Nova Scotia Supports Earth Day Goals in Law

Nova Scotians celebrating Earth Day, April 22, can look forward to a future of legislated environmental actions that serve the goals of that special day.

Established in 1970, Earth Day is an international day of reflection on the importance of preserving and promoting good care for the Earth's environment.

In Nova Scotia, the goals of Earth Day are shared and supported by the province's commitment to attain sustainable prosperity by 2020 and by the past year's record of initiatives to improve the environment.

"With help from our partners and from individual Nova Scotians, we are making great environmental advances in numerous ways," said Mark Parent, Minister of Environment and Labour.

"We aim to impress the world with Nova Scotia's environmental progress, which is linked with economic progress," said Mr. Parent.

The province's Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act, introduced March 22, is designed to make Nova Scotia internationally recognized by 2020 as having one of the cleanest and most sustainable environments in the world.

The new law will regularly hold government accountable for its progress in meeting 21 environmental commitments, including:

• reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 10 per cent of 1990 levels;
• adoption of emission standards for new vehicles by 2010;
• a minimum of 18.5 per cent of Nova Scotia's electricity needs will come from renewable sources; and
• implementation of state-of the-art drinking-water standards by 2008.

Other environmental advancements, consistent with Earth Day's goals and implemented in Nova Scotia within the past year, include:

• The release of a plan to create a comprehensive water-resources strategy that will offer greater environmental protection and help ensure long-term prosperity of the province's water-dependent industries.

• The launch of the Environmental Home Assessment Program to protect the environment and health of Nova Scotians whose homes are served by septic systems or well water.

• The purchase of 10,050 hectares (24,700 acres) of land from Bowater Mersey for designation as protected areas to help preserve ecological, cultural and historical features.

• A commitment that all new residential units built in the Province must achieve an EnerGuide rating of 80, or meet the energy conservation measures in the Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations after 2010;

• An announcement of an E-waste program, in partnership with industry, to recycle electronic products that Nova Scotians drop off at collection facilities throughout the province.

• An environmental approval for the Sydney Tar Ponds and Coke Ovens site to proceed with clean-up work. New funding was announced to protect the environment as work proceeds.

For more information about the Department of Environment and Labour's programs, or to learn more about how you can help keep Nova Scotia's environment clean and green, visit the department's website at: www.gov.ns.ca/enla