NEWS

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Save the date for Sustainability Applied 2012: October 17-18, Toronto
To inspire change, build capacity and guide actions, the Bloom Centre for Sustainability (BLOOM) hosts and delivers an annual Sustainability Applied conference.

Grounded in practicality, this dynamic, interactive event brings together leaders and experts to demonstrate the business value of sustainability, and to share the paths they have navigated on their sustainability journey.

This year’s event will take place October 17-18 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Save the date and watch the Sustainability Applied website for details.

USEPA announces Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for power plants
In late December the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced standards to limit mercury, acid gases and other toxic pollution from power plants. Unless blocked by Congress or the courts, the new rule represents the first time the federal government has enforced limits on such emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, although more than a dozen states have imposed such regulations independently. Power plants generally have up to four years to comply. Once the rule is fully in effect the USEPA estimates it will prevent 90% of mercury and 88% of acid gas emissions from being emitted from coal burned power plants. The rule applies to 1,400 power-generation units at 600 coal or oil burning plants. About half the boilers lack what the UESPA considers advanced pollution control equipment and some are more than 50 years old.

Read more about this story in the New York Times or USEPA website.

City of London expands trials of “pollution glue”
In an effort to ensure that London, England meets legal air quality requirements, Transport of London is expanding trials of an innovative dust suppressant technology that ‘glues’ pollution to roads. The technology has been controversial since the unveiling of pilots last year, with green groups arguing that the Mayor’s office should deliver longer-term measures for reducing pollution before it’s created. The dust suppressants are a biodegradable saline solution, consisting of calcium magnesium acetate, which glues particles to the road, stopping them from re-circulating in the air. The Mayor has said this is just one of many short and long term measures the city will introduce to improve London’s are quality in 2012. Unless improvements occur London could face fines for violating European Union limits on particulate matter.

Read more about this story on Transport for London, Business Green and Yale Environment 360.

Call for Applications – Earth Day Canada Awards
Earth Day Canada is looking for applicants for the Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program (deadline January 31, 2012) and the Hometown Heroes Award Program (deadline March 30, 2012).

Through these programs Earth Day Canada provides scholarships and awards to students, individuals, community groups and small businesses across Canada with the goal or recognizing some of the country’s lesser-known environmental leaders.

View full details of both award programs on the Earth Day Canada website.

USEPA website to track largest GHG emitters
In early January the USEPA unveiled the Greenhouse Gas Emission Data Tool, an interactive website that allows users to track the total annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of power plants, oil refineries and large industrial facilities that make up 80% of the country’s output of GHGs. Based on 2010 data collected from more than 6,700 facilities across 9 major industries, the new tool is modeled on the USEPA’s 20-year-old toxins release inventory map. Site visitors can find facilities by industry, state and community and rank them by GHG emissions levels.

View the Greenhouse Gas Emission Data Tool and read more about the new website in the LA Times.

MOE Toxic Reduction Planning Training
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment is hosting ten technical training sessions on toxics reduction planning in January and February 2012. To register, please email toxics.reduction@ontario.ca

BLOOM On-site Technical Assistance Program
The BLOOM On-site technical Assistance Program website has been renovated: http://techassist.bloomcentre.com/

PUBLICATIONS

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Driving Adoption of Sustainable Water Solutions in the Ontario Food Processing Sector
In this new report, BLOOM examines the major issues and opportunities facing the Ontario Food Processing Sector related to sustainable water use.

The insights and recommendations in the report lay the foundation for action, to enable widespread adoption of sustainable water solutions that will improve the profitability and competitiveness of the sector.

Download the full report.

Water’s Next

Water magazine has released their second annual Water’s Next publication dedicated to recognizing Canadian leadership and achievements in the water sector.

Focused on 4 main categories: People, Projects, Business and Innovation, the publication features people and ideas that are making a difference in Canada’s waterscape and beyond.

View the full Water’s Next report.

Meeting C02 targets though cycling
According to a recent study by the European Cyclist’s Federation (ECF) the European Union (EU) could meet more than a quarter of the targeted emission reductions for the transportation sector if EU citizens were to cycle as much as citizens of Denmark (an average of 2.6km per day in 2000). The study quantified GHG emission savings from cycling compared with other modes of transportation including consideration of the production, maintenance and fuel (i.e. food) related to cycling. Findings indicate that emissions from cycling are over 10 times lower than those stemming from car use. Comparing cars, buses, electric bicycles and regular bikes, the report considers how cycling can help the EU achieve its 2050 GHG reduction targets for transportation.

Read the full report, Meeting C02 Targets Through Cycling.

VIDEO

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Obama rejects the Keystone pipeline
Watch a quick news clip from the Associated Press covering President Obama’s recent decision to reject the Keystone pipeline. Video: Obama rejects Keystone Pipeline

A short stroll through the Canadian boreal forest
Missing the great outdoors during these cold winter months? Take a short stroll through a Canadian boreal forest with Ray Mears as he examines interesting flora and fauna and think of nicer, warmer weather.

IMAGES

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Map shows US groundwater record lows
A map released by US scientists shows a steep drop in groundwater levels across much of Texas and other southern states following record-breaking drought conditions. The map shows the amount of groundwater stored underground in continental US at the end of November 2011 compared with the long-term average from 1948-2011. Click on the image below to read more.

Last year in images
Yale Environment 360 has put together an impressive slideshow featuring NASA satellite images that captured many of the extreme weather and major natural disasters of 2011. Click on the image below to view the full slideshow.

NEWS

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Save the Date for Sustainability Applied 2012
The Bloom Centre for Sustainability is currently finalizing plans for Sustainability Applied 2012. The two-day event will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on October 17 and 18, 2012. Please mark this date in your calendar, and stay tuned for exciting announcements to follow in early January 2012.

Recall at Sustainability Applied 2011, the sessions had consistently high quality content due to the caliber of the speakers and moderators, who shared their knowledge, insights and passion, and helped to bring Sustainability Applied alive for the delegates.

We look forward to seeing you at Sustainability Applied 2012!

Canada abandons the Kyoto Protocol on climate change
Hours after returning from the United Nations climate conference in Durban, Environment Minister Peter Kent confirmed that Canada will formally abandon the Kyoto Protocol, the world’s only legally binding plan to tackle global warming. Mr. Kent said that staying in Kyoto would cost Canada approximately $14-billion to purchase carbon credits abroad.

According to the Globe and Mail, recent estimates indicate that Canada’s emissions are more than 30% above the initial 2005 target to reduce emissions to 6% below 1990 levels. To date, actions taken by the federal and provincial governments would yield a quarter of the 17% reductions from 2005 levels by 2020 that Canada has promised to achieve.

Read more about Canada withdrawing from the Kyoto Protocol. For more information read a statement from Environment Minister Peter Kent.

Become an Ontario toxics reduction planner
The Ontario Ministry of Environment is inviting people interested in becoming licensed toxic substance reduction planners to join a Planner Mailing List that will keep potential applicants up-to-date. To register for the list, email toxics.reduction@ontario.ca with “planner” in the subject line.

The ministry is working to develop a training and licensing program to ensure that a sufficient number of qualified licensed planners exist to meet the requirements of the Toxics Reduction Act and the needs of the regulated community.

Read more about becoming a toxic reduction planner.

New research finds that air pollution alters frequency and intensity of precipitation
Using a decade of atmospheric data, a new U.S. study has found that air pollution can significantly alter the frequency and intensity of precipitation in a region, in some cases preventing light rain while increasing heavy storms. Scientists have found that high levels of aerosols, such as soot, dust and other particulate matter, can more than double the mean cloud height of convective clouds. Further, while cloud drops forming in cleaner air tend to be larger, in dirty air there are more, smaller drops that tend to float around and are slower to collide to form rain drops.

Researchers say the probability of heavy rain is doubled from clean to dirty locations, a dynamic that could have critical implications in the management and use of water resources in some regions.

Read more about the research on how air pollution alters the frequency and intensity of rainfall.

PUBLICATIONS

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Charting a Course: Sustainable Water Use by Canada’s Natural Resource Sectors
A new report from the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy argues that governments of all levels need to engage in a collaborative model of governance if Canada is to ensure the sustainability of its water supply, including improved forecasts of potential water demands and actual water quantity measurement techniques.

Further, recognizing that the natural resource sectors (e.g. agriculture, manufacturing, mining) use and consume more water than any other sectors, Canada should consider water pricing for its largest user.

Access the full report on sustainable water use by Canada’s natural resource sectors.

Managing a Complex Energy System – Results
The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario recently released volume two of the 2010 Energy Conservation Progress Report. With the government achieving two-thirds of an electricity conservation target, the main finding is that the Ontario government’s energy conservation achievements are substantial, but incomplete.

The report raises the concern that the value of conservation seems to have been lost in the public debates over energy, particularly when debating electricity prices or building new generating plants.

Access the full Ontario annual energy conservation progress report.

Study shows PERC remaining on dry cleaned clothing
A new study has found that some fabrics retain perchloroethylene (also known as PERC) after dry cleaning. The study found this to be particularly true for wool and to a lesser extent for polyester and cotton, however not for silk. According to the study it takes up to a week for garments to release half of the PERC they retain, whether or not they are wrapped in a dry cleaners plastic wrap. Further, it was found that PERC builds up with repeated dry cleaning.

PERC is a common dry cleaning solvent that is also used in textile processing and degreasing. Exposure to the chemical has been associated with many adverse effects, including headaches and neurological problems.

Access the full study. Read more about the dry cleaning study on the Environmental Law and Litigation blog or from the Living on Earth media program.

VIDEO

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Quick overview of the Durban COP17 talks
This short video features footage from inside the recent UN Climate Summit in Durban, South Africa. The talks ended with delegates reaching a deal aimed at extending the Kyoto Protocol by five more years and launching talks towards a successor treaty.

Official film for the United Nations International Year of Forests
The United Nations has recognized 2011 as the International Year of Forests. This video features beautiful aerial footage from around the globe and highlights the great ecological value of forests as well as the many challenges faced.

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Eye on Earth Network
The European Environment Agency with Microsoft recently introduced a network of online sites that map air, water and noise pollution levels based on government data and information uploaded by users. The Eye on Earth network was released during the climate talks in Durban and enables users to zoom in on monitoring stations across Europe to compare government rankings with public comments.

Visit the Eye on Earth Network and read more about it on Yale Environment 360.

NEWS

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Canada getting closer to 2020 target for GHG emissions reduction
A new report from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) estimates that new federal regulations coupled with provincial initiatives will achieve nearly half the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions Canada has targeted under the Copenhagen Accord. The Canadian Government is implementing policies that reduce GHG emissions by regulating new coal-fired power facilities and through vehicle efficiency standards to meet its target of 17% reduction in emissions from 2005 to 2020.

Read more about Canada’s GHG emission reduction progress.

At the same time, in a speech leading up to the COP 17 UN climate change talks beginning later this month, Environment Minister Peter Kent announced that Canada will not renew its Kyoto commitment. Minister Kent also reiterated the government’s position against imposing a carbon tax in Canada. $148.8 million will be distributed through 10 programs in 9 departments over the next 5 years for climate change adaptation.

Read more about Canada’s climate stance.

Environmental employers of the year awards
ECO Canada has announced the 7^th annual Environmental Employers of the Year Awards and are currently accepting applications. An opportunity to recognize environmental industry employers excelling in human resources, the awards also showcase innovation and inspire advancement in employee engagement.

Companies have until December 1^st to complete their application forms. Winners will be showcased at a formal event during GLOBE 2012 in Vancouver.

Read more about the Environmental Employers of the Year Awards.

Australia Senate backs carbon tax
Australia’s Senate recently approved a controversial law on pollution that will force the country’s 500 worst polluting companies (including mining firms, airlines, steel makers and energy firms) to pay a tax on their carbon emissions starting July 1^st of next year.

While environmentalists have strongly supported the plan, opposition parties have argued that the tax will cut jobs and increase the cost of living. The government has set the initial price per tonne of carbon at approximately $23 USD per tonne, which is higher than similar schemes. The government hopes that the legislation will create innovation in renewable energy supplies, helping to free Australia from its reliance on fossil fuels.

Read more about the Australia Senate’s decision on the carbon tax.

US identifies solar zones open for development in western states
The Obama administration’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released a plan that outlines where utility-scale solar power projects can be developed in the western United States. 17 proposed solar energy zones in 6 western states have been given the highest priority for solar development.

The BLM plan identifies 31,250 square miles where large-scale solar power projects could potentially be situated. The plan does not apply to 13 solar energy projects already being built or dozens more that are awaiting approval.

Read nore about the U.S.’s identified solar zones.

Abstract submission deadline
The deadline to submit abstracts for the 2012 National Training Conference on the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and Environmental Conditions in Communities is November 19.

NPPR is co-sponsoring this conference with the U.S. EPA and Environmental Council of States (ECOS).  Click here for more information on the call for abstract.

This is the conference to submit an abstract to if you were planning to submit to NPPR’s annual conference.

PUBLICATIONS

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Ethanol’s potential contribution to Canada’s transportation sector
A new report from the Conference Board of Canada assesses the economic impact, eco and health impacts as well as energy balance in producing ethanol.

The document concludes that ethanol is a clean transportation fuel that has a positive energy balance, reduces GHG emissions and contributes to energy self-sufficiency.

Access the full report: Ethanol’s Potential Contribution to Canada’s Transportation Sector.

Study suggests connection between premature births and traffic pollution

A new study published in the journal Environmental Health has found that exposure to traffic pollution can increase the risk of a woman having a premature birth by 30%.

Using data from an extensive network of air-quality monitoring stations and matching the data with where women lived, the findings are based on 100,000 births over 22-months in Los Angeles. While this isn’t the first study to indicate that pollution can be hazardous to developing fetuses, it is one of the largest research efforts to chart the distribution of exhaust fumes in an urban area.

Read more about the study linking premature births to traffic pollution.

Building the climate change regime: survey and analysis of approaches
A new paper published by the World Resource Institute and United Nations Environment Programme with support from the Government of Ireland has reviewed more than 130 proposals put forward by governments, NGOs and academics to design a climate regime capable of delivering adequate mitigation action. Leading up to the COP17 Climate Change Talks in Durban, South Africa, the report highlights the need to mobilize a range of public and private sector actors at the international, national and sub-national levels on issues such as climate governance, emission reductions and adaptation investments.

Read more about new research revealing pathways for action on climate change.

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Video of extinct woodpecker uncovered by U.S. scientists
Scientists have discovered an 85 second film of the imperial woodpecker, once considered the world’s largest woodpecker species but now thought to be extinct due to over-logging. The 16mm color film is the only known footage of the bird, which was 2 feet high and lived in the old-growth pine forest of Durango Mexico.

Tour the world’s fires
Using satellite data, aircraft and ground resources, NASA has created a visualization of the tens of millions of fires that have occurred worldwide over the last decade. The videos show the huge impact that fires have on the global environment each year as well as insights on where and how the distribution of fires is responding to climate change and population growth.

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Human development index
The Guardian newspaper has created a navigable map illustrating the data behind the Human Development Index released in early November. View the map to see how each country compares

10 most innovative cities in the world
The Huffington Post has put together a short slideshow on the top 10 ranked cities in the 2thinknow Innovation Cities Top 100 Index 2011. Toronto placed 10 in a ranking of 331 benchmark cities.

NEWS

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2011 October Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development
Environment Commissioner Scott Vaughan recently released a new report that expresses concern about the adequacy of the federal government’s information about greenhouse-gas emissions and oil sands pollution. Further, that there is a lack of understanding of how the broader environment around the oil sands is being affected.

The report also notes that the government has recognized it has significant shortcomings and is pursuing a plan to fix them. A new monitoring system introduced by the government in July examines the impact of the oil sands on biodiversity, air and water in the broader region, which in Mr. Vaughan’s report is identified as an important step forward. Read more about the Environment Commissioner’s greenhouse gas report.

Information Sessions: Advancing the Chemicals Management Plan
The federal government is hosting five webinars (three in English and two in French) to further explain key initiatives under the next phase of the Chemical Management Plan. The objective of these sessions is for federal officials to provide information on the Groupings initiative, its associated timeline and how stakeholders can participate. There is a maximum capacity of 250 participants per session, all scheduled for October. Interested parties are asked to register for the webinar of their choice on the Advancing the Chemicals Management Plan – information session website.

Nitrogen pollution rises off coast of China
A recent study published in Science indicates that levels of Nitrogen in the East China Sea, Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan have risen sharply over the last 30 years due to growing industrial and agricultural pollution. Threats to these Pacific waters have been identified as algal blooms and dead zones with low oxygen levels. In the water close to China, where nitrogen oxide pollution from coal-burning power plants and nitrogen run-off from fertilizers have soared, Nitrogen pollution was particularly acute. In one instance, the Korean researchers measured Nitrogen concentrations of 8 microliters per liter of water, which is 30 times higher than concentrations in the Gulf of Mexico where large algal blooms have appeared in recent years. Read more about the study of Nitrogen pollution off the coast of China.

New USEPA green product portal for design and purchasing
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has launched a new web tool called the green products web portal to help manufacturers find information on standards and criteria for designing greener products. The tool is also set-up to help Americans access information about everyday products like appliances and cleaning products that can save money, prevent pollution and protect people’s health. The web portal was launched as part of the USEPA’a Pollution Prevention Week. Read more about the green products web portal.

PUBLICATIONS

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How do consumers identify sustainable products and services?
A recent study by My Sustainable Canada provides a portrait of the Canadian consumer’s green purchasing behavior. In a multi-staged study, researchers intercepted shoppers outside retail stores in Guelph and Montreal, asking them about their purchases. In a following stage, these shoppers were asked to complete an in-home inventory of sustainable products. The actual sustainability of their products and services was completed to create a sustainability index for comparing information provided by the 104 participating households. Access the full Canadian sustainable consumption report.

Great Lakes Water Agreement 2009-2011 Priority Cycle Report on Chemicals of Emerging Concern
In advance of the Biennial Meeting of the Joint Commission (IJC) in October, the IJC released the Great Lakes Water Agreement 2009-2011 Priority Cycle Report on Chemicals of Emerging Concern. In the US and Canada, very few of the identified compounds have regulations governing their release into the environment and discharges from wastewater treatment plants are a significant source of contaminants to surface water in the Great Lakes basin. Identified chemicals of emerging concern include newly formulated chemicals and extremely tiny materials used in cosmetics, paints, electronics and other products as well as chemicals used in everyday household products. View the full Chemicals of Emerging Concern report.

SmartMarket Report Business Benefits of Green Buildings: building & occupant performance driving green investment in existing commercial buildings
This report provides data, analysis and market insights into the key business benefits of green buildings, such as tenant improvement, building performance, and the impact of buildings on productivity, health and well-being. Charts throughout the report present detailed information on green investment returns with respect to business benefits, productivity and tenant/occupant satisfaction. The report was released by McGraw-Hill Construction, CM Richard Ellis and the University of San Diego’s Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate at the 2010 Greenbuild conference. Access the full SmartMarket Report Business Benefits of Green Buildings.

VIDEO

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Vintage Tar Sands footage
This short video found on Grist.org and produced by Energy Now, features vintage footage of Canada’s tar sands from 1942. Promoting “Canada’s New Oil Reserves” it’s an interesting look into Canada’s energy past.

Climate Reality Project Highlights
Founded and Chaired by Al Gore, the Climate Reality Project is focused on bringing facts about the climate crisis into mainstream and engaging the public in conversation about how to solve it. The Project recently hosted the event 24 Hours of Reality, which featured 24 presenters in 24 time zones and 13 languages discussing climate change. The video below features some of the highlights from the event.

Cycling for Everyone
An inspirational piece for urban cyclists, this video takes a look at the evolution of Dutch cycling infrastructure and the creation of the Dutch Cycling Embassy.

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Infographic: What does it mean to be eco-friendly?
This infographic presents a concise visual on what it means to be eco-friendly, from defining “eco-friendly” to outlining eco-labels, lifecycle stages, green-washing and more.

NEWS

Environment Canada job cuts and reversal on shutdown of water monitoring stations in NWT
Early August brought news that more than 700 jobs will be cut within Environment Canada, including meteorologists, chemists, biologists and other scientists.

Following an announcement in the legislature of the Northwest Territories that these cuts would affect their federal water monitoring stations, aboriginal leaders and environmentalists publicly expressed shock, prompting the Prime Minister to reverse the decision by stating that such a move was not authorized and that the monitoring stations will be started up again. Read more…

President Obama scraps tough smog regulation
President Obama is facing strong criticism from environmentalists and left-leaning supporters following a decision to withdraw the draft Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The President has said the proposed clean-air regulation, which aimed to reduce smog pollution from power plants and factories, was withdrawn to reduce regulatory burdens on business. Business groups and Republicans are supporting the decision, arguing that tougher regulations would cost thousands of jobs and hurt the struggling economy.

Democrats expressed disappointment over the decision, and environmentalists have indicated they’re concerned the President is moving away from promises to protect the environment, citing that the administration also appears poised to approve the Keystone pipeline to import Canadian tar sands oil. Read more…

Ray Anderson, corporate sustainability leader, dies at 77
Ray Anderson, Chairman and Founder of the world’s largest carpet manufacturing company, Interface Inc., passed away in early-August from cancer. Mr. Anderson was one of North America’s best-known corporate advocates for environmental sustainability, making Interface Inc. a leading green business after an epiphany in 1994 inspired by Paul Hawken’s book The Ecology of Commerce.

We were grateful to have Nadine Gudz, Director, Sustainability Strategy at InterfaceFLOR share some of Mr. Anderson’s insights at The Bloom Centre for Sustainability’s recent Sustainability Applied 2011 event in June. Mr. Anderson will be missed but his teachings and inspirational example will not be forgotten.

Mr. Anderson delivered thousands of speeches and wrote two books that helped change corporate attitudes to the role of business in society. Read more…

New alliance examines world water shortage risk
The World Resource Institute with corporate, academic and non-profit partners have launched the Aqueduct Alliance, a consortium of leading water experts that aim to assess and respond to the increasing water shortage risk globally.

A recent survey of 150 large corporations found 40% of respondents had experienced disruptions in operations, increases in expenses and other detrimental impacts related to water shortages.

The Aqueduct Alliance will be creating a global database of water risk maps with an unprecedented level of detail and resolution. These maps will combine advanced hydrological data with geographically specific indicators of social, economic and governance factors that affect companies and economies. Read more…

Plastic footprinting the focus of new international initiative
An international initiative launching this fall, will ask hundreds of companies to assess their use and recycling of plastics. The Hong Kong-based Ocean Recovery Alliance will operate the Plastic Disclosure Project, through which they are hoping to draw attention to the vast amount of plastic waste entering the environment.

According to the United Nations Environment Program, approximately 10% of the 300 million tons of plastic produced each year is recycled and close to 7 million tons end up in the world’s oceans. Read more…

PUBLICATIONS

New Consumerology Report: environment moves down list of top issues facing Canadians
According to Bensimon Byrne’s latest Consumerology Report, the environment has lost its status as one of the top five issues facing Canadians, with 49% ranking it as very important. This is down 11 points since the report was last published in 2008.

Researchers found that with financial pressures facing Canadians, many report that being environmentally responsible is unaffordable. Only 23% of Canadians report being motivated to make personal changes to benefit the environment.

While the research indicates that companies should think carefully when positioning their brand around the environment, it also found that Canadians would be more likely to buy products that use less packaging (52%), were recyclable (52%) and reusable (49%). Read more…

The Gallon Environment Letter (vol. 16, no. 5, Aug 30, 2011) recently provided an analysis of the new Consumerology report, in which author Colin Isaacs questions the findings, particularly that “the environment has fallen off the radar” for Canadians.  A main concern raised in the article is that “Bensimon’s analysis suffers seriously from only having two data points, one from July 2008 and one from August 2011. In our opinion, two data points is hardly enough to establish a trend.”

Canada won’t meet 2020 carbon emission reduction target
A 2011 analysis by the National Round Table on the Environment and Economy (NRTEE) has found that Canada likely won’t achieve its 2020 emissions reduction target.

The latest Government of Canada Kyoto Implementation Plan was published in June of 2011 pursuant to the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act, which also outlines that NRTEE must carry out an independent assessment plan within 60 days of publication.

While the analysis indicates that Environment Canada’s integrated modeling provides an improved basis for estimating emissions and reductions, as well as improved transparency in the data and methodologies presented, modeling indicates domestic initiatives are unlikely to achieve Canada’s reduction target. Read more…

VIDEOS

Shared urbanization for a green future: Alex Steffen at TED
Alex Steffen, founder of the influential World Changing, has long supported the idea of sustainably developing cities as a way to deal with climate change. In this TED Talk he explains how smart urbanization can help the world’s population become greener. Click the image below to view the presentation.

Smart Transportation: building complete communities and a zero-emission transportation system in BC
Recognizing that 40% of BC’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has created the video below to consider how to address this in the face of climate change. The video outlines two main commitments that need to be made now to create a zero-emission transportation system over the next 30 years.

PHOTOS

Infographic: world food security
A recent post on the Guardian’s Environment Blog shared the below map of food security risk around the world. Outlining a number of familiar points – Sub-saharan Africa with dire food shortages and richer nations with food surpluses – there’s also interesting detail for India and the possible vulnerability of Spain. Read more…

NEWS

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Proposed guideline for cadmium in children’s jewelry
Health Canada has proposed guidelines to restrict the amount of cadmium in children’s jewelry to 130 ppm recognizing the health risks posed to children if they ingest cadmium-containing plastic trinkets. Lead has long been banned from children’s jewelry, which has resulted in manufacturer’s increasingly using cadmium as a replacement. The government will be collecting feedback on the proposed guidelines until October 10.

Click HERE for details on the consultation and read more about this story HERE.

Promising green technologies funded
The federal government recently announced a $53 million investment in 17 new clean technology projects through Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC).

The funding will help innovative clean technology projects from across the country reach a stage of commercialization, helping to protect the environment and create high-quality jobs in the process.

SDTC’s SD Tech Fund has completed 18 funding rounds to date, committing $548 million to 223 clean technology projects. Read more…

Vancouver ranks 2nd in greenest city index
The recent US and Canada Green City Index compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit has identified San Francisco as the greenest major city with Vancouver ranking 2nd overall. The study commissioned by Siemens, compares 27 major US and Canadian cities on environmental performance and policies in 9 categories including energy, land use, building, transport, water, waste, air quality and environmental governance. Vancouver received top ratings for its carbon footprint and air quality management, however was rated below Ottawa for land use, Calgary for water use and Toronto for waste management measures. One of the key findings of the study was that cities that performed best in the rankings have comprehensive sustainability plans. Further, while a correlation was found between wealth and environmental performance, the connection is weaker in the US and Canada than it is in Europe and Asia. Read more…

Judge sets deadline for Ottawa to protect caribou
A federal court judge has ruled that the federal government needs to present a promised national recovery plan for caribou by September 1st after environmental and aboriginal groups went to federal court to request emergency protection for caribou habitat under the Species at Risk Act. Scientists have been documenting the collapse of the woodland caribou in northeastern Alberta for more than a decade, with some predicting caribou will be gone within 30 years, largely due to habitat destruction related to forestry, oil and gas wells, seismic lines and pipelines. Ottawa has missed the legal deadline for creating a recovery plan by 4 years. Read more…

Sustainable Chemistry Summit, Sept 16-18, Kinston, ON
GreenCentre Canada is in the final stages of planning their inaugural Sustainable Chemistry Summit in Kingston Ontario, September 16-18. This one-of-a-kind event brings together chemistry researchers, industry professionals, technology transfer managers, and government representatives to address the importance of moving green chemistry innovations from “Lab to Market.” Read more…

PUBLICATIONS

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Measuring and valuing environmental impacts
This report is designed to help senior executives and decision-makers new to sustainability choose the right tools to measure their company’s environmental impact.

Produced by the Network for Business Sustainability, the report is a high-level guide that presents a condensed version of NBS’s systematic review of a much larger body of research on measuring and valuing environmental impacts.

Read more…

Study shows dirty dozen being released through climate change
A recently study indicates that persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are being released into the arctic atmosphere from snow, ice and ocean soil as the region warms. Considered semi-volatile, with the ability to be evaporated out of storage if the temperature is warm enough, POPs can travel long distances on air currents, persist in food and water supplies and bio-accumulate in the fat of humans and animals. These chemicals have been linked to serious health problems and many are banned under the Stockholm Convention international treaty. Read more…

Fish of the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” ingesting plastic waste
Researchers have estimated that between 12,000 and 24,000 tons of plastic are being ingested by fish in the Northern Pacific “garbage patch” each year.

The majority of fish examined were myctophids, which play an important role connecting plankton at the base of the food chain with higher trophic levels.

The researchers have further estimated the incidence at which plastic is entering the food chain, for which they think there are potential impacts however have stated these will require more research. Read more…

Meat Eater’s Guide – a ranking of the CO2 footprint of foods
According to a new study by the Environmental Working Group, lamb, beef and cheese generate the most greenhouse gases.

Using cradle-to-grave life-cycle assessment, the study ranked 20 popular meat, fish, dairy and vegetable proteins.

View the full report HERE .

You can also read more about this story HERE.

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Solar Energy Power in Ontario
Check out this new short film produced by the Solar Income Fund in support of the global PV industry and the Ontario Green Energy and Economy Act. It features some interesting facts about the solar energy industry and Ontario’s role. Click the image below to view the full video.

How wind and solar can help solve the global water crisis
In this short video from Treehuger.com, Rina Bohle Zeller of Vestas (the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturer) outlines how the generation of electricity from solar or wind consumes a relatively small amount of water compared with other sources. She also touches on water consumption for carbon capture and storage.

Bikeshare in Minneapolis
This video from grist.org provides a great overview of how urban bike share programs operate with a particular focus on the Nice Ride program in Minneapolis. This year, Nice Ride will expand to 116 stations and 1200 bikes across the city.

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In honour of summer vacations, take a virtual trip to BC’s Great Bear Rainforest with this slideshow from National Geographic featuring dramatic images of BC’s Great Bear Rainforest and rare white Kermode Bears (also known as “Spirit Bears”). Click on the image below to view the full collection.

Sustainability Applied 2011 was held June 9-10 at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts in Windsor, Ontario.

A results-driven, interactive event, Sustainability Applied 2011 focused on inspiring and driving action on sustainability and breaking down barriers to change. It highlighted experiences, approaches and expertise of leaders and practitioners on the practical application of sustainability solutions in the private and public sectors.

The event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, especially the lead sponsorship provided by the Ontario Ministry of Environment.

We would also like to extend our thanks to the members of the advisory panel who contributed ideas, suggestions and valuable support throughout the planning process.

103 delegates from across North America attended Sustainability Applied 2011, including representatives from a variety of sectors: Industry/Business: 43; Government: 23; Consulting: 17; NGO: 11; Academia: 7; and Labour: 2.

The program maximized opportunities for discussion, networking, information exchange, creating new business relationships and motivating action amongst participants. The interactive sessions, lead by a remarkable group of facilitators, worked to frame sustainability issues and discuss opportunities to apply and implement solutions to enhance competitiveness, minimize business risks and reduce our environmental footprint.

Sustainability Applied 2011 began with the June 9 evening Gala. The evening featured a jazz trio, networking, keynote presentations and the presentation of the annual John de Gonzague Pollution Prevention Visionary Award to Joanne Di Caro, who is the Manager of Environmental Monitoring and Protection for City of Toronto, and a long-time pollution prevention leader.

On June 10, the Honourable John Wilkinson, Minister of the Environment, Ontario gave the opening keynote address. Session themes throughout the day included:

• Creating business value with sustainability integration
• Motivating adoption of industrial energy efficiency practices
• Toxics reduction/pollution prevention as a catalyst for reducing business risks and enhancing business value
• Integrating sustainability in manufacturing industries
• Water and its value throughout the supply chain
• Greening the supply chain
• Toolkits, practices and metrics for enabling industrial sustainability

The sessions had consistently high quality content due to the calibre of the speakers and moderators, who shared their knowledge, insights and passion, and helped to bring Sustainability Applied alive for the delegates. One delegate summarized the experience: “Sustainability Applied 2011 was a success – great conference. When you get the right people talking about this important issue it can be quite invigorating. The broad cross-section of topics, speakers and attendees gave us an opportunity to discuss and share ideas and success stories, as well as identify how far we all need to go to build a sustainable future.”

A collection of resources from Sustainability Applied 2011 can be found online including:

• Agenda
• Photo Gallery
• Testimonials
• Speakers
• John De Gonzague Memorial Pollution Prevention Visionary Award
• Sponsors
• And more

We encourage you to join us for Sustainability Applied 2012, planned for October next year in Toronto. We will be announcing details of the event here as they become available.

On a final note, we were pleased to have a number of delegates from the National Environmental Sustainability Summit (NESS), held in Detroit June 7-9, join us for Sustainability Applied 2011. The NESS brought together nearly 250 professionals from across the United States and Canada. The latest edition of P2Post focusses on some of the event’s highlights and can be accessed HERE.

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NEWS

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Canada blocks inclusion of chrysotile asbestos as a hazardous substance
The United Nations has confirmed that Canada single-handedly blocked the listing of chrysotile asbestos as a hazardous substance under the Rotterdam Convention at a recent summit in Switzerland. Vietnam, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan initially held the same position as Canada but changed sides after India announced it supported listing asbestos as hazardous. This move left Canada as the sole opposing party. Listing asbestos as hazardous under the Convention would force exporters such as Canada to warn importers of health hazards and allow recipient countries to refuse asbestos imports if they felt unable to handle the product safely. Read more…

British Columbia first carbon neutral senior government
The BC provincial government has become the first carbon neutral senior government in North America. This commitment, outlined in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act, applies to all provincial public sector operations.

These organizations have measured their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reduced the emissions as much as possible, offset the remaining emissions and reported publicly plans and actions to reduce emissions.

Read more…

WindMade label for companies makes US debut
The first consumer label for companies using wind energy was introduced in the US on Global Wind Day in mid-June.

The proposed standard requires participating companies to use at least 25% wind powered electricity.

A public consultation on the standard will be held until August 15, after which companies are expected to start applying for the final standard in September.

Read more…

Great Lakes mayors call for new bi-national commitment
Mayors of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative are asking the US and Canadian federal governments to build on the US Great Lakes Restoration Initiative with a bi-national sustainable commitment to the region, supported with long-term funding. The mayors are looking for investment in solutions to eutrophication, climate change adaptation, protecting shorelines and preserving wetlands, initiatives, which they suggest, are complementary to major investments needed to address water infrastructure deficits in both countries.

Read more…

PUBLICATIONS

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Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has released the 7th edition of the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. The study highlights the worst offenders by total pesticide load with the “Dirty Dozen” list and cleanest conventional produce with the “Clean 15” list. This year’s Dirty Dozen list is topped by apples, which jumped 3 spots from last year’s ranking to replace celery as the most contaminated with pesticides. 98% of the more than 700 apple samples tested showed the presence of pesticides. First appearances in the report include cilantro, green onions, cranberries and mushrooms.

Read more…

Most firms failing on water risk management
A new report released by EIRIS has found that a very small proportion of large companies are adequately managing risks related to water shortages, drought and pollution.

The report surveyed 3,000 large companies globally identified as exposed to water risks. Of these, only 0.22% were found to adequately be managing these risks. A main finding is that data quality on water exposure is lacking.

Read more…

Trends and Best Practices in Municipal Sustainable Purchasing
Reeve Consulting and the Municipal Collaboration for Sustainable Purchasing recently released the first annual Trends and Best Practices in Canadian Municipal Sustainable Purchasing report, the most comprehensive discussion of municipal sustainable purchasing and ethical sourcing in Canada to date. Beyond revealing key trends across the country and valuable best practices, the report offers a national snapshot of how Canadian municipalities are implementing sustainable purchasing programs.

Read more…

VIDEO

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Bee Season
This beautifully shot video focuses on a bee-keeping project in Hong Kong called HK Honey. Combining images of bees in their hives with the busy streets and buildings of Hong Kong, the short film highlights bees as a reminder of a lost connection with nature. Read more…

Digital debris: the toxic path of electronic waste
This short video shares some new facts for those interested in the export of e-waste to China. Examining the “cottage industry” of e-waste recyclers, implications of the US TV stations’ switch from analog to digital and increasing popularity of electronic recycling programs, the film provides a fresh look at the toxic path of electronic waste.

City of Edmonton sustainable purchasing
The City of Edmonton has a sustainable purchasing policy to inform the buying of products across the organization. To assist staff in following the policy when making purchases on behalf of the City, the following video was created that outlines 3 simple rules. Click on the image below to watch the short video.

IMAGES

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Great walking cities slideshow
Grist.org has put together a slideshow of some of the greatest walking cities in the world, as nominated by Grist readers.

Join us for Sustainability Applied 2011, June 9-10, Windsor Ontario
Sustainability Applied 2011 will be a practical, interactive event focused on inspiring and driving action on sustainability and breaking down barriers to change. It will highlight experiences, approaches and expertise of leaders and practitioners on the practical application of sustainability solutions in the private and public sectors.

Experts across these sectors will be collaborating to frame sustainability issues and discuss opportunities to apply and implement solutions to enhance competitiveness, minimize business risks and reduce our environmental footprint.

The program is being developed with guidance from an external Advisory Committee and thoughtfully designed to maximize opportunities for discussion, networking, information exchange, creating new business relationships and motivating action amongst participants.

Learn more about the event at sustainabilityapplied2011.com.

NEWS

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Vancouver named top climate change fighter by WWF
According to the World Wildlife Fund, the City of Vancouver tops the charts of Canadian cities leading the fight against climate change. Based on indicators including cutting greenhouse gas emissions, using renewable energy and encouraging green building and transportation, Vancouver beat out second-place Toronto and third-place Montreal. The top 10 list is rounded out with Victoria, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Hamilton, Halifax, Mississauga and Yellowknife. Read more about this story HERE.

In other municipal sustainability news, Corporate Knights recently released a focus piece titled The 2011 Most Sustainable Cities in Canada, which ranks the most sustainable large Canadian urban centres. Read more HERE.

Canada fights EU’s dirty fuel label of oil sands
The European Union is preparing to apply a dirty fuel label to Canada’s oil sands, a move that would increase political pressure on Europe’s major oil companies to curb their investments in the Alberta projects. Along with the oil industry, the Canadian government has pursued an aggressive strategy in the United States and Europe to defend the oil sands. While Canada does not currently export oil to Europe, there are fears the EU’s labeling of the oil sands as an undesirable fuel source would provide momentum to similar efforts in the United States.

Read more about this story HERE.

Call for nominations – John de Gonzague Memorial P2 Visionary Award
If you know an extraordinary P2 leader, OCETA invites you to nominate them for the John de Gonzague Memorial Pollution Prevention (P2) Visionary Award. Each year, the Award recognizes an individual who inspires and achieves excellence in advancing pollution prevention. The annual award will be presented at this year’s Sustainability Applied 2011 gala in Windsor, Ontario on the evening of June 9. The recipient will have had an outstanding impact on the vision and implementation of pollution prevention strategies, programs, projects and partnerships. The deadline for submissions is April 22, 2011.

Submit an online nomination form HERE.

Ontario Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence
Ontario’s Ministry of Environment recently announced the new Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence to recognize outstanding achievements, leadership and innovation in environmental protection. This year the award will focus on two areas in particular – toxics reduction and water protection & conservation. The Ministry encourages you to nominate a friend, community member or business in recognition of their efforts to help protect and conserve our environment. The deadline for nominations is May 6.

Read more about the award HERE.

PUBLICATIONS

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A Green Economy for Canada: Consulting with Canadians
The Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy (CIELAP) has released a new report outlining perspectives from thought leaders across Canada on what a Green Economy could mean for Canada in preparation for the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development. The report outlines that impressive advances are being made towards a green economy across the country through the use of a mix of financial mechanisms, regulation, procurement, investments in R&D and infrastructure, education and skills training.

Download the full report HERE.

A Forest of Blue: Canada’s Boreal
According to a new report by the Pew Environmental Group, Canada’s 1.3 billion acre boreal forest contains more unfrozen freshwater than any other ecosystem on the planet. With approximately 25% of the world’s wetlands, millions of lakes, and thousands of rivers, the boreal forest contains about 197 million acres of freshwater. The Canadian boreal forest has been increasingly targeted for large-scale industrial activities including forestry, road building, mining, oil and gas extraction and hydropower. While more than 12% of the boreal is currently protected, the report recommends more water-focused conservation efforts.

Download the full report HERE.

VIDEO

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Cleaner and Greener Manufacturing Workshop, Timmins, ON
OCETA in partnership with Canadian Manufacturer’s and Exporters (CME) recently delivered a Cleaner and Greener Manufacturing Workshop in Timmins, Ontario to mining operations staff. The videos of presentations delivered during the two-day workshop provide an overview of the Toxics Reduction Act, Environmental Value Stream Mapping, Root Cause Analysis and Developing a Business Case for pollution prevention planning. The videos are made available through the Cleaner and Greener Manufacturing Web Portal, set-up to help businesses find and share best practices. Click on the image below to view the full collection of presentation videos.

Sustainability in Action: Young Minds, Smart Choices
An OCETA video production, Sustainability in Action is an upbeat demonstration of the many ways students are taking action to reduce their environmental footprint in schools, and an inspiration for others to implement sustainable practices at schools across Ontario and beyond.  The video features Anderson C.V.I.’s EcoSchools Committee from Whitby, Ontario, and was produced in partnership with the Durham District School Board with the financial support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

IMAGES

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The Earthship: Touring the ultimate in sustainable housing
A few minutes drive outside Taos, New Mexico is a community of some of the most sustainable houses in North America. Known as the World Headquarters of Earthships, the houses operate off the grid, feature passive solar design and are largely constructed of re-purposed materials. Click on the image below to view some of the highlights of an Earthship home.

Infographic: world carbon dioxide emissions data by country
The Guardian has produced a graphic showing the relative size of CO2 emissions by nation. The map shows a world where established economies have large – but declining – carbon emissions, which the new economic giants are growing rapidly. Click on the image below to learn more.

NEWS

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Sustainability Applied 2011, Jun 9-10, Windsor, ON
Planning is underway for Sustainability Applied 2011 (formerly the Canadian Pollution Prevention Roundtable), a practical results-driven, interactive event focused on driving positive sustainable behavior through the sharing and showcasing of experiences, approaches and expertise of leaders in the application of sustainability for private and public sectors. Presented by OCETA and C2P2, the event will be held in Windsor, Ontario June 9-10, 2011 at the Cleary Conference Centre.

Stay tuned for details being announced in coming weeks, including the call for speakers.

National Environmental Sustainability Summit, June 7-9, Detroit, MI
Sustainability Applied 2011 closely follows the US-based National Environmental Sustainability Summit (NESS) taking place earlier in the week,  June 7-9, in Detroit, MI. The theme for this year’s event is Partnering to Grow the Green Economy.

A short drive to Windsor, ON, we invite all delegates attending the NESS to join us at Sustainability Applied 2011 to share expertise, experiences and lessons learned.

View full details of the NESS online HERE.

Canada–US Air Quality Agreement marks 20 years of success
This week marks the 20th anniversary of the Air Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States. Signed in 1991, the agreement is considered one of the most successful international accords designed to reduce emissions that cause acid rain and smog. According to Environment Canada, Canadian emissions causing acid rain have been cut in half since 1990 and emissions causing smog have been reduced by one-third. Further, since the addition of the Ozone Annex to the agreement in 2000, Canada has been able to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by a third in the central Ontario and southern Quebec regions defined under the agreement. Read the full news release HERE.

China unveils plan to cut heavy metal pollutant emissions
In late February China’s Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to curb heavy metal pollution in a bid to cut widespread industrial contaminants like lead. China, the world’s top consumer and producer of lead, has struggled to rein in polluting industry under lax environmental regulations and a rapidly growing economy. In recent years a number of major heavy metal poisoning incidents, including lead poisoning in children, have drawn public attention and anger. In the most recently released plan, Beijing will aim to cut pollution in key regions and industries (including lead-acid battery manufacturing and lead smelting) by 15% of 2007 levels by 2015. The plan will include provisions to make local officials accountable for reduction targets. Read more HERE.

Decline of honeybees is global
The collapse of honeybee populations is becoming a global phenomenon according to a recent report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Declines in managed bee colonies, documented increasingly in the US and Europe, are now being observed in China and Japan and there are first signs of an African collapse from Egypt. A number of factors may now be coming together to cause the collapse of these key pollinators, ranging from declines in flowering plants and the use of damaging insecticides, to the worldwide spread of pests and air pollution. The authors of the report present a stark warning about the disappearance of bees and suggest farmers and landowners should be offered incentives to restore pollinator-friendly habitats, including key flowering plants near crop-producing fields. They also stress that more care needs to be taken in the choice, timing and application of insecticides and other chemicals. Read more HERE.

Canadian Government invests in Great Lakes clean-up
Early this month Environment Canada drew attention to the Government of Canada’s added efforts to help cleanup the Great Lakes as part of Canada’s Great Lakes Action Plan. An additional $2.8 million will be provided to 43 projects supported by the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund (GLSF) to advance remediation and clean up of Canadian Great Lakes Areas of Concern. Areas of focus include fish and wildlife habitat restoration, contaminated sediment remediation, landowner stewardship, and control of pollution from municipal wastewaters and rural runoff. The GLSF, which is administered by Environment Canada, works in partnership with other agencies and local community stakeholders to advance Remedial Action Plans that have been developed for each of Canada’s remaining Areas of Concern within the Great Lakes Basin. Funding is provided to initiatives that meet specific criteria and that serve to restore the environment. Read more HERE.

RESOURCES

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Business Value of Toxics Reduction and Pollution Prevention Planning
OCETA’s experience shows that companies need a mix of strategies to make a business case to implement pollution prevention and sustainability measures. A new report available through the OCETA website includes an analysis of the business value of pollution prevention planning and toxics use reduction for 63 Toronto Region Sustainability Program (TRSP) clients, based on environmental performance improvements and the financial metrics of cost avoidance, business risk reduction and competitive advantage.

Download the report HERE.

Cleaner and Greener Manufacturing Resources
While at the OCETA website, you may also be interested in the recent Cleaner and Greener Manufacturing Program 2010-11 Report available for download HERE.

For more information on Cleaner and Greener manufacturing, check-out the Cleaner and Greener Manufacturing Web Portal. This resource on the CME website is a one-window information-sharing web portal, where companies can download toxics reduction resources, share toxics use reduction experiences and use web-based software to develop their toxics reduction plan consistent with Ontario’sToxics Reduction Act, 2009.

Safe Drinking Water Poilcy for Canada: Turning hindsight into foresight
According to a recent study released by the C.D. Howe Institute, a decade after the Walkerton and North Battleford drinking water outbreaks, much of Canada lags international leaders in adopting management systems for assuring safe drinking water. The reports suggests that despite some clear progress in individual provinces, Canada, and small communities in particular, need a system that better promotes and rewards competence among drinking water providers. View the full report HERE.

If you would like to read more about water quality in Canada, a recent article by Corporate Knights reviews the Walkerton tragedy and questions if Canada has adequately applied the lessons learned from this event. Read the full post HERE.

You may also be interested in a recent post on the blog Environmental Law and Litigation by Diane Saxe which provides a review of Health Canada’s new Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality prepared by the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water. Read the full posts HERE.

Households and the Environment Report, 2009
Statistics Canada recently released results of the Households and the Environment Survey from 2009 which found that more households were participating in measures to conserve energy, reduce water use and purchasing more environmentally friendly cleaning products. Common energy conservation measures reported by households included the use of programmable thermostats, energy efficient light bulbs and the use of a clothesline or drying rack as an alternative to a clothes dryer. The report also shows more households investing in water conservation measures through low-flow showerheads, low-volume toilets and in some cases rain water catchment systems. The report additionally provides information on household hazardous waste, bottled water and radon awareness and testing practices. Read more HERE.

VIDEOS

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Bus Rapid Transit
This short video provides an introduction to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and its multiple benefits. BRT has 3 main features: 1) exclusive bus lanes, physically separated 2) stations that allow easy and rapid boarding, and 3) bus priority at intersections. South America is the current leader in BRT. Click on the image below to view the video.

A Chemical Reaction: the story of a true green revolution
“A Chemical Reaction” is a 70 minute feature documentary that tells the story of an effective community initiative lead by dermatologist Dr. June Irwin, who in 1984 noticed a connection between her patients health conditions and their exposure to chemical pesticides and herbicides. Click on the image below to view a short trailer.

IMAGES

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Petropolis: Aerial Perspectives of the Alberta Tar Sands
Shot primarily from a helicopter, Petropolis offers an unparalleled view of the Alberta tar sands. Click on the image below to visit the Petropolis website to view a trailer of the film as well as a collection of aerial photos.

NEWS

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Record Low Arctic Sea Ice Extent Reported for January

The U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) has reported that Arctic sea ice was at its lowest extent ever recorded for January since satellite records began. Sea ice was reported as unusually low in Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait and Davis Strait in early winter and these areas did not completely freeze over until mid-January, a process which usually takes place by late November. One explanation for the lack of sea ice is a change in the arctic oscillation.

Read more about this story HERE.

2011 FCM Sustainable Community Award Winners Announced

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has unveiled the winners of the 2011 Sustainable Communities Awards, a program that recognizes municipal environmental projects across Canada that demonstrate excellence in environmental responsibility. The Awards are designed to draw attention to projects that may inspire other municipalities to undertake similar initiatives. Top honours are awarded in 9 categories including brownfields, buildings, energy, integrated neighbourhood development, planning, residential development, transportation, waste and water.

View the full list of winners as well as summaries of their winning projects HERE.

Hometown Heroes Awards Call for Applications

Applications are currently being accepted for the Hometown Heroes Award Program which recognizes environmental leaders (individuals, groups and organizations) who foster meaningful, long-term community awareness and action.

The deadline for applications is April 22, 2011.

View the Hometown Heroes website for full program details HERE.

PUBLICATIONS

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Canadian Business Sustainability Priorities 2011

The Network for Business Sustainability has released a new report that identifies the greatest challenges facing Canadian businesses attempting to implement sustainable practices in 2011.

Framed in the form of 10 questions defining sustainability priorities for the year, two of the questions have been selected for further investigation.

View more details and download the full report HERE.

Primer on Energy Systems in Canada

Pollution Probe has released a new report that presents a comprehensive look at energy in Canada, including an overview of related resources, challenges and opportunities.

The purpose of the primer is to enhance Canadians’ level of energy literacy and foster a more productive dialogue on the future of energy management in Canada.

Download the full report HERE.

Climate Change Study Provides GHG Emissions for 100 Cities in 33 Nations

The International Institute for Environment and Development has compiled a study that examines greenhouse gas emissions for 100 cities in 33 nations based on per person per year measures. The results illustrate the most polluting cities with some surprises related to the production and consumption patterns varying within countries and even within cities. Read an overview of the study HERE.

The paper will appear in the April 2011 edition of the journal Environment and Urbanization but is currently available on-line through the journal’s ‘on-line first’ facility.

VIDEO

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The Warriors of Quigang: A Chinese Village Fights Back

A film co-produced by one of our favorite online environmental news resources, Yale Environment 360, has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject). The video report chronicles the story of the Chinese village Qiugang and its battle against a polluting chemical factory. The video is featured exclusively on the Yale Environment 360 website and can be watched in its entirety by clicking the image below.

First Aerial Footage of Un-contacted Amazon Tribe Released

Survival International has released stunning footage of some of the world’s last un-contacted tribes. Shot near the Brazil-Peru border and filmed by the BBC in collaboration with the Brazillian government, the footage is being used by Survival International as part of a campaign to stop illegal logging from the Peru side of the border; activity which endangers the survival of these remote populations. View a trailer of the footage by clicking on the image below.

First Pollution Detecting Clothing

Two graduate students in New York University’s interactive telecommunication program have developed the ‘Warning Signs’ line of clothing to draw attention to air pollution. Currently consisting of two shirts, one featuring a heart and the other with a set of lungs, the organs have veins that glow blue when in contact with high levels of carbon monoxide. View more details and videos of the shirts in action by clicking on the image below.

IMAGES

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Understanding Everything About Insulation (Infographic)

Insulation plays a key role in building comfort and energy savings. Wellhome has put together an infographic to help people understand how insulation works and how it can make a big difference. Click on the image below to view the full infographic.

World’s 10 Most Threatened Forest Hotspots

As the UN marks 2011 the International Year of Forests, Conservation International has compiled a list of the 10 most threatened forest hotspots. The organization has put together a slideshow featuring images of these locales as well as short descriptions of each. Click on the image below to view the slideshow.

From the Desk of the ED

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What does sustainability mean to you? I find the definitions change depending on the perspective of the speaker.

The Brundland Commission defined sustainability as:

Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Mahatma Gandhi said:

Leave this world as we found it for future occupants to enjoy.

Confusius in the Commonwealth State stated

When the perfect order prevails, the world is like a home shared by all.

For me, the simplest definition is the one that has the greatest traction.

An African Delegate to Rio defined sustainability simply as:

Enough – for all – forever