting the Prices Right – Putting a price on carbon and eliminating fossil fuel subsidies; Making Trade Fair – Public purchasing policy. The policy brief and the official submission to the Zero Draft can be found online at www.earthsummit.ca/what. 4 For more information about the Earth Summit Dialogues and the guide, please visit www.earthsummit.ca/about/campaigns/earth-summit-dialogues

Canada should be a leader and lay the foundation to meet young people’s demand for green jobs.


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INTRODUCTION

About We Canada

We Canada is a pan-Canadian, volunteer-run and non-partisan initiative that serves as a voice for Canadians who believe sustainable development should be a priority for their country and for the international community. It aims to increase civil society’s participation and representation in policy-making on the national and global stage.

We Canada consulted with Canadians to find out how they want to be represented in international negotiations on sustainable development. The Canadian public was vocal in its interest to see the government of Canada commit to creating a sustainable future and green economy, and to be a leader on the global stage at the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, Earth Summit 2012 or Rio+20) in June 2012.5

About the Canadian Earth Summit Coalition

We Canada is an initiative of the Canadian Earth Summit Coalition (henceforth the Coalition), a self-organized, independent and informal civil society network of non-government, non-profit, academic and research organisations, international leaders in sustainability-thinking, activists, cultural workers and individuals, working to encourage Canadian leadership at the Earth Summit 2012 and into the future. Partners remain independent, and use the Coalition platform to share ideas and experiences on sustainability. On November 1st, 2011, the Coalition submitted policy priorities for consideration in the Zero Draft of the outcome document. These were used as the basis of We Canada’s public engagement campaign.

5 Throughout this report, the terms United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Earth Summit 2012, and Rio+20 will be used interchangeably.


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METHODOLOGY We Canada’s tour events were organized to be both informative and interactive; this was achieved through a combination of formal presentations and the solicitation of public input. Particular attention was paid to ensuring that a generous amount of time was allocated to the gathering of ideas, and that all those who wished to speak could do so.

We Canada speakers and guest speakers provided presentations on Canada’s role in past negotiations since 1972 and on topics to be discussed at Earth Summit 2012.6 This was followed by a dialogue for participants to express their views on how they want to be represented at the Summit.7 In elementary schools, students discussed questions in a workshop format and were then asked to write a “We Can statement” and visualize it with a drawing (up to 30 students). In high schools, students responded to questions on post-it notes and discussed in workshop format (up to 30 students). In universities, students and community members responded to questions on post-it notes and discussed in auditorium format (up to 300 participants). At the end of these sessions, participants in high school and university events had the option to send a letter to their member of parliament or to the Minister of the Environment, the Honourable Peter Kent. A total of 1,129 letters were sent.

The Earth Summit Dialogues were organized by interested individuals at the location of their choice. The same questions that were asked at university and college events were included in the Earth Summit Dialogues guide. Participants were asked to report back through an online form.8

Outcomes of discussions were analysed to find common themes, which were then compiled into this report. Based on participants’ calls for action, specific recommendations were made to the government of Canada to include in its commitments for Rio+20.9

6 For a full list of main speakers and guest speakers, please refer to Appendix C. 7 For a list of dialogue questions, please refer to Appendix D. 8 For a list of questions provided at Earth Summit Dialogues, please download the discussion guides at: www.earthsummit.ca/about/campaigns/earth-summit-dialogues 9 For more information on voluntary commitments, please visit www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/voluntarycommitments.html


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SECTION I: ENERGY

Participants called the Canadian government to:

PART I: Market Instruments

Participants were adamant about reducing energy consumption by putting a price on carbon. While a few participants suggested the introduction of a cap and trade system, the majority of participants proposed the introduction of a comprehensive carbon tax which includes full social cost pricing of fossil fuels. Such a carbon tax would be implemented in addition to the removal of market-distorting subsidies—direct subsidies as reflected through payments to the industry or foregone revenue; and indirect subsidies through the non-internalization of externalities—enjoyed by the fossil fuels sector, allowing clean energy alternatives to develop in a truly competitive market.

Participants called for Canada to uphold the commitments and targets to significantly reduce overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that it has agreed to internationally through the Kyoto Protocol. This could be achieved through the adoption of a balanced energy strategy that acknowledges the necessity of non-renewable energy use in the immediate future as well as the economic benefits of selling natural resources that are in demand worldwide, and in addition sets a clear plan to transition to clean and renewable energy sources in the long term.

1. Alter the current subsidy structure away from supporting harmful and fossil fuel-based industries toward supporting the growth of green industry

2. Put a price on carbon through implementing a phased-in carbon tax or cap-and-trade system to assist the market in accurately reflecting the true cost of ecologically damaging products and production practices

3. Invest a portion of royalties and taxes on ecologically damaging products and production practices in aiding the transition toward a green economy into research and development for greener technologies, including renewable energy and technologies resulting in resource efficiency gains

4. Further diversify our economy to ensure that Canada is not overly dependent on the price of a single set of commodities, and that Canadians are well equipped to take on a leadership role in developing a green economy

“In Saskatchewan we are asked to choose between clean coal and nuclear for power generation. These are not the only choices!”

“We need to use resources properly. We are one of the lucky countries that have an abundance of natural resources; let’s use them sustainably and to their greatest value.”


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Phasing out subsidies on fossil fuels, as agreed upon at the 2009 Pittsburgh G8/G20 Summit and reiterated in Toronto in June 2010,10 as well as in May 2012 at the Camp David G8 Summit,11 was identified as a first step not only toward a rational Canadian energy strategy, but toward the green economy. Many Canadians have expressed concern that the current regime of fossil-fuel subsidies, which sees Canadian citizens providing 1.38 billion dollars12 in market-distorting hand-outs to the fossil fuel industry, places renewable alternatives at a significant market disadvantage, delaying both product development and substitution.

Taxing products or services with a high ecological footprint and using the revenues to offset social and environmental damages made during their production and/or consumption was another common theme. Some participants also suggested adopting purchasing policies focusing on a low carbon footprint. An end to the practice of hydraulic fracturing13—or fracking—was also voiced.

PART II: Natural Resources Extraction

In view of the fact that the value of natural resources will rise as they become increasingly scarce, such non-renewable assets should be kept in strategic reserve for future generations. This includes winding down the extraction of the oil sands. Basing Canada’s economy to a large degree on the extraction and exportation of primary commodities, including crude derived from the oil sands, undermines the resilience of the economy and concentrates economic benefits in a few provinces while imposing costs on others. For instance, the rising dollar, import price inflations and loss of manufacturing that result from this resource staples export model have a real negative impact on the economies and livelihoods of all Canadians. Additionally, concern was expressed that oil sands extraction does not include a long-term plan; once resources are extracted, the jobs created by this sector will all but disappear. Canadians want to see a long-term economic plan that lays the foundation for a strong,

10 See “Joint report by IEA, OPEC, OECD and World Bank on fossil-fuel and other energy subsidies: An update of the GSO Pittsburgh and Toronto Commitments,” www.oecd.org/dataoecd/21/11/49090716.pdf 11 Article 15 of the 2012 Camp David Declaration states as follows: “In addition, we strongly support efforts to rationalise and phase-out over the medium term inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption, and to continue voluntary reporting on progress.” See: www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/05/19/camp-david-declaration 12 See “Fossil Fuels – At What Cost? Government support for upstream oil activities in three Canadian provinces: Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador,” www.iisd.org/gsi/sites/default/files/ffs_awc_3canprovinces.pdf 13 Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” entails blasting large volumes of water, sand and chemicals at high pressure down a well to crack the rock and free up natural gas,” www.canadiangeographic.ca/magazine/oct11/fracking.asp

“To protect our planet, Canada needs to implement clear environmental regulations, especially on oil sands exploitation.”


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diversified, and green economy that is not overly reliant on a narrow group of natural resources, and that will provide stable growth in employment into the future.

Raising revenue by taxing the profits gained from the extraction of natural resources and investing the proceeds in a fund for future generations was another suggestion raised by participants. By effectively raising the costs of production for resource extractors, this would create a financial incentive for firms to lower their costs by adopting newer, more efficient, and greener technologies. Inspired by Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global (which has collected over $600 billion to date), several participants also suggested to increase the amount of royalties levied on extracted resources and direct these profits into health care and education. Alternatively, this Fund could help to temporarily finance increases in research and development, private capital investment, worker skills upgrading and retraining (particularly those working for sunset industries), and public infrastructure upgrades in order to ease the transition to a green economy.

Finally, many Canadians consulted raised concerns about Canada’s role in adding to anthropogenic climate change.14 By extracting and shipping Canadian fossil fuels off-shore, Canada is becoming one of the largest exporters of climate change in the world, a fact compounded by this country’s per-capita emissions.15

PART III: Clean and Renewable Energy

The majority of participants expressed a strong belief that clean and renewable energy should be accessible and affordable and create local jobs for small and medium enterprises. Furthermore, a national programme to subsidise research and development of solar and wind technologies was suggested by many Canadians. These subsidies would be temporary, used to aid in the transition to a green economy, and target firms displaying innovation and increases in efficiency. The subsidies would be removed once firms have reached competitive costs of production. Other potential sources of renewable energy that participants suggested include: geothermal, hydroelectricity, methane from landfill and organic waste, including from agro-industrial systems like dairy farms, and bio-fuels.

As stated above, Canadians called repeatedly for the introduction of a scheduled carbon tax. Such a scheduled tax sends a clear market signal to producers, consumers, and investors, allowing them to plan for the shift and to anticipate rising carbon costs well in advance. Additionally, this will encourage consumers of fossil energies to reduce their energy consumption and incentivise the development and domestic production of energy-efficient and

14 Anthropogenic climate change generally accepted to be climate change, or that portion thereof, that results from human activities, and usually refers to emissions that are a result of human activities. 15 According to the UNDP Human Development Report 2011, Table 6, p. 146, Canada is the 8th highest per-capita emitter of carbon dioxide, emitting 16.4 tonnes per person, per year based on 2008 figures, and is the 15th highest per-capita emitter of GHGs, emitting 4.7 tonnes per person, per year, based on 2005 figures.

“By investing in renewable resources and alternative energy, we can preserve our environment and protect that which makes this country beautiful.”

“More investments are needed towards renewable energy cooperatives.”


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energy-saving technologies. A portion of tax revenues could be used to invest in small and medium enterprises for renewable-energy development across the country.

The adoption of a collaborative renewable energy programme, in which provinces and territories would pursue research and development adapted to their regional renewable energy capacity, was suggested. This would allow for different regions to collaborate nationally and internationally through the sharing of best practices.

SECTION II: GREEN CITIES Participants called the government to:

Participants called for governments to support green lifestyles for Canadians, with a common focus being the development of the many aspects of a green city. When imagining how governments can help to foster sustainable lifestyles, Canadians spoke of issues ranging from green buildings, and urban planning and design, to green transit infrastructure. Underlying all of these issues is recognition of the large ecological footprint left by average Canadians,16 resulting from the unsustainable lifestyles we lead and the unsustainably design cities in which many of us live.

Canadians care about the environmental and social impacts of the lifestyles they lead, and the buildings and cities that we live in play a major role in determining the nature of those impacts. Urban planning and design is an essential part of setting the stage for a sustainable future, and can lead to significant reductions in energy use, resource consumption, and harmful emissions. Reducing urban sprawl, commuter suburbs, and very large houses are all issues that need to be addressed according to the participants. In order to make progress toward sustainable cities,

16 According to the UNDP Human Development Report 2011, Table 6, p.146, Canada’s ecological footprint is 7 hectares per capita, well in excess of the commonly accepted 1.8 hectares per capita or less necessary for sustainability.

1. Develop and enforce new building regulations to ensure that future buildings will be “green buildings,” incorporating both energy and resource efficiency upgrades and the creation of green urban space

2. Expand and rationalise green public transportation to make its use viable and affordable for a much larger proportion of the population than at present

3. Mandate urban planning that results in accessible and affordable alternatives to transit by car, including green public transit, walkable neighbourhoods, and bicycle-friendly corridors

“We live in a finite world; let’s recognize that.”

“Produce to live, not live to produce.“


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Canadians are looking for an increase in green infrastructure, including transit and local green business parks.

Green building design and standards are one widely acknowledged means to move toward sustainable cities, and are already a feature of many cities across the country, notably showcased in Vancouver’s Olympic Village and the Vancouver Convention Centre17 as well as Toronto’s award winning legal and financial incentive structure for green roofs. Likewise, significant reductions in airborne pollutants and carbon emissions can result from efficiently planned, easily accessible, and affordable low-carbon public transit systems. Green public transit was a common issue that participants from across the country wanted to see more of. Additionally, we heard that urban planning for walkability, carpooling, and bike lanes were issues of interest for many Canadians.

SECTION III: SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

Participants called the government to:

Sustainable consumption and production, a whole-systems approach through which to consider the practical means of aligning economic systems to meet the needs of current and future generations within the ecological carrying capacity of the Earth, is an essential component of the transition to a green economy. Canadians recognise that sustainability cannot be the sole responsibility of either consumers or producers; it will take the concerted and coordinated efforts of all Canadians, including of government at all levels, to make the transition.

17 The Vancouver Convention Centre features a 6-acre living roof, sea-water heating and cooling, on-site water treatment, and is the first convention centre in the world to receive LEED Platinum certification.

1. Design products in a way that ensures that their method of production does not result in significant ecologic damage, and that they do not persist in the environment or decompose into harmful chemicals during use or after disposal, as is the case with many plastics and other synthetics today

2. Expand safe disposal infrastructure for both communities and industry to allow consumers and producers to divert waste products whose decomposition results in negative impacts to human and ecological health

3. Develop a system of supports, including education, training, and apprenticeship programmes, as well as fiscal incentives through the tax structure, to foster businesses transitioning to green production practices, and to support fledgling industries and start-ups in the emerging green industries


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Different stakeholders have different roles to play: producers must be responsible for the ecological damage caused by the production of their goods and services, and consumers must be responsible for the ecological impacts of their use and disposal of products. Municipal and provincial governments can assist both producers and consumers by establishing an easily accessible system for the disposal of harmful products and by-products. The role of the federal government is also key: it sets the “rules of the game” at the national level, through fiscal and regulatory instruments; for example, it negotiates international agreements that support sustainable consumption and production; it can help catalyse and be part of public-private partnerships; and it can invest in large projects (e.g. infrastructure, research and development) that individuals, cities and provinces cannot make on their own, and help shift the market through green procurement.

Municipal governments can facilitate more ecologically sound production practices by encouraging the collaborative use of resources. This can take the form of policies encouraging the development of eco-industrial parks.18 Producers can encourage consumers to make more efficient use of products by correctly pricing their goods to reflect the costs of their ecological impacts. As can be seen by the growth in the consumption of organic foods, Canadians are willing to pay a price premium if they are guaranteed that the products are healthier and have a less harmful impact on the environment.

Many participants expressed a desire to see more support for local, self-reliant, small-scale economies. In particular, support for small businesses seeking to lower their ecological footprint, and new start-ups utilising green production practices were identified as desirable policy goals.

Vibrant rural economies supported by educational programmes, training and more apprenticeship programs were distinctly identified as key needs. For Canadians, open-minded volunteers that are committed to local grassroots initiatives are an integral part of sustainable communities. In addition the “healing, prosperity and equality for aboriginal citizens” was an integral part of a healthy social environment. Participants were disappointed with a lack of media about ecological issues and wanted more education and promotion of environmental sustainability.

18 Eco-industrial parks are geographically constrained groupings of firms that gain efficiency benefits from the recycling of each other’s waste by-products. For example, firm A uses 100 per cent pure water and discharges 60 per cent pure water; firm B which requires 70 per cent pure water for their production, uses firm A’s waste water, and so on.

“We need a new economic system that does not run off the idea that more is better.”

“Solving environmental issues is both a contribution from individuals and government.”


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SECTION IV: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION


Participants made it clear that a healthy environment was one of their most valued resources. They called for the protection of ecosystems that sustain a diversity of wildlife and flora. In addition, we heard that sustainable forestry and the conservation of the Boreal forest were very significant to Canadians. Clean air (in relation to healthy forests), less pollution and negative health impacts in cities, and the survival of essential insect species such as bees was also central to their opinion of valuable resources that require protection.

Canadians expressed pride in their natural environment, and felt strongly that parks and conservation areas promote personal well-being and recreation, respect for natural resources, and for other species. The link between conserving natural areas and resilience in the face of climate change, ozone depletion and the critical extinction rate marks a well-defined call from Canadians for further attention in this area.

Four geographic areas of particular concern emerged from our consultations with Canadians. Firstly, conservation of the Boreal forest was raised by a majority of participants. While recognising the importance of forestry as an employer and export industry in many provinces, Canadians feel strongly that sustainable development and conservation of this diverse ecosystem and source of employment must be a continuing priority. Secondly, many participants, and a majority of those from northern communities, expressed a strong desire to protect Canada’s Arctic. Participants were concerned about the melting permafrost, as well as the reduction in polar ice coverage which is resulting in loss of habitat for many species,

1. Enforce strong regulations to ensure that Canadians living in cities are able to enjoy clean air that does not negatively impact on their health, and so that essential species such as bees are able to rebuild their populations and supply the pollination upon which both urban and rural agriculture relies

2. Strengthen and vigorously enforce laws protecting Canada’s wealth of biodiversity, including laws surrounding habitat conservation, national parks, and endangered species

3. Protect ecosystems essential to Canada’s resiliency to the onset of climate change, and the great wealth of Canadian biodiversity, such as the Boreal forest and Arctic tundra; this must take precedence over purely economic interests

“Conservation of the environment is key for Canada’s protection of its own biodiversity.”

“The largest landfill is in our ocean.”


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including the iconic polar bear. There was also concern about the potential impact of oil and gas exploration in the Arctic, and several participants felt these activities should be stopped. Thirdly, the Great Lakes, an integral part of the Canadian psyche, are viewed as an incredibly important resource that should be regarded with more respect. Finally, there were concerns about the amount of plastic and industrial pollution going into our oceans and its impact on the biodiversity of our coastal and marine regions, as well as the health of Canadian fisheries.

SECTION V: WATER


Access to clean water is one of the essential necessities of healthy living, and as such, Canadians have identified the protection of Canada’s water resources as a high priority for any sustainable development programme. Canadians feel very lucky to live in a country with such abundant reserves of clean water and expressed a strong desire to see these reserves protected both for the habitats that support the biodiversity of our country, and for the guarantee of this pillar of health for future generations of Canadians.

This is of pressing and current concern for many First Nations communities, whose water infrastructure is, in some cases, practically non-existent. Promoting access to and preservation of adequate supplies of clean water, in the views of some participants, should be acknowledged as a fundamental human right, and a right for all other species. Canada was called to champion this cause both at home and on the international stage through the many multilateral organisations to which we belong, and through the work of the Canadian International Development Agency and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

1. Ensure access to and preservation of adequate supplies of clean water is a guaranteed right for all Canadians, and all species that exist within our national borders

2. Use its position as a leading nation in the world to influence other governments to adopt a declaration of the inherent right of all living beings to have access to clean, affordable water

3. Hold and manage water resources, with management decisions either devolved to the local level, or incorporating significant responsiveness to local needs as expressed by local authorities

“We need our water supply to sustain health and life expectancy.”


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The majority of Canadians consulted disagreed with the privatization of water resources in general. A majority of participants favoured the protection and management of water resources by local governments. Respondents felt that local governments are more responsive to the immediate concerns of Canadians and their communities, and are more likely to recognise the public interest in preserving local water resources, including rivers, streams, lakes, aquifers, and glaciers. Participants clearly were mistrustful of placing something as important to their health and well-being, and the health and well-being of their local ecosystems, under the management of private firms motivated by profit rather than the public good.

SECTION VI: HUMANITARIAN ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE


Many participants clearly stated their view that strong links exist between investing in sustainable development and improved outcomes in humanitarian issues. While Canadians acknowledged their relatively high standard of living when compared to citizens of developing countries, they felt strongly about humanitarian gaps existing here in Canada.

Many participants expressed a desire to see Canada become a more equal society. Specifically, a majority of those consulted want to see Canada stepping up its efforts to reduce income inequality, which is a pressing concern across the Western world. As well, many participants look forward to an increase in the number of women in decision-making positions, both within government and in the private sector.

Integrating economic, environmental, and social considerations as foundational considerations into all government decision making activities was a recurring theme across the country. Intergenerational responsibility was another commonly expressed concern, recognising that all Canadians have a responsibility to pass on a better world to future generations. This requires a long-term view from government planners, one that includes a firm commitment to transitioning to a green economy, and investments in emerging green industries to ensure strong growth in green jobs.

1. Vigorously pursue equity among Canadians, in terms of income, gender, and between generations

2. Ensure that economic, environmental, and social sustainability are integrated and balanced in the development and implementation of all policies

3. Pursue a fair trade purchasing policy and take steps to encourage the private sector to adopt purchasing policies that are social responsible, regardless of the jurisdiction they operate in around the world

“We are affluent and rich. We should remember our privilege when negotiating, so that other populations aren’t left behind.”


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Canadians want to see their government committed to championing responsible, sustainable development, both here in Canada and around the world through our participation in international organisations such as the G8/G20, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the World Trade Organisation, and the United Nations, as well as in our international development efforts carried out by the Canadian International Development Agency. In particular, many participants were in favour of the Government of Canada adopting a fair trade purchasing policy, citing the examples of Barrie, Ontario; Gimli, Manitoba; Canmore, Alberta; and Vancouver, British Columbia. Canadians want government to acknowledge the responsibility we have to ensure that our trade advances the economic, environmental, and social well-being of other people and place around the world.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this report demonstrate Canadians’ support for transitioning towards a sustainable and green economy. It was made clear that Canada should negotiate in good faith at Earth Summit 2012 and play a leadership role in ensuring positive outcomes for this Summit.

There was a call to incorporate citizens’ priorities in the government’s position. As such, we urge the Canadian government and the UNCSD official Canadian Delegation to pay close attention to priority outcomes from this report. At the Rio Summit in 1992, Canadians like Maurice Strong, Jim MacNeill, Désirée McGraw and Severn Cullis-Suzuki shaped our global leadership role in raising public and modern political awareness of global social and environmental issues. The majority of participants were vocal about continuing this legacy. For this purpose, an official call has been made to ask government to include a youth and a non-governmental organisation representative in Canada’s official delegation, to continue Canada’s long-standing tradition of including civil society representatives on its UN delegations.

“There are no real borders on this planet – our interest is in really acting like global citizens and behaving in the best interests of all countries and people over time and across generations.”


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project has been made possible with the valuable support of many organisations, sponsors and individuals. We Canada would like to thank:

• The participating educational institutions for hosting the events and for being so welcoming to the tour team. A complete list of institutions can be found in appendix A.

• Tour speakers who shared their visions on sustainable development in the lead up to the Earth Summit 2012. A complete list of speakers can be found in appendix B.

• Our hosts who provided accommodation and amazing discussions in all cities visited.

• The Canadian Earth Summit Coalition and We Canada Champions, who both played a pivotal role in doing outreach to their communities and networks. A list of Coalition partners and Champions can be found here: www.earthsummit.ca/partners/coalition/ and here: www.earthsummit.ca/champions/

• We Canada volunteers who helped every step of the way, starting with coordinating the cross-country tour and Earth Summit Dialogues to drafting the final report. A list of facilitators, coordinators and events volunteers can be found in Appendix E.

• Vanessa Timmer, Dagmar Timmer and Emmanuel Prinet at the One Earth Initiative Society who provided an incredible array of support to the young generation.

• Its sponsors and donours who made this project financially sustainable. Sponsors can be found here: www.earthsummit.ca/sponsors/we-canada-sponsors/

Lastly, we would like to thank participants of the tour and Earth Summit Dialogues who made this project possible by sharing their values and priorities for the Earth Summit 2012. Because We Can_ change the world by sharing our passions with people who surround us.


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REFERENCES “Camp David Declaration.” The White House. (2012). Web. 9 June 2012. Retrieved from www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/05/19/camp-david-declaration Goodine, Claudia. “Fracking controversy - Rethinking the low-carbon label for natural gas” Canadian Geographic. Canadian Geographic Enterprises, 9 June 2012. Retrieved from: www.canadiangeographic.ca/magazine/oct11/fracking.asp “Human Development Report 2011. Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All.” United Nations Development Programme. 2011. 9 June 2012. “Joint report by IEA, OPEC, OECD and World Bank on fossil-fuel and other energy subsidies: An update of the G20 Pittsburgh and Toronto Commitments.” Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. 9 June 2012. Sawyer, Dave and Stiebert, Seton. “Fossil Fuels – At What Cost? Government support for upstream oil activities in three Canadian provinces: Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador.” International Institute for Sustainable Development. Global Subsidies Initiative, 9 June 2012. Retrieved from: www.iisd.org/gsi/sites/default/files/ffs_awc_3canprovinces.pdf


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APPENDIX A: PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS IN WE CANADA’S CROSS-COUNTRY TOUR

Universities and colleges

• Corner Brook, Jan. 30, Memorial University - Grenfell Campus

• Halifax, Feb. 2, King’s College and Dalhousie University

• Moncton, Feb. 6, Université de Moncton

• Québec, Feb. 9, Université Laval

• Montreal, Feb. 15, Concordia University and McGill University

• Ottawa, Feb. 14, Carleton University

• Ottawa, Feb. 15, University of Ottawa

• Kingston, Feb. 17, Queen’s University

• Kitchener/Waterloo, Feb. 27, University of Waterloo

• London, Feb. 28, University of Western Ontario

• Toronto, Mar. 1, University of Toronto – Saint George Campus

• Toronto, Mar. 5, University of Toronto - Scarborough Campus

• Winnipeg, Mar. 7, University of Winnipeg

• Saskatoon, Mar. 12, University of Saskatchewan

• Edmonton, Mar. 14, University of Alberta, Concordia University College of Alberta, Grant MacEwan and University Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

• Victoria, Mar. 19, University of Victoria

• Whitehorse, Mar. 21, Yukon College

• Vancouver, Mar. 27, Simon Fraser University

Elementary, middle and high schools

• Corner Brook, Jan. 30, Presentation Junior High and G.C. Rowe Junior High

• Corner Brook, Jan. 31, J.J. Curling Elementary and Corner Brook Regional High

• Halifax, Feb. 3, Halifax Central Junior High School

• Moncton, Feb. 7, Moncton High School

• Montreal, Feb. 10, Vincent Massey Collegiate

• Gatineau, Feb. 14, Collège Saint-Joseph de Hull

• Ottawa, Feb. 15, Kanata Montessori School

• Ottawa, Feb. 16, St-Laurent Academy and Alta Vista Public School

• Kingston, Feb. 21, Bayridge Secondary School and Kingston Native High School

• Kingston, Feb. 22, Quinte Mohawk School


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• Waterloo, Feb. 23, John A. MacDonald Secondary School

• Waterloo, Feb. 27, St. Nicholas Public School and Six Nations School

• London, Feb. 28, Jack Chambers Public School and Antler River Elementary School

• London, Feb. 29, Clarke Road Secondary School

• Toronto, Mar. 2, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School and Cedarbrae Collegiate Institute

• Winnipeg, Mar. 6, Maples Collegiate and Lincoln Middle School

• Edmonton, Mar. 14, Loren Akins Junior High School

• Edmonton, Mar. 15, École St. Stanislaus School

• Whitehorse, Mar. 23, École FH Collins Secondary School and Porter Creek Secondary School

• Victoria, Mar. 30, Spectrum High School

Other Locations

• Sauvé House – Launch of the We Canada Tour

• Conestoga College 2nd Annual Pow Wow

• Kingston Friendship Centre


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APPENDIX B - BACKGROUND ON THE EARTH SUMMIT 2012

From June 20th to 22nd, 2012, stakeholders including United Nations (UN) member states, UN institutions, civil society groups and individuals will meet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. The last sustainability gathering of this kind occurred ten years ago in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Converging at the Earth Summit 2012, these stakeholders are returning to Rio in order to:

• secure renewed political commitment to sustainable development;

• assess progress towards internationally agreed goals on sustainable development; and

• address new and emerging challenges.

Conference participants will focus on the themes of:

• a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and

• the institutional framework for sustainable development.19

19 Earth Summit 2012, About Us, www.earthsummit2012.org/about-us/about-rio


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APPENDIX C: WE CANADA’S CROSS-COUNTRY TOUR: SPEAKERS Tour headline speakers included We Canada volunteer sustainability advocates as well as top Canadian sustainability thinkers and community leaders. As headline speakers and concept developers, youth leaders from We Canada included:

• Aleksandra Nasteska, We Canada’s co-founder (speaking in universities starting in Montreal through the last tour stop in Vancouver)

• Victoria Wee, We Canada’s Youth Engagement Director (speaking in elementary, intermediary and high schools throughout Canada)

• Marie-Pierre Daigle, We Canada’s National Director (speaking in universities from Corner Brook to Ottawa)

Special thanks to Shauna Sylvester, founder of Canada’s World and Carbon Talks, who was instrumental in developing the framework for the dialogues conducted during the tour.

Guest Speakers • Severn Cullis-Suzuki, We Canada Champion and activist • Désirée McGraw, We Canada Champion, Co-Founder of Climate Reality Canada • Geoff Green, We Canada Champion, Arctic Explorer and Executive Director of Students

on Ice • Ta’Kaiya Blaney, We Canada Champion and activist • Amber Mac, We Canada Champion and Technology Host • Emmanuel Prinet, Policy Director, One Earth Initiative • Raili Lakanen, We Canada’s Policy Development Director • Sasha Caldera, Policy and Development, Fair Trade Vancouver • His Excellency Piragibe dos Santos Tarragô, Ambassador of Brazil to Canada • Dr. David Suzuki, Founder and former board member of the David Suzuki Foundation • Elisabeth Guilbaud-Cox, Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Environment • Dr. Amelia Clarke, Faculty member of the School of Environment, Enterprise and

Development and Director of the Master of Environment and Business programme, University of Waterloo

• Dr. Philippe Crabbé, Professor Emeritus of the Institute of the Environment, University of Ottawa

• Dr. Colin Soskolne, University of Alberta • Dr. John Streicker, Northern Climate Exchange Advisor, Yukon Research Centre • Dr. Radoslav Dimitrov, Associate Professor, Western University • Programme - Regional Office for North America • Dr. Kathryn Harrison, Professor of Political Sciences, University of British Columbia

• Francine Richard, Director, Sustainable Development Strategies, Audits and Studies, Office of the Auditor General of Canada


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APPENDIX D - TOUR QUESTIONS

Guiding dialogue questions in schools:

1. Why is it important for youth to participate in this conference?

2. What Canadian values should shape Canada’s international negotiations on sustainable development at the Earth Summit 2012

3. What are ways we can have a flourishing environment, stable economy, and strong social fabric?

Guiding dialogue questions in universities:

1. What are the Canadian values, interests, and assets that should shape Canada’s international negotiations on sustainable development at the Earth Summit 2012?

2. What are some concrete suggestions for ways we can have a flourishing environment, stable economy and strong social fabric?


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APPENDIX E: WE CANADA’S CROSS-COUNTRY TOUR: FACILITATORS, COORDINATORS, EVENTS VOLUNTEERS AND DESIGNERS

We Canada’s Cross-Country Tour was made possible with the support of the following volunteers:

Facilitators

• Kristy Franks

• Alexandra Lucchesi

Coordinators

• Marina Hutton

• Ian Lee

• Erin Stewart

• Alajca Jade

• Sydney Grieve

• Annie-France Major

• Nicholas Cherlet

Event Volunteer

• Yassin Ziane

• Chris Ng

• Ioana Stoica

• Floris Ensink

• Lis Suarez

• Katrina Sieniuc

• Céleste Côté

• Chantele Sitaram

• Betsy Agar

• Faron Cahoon

• Melissa Schweyer

• Andrea McArthur

Design

• Jonathan Rausseo

we canada consultation report

Documents

government of canada

canada consultation

canada initiative unit

earth summit dialogues

canada v6a 4g5 web

section v

appendix e

sustainable development