About the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators
What are environmental indicators
An environmental indicator is a measure that provides information on the state of a particular environmental issue. Tracked over time, indicators can show trends that reflect what is happening in the environment.
The Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) program was created in 2004. It reports on the state of the environment by providing information and data to track Canada's performance on key environmental issues on air, biodiversity, climate, water, and waste and contaminants.
Using graphics, explanatory text, interactive maps and figures, and downloadable data, CESI’s environmental indicators are a reliable source of information and data showing the latest national, and some regional and international, environmental trends.
How are the environmental indicators used
The CESI program ensures that environmental trends are readily accessible and transparently presented to all Canadians. The indicators respond to Environment and Climate Change Canada's commitments under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the Department of the Environment Act to report to Canadians on the state of the environment.
The indicators allow decision-makers to track progress towards policy objectives and make well-informed decisions that support environmental sustainability. Policy makers, non-governmental organizations, academics, media and the public use this information to better understand and evaluate Canada's state of the environment.
The CESI indicators are used to measure progress on the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. Additionally, the CESI indicators present the state of Canada's environment, and support and report on the progress of national and international legislation, strategies and frameworks, including:
- Canadian Water Act
- Canadian Environmental Protection Act
- Species at Risk Act
- Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy
- Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy
- Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
- Quality of Life Framework
- United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's environmental data
Contributors
The indicators are built on rigorous methodology and high quality, regularly available data from surveys and monitoring networks. They are developed and updated by Environment and Climate Change Canada using the most up-to-date available data from federal, provincial, territorial programs and networks including:
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada
- Health Canada
- Natural Resources Canada
- Parks Canada
- Statistics Canada
- Transport Canada
Contact us
Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Sustainability Directorate
Place Vincent Massey Building
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0H3