A number of the conditions that contribute to genuine well-being such as air quality and environmental sustainability are showing signs of stress.

The environmental indicators are comprised of natural resource (for example oil and gas reserves) and environmental (such as peatlands, wetlands and agriculture sustainability) indicators. This document provides a brief description of each environmental indicator.

To read the summary, click on an indicator in the left pane under the GPI Indicator Reports Menu. Indicator summaries are available for all 51 indicators. The summaries are derived from technical reports. Some of these reports are also available for download.

35. Oilsands Reserve Life

Non-renewable energy resource extraction such as oilsands and coal have provided Alberta with enormous wealth. This summary assesses whether or not the use of these resources is sustainable.

36. Oil and Gas Reserve Life

As the GDP has grown exponentially in the past 40 years, so too has the drawing down of Alberta's non-renewable natural capital. Prudent accounting would treat the depreciation of a capital stock as a cost against income, but the GDP fails to do this.

37. Energy Use Intensity

Energy use in Canada and Alberta are increasing steadily. This is especially true for the industry and transportation sectors. This summary assesses primary energy use in Alberta.

38. Agricultural Sustainability

Ever increasing inputs such as fertilizers and herbicides are contributing to an continuing decline in profits for farmers in Alberta. This summary looks at current agricultural practices and examines whether or not they are environmentally, socially or economically sustainable.

39. Timber Sustainability

The timber sustainability summary uses 2 indices to asses the state of Alberta's timber capital against the GDP.

40. Forest Fragmentation

The real impacts of forest fragmentation are only just beginning to be understood. In the meantime Alberta's forests continue to be fragmented.

41. Fish and Wildlife

Many species in Alberta are at risk. This indicator examines economic growth and activities such as commercial and sport fishing as well as species at risk in Alberta.

42. Parks and Wilderness

Loss of habitat is a major cause of species decline and protecting it is essential to preserve biodiversity. This study assess the state of Alberta's protected wilderness areas.

43. Wetlands

In the GPI system of accounting, the loss of wetlands results in a loss of ecosystem function. The destruction of wetlands result in a societal cost.

44. Peatlands

Peatlands play a vital ecological role as a filtration system for water. In addition they store massive amounts of carbon. The GPI Accounts apply a value to this service and count the loss peatlands as a cost.

45. Water Quality

Although improvements have been made in Alberta's sewage treatment for municipal areas, source control regulations are vital to curb contaminants entering surface waters from storm sewers. This summary looks at the state of Alberta's water supply.

46. Air Quality-related Emissions

Poor air quality can lead to premature deaths. This indicators examines trends in particulate matter and other sources of pollution in Alberta.

47. Greenhouse Gas Emissions

As Alberta expands its extraction of natural gas and oilsands, it's global carbon footprint also grows. This summary estimates direct global warming and air pollution costs.

48. Carbon Budget Deficit

The carbon content of fuels has taken on significant market and strategic value in recent years. Alberta's carbon deficit continues to grow as economic growth expands impacting not only Alberta, but the rest of the world.

49. Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste disposal costs Alberta businesses, taxpayers and governments millions of dollars every year. The GPI accounts identify these expenditures as "regrettable" since in the absence of toxic waste these costs would not occur.

50. Landfill Waste

Alberta has one of the highest per capita non-hazardous waste rates in Canada and waste management and environmental costs are significant. This summary assesses municipal and environmental costs for waste management in Alberta.

51. Ecological Footprint

The ecological footprint compliments other indicators of the GPI by providing a benchmark of sustainability for Alberta. Alberta's ecological footprint grew significantly between 1961 and 2003.