Province continues to meet environmental, economic goals

Nova Scotian families are enjoying a cleaner, greener environment as the province continues to meet, and exceed, its targets in the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act.

Progress on the 21 goals is outlined in the 2011-12 Progress Report for the Act, released today, Sept. 28.

"This government continues its leadership in protecting the environment for Nova Scotia families," said Environment Minister Sterling Belliveau. "Over the past year, we have reduced greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions even further, while making significant progress to legally protect 12 per cent of the province's lands."

"The future prosperity of this province depends on how we manage both our environment and our economy," said Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Percy Paris. "We are focused on protecting the environment while creating good jobs and growing the economy in all areas of Nova Scotia."

Nova Scotia has achieved 14 of the 21 goals in the act, and work continues to meet remaining targets. Other highlights include:

• Releasing a natural resources strategy in August 2011, that will guide the management of the province's biodiversity, forests, geological resources and provincial parks.
• Putting a wetlands conservation policy in place last December to protect important ecosystems by preventing the net loss of wetlands.
• Encouraging the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated lands through new regulations announced in March. This will better protect our environment and encourage development and economic growth in communities.
• Ensuring all sewage treatment facilities in the province complied with guidelines for handling and treating septage by last December, fulfilling another legislated goal.

"The act focuses on achieving genuine prosperity, which needs environmental, economic and social goals to be linked and working together," said Marty Janowitz, chair of the Minister's Round Table on Environment and Sustainable Prosperity. "We are encouraged by the steps taken in 2011 as the province continues to make progress towards that objective."

Work continues for solid waste, drinking water standards, wastewater management and renewable energy. The province also continues to work towards its economic prosperity targets through the Clean Technology Fund, community-based feed-in tariff projects and signing agreements for the Lower Churchill Falls hydro project in July.

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