The social, economic and environmental impacts of energy production and consumption make energy a powerful indicator of sustainability.
The use of energy, including non-renewable natural resources, such as oil, coal, natural gas and peat, as well as renewable energy sources like biomass (including wood), solar power, water power (hydro) and wind, creates a pressure or driving force that has impacts on human and ecosystem well-being.
The use of energy gives us greater mobility and the ability to provide a huge array of goods and services. The side effects of energy production, particularly the burning of fuels, include habitat loss, air and water pollution and damage to our respiratory systems.
To understand energy use in an integrated way, we need to look at the fuel cycle or energy chain, a method consistent with sustainable development principles. We need to account for impacts from exploration, production and use through to disposal of associated pollutants and by-products.
As the graph below illustrates, Canada's energy consumption continues to increase. However, the widening gap between GDP and energy consumption shows that economic growth has become less dependent on energy use.
The Sustainability Reporting Program has considered energy consumption and sustainability from several perspectives, including climate change, health and environment and sustainable communities.
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