Green Shores 2020: Impact, Value and Lessons Learned

A 2-year long extensive socio-economic and environmental impact assessment of Green Shores has been completed!

In April 2018, we engaged ESSA Technologies Ltd. (ESSA) to assist us in documenting the impact, value and scaling potential of the Green Shores program from British Columbia to Atlantic Canada.

Two approaches were applied to understand the impact and value of the Green Shores programs in BC:

1. Social Impact Analysis,
2. Triple bottom line evaluation (i.e. an extended social cost-benefit analysis).

In addition, two economic tools were used to assess the wider impact of Green Shores program expenditure on BC’s economy:

1. Cost-benefit analysis – helps understand whether the program makes people better-off by increasing social welfare
2. Economic Impact Assessment – is concerned with net changes to the economy attributable to the program

Findings

Results and recommendations were summarized in the “Green Shores 2020: Impact, Value and Lessons Learned” report.

This report presents qualitative and quantitative information on the impact and social, environmental and economic value of Green Shores for communities in British Columbia and provides recommendations to improve Green Shores’ reach in Canada.

Economic analysis conducted in this assessment further supports the merits of investing in Green Shores:

“Our analysis suggests that each $1 invested in Green Shores for Shoreline Development (GSSD) program delivery generated $7.10 in social welfare in BC. Further, investments made as part of GSSD programming have made noteworthy contributions to the BC economy by, for example, supporting 74 to 83 jobs.”

As demonstrated through the economic analysis and other evidence, Green Shores projects achieve returns on investment and provide important societal benefits, so policy, regulatory and planning framework should help to make these economically-efficient decisions and support nature-based approaches in shoreline management.

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