Civil Society Report: Summit or Plummet?

The Canadian Environmental Network Forum for the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) is asking NGOs to endorse this report assessing Canada's progress and failures since the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. We chose topics based on Agenda 21 and sustainable development work and structures in Canada and asked members of civil society to write brief assessments of Canada's trend over time. Writers were asked to pick an indicator, show where we were in 1992 and today, make recommendations for targets and strategies for 2012, and illustrate where Canada sits in the global context. The report is about scoring ourselves and making concrete recommendations for action. The common theme is that we have not been doing enough in the last ten years. We would like Canada to use the WSSD to move forward.

In endorsing this report you may not agree with all of the sections within it, but agree that Canada needs to take action and bring about renewed commitments towards sustainable development. Canada has leadership potential to protect the planet. It's time to act.

A public release is due at the Sierra Club's 'People and the Planet' conference being held in June. In addition, the report will be released with 7 other countries who have produced alternative reports at the Prep Com IV in Bali June 3rd.

Report (on-line)

Report (PDF version)

Endorsements

If your organization would like to endorse this report, please send a message to Chantal Bois with the name and contact information of your organization.

The following organizations have endorsed the report:

Sierra Club of Canada
Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy
Youth Summit Team
One Sky - The Canadian Institute of Sustainable Living
Democracy Watch
Falls Brook Centre
GAIA Project
Lifecycles
Alternatives
Turtle Island Earth Stewards

Citizens' Network on Waste Management
Forest Futures
Ontario Toxic Waste Research Coalition
Nappan Project Association
Interchurch Uranium Committee Educational Cooperative
Partnership Africa Canada
Northwest Institute for Bioregional Studies
Eulachon Conservation Society
Vegetarians of Alberta Association
Campaign for Pesticide Reduction - New Brunswick

Crooked Creek Conservancy Society
Sierra Youth Coalition
Forestry Stewarts Co-op of PEI
Toxics Watch Society of Alberta
Healthy Food Choices Co-op - NFLD
Alberta Green Party
Edmonton Friends of the North Environmental Society
Nova Scotia Allergy & Environmental Health Association
Superior Northwest Public Interest Research Group (SNOW-PIRG)
Regional Environmental Action Committee High Prairie - Alberta

Humber Environment Action Group
Bow Valley Grizzly Bear Alliance
Rescue Mission/Mission Terre Canada
Citizens' Stewardship Coalition - Port Alberni
Canadian Center for Sustainable Agriculture Inc, Saskatoon
Parkland Sierra Group
The Gaia Group
Sustainability Project
Poetical Asylum
Edmonton Friends of the North Environmental Society

Comité Vertige
Great Lakes United Canada / Union Saint-Laurent, Grands Lacs
SOS Elms Inc.
Alberta Wilderness Association
Friends of the Oldman River
Temiskaming Environmental Action Committee
Bert Riggall Environmental Foundation
Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
Citizens Environment Alliance

New Brunswick Partners in Agriculture
Coalition on the Niagara Escarpment
Tusket River Environmental Protection Association
RiverSides
Corporation Saint Laurent
Conservation Council of New Brunswick
People Against Nuclear Energy
Evergreen
Nova Scotia Allergy and Environmental Health Association
Albertans for a Wild Chinchaga

Saskatchewan Environmental Society
Atlantic Council for International Cooperation
Centre for Longterm Environmental Action in Nf/Ld
Ottawa Public Interest Research Group
Bow Valley Naturalists
East Kootenay Environmental Society
Action Canada for Population and Development / Action Canada pour la Population et le développement
East Kootenay Environmental Society
SOS Gaia
Hollyhock