News release

Report Highlights Progress On Environmental, Economic Goals

Environment (April 2008 - Feb. 2021)
Economic and Rural Development and Tourism (Jan. 2011 - April 2015)

Nova Scotians continue to benefit from a healthier environment thanks to the actions taken by the province to meet its legislated goals and objectives.

Progress on these goals is outlined in the 2010-11 Progress Report for the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act.

"We are making lives better for Nova Scotia families through our leadership efforts as we work to protect the environment and grow our economy," said Environment Minister Sterling Belliveau. "The work we are doing today will reap rewards for generations to come."

The report shows the province has met or exceeded 10 of its 21 targets and steady progress was made in the other areas in the 2010-11 fiscal year.

"I am thrilled to be able to announce that we have made real strides toward a healthier environment as we continue to work to make the economy stronger," said Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Percy Paris. "We are dedicated to creating good jobs and growing the economy, and a large part of Nova Scotia's prosperity has to do with effectively managing the environment."

Other highlights include:

  • Launching the provincial water resource management strategy Water for Life, which provides a 10-year plan to better understand the quantity and quality of water, and protect resources now and into the future.
  • Exceeding air-quality targets for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions and meeting goals to reduce greenhouse gases, ground-level ozone, airborne fine-particulate matter and sulphur dioxide emissions.
  • Making progress on the goal of legally protecting 12 per cent of Nova Scotia's land by 2015. The province reached 475,000 hectares of protected land in 2010, which represents 8.6 per cent, and consultations have begun to choose the remaining lands to be protected.
  • The Department of Energy released its Renewable Electricity Plan, and regulations came into effect in October, including a target of 25 per cent from renewable sources by 2015 and 40 per cent by 2020. Last year, Nova Scotia Power and independent power producers added about 130 megawatts of new renewable resources, including operations at Nuttby, Digby, Point Tupper and Glen Dhu.

Work continues on contaminated sites, wetlands, and solid waste. The province is working with Nova Scotia Power Inc. to reduce mercury emissions and is working with municipalities to meet targets for the treatment of drinking water, wastewater and septage.

The province also released the natural resources strategy Aug. 16, meeting the 11th target of the act. It has also met targets for EnerGuide ratings for new buildings, sustainable government purchasing and emission standards on new vehicles.

Other efforts that will help advance economic prosperity include the Clean Technology Fund, the introduction of a community-based, feed-in tariff, and partnering on the Lower Churchill Falls hydro project. Strategic investments in companies such as DSME, LED Roadway Lighting, Seaforth and other Nova Scotia-based clean technology companies are helping to boost the green economy.

The act report is available at www.gov.ns.ca/nse/egspa .