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FINDING SUSTAINABLE PATHWAYS

OUR PROCESS

Our process helps Canada achieve sustainable development solutions that integrate environmental and economic considerations to ensure the lasting prosperity and well-being of our nation.

RESEARCH

We rigorously research and conduct high quality analysis on issues of sustainable development. Our thinking is original and thought provoking.

CONVENE

We convene opinion leaders and experts from across Canada around our table to share their knowledge and diverse perspectives. We stimulate debate and integrate polarities. We create a context for possibilities to emerge.

ADVISE

We generate ideas and provide realistic solutions to advise governments, Parliament and Canadians. We proceed with resolve and optimism to bring Canada’s economy and environment closer together.

Think Green; Act Green – Employee Engagement, Awareness, and Activities

Think Green; Act Green

Employee Engagement, Awareness, and Activities

Employee engagement is a crucial part of any organization’s sustainability strategy, not only to increase behaviours by staff that could reduce the organization’s footprint, but also to inform the collective about areas in which improvements can be made.

Earth Hour - image

EARTH HOUR

As part of our employee engagement efforts, the NRTEE participated in the World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour event. Staff were encouraged to ‘do something in the dark’ at 8:30 pm on Saturday, March 26th. NRTEE staff joined hundreds of millions of people across the globe in a demonstration of concern about climate change.

Earth Day 2011 - image

EARTH DAY

In the spirit of Senator Gaylord Nelson, the NRTEE celebrated the 41th anniversary of Earth Day (April 22, 2011) with a garbage-free lunch and guest speaker. Master gardener Rebecca Last, spoke to NRTEE staff about the ABC’s of organic gardening – basic principles, plus the pro’s and con’s – just in time for the new planting season.

Cap-and-Trade Commuter Challenge - image

CAPPING EMISSIONS, TRADING FUN

The NRTEE’s Staff Commuter Challenge

From June 14th – 18th, 2010, the NRTEE launched an innovative spin on the traditional employee Commuter Challenge by developing a commuter cap and trade system. The exercise was part of the Think Green, Act Green employee engagement, to draw attention to the environmental impacts of staff commuting, enable staff to experience how cap and trade systems work.

Locavore Challenge - image

LOCAVORE CHALLENGE

In the spirit of the harvest season, on October 28, 2010, from noon – 1:00, the Green Steering Committee of the NRTEE hosted an innovative employee engagement initiative: The Locavore Challenge. Two teams were challenged to prepared three dishes (one appetizer, main, and a dessert) with ingredients grown or produced within a 100-km radius of the city of Ottawa. This challenge was meant to promote awareness among staff of the environmental and economic benefits of buying local produced food. The NRTEE received an honourable mention from the national Eco-Action Challenge for its Locavore initiative.

  

General Policies

The NRTEE

  • Recognizes that employee support and engagement is essential for reducing the environmental impact of its operations.
  • Communicates with employees on vision, objectives, activities and results.
  • Provides opportunities for employees to participate in planning, awareness and training initiatives.
  • Enables a sense of employee ownership of the initiative through engagement, training and recognition.
  • Institutionalizes green operational changes.