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Chapter 16:

Environment & Sustainable Development

Wet Leaves

The Government of Canada recently released the Draft 2019–2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy for public consultation and tabled the Government’s 2018 Progress Report of the 2016–2019 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. The draft Strategy sets out the Government of Canada’s environmental sustainability priorities to stay within carrying capacity, establishes goals and targets, and identifies actions that 42 departments and agencies across government will take to reduce the negative externality of greenhouse gas emissions from their operations and advance sustainable development across Canada. For example, the Government is aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from federal government facilities and fleets by 40% by 2030 (with an aspiration to achieve this target by 2025) and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050, which is just like the type of goals set in a pollution credit system.

Glossary

1. Carrying Capacity

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            Number of people Earth's resources can support indefinitely if those resources are managed effectively.

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2. Negative Externality

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            Side effect of production that imposes a cost upon a third party.

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3. Sustainable Development

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           Economic development that considers how current production and consumption patterns affect ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

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4.Pollution Credit

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           Pollution reduction requirements for firms that earn credits for reducing pollution; credits can be sold to other firms.

© 2019 Elaine Zhou

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