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Generally, the kinds of environmental impacts that could result from the economic activities of increased trade in service sectors include effects on air and water pollution, land and biodiversity conservation, and effects on the atmosphere and climate. Environmental effects common to all services sectors include the consumption of energy for heating, lighting and vehicle and equip-ment use, which may result in air pollution and release of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the production of waste, including paper, refuse, sanitary waste, and chemical byproducts from office equipment. In sectors such as environmental services and telecommunications services, positive environmental impacts are anticipated. Given the nature of services trade, the analysis of the environmental effects must also consider the impacts of services trade liberalization in areas where the potential for negative impact may seem negligible but where the impact will prove more significant over time. Analysis of elements such as smokestack effects, direct and indirect effects, and upstream and downstream effects is necessary to capture the potential cumulative effects. An example of these indirect effects would be the increases in transportation and distribution services when service providers or imported goods come into Canada.
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