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Human Activity and the Environment: Annual Statistics 2009

Human Activity and the Environment: Annual Statistics 2009 is Statistics Canada's flagship publication for environmental statistics. It includes a data compendium of maps, tables and figures punctuated with simple analysis and interpretation.

The publication also includes a feature article, "Food in Canada," which explores the impact of the Canadian food system on the environment.  The food system includes all the products produced, and the processes and activities carried out, to put food on tables at home, in restaurants and to provide food products for export. This article combines new research done within Statistics Canada with information from a variety of sources, including other federal government departments, international bodies and scientific journals.

Highlights:

• Spending on food and non-alcoholic beverages resulted in production of almost 46,000 kilotonnes of greenhouse gases, equivalent to 6.4% of total greenhouse gas emissions in Canada in 2003.
• Almost one-quarter (23%) of these food-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was attributable to the production of fresh and frozen meat, while fish products contributed 2%.
• In 2006, spending on fuel per hectare by farmers who used no tillage was about one-third that of spending by farmers who used conventional tillage. This reduction in fuel use also reduces air pollution and GHG emissions.
• In 2007, an estimated 38% of solid food available for retail sale was wasted, the equivalent of 183 kilograms per person. A decrease in food waste would reduce negative environmental impacts associated with food production, processing, distribution and services.

Released June 9, 2009 (Statistics Canada Catalogue no.16-201-X).

The Water Yield for Canada as a Thirty-year Average (1971 to 2000): Concepts, Methodology and Initial Results

This paper describes the methodology developed by Statistics Canada to calculate average annual water yield for Canada. Water yield is defined in this study as the quantity of water derived from measurements of non-regulated flow rates (m³s^-1) for a given region and time. The methodology is applied to the period from 1971 to 2000. The results of the methodology indicate that Canada's annual average water yield over 30 years is 3,435 km³.

Released June 1, 2009 (Statistics Canada Catalogue no.16-001-M2009007).

Upcoming releases 

Agricultural Water Use Survey 2007, Methodology Report

In 2008, Statistics Canada conducted the first Agricultural Water Use Survey. This pilot survey is part of the Canadian Environment Sustainability Indicators initiative and collects information on water volumes used for irrigation, irrigated areas, irrigation practices and the quality of water used for agricultural purposes.

This technical paper describes the methodology used for the pilot survey and includes recommendations for future cycles of the survey.

To be released shortly (Statistics Canada Catalogue no.16-001-M2009008).

Industrial Water Survey, 2007

The information collected for the Industrial Water Survey measures, by volume, the sources of water used, the purposes of water use, whether or not water was re-circulated or re-used, where the water was discharged, the types of treatments establishments applied to intake water prior to use and the types of treatments establishments applied to their wastewater prior to discharge. Water acquisition costs, treatment costs and operating and maintenance expenses related to water intake and discharge are also collected.

The results of this survey are used in the development of environmental accounts, aid in tracking the state of stocks of water and contribute to national indicators of water quality.

Data tables to be released in the summer of 2009.

New developments

Current Status of the Canadian Vehicle Survey

John Marshall, Environment Accounts and Statistics Division

The Canadian Vehicle Survey (CVS) provides quarterly and annual estimates of the amount of road travel, broken down by types of vehicles and characteristics, such as age and sex of driver, time of day and season. The results are the prime source of road vehicle use information for researchers and interested members of the public. For the 2007 reference year, Environment Accounts and Statistics Division provided funding for some additional questions and an augmented sample size.

A Technical Report has been completed that focuses on the comparability of the CVS fuel consumption data with data from other sources. This report will be published later in 2009. Work is under way on an analytical report. This will be published in early 2010.