Sustainable Development Action Sustainable Development Monographs

The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), an intergovernmental organ of the United Nations, was established after the Rio Conference to monitor progress in the implementation of Agenda 21. Since 1994, Canada has contributed to the yearly sessions of the Commission by producing a series of monographs.

These reports and monographs describe past and current activities to implement Agenda 21 by Canadians in all sectors of society.

1994

• This report describes past and current activities to implement Agenda 21 in Canada's first contribution to the Second Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UN CSD), 16-24 May, 1994.
• Issues covered in the report include the protection and promotion of human health; the promotion of sustainable human settlement development; the protection of the quality and supply of freshwater; and the environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals, hadardous wastes and sewage-related issues, and radioactive wastes.
• Complete Report
  • Part I: General Trends in the Implementation of Agenda 21
  • Part II: Cross-Sectoral Issues
  • Part III: Sectoral Issues

1995

• Report to the Third Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, 11-28 April, 1995.
• Issues covered in this report include indicators for sustainable development; science for sustainable development; environmentally sound management of biotechnology; conservation of biological diversity; integrated approach to the planning and management of land resources; managing fragile ecosystems; protoming sustainable agriculture and rural development; and measures to manage, conserve, and sustainably develop Canada's forests.
• Complete Report
  • Part I: General Trends in the Implementation of Agenda 21
  • Part II: Cross-Sectoral Issues
  • Part III: Sectoral Issues

1996

• Report to the Fourth Session of the United Nations CSD held 18 April to 3 May, 1996.
• Issues covered in this report include stregthening the role of major groups; environmentally sound technology; combatting poverty; changing consumption patterns; promoting education, public awareness, and training; integrating environment and development in international legal instruments and mechanisms; protection of the atmosphere; and protection of the oceans and other seas.
• Complete Report
  • Part I: General Trends in the Implementation of Agenda 21
  • Part II: Cross-Sectoral Issues
  • Part III: Sectoral Issues

1997

• The report Building Momentum: Sustainable Development in Canada is Canada's submission to the Fifth Session of the United Nations CSD, April 7 to 25, 1997.
• A series of monographs have been written in conjunction with the report on specific topics as follows:
  • The Sustainable Management of Forests, Monograph No. 1
  • Sustainable Transportation, Monograph No. 2
  • Enduring the Health of the Oceans and Other Seas, Monograph No. 3
  • Sustainable Development of Minerals and Metals, Monograph No. 4
  • Canadian Youth Perspectives on Sustainable Development, Monograph No. 5

1998

• The monograph Canada and Freshwater: Experience and Practices is the Canadian contribution to the freshwater dialogues at the Sisth Session of the United Nations CSD, 20 April to 1 May, 1998.

1999

• The monograph Canada's Oceans: Experience and Practices is the Canadian contribution to the Oceans and Seas Dialogue at the Seventh Session of the United Nations CSD, 19-30 April 1999.

2000

• As a contribution to the land use dialogue at the Eighth Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development 24 April to 4 May 2000, Canada has prepared a series of six monographs describing its experience with issues associated with the sustainable development of land resources and the challenges that remain in the integration of sustainable development.
• The series of monographs written include:
  • Cultivating a Secure Future: Rural Development and the Role of Sustainable Agriculture in Canada, Monograph No. 8
  • Sustainable Forest Management: A Continued Commitment in Canada, Monograph No. 9
  • Minerals and Metals: Towards a Sustainable Future, Monograph No. 10
  • Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Development in the Canadian Arctic, Monograph No. 11
  • The Contribution of Earth Sciences to Sustainable Land and Resource Management, Monograph No. 12
  • Learning from Nature: Canada- The Ecosystem Approach and Integrated Land Management, Monograph No. 13.

2001

• As a contribution to the dialogue at the Ninth Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UN CSD) April 16 to 27, 2001, a series of three monographs describing its experiences and challenges with the sustainable development of energy and transportation and with information for decision making in sustainable development.
  • Energy and Sustainable Development: A Canadian Perspective, Monograph No. 14
  • Sustainable Transportation: The Canadian Context, Monograph No. 15
  • Information for Decision Making in Sustainable Development, Monograph No. 16