Canadians Honoured For Reducing GHG Emissions

GATINEAU, Quebec -- - The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, recognized a number of Canadian companies for their outstanding efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The honours were presented at the sixth annual Leadership Awards ceremony of Canada's Climate Change Voluntary Challenge and Registry Inc. (VCR Inc.), at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. VCR Inc. is a non-profit partnership between the private sector and governments, and the country's only public registry of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reductions. This year's awards went out to 18 Canadian companies and two educational institutions. Awards were also given to the Aluminium Association of Canada for association leadership and Peter Chantraine, DuPont Canada's manager of energy and environment, for individual leadership. The list of recipients crosses 14 economic sectors, such as electric utilities, automotive manufacturing and integrated oil and gas production. "VCR Inc. is an excellent example of Canadians working together to meet our Kyoto target," said Minister Dhaliwal. "By pooling our efforts, we can explore better ways to increase energy efficiency and productivity and at the same time reduce costs. In this way, we are building on the Government of Canada's commitment to ensuring a healthy environment and continued economic prosperity - for the Canada we want, for ourselves and for future generations." "The success and innovation of these companies in voluntarily reducing GHG emissions demonstrates how addressing an environmental issue is generating economic opportunities. This is a powerful lesson as Canada is engaged in reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said the Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment. "Their leadership by example is an inspiration for all industries across the Canadian economy and for Canadians to meet the individual challenge presented in the Climate Change Plan for Canada of reducing personal GHG emissions by one tonne." VCR Inc. president Robert Flemington explains that organizations are chosen for showing a significant decrease in the intensity of GHG emissions, demonstrating senior management commitment, setting future reduction targets and preparing detailed action plans and progress reports. Although the recipients have garnered recognition for their efforts, Flemington said they will also benefit from having made a head start on the complex process of identifying and reducing GHG emissions. "The stock market is now measuring how well companies deal with the triple bottom line - you have to understand the environmental, economic and social impacts of your actions - and this is one of the issues it's assessing. In the case of greenhouse gas, all three are impacted," he said. "It's an environmental issue with real financial gains if you do it right and assess your risks properly." The winners are representative of the spectrum of Canadian industry, and span the country, with awards going to organizations residing in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island. The Challenge Registry component of VCR Inc. records actions planned and executed by organizations, providing the opportunity to exchange information and share best practices. To date, 962 organizations have registered with VCR Inc., and 76% of Canada's capacity to reduce the GHG emissions of businesses and governments resides within the Challenge Registry. The organization works to encourage greater accountability for the voluntary reduction of greenhouse gases and is a key element of Canada's National Action Program on Climate Change. Since it became a stand-alone entity in 1997, representatives from industry, governments and non-government environmental organizations have been judging and selecting organizations that have shown leadership in reducing GHG emissions through concrete action plans. Greenhouse gases are those generated into the atmosphere during everyday economic activity by all sectors of our economy and include carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride. They contribute to climate change.

This year's awards went out to 18 Canadian companies and two educational institutions. Awards were also given to the Aluminium Association of Canada for association leadership and Peter Chantraine, DuPont Canada's manager of energy and environment, for individual leadership. The list of recipients crosses 14 economic sectors, such as electric utilities, automotive manufacturing and integrated oil and gas production.

"VCR Inc. is an excellent example of Canadians working together to meet our Kyoto target," said Minister Dhaliwal. "By pooling our efforts, we can explore better ways to increase energy efficiency and productivity and at the same time reduce costs. In this way, we are building on the Government of Canada's commitment to ensuring a healthy environment and continued economic prosperity - for the Canada we want, for ourselves and for future generations."

"The success and innovation of these companies in voluntarily reducing GHG emissions demonstrates how addressing an environmental issue is generating economic opportunities. This is a powerful lesson as Canada is engaged in reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said the Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment. "Their leadership by example is an inspiration for all industries across the Canadian economy and for Canadians to meet the individual challenge presented in the Climate Change Plan for Canada of reducing personal GHG emissions by one tonne."

VCR Inc. president Robert Flemington explains that organizations are chosen for showing a significant decrease in the intensity of GHG emissions, demonstrating senior management commitment, setting future reduction targets and preparing detailed action plans and progress reports.

Although the recipients have garnered recognition for their efforts, Flemington said they will also benefit from having made a head start on the complex process of identifying and reducing GHG emissions. "The stock market is now measuring how well companies deal with the triple bottom line - you have to understand the environmental, economic and social impacts of your actions - and this is one of the issues it's assessing. In the case of greenhouse gas, all three are impacted," he said. "It's an environmental issue with real financial gains if you do it right and assess your risks properly."

The winners are representative of the spectrum of Canadian industry, and span the country, with awards going to organizations residing in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island.

The Challenge Registry component of VCR Inc. records actions planned and executed by organizations, providing the opportunity to exchange information and share best practices. To date, 962 organizations have registered with VCR Inc., and 76% of Canada's capacity to reduce the GHG emissions of businesses and governments resides within the Challenge Registry. The organization works to encourage greater accountability for the voluntary reduction of greenhouse gases and is a key element of Canada's National Action Program on Climate Change. Since it became a stand-alone entity in 1997, representatives from industry, governments and non-government environmental organizations have been judging and selecting organizations that have shown leadership in reducing GHG emissions through concrete action plans.

Greenhouse gases are those generated into the atmosphere during everyday economic activity by all sectors of our economy and include carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride. They contribute to climate change.