RDÉE Canada and its members apply five sustainable development principles: social equity and solidarity, economic efficiency, environmental protection, participation and commitment, and responsible production and consumption.
RDÉE Canada and its members have identified priority issues common to the Francophone and Acadian communities and the green economy:
- Mobilize and engage key partners
- Raise awareness in communities
- Support the implementation of green economy projects
Definition used by the United Nations Environment Program: A green economy is an economy that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. In a green economy, growth in income and employment should be driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
RDÉE Canada is aware of the challenges of sustainable development, here and elsewhere, and is committed to aligning its issues with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
The shift to a green economy is a hot issue that requires innovation and a long-term vision. Within the Network, this concern is reflected in various initiatives to help the Francophone and Acadian communities think about this issue and explore sustainable initiatives.
Created in April 2014, the Éco-Ouest project is an initiative of RDÉE Canada and the four western Francophone economic development organizations: the Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba (CDEM), the Conseil de la coopération de la Saskatchewan (CCS), the Conseil de développement économique de l’Alberta (CDÉA) and the Société de développement économique de la Colombie-Britannique (SDÉ).
Guide to environmentally responsible practices
On Earth Day, April 22, 2015, RDÉE Canada launched a guide to environmentally responsible practices to encourage Canadian businesses and community organizations to go green and assist them in doing so.
Green economy awareness strategy
On June 5, 2016, International Environment Day, RDÉE Canada launched a green economy awareness strategy. The document suggests various green courses of action for the school environment, outlines the CEPEO's eco-responsible program, describes the program’s best practices and documents the lessons learned during its implementation.
Green team factsheet
A green team is a committee of employees who want to improve their environmental impact and that of their workplace. The committee will be supported by management and will report to a decision-maker. It will include, as much as possible, employees from different areas of the company (e.g., finance, administration, production and human resources).
Factsheet for executives
Each company has its own specific environmental approach. Three avenues of exploration are presented in this factsheet to help executives identify specific, measurable actions for their company.
Planning for a sustainable future
At the invitation of Environment and Climate Change Canada, RDÉE Canada submitted a brief at the consultations to develop the 2016–2019 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. RDÉE Canada and its Network recommended 10 steps to promote the emergence of truly sustainable development across Canada.
The sustainable development working group focuses on two main actions:
- Train Network members on the dimensions, concepts and principles of sustainable development through training sessions, lectures, symposiums and webinars.
- Find sources of funding to establish a budget for each project.
