STRATEGIC IMPERATIVES OF THE NATIONAL ROUND TABLE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY

--Used with permission of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy

• Stewardship - We must preserve the capacity of the biosphere to evolve by managing our social and economic activities for the benefit of present and future generations.
• Shared Responsibility - Everyone shares the responsibility for a sustainable society. All sectors must work towards this common purpose, with each being accountable for its decisions and actions, in a spirit of partnership and open cooperation.
• Prevention and Resilience-We must try to anticipate and prevent future problems by avoiding the negative environmental, economic and social and cultural impacts of policy, programs, decision and development activities. Recognizing that there will always be environmental and other events which we cannot anticipate, we should also strive to Increase social economic and environmental resilience in the face of change.
• Conservation - We must maintain and enhance essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems of our environment and natural resources.
• Energy and Resource Management - Overall, we must reduce the energy and resource content of growth, harvest renewable resources on a sustainable basis and make wise and efficient use of our non-renewable resources.
• Waste Management - We must first endeavour to reduce the production of waste then reuse, recycle and recover waste by-products of our industrial and domestic activities.
• Rehabilitation and Reclamation - Our future policies, programs and development must endeavour to rehabilitate and reclaim damaged environments.
• Scientific and Technological Innovation - We must support education and research and development of technologies, goods and services essential to maintaining environmental quality, social and cultural values and economic growth.
• International Responsibility - We must think globally when we act locally. Global responsibility requires ecological interdependence among provinces and nations, and an obligation to accelerate the integration of environmental, social, cultural and economic goals. By working cooperatively within Canada and internationally, we can develop comprehensive and equitable solutions to problems.
• Global Development Consistent With All Other Objectives - Canada should support methods that are consistent with the preceding objectives when assisting developing nations.

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