News release

Environmental and Economic Progress, Energy Efficiency Funding

Environment (April 2008 - Feb. 2021)

Nova Scotia is making good progress toward its goal of having a cleaner, greener, more economically sustainable environment, as shown in a progress report released, today, June 23.

Environment Minister Sterling Belliveau and Economic and Rural Development Minister Percy Paris released the annual report detailing the province's progress on commitments in the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act.

"Through genuine leadership, our government is making steady progress in meeting these aggressive targets," said Mr. Belliveau. "Our environmental and economic successes are making life better for families in every region of the province."

The act sets out the province's key environmental goals. They range from reduced air emissions and waste, to new energy standards for buildings, and increased protection of land and water.

"Nova Scotia is faced with new realities. The long-term prosperity of the province depends on how we manage our environment and our economy. The two go hand-in-hand," said Mr. Paris. "We are focused on creating good jobs and growing the economy.

The report shows significant progress is being made on key goals in the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act.

"The government continues to meet most goals in the act and, in at least one case, renewable energy, it has set a target which exceeds the act's goal," said Ray Côté, chair of the Round Table on Environment and Sustainable Prosperity. "This legislation affects every Nova Scotian and contributes to a better life for our children and grandchildren so a strong commitment to sustainable prosperity is needed to meet remaining challenges and achieve all goals."

The report said the province met its goal to implement a sustainable procurement policy to ensure government considers environmentally sustainable products and services when making purchases.

A goal that was fulfilled five years ahead of the target date was to build an energy-efficient and sustainable demonstration building. The Nova Scotia Community College Centre for the Built Environment was built with government assistance and meets that commitment. It will open this summer.

Another goal to make buildings more energy efficient was achieved ahead of schedule and also exceeds the target level set by the act. New residential buildings, renovations or additions, and commercial buildings less that 600 square metres must now meet EnerGuide 80 standards or building code equivalents.

The goal to protect 12 per cent of the province's land base is also on-track. In 2009, the province designated three new wilderness areas totalling more than 18,000 hectares. Government set aside $70 million, for use in 2009-2010, to support large land purchases with most of the land to be protected. All purchases were completed.

The report describes specific areas that present challenges for the province. The goal to set air emissions standards for new vehicles, relies on a national or regional approach and will require more work.

The province and the municipalities are making steady progress in meeting the new public drinking water supplies standards. Over the past year, through increased compliance work, the number of municipal water supplies now meeting the new water quality standard was raised to about 70 per cent. The full target is expected to be met in the near future. Drinking water quality in Nova Scotia remains safe and healthy. The new standard enhances water quality protection even further.

A commitment to draft a new provincial policy preventing net loss of wetlands required an extensive consultation period which was extended to allow more input from Nova Scotians and from industries. The proposed policy, and a guide to it, are being reviewed by government and is expected to be completed soon.

Government is also working to green its own operations as a way to further support the goals of the act.

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Bill Estabrooks announced $1.55 million dollars from the ecoNova Scotia fund for Clean Air and Climate Change will be added to the department's fund for making government buildings more energy efficient.

"This additional funding will allow us to continue energy retrofits in government buildings across the province," said Mr. Estabrooks, who is also Minister of Energy. "Nova Scotia is well on its way to achieving a 30 per cent reduction in energy consumption in all government-owned buildings built before 2001 as outlined in the Climate Change Action Plan."

The ecoNova Scotia fund has contributed to more than 100 projects to reduce harmful air emissions. Mr. Belliveau said more ecoNova Scotia announcements are expected soon.

More information on the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act and the reports on its progress are available on the Department of Environment's website at www.gov.ns.ca/nse/egspa/.