Canadian Environment Commissioner - Government Agencies Doing "Next To Nothing" On Climate Impacts

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OTTAWA -- Federal departments are doing next to nothing to ensure their actions reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and respect the environment, according to a report from the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development.

Ron Thompson, who is acting as interim commissioner in the Auditor-General's office, said it is a "major disappointment" that in 2007 the government has still not addressed its persistent failings in this area.

At issue is a 1995 law requiring federal departments to outline the significant social, economic and environmental impacts of their policies - and measurable plans for improvement. These reports are called sustainable development strategies and the process aims to create a "green government." Many departments are responsible for multibillion-dollar budgets, meaning decisions on how that money is spent can have a wide-ranging impact.

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The commissioner's report concludes: "We can find little, if any, evidence that sustainable development strategies are serving the purpose for which they were introduced."

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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071031.AUDITORGREEN31/TPStory/Environment