Projects
Our Living Waters
Date: September 2019 – November 2019
Client: Our Living Waters
Related Service: Information for Decision-making
Midsummer Analytics Principal, Rob Smith, was lead author on four reports written for Our Living Waters, a network of organizations that aim to achieve good water health in Canada. The report covered the topics of; monitoring harmful algal blooms in bodies of water, water quality decision-makers' access to water-related data, government spending on environmental protection of water, and open access water data hubs in Canada.
Conference of European Statisticians Road Map on Statistics for Sustainable Development Goals
Client: UN Economic Commission for Europe
Related Service: Information for Decision-making
This report is a Road Map on statistics for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) prepared by the Steering Group. The Conference of European Statisticians (CES) created this group in October 2015 for the purpose of the creation of this Road Map.
Aquatic Ecosystem Indicators for the Mackenzie River Basin
Client: Government of the Northwest Territories
Related Service: Expert Advice
This report outlined the results of a project by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) undertaken by request of the Government of Northwest Territories. The project identified indicators for the Mackenzie River Basin Board's 2017 State of the Aquatic Ecosystem Report (SOAER). This report built upon previously identified indicators to created a final set of indicators for the 2017 SOAER and identified additional indicators for potential future consideration.
Better Policies for Better Lives - Kazakhstan Green Growth Indicator Workshop
Client: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
Related Service: Expert Advice
This report outlined results and recommendations from a workshop held in Astana, Kazakhstan by the OECD on behalf of the Committee on Statistics in Kazakhstan. The workshop focused on the implementation of green growth indicators in Kazakhstan up until the point in time of the workshop and provided recommendations to continue this work.
Towards an in-depth study of Canada's Energy Wealth - Scoping Study
Client: Energy Policy Branch Natural Resources Canada
Related Service: Analysis and Synthesis
This report was created by the International Institute for Sustainable Development to inform Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) on the benefits of using comprehensive wealth, rather than national GDP, to measure the prosperity of Canada's energy resources over time. The goal of the report was to ensure that the long term value of Canada's energy resources is assessed in a more comprehensive lens.
The Contribution of Forests to National Income in Ethiopia and Linkages with REDD+
Client: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Related Service: Expert Advice
The findings of this report presented government agencies in Ethiopia with the means to better understand how the forestry industry in Ethiopia supports their economy. These results provided information and support for the UN-REDD+ program and information for updating Ethiopia's System of National Accounts by adding more indicators on the value of the forestry industry.
Recommendations on the Role of Official Statistics in measuring Hazardous Events and Disasters
Client: UN Economic Commission for Europe
Related Service: Expert Advice
This report presented national statistical offices (NSOs) with recommendations for engagement in measurement of hazardous events and disasters. This allowed national statistical systems to become more involved in supporting natural disaster risk management as climate change-related disaster become more frequent.
Costs of Pollution in Canada
Client: International Institute for Sustainable Development
Related Service: Expert Advice
This report was prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development and was a synthesis of information available on the costs of pollution in Canada and how it impacts families, businesses and governments. The report aimed to provide Canadians with a document that improved accessibility to comprehensive pollutant data.
Comprehensive Wealth in Canada 2018 - Measuring What Matters in the Long Term
Client: The Ivey Foundation
Related Service: Expert Advice
This report was written in 2018, post-ceding the 2016 report measuring comprehensive wealth in Canada. Building on the first report written in 2016, this report provides a more complete analysis of the comprehensive wealth in Canada. The term comprehensive wealth is used to describe the value of all assets a nation has at its disposal and includes produced capital, financial capital, natural capital, human capital and social capital.
Comprehensive Wealth in Canada - Measuring What Matters in the Long Run
Client: The Ivey Foundation
Related Service: Expert Advice
This report was written in 2016 as one of the first attempts to measure wealth in Canada beyond what we already use to measure and report national economic progress. Comprehensive wealth, the term used to describe the value of all assets a nation has at its disposal, includes produced capital, financial capital, natural capital, human capital and social capital.
Climate Change-Related Statistics in the Arab Region
Client: Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
Related Service: Expert Advice
This report was created as part of the publication series, Compendium of Environment Statistics in the Arab Region. The report discussed the role that National Statistical Offices (NSOs) have in leading and coordinating climate change statistics and proposed a set of indictors based on existing frameworks to help put in place national climate change policies on emissions, drivers, impacts, mitigation and adaptation.
Conference of European Statisticians Recommendations on Climate Change-Related Statistics
Client: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Related Service: Expert Advice
This report presented recommendations for improving climate change-related statistics collected by national statistical programs of countries within the United Nations. These recommendations aimed to enhance the compilation of greenhouse gas inventories and improve overall usage of statistics to analyze climate change-related issues. Recommendations were developed by the Task Force on Climate Change-Related Statistics.
Green Growth Indicators (GGI) for Armenia - Overview of Methodology and Data Sources
Client: The Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Yerevan
Related Service: Information for Decision-making
This set of green growth indicators for Armenia was complied in the form of a table listing each indicator and the methodology and data sources used to compile individual indicators.
Armenia: Road Map for the Development of Climate Change-related Statistics
Client: The Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Yerevan
Related Service: Analysis and Synthesis
This report was created as a road map to evaluate the status, at the time, of climate change-related statistics in Armenia. The report included the national GHG emissions inventory and aimed to identify priorities and actions to be taken to foster improvement.
Assessing Economic Instruments for Achieving Lake Erie Phosphorus Targets
Client: Environment and Climate Change Canada
Related Service: Analysis and Synthesis
The Great Lakes Nutrient Initiative was launched by Environment Canada to advance the scientific understanding of and policy responses to algal blooms with the hope of developing new targets for phosphorous levels and action plans to reach those targets. This study was a review of the economic incentives and instruments needed in order to form government policy and encourage target behaviour changes. Midsummer Analytics was a collaborating partner in this project.
Estimating the Economic Impacts of Redeveloped Brownfields
Client: Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Related Service: Analysis and Synthesis
This case study was focused on looking at the impacts resulting from a redevelopment project in the City of New Westminster, British Columbia that involved the remediation of a former industrial site and its redevelopment into an award-winning waterfront park called Westminster Pier Park. The study highlighted how funding of brownfield project by Federation of Canadian Municipalities' (FCM) Green Municipal Fund (GMF) provides economic benefits for communities.
Values and Benefits of Integrated Natural Resource Management
Client: Council of Canadian Academies
Related Service: Expert Advice
Midsummer Analytics was asked by the Council for Canadian Academies to conduct a research project on the economic value of integrated management of natural resources (INRM) in Canada. Our project provided a framework on how to assess the economic value of integrating multiple land use activities and provided an approach to identify the costs and benefits of applying an integrated approach to natural resources management.
Measuring Sustainable Development in the Arab Region
Client: UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
Related Service: Analysis and Synthesis
This report was prepared in response to a request from the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia for a study of Arab regional experience with sustainable development monitoring and evaluation. Our report is one of several reports on this topic commissioned by UNESCWA as inputs to the preparation of the Arab Sustainable Development Report (ASDR).
Analysis of International Best Practices in Environmental Statistics and Accounts
Client: Audit and Evaluation Branch Statistics Canada
Related Service: Analysis and Synthesis
Statistics Canada's deep involvement in the field of environmental accounts and statistics has positioned them as a global leader. In order for Statistics Canada to further strengthen its program, they commissioned Midsummer Analytics to undertake a study to identify best practices used by other organizations that they may implement into their own program.
Sustainable Energy Statistics in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan
Client: Sustainable Energy Division UNECE
Related Service: Expert Advice
Our report provides the material presented by our principal, Robert Smith, at workshops held in 2 beneficiary countries; Kazakhstan and Georgia. These workshops were held to train national energy statistics experts from the beneficiary countries in methods for collection, verification, aggregation and reporting of data, as well as statistical indicators relevant for monitoring of sustainable energy development.
Measuring and Monitoring Progress Towards the Sustainable Development Goals
Client: UN Economic Commission for Europe
Related Service: Analysis and Synthesis
Our report focused on the challenges faced by countries in the region of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) in measurement and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals and on the responses taken by ECE and other organizations at the national, regional, and global levels to these challenges.
Valuation of Renewable Energy Resources in the Context of the Changing Wealth of Nations - Conceptual and Methodological Considerations
Client: Environment and Natural Resources World Bank
Related Service: Analysis and Synthesis
This report reviewed the concepts and methods associated with the ex post valuation of renewable energy resources and made recommendations for their application in the context of the World Bank's Changing Wealth of Nations reports. The results of the study showed that neither the System of National Accounts (SNA) nor the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) defines a complete and internally consistent approach to valuing renewable energy resources.
Pilot Land Cover and Forest Asset Natural Capital Accounts for Ontario
Client: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Strategic and Aboriginal Policy Branch
Related Service: Expert Advice
Our report presents the results of a project to prepare pilot natural capital accounting (NCA) for land cover and forest assets in Ontario in response to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry's (MNRF) request for consulting services. NCA allows us to understand what resources we have now, how they are being used, and what ecosystem services are generated. Most importantly, it allows us to ensure that our natural wealth is being used sustainably.
Feasibility Study on Compiling Global Air Emission Accounts
Client: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
Related Service: Expert Advice
This report presents the results of an Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) study to develop and test methodologies for constructing System for Environmental-Economic Accounts (SEEA)-based air emissions accounts using only publicly available global data sets.
Great Lakes Economic Research Synthesis
Client: Environment and Climate Change Canada
Related Service: Analysis and Synthesis
This report was prepared by Midsummer Analytics at the request of the Great Lakes National Program Office of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Our report included a summary and synthesis of existing economic studies relevant to protection and restoration of Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health and identified key gaps in information available on the economic value of protection and restoration of Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health.
Assessment of Direct and Secondary Economic Impacts of Not Meeting Lake Erie Phosphorous Targets
Client: Environment and Climate Change Canada
Related Service: Analysis and Synthesis
In 2018, Environment and Climate Change Canada commissioned for the scope of the 2015 study on the economic costs of hazardous and nuisance algal blooms (HNABs) on the Lake Erie basin economy to be extended to estimate the full economic impacts of the Lake Erie HNABs. Our report included indirect and induced impacts in addition to the direct impacts associated with the costs measured in the original study. Principle findings of our report, in terms of total economic impacts, were presented in terms of GDP and person years of employment lost in regions near Lake Erie, other regions in Ontario, and province-wide.
Training on Application of the UNFC for Sustainable Resource Management
Client: UNECE
Related Service: Expert Advice
The Sustainable Energy Division of the UN Economic Commission for Europe organized a one-day training workshop on the application of the UN Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) for sustainable resource management. Our report summarizes how we contributed to the training workshop and includes the presentations given during the workshop by our Principal, Robert Smith.
Measuring the Circular Economy in Canada
Client: Environment and Climate Change Canada
Related Service: Expert Advice
We provided Environment and Climate Change Canada with a review that responded to the need for better evidence to inform circular economy strategies in Canada. Our report outlined a definition for the circular economy and provided a review of current measurement approaches and data, as well as recommendations for future efforts.
Review of State of the Environment Reporting in Canada
Date: April 2014 – June 2014
Client: The Ivey Foundation
Level of Effort: 10 days
Related Service: Analysis and Synthesis
We reviewed current and past efforts at state of the environment reporting in Canada. Our report assessed the adequacy of existing metrics in light of the Ivey’s Foundation's program objectives and recommended steps toward producing a robust SOE-type report for Canada in light of existing reporting initiatives and the desire to avoid duplicated effort.
Israeli Well-being Indicators
Date: August 2014 – September 2014
Client: Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection
Level of Effort: 5 days
Related Service: Expert Advice
We participated in a September 2014 workshop organized by the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection to review Israel's proposed indicators of well-being, which are based on an extended concept of capital. The workshop was attended by international experts, team members of the Israeli Wellbeing, Sustainability & Resilience Indicators task force, representatives of the Prime Minister’s Office, the National Economic Council, the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Economy and senior academics.
WWF International Workshop on Opportunities and Obstacles for Natural Capital Accounting on Natural Capital Accounting
Date: January 2015 – January 2015
Client: WWF Germany
Level of Effort: 5 days
Related Service: Expert Advice
Robert Smith participated in WWF Germany's workshop on Opportunities and Obstacles for Natural Capital Accounting in Brussels, Belgium in January 2015. The workshop brought together science, stakeholder and policy experts on natural capital accounting (NCA) to discuss the different approaches to NCA applied across countries and to identify success factors for incorporating NCA into policy processes.
Alberta Land Institute Natural Capital in Agriculture Workshop
Date: February 2015 – February 2015
Client: Alberta Land Institute
Level of Effort: 3 days
Related Service: Expert Advice
Robert Smith participated in an ALI workshop to explore the potential for the development of a natural capital account for agriculture in Alberta. The workshop explored the need for/use of such information, the conceptual frameworks associated with the development of natural capital or inclusive wealth measures, data availability and other issues surrounding natural capital accounting.
Wealth Accounting and the Valuation of Ecosystem Services
Date: May 2013 – On-going
Client: World Bank
Level of Effort: 200 days
Related Service: Expert Advice
We provided a variety of expert advice related to natural capital accounting, ecosystem valuation and sustainability assessment to the World Bank's WAVES project. Work was performed in Madagascar, Colombia, Costa Rica and other WAVES partner countries.
Measuring Inclusive Wealth in a Resource-dependent Country
Date: December 2014 – On-going
Client: The Ivey Foundation
Level of Effort: 40 days
Related Service: Information for Decision-making
We worked with the International Institute for Sustainable Development to prepare a report on inclusive wealth for Canada. The report represents the first time that a comprehensive assessment of Canada's natural, human, social and economic capital has been published.
Steering Group for Climate Change Statistics
Date: January 2015 – On-going
Client: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Level of Effort: 40 days
Related Service: Expert Advice
The Steering Group on Climate Change Statistics provides direction for improvement of climate change-related statistics. Robert Smith, Principal of Midsummer Analytics, is serving as co-chair of the Steering Group.
Valuation of Forest Ecosystem Goods and Services in Ethiopia
Date: May 2015 – On-going
Client: United Nations Environment Program
Level of Effort: 80 days
Related Service: Information for Decision-making
We helped the Government of Ethiopia prepare for participation in the UN-REDD+ Programme by assessing the contribution of the nation's forests to its GDP.
Measuring Natural Capital Productivity in Canada
Date: May 2015 – On-going
Client: Sustainable Prosperity
Level of Effort: 15 days
Related Service: Information for Decision-making
Sustainable Prosperity wants to shed light on the relationship between economic activity and the environment by exploring the linkages between changes in Canada’s natural capital and its measures of productivity. As a member of the project's Advisory Board, we brought our knowledge and expertise in natural capital accounting and productivity measurement to bear on its success.
Training on the UN System of Environmental-economic Accounts Central Framework, Kazakhstan
Date: July 2015 – On-going
Client: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Level of Effort: 15 days
Related Service: Expert Advice
For the OECD, we provided training on the UN SEEA for government officials in Kazakhstan.
Valuation of Ecosystem Goods and Services in the Lake Erie Basin Economy
Date: February 2014 – March 2015
Client: Environment Canada
Level of Effort: 80 days
Related Service: Analysis and Synthesis
We provided Environment Canada with an overview of the methods for valuing ecosystem goods and services and then applied these methods to Lake Erie. The valuation results, which we co-produced with David Sawyer of EnviroEconomics, were used to help develop policy options for controlling phosphorus loadings to the lake.
Measuring the Cost of Pollution in Canada
Date: April 2014 – May 2014
Client: Sustainable Prosperity
Level of Effort: 10 days
Related Service: Information for Decision-making
Sustainable Prosperity required a short report summarizing the literature on the costs of pollution in Canada and providing estimates of these costs for a recent year. We reviewed the literature on pollution costs and summarized the most relevant studies for estimating pollution costs in Canada. Based on this, we developed initial estimates of the costs imposed on Canada’s natural, human and produce capital.
Including forest ecosystem goods and services in Senegal's GDP
Date: June 2015 – June 2015
Client: Government of Senegal
Level of Effort: 7 days
Related Service: Expert Advice
We reviewed and recommended improvements to the proposed methodology for valuing forest ecosystem goods and services in Senegal.
Monitoring Sustainable Development in the Arab Region
Date: October 2014 – April 2015
Client: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
Level of Effort: 20 days
Related Service: Analysis and Synthesis
For UNESCWA, we reviewed the past performance of Arab region countries in monitoring sustainable development and recommended improvements for the post-2015 development period. We presented our findings at the Arab High-level Summit on Sustainable Development in Bahrain in 2015.
Chinese Environmental Performance Audit System for Senior Officials
Date: February 2014 – December 2014
Client: China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development
Level of Effort: 47 days
Related Service: Information for Decision-making
We worked with the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development to prepare recommendations for a new system to audit the environmental performance of senior Chinese government and political officials.
Evaluation of the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicator Suite
Date: November 2014 – February 2015
Client: Environment Canada
Level of Effort: 3 days
Related Service: Expert Advice
We provided Environment Canada with an expert review of their Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators suite to help ensure the indicators remain relevant and up-to-date.
