accountability through measurement

ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH MEASUREMENT

Canadian Sustainability Indicator Initiatives

2nd National ConferenceMarch 2 and 3, 2010Toronto, ON Canada

THE SUSTAINABLE MCGILL PROJECT

ORGANIZATION: McGill University

LOCATION: Montreal, Québec

GOAL: A student led initiative working towards a more environmentally sustainable and socially just campus society.

KEY PRODUCTS: Ecosystem Sustainability Assessment Report, Toilets, Trees and Travel (2005).

Solid Waste Indicator SetEcosystem Sustainability Assessment of McGill University: Trees, Toilets, and Travel (2007)

ATLANTIC CANADA SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE

ORGANIZATION: Centre for Rural Sustainability

LOCATION: Atlantic Canada

GOAL: Building greater regional collaboration on and support for sustainability in Atlantic Canada.

KEY PRODUCTS: ACSI Strategic Plan 2008-2011.

The Sustainability Bulletinhttp://www.atlanticsustainability.ca/news/sustbulletin.htm

CANADIAN INDEX OF WELLBEING ORGANIZATION: Institute of Wellbeing

LOCATION: Toronto, Ontario

GOAL: To report on the quality of life of Canadians, and to promote a dialogue about the types of policies and programs that will move us closer toward achieving wellbeing.

KEY PRODUCTS: How Are Canadians Really Doing? (2009); Community Vitality (2009).

Headline indicators for community vitality.http://www.ciw.ca/en/TheCanadianIndexOfWellbeing/DomainsOfWellbeing/CommunityVitality/HeadlineIndicators.aspx

REGIONAL GROWTH STRATEGY (RGS) MONITORING PROGRAM

ORGANIZATION: Capital Region District

LOCATION: Region of Victoria, British Columbia

GOAL: A suite of over fifty indicators chosen to evaluate the success of regional initiatives and implementation of the RGS.

KEY PRODUCTS: State of the Region Report, 2008 Regional Growth Strategy Five-Year Monitoring Review.

Sample solid waste indicator.State of the Region Report (2008).

NWT STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT ORGANIZATION: Government of the Northwest Territories

LOCATION: Northwest Territories

GOAL: To provide information about our changing environment; to identify trends and help make policy decisions.

KEY PRODUCTS: State of the Environment Report (2009).

Vegetation indicator.State of the Environment Report (2009).

TORONTO’S SOCIAL LANDSCAPE REPORT

ORGANIZATION: Social Planning Toronto


GOAL: To paint a picture of Toronto’s population and the major trends impacting its residents.

KEY PRODUCTS: Toronto’s Social Landscape - Ten Year Trends (2009).

Education indicators.Toronto’s Social Landscape - Ten Year Trends (2009)

SUSTAINABLE PICKERING

ORGANIZATION: City of Pickering

LOCATION: Pickering, Ontario

GOAL: Working to make Pickering a more sustainable city - environmentally, socially, and economically.

KEY PRODUCTS: Measuring Sustainability Progress Report (in development).

Measuring sustainability.http://sustainablepickering.com/measuringsustainabilityc18.php

UBC SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE ORGANIZATION: University of British Columbia

LOCATION: Vancouver, British Columbia

GOAL: By harnessing UBC’s immense physical and intellectual resources, we’re working to develop positive solutions for today’s ecological challenges.

KEY PRODUCTS: Inspirations and Aspirations, a sustainability strategy (2007); UBC Sustainability Report (2009).

Biodiversity indicators.UBC Sustainability Report, 2006-2007.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROGRAM

ORGANIZATION: Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd.

LOCATION: Mississauga, Ontario

GOAL: The AECL Environmental Policy commits the AECL to the concept of sustainable development.

KEY PRODUCTS: AECL Annual Environmental Performance Report (2007).

Environmental Protection Program.http://www.aecl.ca/Development/Environment/EPP.htm

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE

ORGANIZATION: University of Toronto


GOAL: A student led initiative working towards a more environmentally sustainable and socially just campus society.


Greenhouse Gas emissions chart.http://sustainability.utoronto.ca/projects/ghg/buildings.htm

CANMORE COMMUNITY MONITORING PROGRAM

ORGANIZATION: Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley

LOCATION: Canmore, Alberta

GOAL: To monitor developing trends, assist with decision making, serve as an early detection system, and illustrate progress towards the community’s vision.

KEY PRODUCTS: Canmore Community Monitoring Program (2003, 2006, 2008).

Conceptual land use map.Canmore Community Monitoring Program (2008).

SUSTAINABLE HALTON ORGANIZATION: Region of Halton

LOCATION: Halton Region, Ontario

GOAL: Sustainable Halton is the region’s response to the province’s Places To Grow Plan. It identifies urban growth areas to 2031, and what land will be preserved for wildlife, greenspace and farmland.

KEY PRODUCTS: Sustainable Halton Growth Management Plan Evaluation Framework (2008); From Policy to Practice (2009).

Sustainable Halton Timelinehttp://www.halton.ca/cms/one.aspx?portalId=8310&pageId=9382

THE WAY AHEAD: CITY OF EDMONTON STRATEGIC PLAN

ORGANIZATION: City of Edmonton

LOCATION: Edmonton, Alberta

GOAL: A ten year strategic plan highlighting how the City is working to achieve the Edmonton envisioned by its citizens.

KEY PRODUCTS: Annual State of the City Reports measures Edmonton’s progress towards these goals.

Compilation of select indicators. City of Edmonton State of the City Report (2007).

SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION STUDY ORGANIZATION: Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention

LOCATION: Mississauga, Ontario

GOAL: A primary research study of consumer purchasing behaviour. The results suggest possible actions that could lead to increased adoption of sustainable consumption in our purchasing decisions.

KEY PRODUCTS: Sustainable Consumption: How Do We Encourage Consumers to Purchase Sustainably? (2009)

Sustainability Issues in PurchasingSustainable Consumption: How Do We Encourage Consumers to Consume Sustainably? (2009)

SYNCRUDE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

ORGANIZATION: Syncrude Canada Ltd.

LOCATION: North of Fort McMurray, Alberta

GOAL: A comprehensive discussion about the social, economic and environmental impacts of Syncrude’s business activities.

KEY PRODUCTS: Sustainability Reports (2002 - 2007).

Key Air Indicators.Syncrude 2007 Sustainability Report.

SHELL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REPORT

ORGANIZATION: Shell Canada

LOCATION: Calgary, Alberta

GOAL: Intended to provide stakeholders with a balanced representation of the company’s economic, environmental and social performance.

KEY PRODUCTS: Sustainable Development Report (2005, 2006).

Environmental performance indicators.Shell 2006 Sustainable Development Report.

CANADIAN CEMENT INDUSTRY SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

ORGANIZATION: Cement Association of Canada

LOCATION: Montreal, Quebec

GOAL: Through collective action by its members, the CAC promotes the sustainable growth of the cement industry.

KEY PRODUCTS: Canadian Cement Industry Sustainability Report (2006, 2008).

Air pollutant releases chart.Canadian Cement Industry Sustainability Report 2006.

NESTLÉ CANADA SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

ORGANIZATION: Nestlé Canada Inc.

LOCATION: North York, Ontario

GOAL: Actions are taken at improving the environmental sustainability of Nestlé products throughout their life cycle.

KEY PRODUCTS: Environmental Sustainability Report (2008)

Environmental Performance Indicators.Nestlé Canada Environmental Sustainability Report 2008.

ONTARIO COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

ORGANIZATION: The Pembina Institute

LOCATION: Drayton Valley, Alberta

GOAL: A report to inform and provide a basis of measurement for urban sustainable policies and program development.

KEY PRODUCTS: Ontario Community Sustainability Report (2007).

Study indicators.Ontario Community Sustainability Report (2007).

FOCUSING OUR ENERGY

ORGANIZATION: Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

LOCATION: St. John’s, Newfoundland

GOAL: To ensure the province’s energy resources contribute to a vibrant and sustainable Newfoundland and Labrador.

KEY PRODUCTS: Focusing Our Energy (2009).

Wind Energy PotentialFocusing Our Energy (2009).

TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MINING

ORGANIZATION: Mining Association of Canada

LOCATION: Ottawa, Ontario

GOAL: A strategy for improving the mining industry’s performance by aligning its actions with the priorities and values of Canadians.

KEY PRODUCTS: Towards Sustainable Mining Progress Report (2007, 2009).

TSM Frameworks and Protocols.Towards Sustainable Mining Update Bulletin (January 2010).

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2007-2009 ORGANIZATION: Fisheries and Oceans Canada


GOAL: The SDS is an important tool to help the department deliver on its mandate and take environmental, economic and social considerations into account in decision making.

KEY PRODUCTS: Sustainable Development Strategies (2001, 2005, 2007); Our Waters, Our Future, Strategic Plan 2005-2010.

Selected indicator table.Sustainable Development Strategy, 2007-2009.

SUSTAINABLE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES

ORGANIZATION: Sustainable Forest Management Network


GOAL: To develop criteria and indicators for Aboriginal Peoples and their social and economic development.

KEY PRODUCTS: Early in development.

Sustainable Aboriginal Communities Research Area webpage.http://www.sfmnetwork.ca/html/inbrief_aboriginal_communities_e.html

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2007-2009

ORGANIZATION: Parks Canada


GOAL: Parks Canada’s SDS provides a roadmap for integrating the principles of sustainable development into its policies, programs, legislation and operations.

KEY PRODUCTS: State of the Protected Heritage Areas Report (2005, 2007).

Selected indicator chart.State of Protected Heritage Areas Report (2005 - 2007).

ENVIRONMENTAL MASTER PLAN

ORGANIZATION: City of Windsor

LOCATION: Windsor, Ontario

GOAL: To set out a series of actions for the municipality to take, in the short and long terms, to improve the city’s environment.

KEY PRODUCTS: Environmental Master Plan (2006); Report on the State of our Environment (2008).

Attitudes to the Environment indicatorCity of Windsor’s Report on the State of our Environment (2008).

LOCAL FOOD PLUS CERTIFIED LOCAL SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM

ORGANIZATION: Local Food Plus


GOAL: Local Food Plus nurtures regional food economies by certifying farmers and processors for local sustainable production.

KEY PRODUCTS: Certification Program

Farmer Certification Flow Charthttp://www.localfoodplus.ca/information_for_farmers_and_processors.certification_for_farmers.gk

REINA ROSS ECO-INDUSTRIAL PARK

ORGANIZATION: Regina Eco-Industrial Network Association

LOCATION: Regina, Saskatchewan

GOAL: To transform one of Regina’s largest industrial districts into a high performance eco-industrial park.

KEY PRODUCTS: Ross Industrial Park Baseline Study.

Electricity and water consumption figures.Ross Park Industrial Park Baseline Study

TOWN OF COLLINGWOOD SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PLAN

ORGANIZATION: Town of Collingwood


GOAL: The plan provides a framework for sustainable decision making by building on the solid foundation of work already under way at the Town.

KEY PRODUCTS: Sustainable Community Plan (2008).

Characteristics and Categories of a Sustainable Collingwood.Sustainable Community Plan for the Town of Collingwood (2008).

GTAA PARTNERS IN PROJECT GREEN

ORGANIZATION: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority


GOAL: To create the Pearson Eco-Business Zone, envisioned to be internationally recognized for competitive, high performance, and eco-friendly business climate.

KEY PRODUCTS: Project Green Programs (online).

Program implementation and monitoring framework.Partners in Project Green Final Report (2008).

VISIONS TO ACTION: CITY OF ROSSLAND STRATEGIC SUSTAINABILITY PLAN

ORGANIZATION: City of Rossland

LOCATION: Rossland, British Columbia

GOAL: The Plan provides long term objectives to guide the city’s journey to a sustainable future.

KEY PRODUCTS: Visions to Action: City of Rossland Strategic Sustainability Plan (2009).

Focus Area Indicator TableVisions To Action (2009).

CITY OF LEDUC GENUINE WELL-BEING REPORT

ORGANIZATION: City of Leduc

LOCATION: Leduc, Alberta

GOAL: To test the viability of the framework to measure and monitor the community’s overall well-being, quality of life, vitality, and long term sustainability.

KEY PRODUCTS: City of Leduc 2005 Genuine Well-being Report.

Partial listing of Genuine Well-being Indicators; Leduc Genuine Well-being Index Flower.City of Leduc 2005 Genuine Well-being Report.

SOUTH OKANAGAN REGIONAL GROWTH STRATEGY

ORGANIZATION: Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen

LOCATION: Penticton, British Columbia

GOAL: The RGS is a long term planning project that aims to ensure that growth takes place in the south Okanagan in a sustainable manner.

KEY PRODUCTS: Issues to Vision Report; South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy.

Key Performance Indicator Chart.South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy.

GLOBAL CITY INDICATORS PROGRAM

ORGANIZATION: Global City Indicators Facility


GOAL: Provides a standardized set of indicators with a globalized methodology to allow for global comparability of city performance and knowledge sharing.

KEY PRODUCTS: Global City Indicators Program (2009)

Selected GCIF IndicatorsGCIF Indicators (Jan 2010) from http://www.cityindicators.org/ProjectDeliverables.aspx

MEASURING ECO-EFFICIENCY PROGRAM

ORGANIZATION: National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE).


GOAL: The NRTEE has developed and tested decision rules and definitions for energy, waste, and water intensity indicators.

KEY PRODUCTS: Eco-efficiency Indicators Workbook (2001).

Core Energy Intensity Indicator.NRTEE Eco-efficiency Workbook (2001).

HOW CANADA PERFORMS

ORGANIZATION: The Conference Board of Canada


GOAL: A multi-year research initiative to help identify strengths and weaknesses in Canada’s socio-economic performance.

KEY PRODUCTS: How Canada Performs - interactive website at www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp.

Employment Growth Indicatorhttp://www.conferenceboard.ca/HCP/Details/Economy/employment-growth.aspx

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

ORGANIZATION: Centre for Sustainable Transportation

LOCATION: Winnipeg, Manitoba

GOAL: The STPI project sought to develop sets of transportation indicators to monitor progress of Canadian systems towards sustainability.

KEY PRODUCTS: 14 key indicators developed and presented in Phase III Project Report.

Sustainable Transportation Performance Indicator Set.STPI Synopsis (2010).

SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIES PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FRAMEWORK

ORGANIZATION: Industry Canada


GOAL: The framework brings together and adapts business and community sustainability indicators to be applied to bound geographic industrial areas.

KEY PRODUCTS: 72 indicators developed in the Performance Indicators Framework Final Report (2005).

Proposed Water and Land Use Indicators.Sustainable Industries Indicators Framework, Final Report (2005).

CRP GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK

ORGANIZATION: Calgary Regional Partnership

LOCATION: Cochrane, Alberta

GOAL: To assist the region in planning for and managing the impacts of long term growth, by generating information and discussion of identified issues.

KEY PRODUCTS: Regional Growth and Sustainability Framework (2007).

Regional Growth and Sustainability Framework Initiative.CRP Business Plan (2006).

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ACTION PLAN 2009-2013

ORGANIZATION: Hydro Québec

LOCATION: Montreal, Québec

GOAL: A set of ten actions to reach objectives identified in the province of Québec’s Government Sustainable Development Strategy 2008-2013.

KEY PRODUCTS: Sustainability Report (2002 - 2008).

Energy Efficiency IndicatorsSustainability Report 2008.

TECK SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

ORGANIZATION: Teck Resources Ltd.


GOAL: The long term objective is to co-create with stakeholders a more comprehensive, company wide sustainability plan.

KEY PRODUCTS: Sustainability Report (2008).

Performance indicators chart.Sustainability Report (2008).

ENCANA CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY REPORT ORGANIZATION: EnCana


GOAL: EnCana strives to: provide relevant and timely information so stakeholders can made independent assessments and informed decisions; and to track our performance so we can identify areas that need improvement.

KEY PRODUCTS: Corporate Responsibility Report (2004 - 2008).

Environmental indicators.Corporate Responsibility Report (2008).

BMO ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND CRPA REPORT

ORGANIZATION: Bank of Montreal Financial Group


GOAL: To report on BMO’s Environmental Action Plan, which applies to global business operations.

KEY PRODUCTS: Corporate Responsibility Report and Public Accountability Statement (2008).

2008 Performance ReportCorporate Responsibility Report and Public Accountability Statement (2008).

TRANSALTA SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

ORGANIZATION: TransAlta Corporation


GOAL: TransAlta is sharing its perspective on the future of clean energy through its annual report on sustainability.

KEY PRODUCTS: Report on Sustainability.

Systemic indicators.Report on Sustainability (2008).

FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITY WELL-BEING INDEX

ORGANIZATION: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

LOCATION: Gatineau, Québec

GOAL: The CWB is a first step towards a deeper understanding of the socio-economic conditions in First Nations communities and their well-being relative to other communities in Canada.

KEY PRODUCTS: Measuring First Nations Well-Being report; significant online academic analysis.

CWB Levels in Canada.Measuring First Nations Well-Being

TELUS CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OVERVIEW

ORGANIZATION: Telus Corporation


GOAL: To contribute to a better world by ensuring long-term corporate economic viability, supporting the communities where we live, work and serve by being stewards of the environment.

KEY PRODUCTS: Corporate Social Responsibility Report (2008).

Select performance indicators.Corporate Social Responsibility Report (2008).

THE STATE OF SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

ORGANIZATION: Regional District of Nanaimo

LOCATION: Nanaimo, British Columbia

GOAL: This report identifies the characteristics of a sustainable region, and using indicators, measures the region’s sustainability status against the expressed targets.

KEY PRODUCTS: Creating Our Sustainable Future (2007); State of Sustainability Report (2006).

Economic capital progress report.State of Sustainability Report (2006).

CANADA POST SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT

ORGANIZATION: Canada Post Corporation


GOAL: The report covers all aspects of corporate and workplace activities, supplier and environmental initiatives, and community involvement.

KEY PRODUCTS: Social Responsibility Report (2008).

Key Performance Indicators.Social Responsibility Report (2008).

GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT

ORGANIZATION: Government of Alberta


GOAL: SOE reporting is built around environmental indicators, including indicators that monitor and track environmental conditions, pressures, and stewardship.

KEY PRODUCTS: SOE reports available online, updated regularly as new data becomes available; Environment Annual Report (2008).

Drinking water safety indicator.Environment Annual Report (2008).

INDICATORS OF WELL-BEING IN CANADA ORGANIZATION: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada


GOAL: Its purpose is to systematically present measures and report on various aspects of well-being that are important to Canadians.


Measuring Well-being framework.http://www4.hrsdc.gc.ca/[email protected]?cid=14

ANTIGONISH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

ORGANIZATION: Town of Antigonish

LOCATION: Antigonish, Nova Scotia

GOAL: A proposal to establish vital resources for implementing a sustainable development framework for organizations, institutions and communities in the Antigonish area.

KEY PRODUCTS: Engagement For Results Framework (2007); Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (2009 - draft).

ICSP model for Antigonish area.Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (2009 - draft).

accountability through measurement

Documents