The Pembina Institute's Sustainable Communities Group is working in Canadian communities and internationally to help municipalities, Aboriginal communities, policy makers and partners in developing countries identify their sustainability goals and take practical steps to achieve these objectives.
Public Forum on Climate Change:
Upcoming Event in Ottawa
Learn how African farmers and rural communities are coping with the impacts of climate change —a problem that we have helped to create.
What solutions can Africans offer, and how can Canadians help?Participate in an evening of dialogue with guests from Mali, Kenya and Malawi to hear stories of how African farmers and rural communities are coping with the impacts of climate change. Guests include Mamby Fofana, Mali, former director of USC's Seeds of Survival program.
Admission is free, and presentations start at 7:00 pm at the Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue in Ottawa. For more details, click here.
To find out more contact Paul Cobb.
The Canadian Coalition on Climate Change and Development (C4D)
On June 1st of 2007, something important happened in Ottawa— Canadian international development organizations got together with environmental organizations to discuss climate change: the world's most pressing environmental challenge and - quite possibly - the biggest threat to human development around the world.
Click here to learn more about the Workshop.
Organized by Care Canada and The Pembina Institute, the workshop presented 20 organizations with an opportunity to learn about the devastating impacts of climate change around the world, to share experiences in addressing climate change through their work, and to work together to identify opportunities for individual, organizational and collective action.
For a report of the day's proceedings, click here.
What We're Doing
Integrated Community Sustainability Planning
Municipalities are seeking ways to enhance the liveability of their communities, improve the delivery of municipal services, find solutions to improve their resource efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas pollution and address the impacts of climate change. Integrated Community Sustainability Planning (ICSP) provides a practical framework that empowers municipalities to make decisions that advance their social, economic and environmental objectives with the goal of achieving a vision of sustainability shared by the community. [More]
Renewable Energy Assessments
Renewable energy sources such as wind, small hydro and solar are accessible options that can provide communities with clean, reliable and affordable energy. Renewable energy assessments, undertaken as part of our Community Energy Planning (CEP) process, empower communities to identify viable renewable energy options and make informed decisions about delivering energy services in their community. [More]
Energy Policy and Program Design
The Pembina Institute is identifying best practices and effective policies that can help maximize energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy from the municipal to the federal level. As a member of the Canadian Renewable Energy Alliance (CanREA), the Pembina Institute is advocating for the adoption of a National Renewable Energy Strategy for Canada. Implementing such a strategy will contribute to job creation, the development of a sustainable economy and reduced environmental impacts — including the emission of greenhouse gas pollutants. [More]
A Glimpse into Sustainable Communities
The City of Dawson Creek has implemented a Green Municipal Vehicle Purchasing Policy that uses a customized decision- making tool designed in part by the Pembina Institute. It allows the municipality to consider efficiency, emissions, operating cost and initial capital cost when adding new vehicles to their fleet. [More]
The Gitga'at First Nation is replacing the diesel generators in Hartley Bay, B.C., with a small hydro project that will provide clean, lower cost energy to its community. Some remote communities that rely on diesel generators pay four times more for electricity than do grid- connected communities. [More]
Over 1.6 billion people around the world lack access to electricity and modern energy services. Innovative financing such as the Clean Development Mechanism can help communities in developing countries overcome this energy gap, creating new economic opportunities and access to services that improve quality of life. [More]
Local improvement charges (LICs) can provide financing to improve the energy efficiency of communities. Adopting policies and programs that support sustainable initiatives are a smart way to help communities achieve their sustainability objectives. [More]
