The ultimate aim of development is to improve the quality of human life. People depend on their environment and on economic development to meet their basic needs and to improve their quality of life. Economic growth is an important component of development, and reviving growth through improved productivity is the primary focus of economic policy. Economic growth also provides the wealth to make investments in protecting the environment, supporting education, science and technology, and in maintaining the health and well-being of Canadians. The challenge is not whether to grow but how to develop.
Environmental efficiency is an important dimension of productivity.
It means producing more with less - less resource inputs, less waste. Many environmental improvements, including better energy and water efficiency, waste minimization and pollution prevention are achieved by, or result in, the reduction of inputs, which translates into a reduction of costs. Supporting innovation towards sustainable development. The challenge is to design policies and programs that help to make measurable progress on the full range of sustainable development issues while stimulating innovation and competitiveness. This entails an emphasis on developing a predictable policy regime with longer-term time horizons, a focus on results, the use of flexible instruments to achieve them, and full consideration of the environmental and economic implications.