Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act

Sustainable prosperity is a term that we hear a lot these days.

For the Nova Scotia Department of Energy, sustainable prosperity is all about seizing today's opportunities without compromising tomorrow, while working together for a strong, competitive economy, a healthy environment, and vibrant, thriving communities.

With that in mind, the government made 21 aggressive environmental commitments in 2007 in an act called Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act.

This act has implications for all aspects of life in Nova Scotia. It includes specific deadlines such as:

• 2008: EnerGuide ratings on all new residential dwellings
• 2010: new emission standards for new motor vehicles
• 2010: large reductions in major air pollutants
• 2013: renewable electricity generation increases to min. 18.5% of total supply
• 2020: economic performance to the Canadian average or better
• 2020: 10% less greenhouse gas emissions than 1990 levels

These are ambitious goals, particularly because we are striving to increase our rate of growth and decrease our use of energy at the same time.

Please see the Environmental Goals & Sustainable Prosperity Act: for the complete Act.