New NRT Report

October 18, 2012

Framing the Future: Embracing the Low-Carbon Economy

A low-carbon economy is no longer a concept of the future. Governments around the world are moving ahead, and a number of jurisdictions already have formal low-carbon growth plans in place. Our research and convening led to a clear conclusion: Canada is well positioned to thrive in a low-carbon context but needs to act now to maximize the potential benefits. [Read the report]

Message from the NRT

The federal government announced in its recent Budget that the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRT) will be eliminated as of March 31, 2013. During this period, the NRT will complete its current agenda and release scheduled reports on water sustainability and the natural resources sectors, business resilience to climate change, pathway to a low-carbon economy, life-cycle approaches to sustainable development, and federal-provincial progress towards Canada’s 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reductions target. This respects both our legislative responsibilities and our public commitments to governments, Parliament, and our many stakeholders who have worked closely with us over the past few years giving us their input and guidance on building sustainable pathways for Canada. Our advice remains independent and non-partisan, offered as a public contribution to all Canadians interested and engaged in sustainable development issues. As part of an orderly transition and wind-up of the organization, the NRT will seek to make available its tremendous history of reports and advice from the past 25 years for those who might wish to draw upon it in the years ahead.

Recent Reports

Reality Check: The State of Climate Progress in Canada

Despite making progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Canada is not on track to achieve the federal government’s 2020 reduction target of 17% below 2005 levels, concludes a new report by the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy. Canada will not achieve its 2020 GHG emission reductions target unless significant new, additional measures are taken. More will have to be done. No other conclusion is possible[ Read the report]

Canada’s Opportunity: Adopting Life Cycle Approaches for Sustainable Development

Canada’s Opportunity provides an overview of Life Cycle Approaches in use in Canada and elsewhere, the risks and opportunities related to their uptake, the conditions for their successful adoption in the private and public sectors, and identifies actions that the government can take to support their application.

It sets out the risks faced by Canadian companies that are unprepared for or unable to comply easily or quickly with existing or anticipated foreign government regulations that require product life cycle disclosure. It also identifies opportunities for companies that adopt a Life Cycle Approach to achieve better supply-chain performance, internal operation efficiencies, and increased institutional capacity to enhance innovation and support environmental stewardship. [Read the report]

Facing the Elements: Building Business Resilience in a Changing Climate

Our “Advisory Report” to government and “Business Primer” for companies set out practical information, advice, and recommendations on the business case for climate adaptation and how this can positively affect bottom lines. With practical case studies and real-world examples from “climate pacesetting companies”, we show what business and government can do now to build business resilience and ensure continued prosperity while facing the elements. [Read the reports]

Moving to Action: NRT National Water Forum Report

This report summarizes the discussions and deliberations of the NRT’s National Water Forum held in January 2012. It lays out a pathway to a proposed action plan to improve the management and governance of Canada’s water resources so they are sustainable for industry use. The Forum brought together experts from across Canada to discuss recommendations offered in the NRT report Charting a Course: Sustainable Water Use by Canada’s Natural Resource Sectors, and provide advice on how these could be put into action. [Read more]