3. Mahatma Gandhi

4. A LETTER FROM THE CHAIR TO THE PRIME MINISTER
This IS the third annual report ofthe Natjonol Round Table. i hope that it will convey to you an
lmpressrop thot the Round Table has grown rapidly toward maturity - that it has defined and
engaged some ofthe major issues ofsustainable development in Canada and abroad, and that
progress on several fioonts is now palpable.
3ur foremost commitment throughout the year was preparat!on for the United Nations Conference
on the Envrronment and Development - the “earth sum,&’ - which culminated In the meeting of
heads ofstote in Rio dejoneiro injune.
The Round Table’s Committee on Foreign Poky ontrcrpated the importance of LIKED over three
years ago. Tile conference was expected to be a major opportunity for advancement ofsustainable
devei’opment oround the globe. This interest and concern wus first signoiied to you in our inaugural
annual report ofJune 1990.
The Round Tobie tendered formal advice to you in March i 992, addressing Issues ofstrotegy as well
GS substance. At your suggestion we hod useful dialogue with the Minister of External Afairs, the
Minister of the Environment, and senior oflc;als who were engaged K UNCED preparations. Two of
our meriloers, Pierre Morc]ohnson ondjim MocNeili, joined the Canadian delegotron to UNCED,
and were active participants in RIO.
in the aftermath it is clear that the Canadian deiegction, with your strong ieadershjp, had o major
and positive impact on the outcome. Your initiative OS the first signatory ofrhe Convention on
Biodiversrty was noticed around the world, and mcy have been a crucial step in the recruitment of
other s’gnctor;es. For this, as we/l as many other srgnificont :nterventions, you and your support team
ore to be congratulated.
it is too e&y yet for on appraisal of UNCED. Many who poped for global unanimity and funding on
o scale commensurate with the problems are disappointed. Realists will recognize, however, that
co,mmrtment to revolutionary change which must ultimately embrace all nations connot be achieved
ovemigr?t.

5. The successes and failures of UNCED will become filly apparent in the months and years to come.
While some Important parts ofthe famewok fir a sustainabie global ecology and economy have
been concejved, no doubt much ingenuity, effort and expense wrli be required to consummate the
achievements and provide remedies for the fiilures.
for Canad/ans the most important outcome may be the widespread realfzotion that we have a
remarkable opportunq to influence decisive/y the courSe ofevents on a global scale, to make the
Brundtiand ‘vIs:on a reality. The momentum generated at the Earth Summz must be sustained. We
must not become combiacent, but must work to implement the goals and agreements reached ot
the &mm/t The Round Tab/e will launch its own initiatives in this regard and will be responsive to
your suggestions.
This report sets other important achievements ofthe Round Table and the issues which are currently
engaging our attention and effort i hope that you will share my conviction that we are continuing to
meet the expectations for advancement ofsustainable development that you adopted f&r yean
ago and which have continued to guide your actions.
DR. GEORGE CONNELL

6. enge
-.
e ha:/e entered the world’s fourth, great We know :hat in the time It will take
today’s children to become grandparents
revolJtion The first three - the agricultural, incusirtal, ano information revolutions - were we wil hae to construct an entlre dupli-
cate world to accommodate a doubling of
dlfCereO-:. They reorganized society to produce no~.e effectively. The fourth great social
population If all peoples have the
eccnomlc ability to participate, if sustain-
upneaval, the ecologIca revolution, will, we hooe, -eorganize society to produce without
sole development IS achieved, it could
cestrucriveness. But it will do so only if we steer the gathering momentum away from its prese? the most magnificent opportunity
hdmarklnd has ever had. There IS a poten-
cdl-rent destructive path. t al for everyone to benefit; for repatriating
If we are not successful, if we fail to estab- to the disadvantaged a decent quality of
11s~a sustainable society, a deepening ,iv!ng; for stimulating economic well-being
shadcw w II be thrown across all life on In all paTs of the world; for guaranteeing
th’s o’anet Our choice is not whether we the cant nclance of species.
w,sh this revolution to take place. There is
no s-:opp~ng it. Our only choice, is in how The destrLdive trends which we are
we shape It. seeing have therr origins in the industrial
revolution The means of diverting them,
We know the power for ruin of the of ach evlng sustainable development, will
changes 8, motion:
n the defacement of our come from the Information revolution -
,worlc, the disinheritance of peoples, the from our ability to gather, process, and
el mlnat!on of species, the proliferation of cissem nate information, from empowering
poverty We are only beginning to grasp people with knowledge and responsibility,
the oower to create reciprocating, plane- and f-cm developing skills to Innovate and
:ar-y well-being that can spring from a mob811ze response.
;IISICI- o1 balance, harmony, and interde-
oende-ce; an emphasis on sharing and co- As w#:h all revolutions, however. institu-
operation; a heightened sense of economic tions tha; once worked so well, so often
nter-reliance; and an accelerating determi- now are stiff and sillted, ill-sulted to the
?atlon to find and presence an equilibrium. thalle-ge of change. In large part our
major Institutions acquired their present
contours 117the industrial age. In historical
terms, the information revolution came
upon us so quickly that we have not yet
had time to fully adapt. And now a new
revo,htlon is forcing upon us still different
demands

8. THE CHALLENGE
The round table movement is unique to The fundamental difficulty with so many of Hlerarchlal structures for authority are
Canada. it tries to reach across all institu- our institutions is that they reflect characterstlc of our institutions, yet we
tional lrnes, be they governmental, mlndsets rooted in industrial society that know that we need broadly-based
business, occupational, social, political, channelled everything: information, action, empowerment if we are going to respond
env ronmental, or regional, in order to status, and authority. Ecological impacts, successfu ly to current needs. Time and
encourage the flexibility of response however, overFlow channels. Once an agair the United Nations’ World
necessary for the transition to a sustain- lnstitutlon has made a decision the ecolog- CornmIssion on Environment and
able society. In particular, it seeks to ical lmoacts spread out, inundating areas Development (the Brundtland Report)
identify more clearly the economic far removed from the origlnal decision. stressed the need for establishing a much
pathways to sustainable development. Each decision is like a stone thrown Into a wider responsibility.
pool creating widening circles of conse-
The Nat onal Round Table on the quences which multiply, interact and The concept of sovereignty has been
Environment and the Economy is just one IreInforce change. Tracking, assessing, and sacrosanct since the settling of North
round table. There is also a round table for dealing with those ripples is not something America. In Canada it carries over in
every province and territory and at the that our institutions have been well modified form from the federal level into
muncipal level there are more than a equipped to do, especially when it takes the prov,ncial. But exclusivity works against
hundred round tables with additional ones then Into the jurisdiction of some other the Interdependence that is so much a
being formed each year. Institution or into an area where they lack part of ecological realities.
expertise.
To quote oending federal legislation, the We -se the adversarial system in parlia-
NatIonaN Round Table “IS to play the role Those mlndsets resulted tn immense indus- ment, In the courts, and in labour-manage-
of catalyst in identifying, explaining and trial and social advances. Standardizatlon as ment relations to resolve differences. But
promoting, in all sectors of Canadian a goal n everything from education to whatever the outcome it still leaves both
society and in all regions of Canada, princi- product on lines resulted in efficiency, sides as adversaries. What the ecology
ples and practices of sustainable develop- predictability, and the ability to control needs is not adversaries but benefactors;
ment....” The act defines sustainable devel- q&ty. However, to cope with the ecolog- consensus decision making which enlist
opment as “development that meets the ical revolution we also need the ability to supporters, not adversarial struggles which
needs of The present generatron without enhance diversity. create wnners and losers.
compromlsing the ability of future genera-
Yons to meet their own needs.” Vertlcai categories for government Competitlon IS invaluab!e as an incentive
minIstrIes, the sciences, corporate depart- to i-norove and to develop effclencies. But
ments, professional specialties, and just sornetlmes it overshadows the requisite
about everything else, mark our society. co-operation so desperately needed in the
Yet to deal with the ripple effect of ecology
ecolog;cal impacts we need to be sensitive
to horizontal relationships.

9. Central authority in government and Conflict is often seen as an essential
business allows for consistency in action, a dynamic of society. In fact a recent publi-
comprehens,ble profile to outsiders which catlon dealing with sustainable develop-
can instIll confidence, and a coherent role ment credited It with raising issues,
for subordinates. But central authorities forming new constituencies, and effecting
have difficulty dealing with the multiplicity social change. However, what the ecology
and complexrty of ecological issues. They urgently needs is not more conflict, but
are too far away from the specifics. harmony.
Decentrallzation takes decision making
much closer to the problems and to In the past, regulation has been one of the
possible solutions. principal instruments in resolving conflict. It
has simply set down what must, or must
Since the time of Thomas Hobbes, promo- not, be done. However it will be counter-
tion of individual rights has been the productive to rely too much on regulation.
touchstone of progressive thinking. The ecological revolution will be teeming
However the touchstone in the ecological with potential conflict and If regulation is
revolution will be collective rights. For the fundamental means of dealing with it,
instance the enhancement of diversity, by there will be such a glut of laws, directives,
definition, Involves collective rights guidelines, and assessments that the nation
because it deals with producing benefits will tie itself I? knots trying to wend its
not for specific Individuals but for all way through them all - to say nothing of
people. the morass of litgation that would accom-
pany them.
Looked at another way, under the system
of common law n English Canada, what is It will be far preferable to establish
not prohibrted is permitted. Consequently, common goals, common attitudes, a
all regulation almed at ecologIcal sustain- common understanding. In other words,
ability restricts what otherwlse would be far better tc emphasize harmony through
permitted and Immediately IS, again by education by identifying the economic
definition, an infringement of private rights advantages of sustarnability and the
- rights to property or to freedom of benefits of a fess destructive existence.
action of irdividua!s or companies.
Finally, the main measure of economic
Tension between Individual and collective progress over the past two centuries has
rights will not end. But sustainability will be been the measurement of quantity of
slowed unless t’lere are clearly enunciated which gross domestic product is now the
mutual targets. prime example. The main measure of
progress in the ecological revolution will
be much more difficult to quantify; it will
be the ability of the economy to sustain
the quality of llfe In all Its forms.

10. THE c ALLENGE
The ilat,onal Round Table was created rn 1988. If lnstitutlors are organs within the body
polit c, inen it is the lnterstlclal spaces that are the focds of the round table movement.
Those ape the spaces across which lie the connect o-s, Ln o%en constricted, to and from
the institutions. It is because connections are cons’ricted th;t the body politic has reacted
slug@y over the past thirty years to ecological warnings The task of the round tables is
to help strengthen the connections, to help vitallze tne body, because it will need to
improve its -eflexes significantly If IT is to cope a; all weI1 Lvi:h the ecological revolution
The techniques used by the National In -he past year it has participated in
Round Table are stralghtforward: to draw studies covering a broad range of issues;
its membersi-ip from across the full launched two very large education
spectrum of Canadian life so that it can programs, one aimed at formal and the
brlrg dmversit’y, horizontal relatronships, and other at Informal education; co-operated
w der;ng!ng expertise to any issue and to in what can broadly be described as
any relationship; to act as a catalyst and forums for learnlng through workshops,
co-3rd nator among people and institu- confe-ences internships and training
tions for those very same reasons, but also programs; organlzed dialogues among
to encourage commitment to sustainable Interested oarties in forestry and tourism;
development, empowerment among those c.apped two years of debate and analysis
anxious to participate, and decentralizatlon ?N th a repo-t to the Prime Minister recom-
of dec’sio- making; and to conduct its menaing positions for Canada to take at
operatsons by consensus so as to enlist -:he Unrted Nations Conference on the
support, foster co-operation and promote Envt-ocmer,t and Development held in
harmony ,ine at RIO de Janeiro: engaged with others
r pubi shlng a variety of handbooks and
Its members include corporate executives, -eports, and developed a strategic plan, an
community activists, federal and provincial Integral part of which involved what has
go;iernment ministers, scientists, labour beeq caliec a “roundtabling exercise,” a
leaders economists, private envlronmen- series of regional consultations across
tal’sts, academics, the former secretary Canada ti-at Invited broad and diverse
general of tne Brundtland commlss1on, g-oclps of people to drscuss what should
farm ard fisheries representatives, and be tre direction and prloritles ofthe
abo-igIna oeoples. Natioral Round Table.
Above a!l It was a year that emphasized
tnat peoole everywhere It- Canada are
eager to participate in furthering sustain-
able development. And that they are
Iknowledgeable about the challenges we
face A ) they need IS direction and oppor-
ruritv

12. strateg
imperatia:es
s a first step after its inception, the National Round Table set
objectives which would promote sustainable deve’opment. Ii declared that fundamental to them ,s an awareness
that. “The natural world and its component life foons and the ability of that world to regenerate ,tself through
its own evolution has basic value. Within and among human societies, fairness, equality, diversity. and self-
reliance are pervasive characteristics of development that is sustainable.”
THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO ESTABLISH:
*Stewardship *Conservation l Scientific and Technological Innovation
We must preserve the capacity of the We must maintain and enhance essential We most support education and
biosphere to evolve by managing our ecologIcal processes, biological diversity research and development of technol-
social and economic activities for the and li’e support systems of our environ- gies, goods and setvices essential to
benefit of present and fuuture generations. ment and natural resources. maintaining environmental quality, social
and cuitural values and economic growth.
l Shored Responsibility ~Energy and Resource Management
Everyone shares the responsibility for a Overall, we must reduce the energy and *international Responsibility
sustainable society. All sectors must work resource content of growth, harvest We must think globally when we act
towards ti?is common purpose, with each renewable resources on a sustainable loca!ly. Global responsibility requires
being accountable for its decisions and basis and make wise and efficient use of ecological interdependence among
actions, in a spirit of partnership and otir non-renewable resources. provinces and nations, and an obligation
open cooperation. to zccelerate the integration of environ-
*Waste Management men& social, cultural and economic
*Prevention and Resilience We must first endeavour to reduce the goals. By working cooperatively within
We must try to anticipate and prevent production of waste then reuse, recycle Canada and internationally, we can
future proo!ems by avoiding the negative ancl recover waste by-products of our develop comprehensive and equitable
environmental, economic, social and lndllstrlai and domestic activities. so’utlons to problems.
cultural impacts of policy, programs,
decisions an development activities. ~Rehabilitation and Reclamation *Global Development Consistent With All
Recognlz ng that there will always be Our future policies, programs and devel Other Objectives
enwronmental and other events which oprrent must endeavour to rehabilitate Canada should support methods that are
we cannot anticipate, we should also and reclaim damaged environments. consltent with the preceding objectives
strive to increase social economic and when assisting developing nations.
envlronmental resilience in the face of
change.

13. Last year, folIowIng a series of “round- The National Round Table also identified Through its first two-and-a-half years, the
tabling” consultations across Canada, the the kinds of actlvlties that it will undertake. National Rounc Table maintained commit-
National Round Table adopted the follow- tees which were responsible for develop-
ing strategic Imperatives as priorities for It will focus on:
ing initiatives, presenting them to Plenary
guiding its activltles: *too/s fir measunng and
for approval, and then implementing them.
promoting sustainable development;
I. Acknowledging the need for growth Last year the Natlonal Round Table
*sector-o/ issues; and
sufiicient to meet human needs and changed the system. Now the Plenary
asp/rations, *cross-sectoral Issues. develops inltlatives and assigns them to a
but also: task force for rmplementation. Currently
2. Rap/d/y reducing the energy and resource Under “Tools” it will concentrate on four there are task forces on Consensus
content ojgrowth; areas: Decision Making, Economic Instruments,
*accountabIlIty,
3. increasing equity wIthin nations and Sustainabilrty and Prosperity, Biodiversity,
between developed and developing *indicators o~s~~stainoble development; and Education. In addition, there are a
nations;
*economic incentives: and number of initiatrves undertaken jointly
4. Reducing high rates of population growth; *consensus deck/on making. with other organlzatlons..
5. Reducing certarn forms of consumption;
6. Conserving and enhancing the resource Under “Sectoral Issues” it considers energy
base; and resource management to be most
7. Estabkhing more open information critical for Canada and consequently it will
systems; deal with:
8. Encouraging hrgh rates of investment to lsustainobie forests;
restore capital which has been iost;
*sustainable energy use;
9. Changing lnstxutlons In ways that will
ensure environmental and economic issues *sustainable agricuiture:
are integrated during decision making.
*fresh water
Under “Cross-sectoral Issues” it adopts an
ecosystemic approach to planning by
concentrating on subjects that pass, as a
common thread, through various sectors.
For instance biodlversity, global warming,
poverty, ant acid rain are cross-sectoral
issues. And so were the three issues on
which the National Round Table focused
its advice to the Prime Minister concerning
Canada’s position at the Earth Summit at
Rio de Janeiro because each was common
to the majority of the agenda items placed
before the conference

14. he National Round Tan;e has declared that it will be an agent of
oarge for sustainable development - by being a catalyst, partner, advisor, promoter, Inter-
preter, contributor, researcher, and clearlnghouse for nformatlon. In short, by being and
aoirg everythIng it can as a multi-dlsclplinary. multi~jurisdictlonal, and multi-interest body
that has but one mandate: to reconcile divergent nte*ests to the primacy of sustainable
development. To that end it engaged in the fol’owlng initiatrves last year.
REPORTING TO THE PRI lNlSTER
The National Round -Fable presented to term.” It offered a number oi suggestions
the Prime Minister a “Memorandum of which, if Implemented woulc:
Advice” on what Canada s role could be at
the United Nations Conference on the l Improve the ability of International insti-
Environment and Development n Rio de tutions to integrate ecological issues
Janeiro. The NRT’s Task Fo-ce on Foreign with political, social, a-d economic
Policy commissioned severa, research issues;
papers and dedicatec almost two years of
its thinking to deve!oaing the memoran- 0 provide new approaches -.o technologi-
dum which was based on :he premise that, cal co-operation berween -he industriai-
“Progress toward sustainable development lred and the less developec nations: and
IS truly meaningful only if It IS conceived
and practised on a global scale.” * for the forseeable future olace the direct
cost of progress cn a global scale upon
Recommendations centred on only three the Industrialized nations ano commit
issues - namely reform of International Canada to a leadershIp role 17 moblllzlng
institutions, technological co-operation, financial resources to ach eve sustainable
and financial resources - necause they deveiopment at home and abroad.
were the ones upon which the success of
all agenda items depended and because The Prime Minister responded by letter
“Significant progress on these issues would saying, “. it is clear that the Round Table
facilitate agreements in orher areas and has produced a high calibre and thought-
would create durable In+astructure, provoking set of recommendations. They
relationships and resources for the long will be of tremendcus assistance....”

16. INITRATIVES
COLLABORATING IN SECTOR DIALOGUES
The National Round Table acted as a The Tourism Industry Assoclatlon of
catalyst to establish a forest round table Canada agreed to take a ‘cad role with the
with the broadest collection of Interests National Round Table in setting up a
ever assembled. There are th-ee objec- dialogue on sustaInable developmen: in
tives: to develop a vision ard orlnclples for the sector and, together with the Rcund
sustaInable development 17 Canada’s Tables of P.E.I. and Saska:chewan, formed
forests: to have each part cipant develop a Steering Committee to lnaugu*ate the
an action plan for its cont.-lbution to first meeting of 2 I Stakehclde-s n Halifax
sustainable development; and to make In early 199 I, including groups such as
recommendations to governments and provincial ministries, the Canadian
other jurisdictions. There are 25 partici- Automobile Association, the Canadian
pants including representatives from tndus- Wildlife Federation, a representative of
try, unions, the Aboriginal Forestry First Nations groups, Heritage Canada and
Association, the NRT, and the Serra Club. the Canadian Parks Service. As part of
So far there IS agreement on 26 principles phase one, the goal of the group was to
and some particrpants have developed hammer out a set of guIdelInes and codes
individual plans or codes of practice. of practice for sustainable developrrent
which could be adopted by al
Stakeholders In the Tourism secTor.
In a report prepared by Lou D’Arrour,
retained to co-ordinate the D,alogue,
these Principles and Practrces were initially
applied to specific sectors w thin the
Tourism industry such as: Accommodation,
Foodseruice, Tour Operators and
Ministries of Tourism. These Codes and
Guidelines for Sustainab’e Tour SM were
enthusiastically acceptec at the Tourism
Industry Association of Canaca’s Annual
meeting in February, 1992.
With Provincial Round Taoles tn
Saskatchewan, Prince Ecward Is’anc,
Manitoba, and Alberta endorsing this initia-
tive, discussions are now underway to
implement the Codes and Guidelines as
Phase II of this Dialogue process It IS
hoped that Phase II will be ‘uncec n pat-t
by the Environmental Partnersh p Fund
under the Green Plan, for which a
proposal is currently be ng preoared.

17. PROMOTING EDUCATION
initiatives to solIcit lndivldual and commu-
nity involvemer.: and, at the same time, to
reinforce exrstlng programs and initiatives
Sustainable development applies to all The Shad Valley Program at the University
across Canada. PartrcioACTlON would
disciplines and should be taught in elemen- of British Coltmbra IS a summer course in
carry responsibility for implementation.
tary and secondary schools not as a technology and entrepreneurship for inter-
The program would Include year-round
separate field of study but as part of most ested senior high school students. The
public service messages, television
academic subjects. At the instigation of the National Rcund Table introduced into the
programs, educatIonal and motivatronal
National Round Table a Sustainable program a sustainable development
materials for community leaders, multi-
Development Education Program was module that offers crltical analysis of scien-
stakeholder coalrtlons, and commmunity
launched to develop programs for educa- tific and technological practices. The goal is
participatory events. Through Its Education
tors and student teachers, and to evolve twofold: to encourage students to practise
Task Force, the NRT IS seeking to involve
guidelines for integrating sustainable devel- a more sustarnable entrepreneurship in
provincial and rerrltorlal round table
opment concepts and principles into science, technology, and commerce; and to
colleagues.
curricula. A board of 23 directors was develop a working model for teaching
established, funds were raised, the sustainable development that can be useful
program was affiliated with the to other educatlonal programs.
Conference Board of Canada for manager-
The National Round Table’s Task Force on
ial and administrative purposes, an execu-
Education soliclted advice on what it
tive director was hrred, the philosophy of
should be doing by inviting interested
the program was defined, a plan of action
parties to present their views at hearings in
was developed, and consultation and
Winnipeg and Ottawa. Twenty-SIX partici-
research is underway.
pants who were predominantly educators
and environmentalists accepted the invita-
tion in addition to representatives from
the Sustainable Development Education
Program, the Canadran Council of
As a result of a coliaborative effort among
Ministers, ano provincial round tables in
the National Round Table,
British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba,
Pat-ticipACTION, and the Department of
Ontario, New Brunswick, and
the Environment, the development of a
Newfoundland. Their advice was
social marketing strategy was proposed
extremely helpful to the task force as it
that aims at fostering responsible citizen-
prepared Its actlon plar.
ship as a means of furthering sustainable
development The proposal IS a direct
response to recommendations of the
Brundtland Commissron and Canada’s
National Task Force on the Environment
and the Economy, and to the newly
revised World Conservation Strategy.
They call for expansive campaigns of public
education, debate, and public participation.
The proposal recommends 20 different

18. jNU+BATiVES
DEVELOPING TOOLS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMEMT
The declslon was taken to pub!ish a book
on too s for sustainabillty which will be an
The Yational Round Table is convrnced The ob,ective of the National Round
intrcd,ctlon to techniques for Implement-
rhat proper incentives wiil encourage Table s to develop a framework within
lng sustalnable development. It will
economc activity that is clean, efficient, which socral health, and economic indica-
concet-trate on the four focal areas for
and competrtive and at the same time WIII tors can best be integrated to measure
the tools established under the National
encourage innovation and prodclct devel- p-ogress toward sustainable development.
Round Table’s strategic imperatives,
opment, promote sustainable develop- To t-Is eld it commissloned background
namely: accountability, consensus decision
-rent, and improve Canada’s overall oapers. conducted a workshop, and
maklng, economtc instruments, and indica-
competitive position. In preparing its pubils-eo a report discussing performance
tors of sustainable development. To
recorrmendations, it will focus on air, indicators concerning the production and
deve op Its thinking and to prepare mater-
water, a?d earth. use of energy. Investigation is continuing.
ral, :he NatIonal Round Table undertook
rhe followlng initiatives. Air
The NRT began work with a coalition of
partne-s Vom industry, government, and
The ;lat onal Round Table will bring
the environmental movement and is
for-ward suggestions for a renewed frame-
As a preparatory step. the National Round concentrating on climate change, acid rain,
worl< of decision making in the public
Taole conducted several project planning urban sn-og, and stratospheric ozone. In
sector that WI/I hold decision makers more
and skill deve!oping workshops. It then adortio- to recommendations, the coalitror
closely to account for the impact of their
essablls-ed a task force whose primary WI/~ produce a report to Canadians.
dec SIOX on the environment.
objective is to promote sustainable devel-
water
opmen: through the use of consensus
rle NRT began negotiations with
dec,sro? making (CDM) in Canada. To
prospective partners to establish a coali-
achieve tnis, the Task Force IS bringing
~IOI that will examine the impact of full
together all Round Tables in Canada to
cost accounting and pricing of water use,
co’lectively develop a practical and conclsc
cost ef$ectlve technological innovation, and
handbook that will outline principles, crite-
‘3Us ness opportunities.
ria and guidelines, A second !nitiatlve of
the Task Force IS the development of a
larger book which WI/I describe theorres Explo-atron of options began with the
and practfcal applications in greater detail. foc#Js or rural renewal, sustainable agricul-
The Task Force wil! aiso contribute a tu-e, ecological integrity in rural
c-apter on CDM to the book on tools for la-dscapes, and biological diversity. An
sustalr,abllity. nvenrory paper will be prepared on the
Issues and on the economic instruments
that cobId be used.

20. INITIATIVES
PARTICIPATING IN STUDIES AND REPORTS
A study on the “Impacts on Waste
In 1990 the National Round Table and Management Practices of Federal Policies,
other participants convened the Sustaining Programs, and Legislation” was under-
Wetland Forum which produced a report taken, and has been refee-red to
often described as a comprehensive Environment Canada for consideration
backgrounder for sustaining wetlands. and implementation.
More than 6,000 copies of ti-e report
were distributed. Since then, the Canadian
Wetlands Conservation Task Force has
monitored implementation ofthe report’s The National Round Table is examining
73 recommendations, reviewec action on opportunities and barriers to an economic
wetlands conservation, provided advice and ecological renewal in rural Canada.
concerning the report, and IS preparing The intention is to assemble information
additional reports recommending follow- from which recommerdatlons for further
up actions. Participants in the Task Force action can be developed. The National
are the National Rounc Table, the Round Table sees an intriguing potential
Canadian Federation of Agriculture, the for linking sustainable agr!cJlture, sustain-
Canadian Pulp and Paper Association, the able communities, lancscape ecology, and
Canadian Wildlife Service, the Canadian brodiversity into a gradual revltallzatron of
Institute of Planners, Ducks Unlimited, and rural Canada. The examlnatlon was
WildlIfe Habitat Canada. precipitated by the growing urgency for
alternative economic development in rural
areas, a strong sense of resource and
landscape stewardshlp among producers,
A task force on biodiverslty was estab- pending international trade agreements,
lished and charged with ;wo responsibili- and an accelerating concern for the
ties: the first is to malntaln an overarching competitiveness of the agrl-food sector.
capacity to address biodsversity Issues in
any of the other initiatives urdertaken by
the National Round Table; the second IS
to examine the work being done by other
agencies, and the inventory of Information After the National Round Table Initiated
that already exists, to determine whether formal discussions with representatives of
there is a unique role for tie Natlonal the Office of the Auditor General of
Round Table to play that will further the Canada, a principal from that office was
cause of biodiversity ir Canada. seconded to the National Round Table to
assist in the drafting of an issue paper on
accountability and reporting on sustainable
development in the public service.
eighteen

21. An Examination of Environmental Regulotion and A Report on jobs, Training, ond Sustainable
Competitiveness Development
In November the National Round Table
A study group drawn from dlvene inter- The -eport ~111 explore the links among
and the Institute for Research on Public
ests was formed to examine recent asser- jobs, susta nability, and competitrveness
Policy establlshed a Senior Advisory
tions that environmental regulations can and the Issues which stem from these
Committee to oversee research on links
create competrtive advantage. The group interrelatior,shlps.
between sustainable development,
is focusing on the pulp and paper industry
competitiveness, and human well-being;
in an effort to gain a better understanding
A Report on Environmental Industries
and to generate a deeper awareness of
of the relatIonshIp between environmental
In order to emphaslze business opportuni-
sustainable development as a contributor
protection and competitiveness. It will
ties for enterprises involved in end-of-pope
to Canadian competitiveness in the global
conduct case studies of the industry in the
abatement equipment and the design of
marketplace and in the overall quality of
United States, Finland, Sweden, Japan, and
new processes and technologies for
life. This initiative will culminate in a
Canada.
envlronmental protection, the report
symposium In the Fall of I992 on the
provrdes an overview of trends emerging
theme “Sustarnability: the Key to
A Paper on Economic Instruments
in the envrronmental industry in Canada.
Compet’tiveness in the 2 1st Century”. In
The paper will outline specific competitive
The report offers a discussion of Canada’s
preparation are the following:
srtuations where effective economic instru-
role as a potential competitor in the
ments will promote sustainability and
environmental Industry with a view to
A Report on Sustoinobitity and the Financial efficiency.
enhancrng how it may achieve these goals.
Services Industry
The report will identify the information
A Study on Infrastructure, Sustainability, and
A Report on Sustainable Development, Trade, and
required by Industy to assist in the
Prosperity
Competitiveness
management of risk. It will recommend
The primary purpose of the study is to
guidelines for management to improve its The repot-t will examine the impact on
identify key issues and tensions that
assessment of risk. competjtiveness of lower environmental
permeate infrastructure planning so that
standards :n otner jurisdictions. Concern
they can be addressed in the search for an
over this Issue has heightened as a result
A Report on Lender Liability
economrcal’y prosperous and sustainable
of negotiations for a North American Free
Curren; uncertainty over the potential
society.
Trade Agreemen;.
liability of investors and lenders makes it
difficult for some worthwhile projects to
A Report on Government Incentives and
attract capital. Consequently the report Sustainable Development An Examination of Environmental Assessment and
will examine liability in the context of The report WIII highlight the relationships Com?Jetitiveness
contaminated sites and, through a multi- between Government incentives and An examrnatron of the proliferation of
stakeholder task force, recommend sustainable development. Agriculture, environmental assessment processes in
measures to Improve the investment and which 1swrdely perceived as a sector Canada IS being conducted to determlne
competitive &mate. where tncentrves impede progress toward their Impact on Canada’s international
sustainable economic practices, serves as a competitiveness. One objective is to
case study. identify opportunities for rationalization
and jurisdictlonal harmonization. Included
in the examination will be a review of such
processes ‘n otner countries.

22. CREATING FORUMS FOR LEARNING
The Nat’onal Round Table and the At the request of the Department of The Youth Science Foundation and the
Canadian Chamber of Commerce under- Indtsiry, Science and Technology, the Natlonal Round Table sponsored five
took to sponso- environmental manage- Nat onal Rolind Table is helping to design awards worth a total of $2,500 at the
men: workshops for small and medlum- a training program that will sensitize the Canaaa-Wide Science Fair. The awards are
size? business operators. Learning and department’s 700 commerce officers to for the projects that best exemplify
teat-ing materials were developed and env ronmental management issues. An sustainab’e development practices. Last
four pilot wo-kshops were held. In the NRT representative also sits as an advrsor year tiie awards winners were:
forthcorn ng year five to ten workshops on the department’s steering committee
I. Sandy Geddes
will oe offered. The existence of about on environmental protection. The commit- Booth Merrorlal Junior Secondary (B.C.)
900,000 small businesses In Canada under- tee offers guidance for implementing the
2. Anthony Howe
lines the mpcr-tance of this initiative. memorandum of understanding between Sea Vew ,Lnior Secondary (B.C.)
Industry Sc ence and Technology and the
3. Laura Ralph
federal Department of the Environment. ,ames A. Magee Community School
(Or;.)
4. Erika Manders
At tne Inv:ation of the Canadian Centre Ilort- Is and Secondary School (B.C.)
for Management Development, a National 5. Mark Kirchhof
In partnersi-ip with Environment Canada, Barrie Central Collegiate (Ont.)
Round -able “epresentative sits as a
memoe- of the centre’s advisory commit- the Department of Industry, Science and
tee that deals with retraining programs in Tec’?nology, and the International Institute
the area of sustainable development. The for SustaInable Development, the National
Round Table held a conference on “Trade, CARTS IS an affiliation of Round Table
centre IS the federal organization responsi-
the Environment and Competitiveness”. Secretariats with representation from the
ble for tralnlng senior civil service
Discussion centred on the links between harional, Provincial, and Territorial Round
managers JP to the level of deputy minister.
trade and ecology and the incorporation of Tables. CARTS holds a formal meeting
ecological concerns into such trade- each year to discuss trends in sustainable
governing associations as the the European development. The I99 I CARTS meeting
Community, the OECD, GATT, and free was held In November in Vancouver,
trade between Canada and the United British Co:umbia. Among the sessions
States and possibly with Mexico. It also were workshops on Economic Instruments
considered the influence on producers of and Sustainable Communities. There was
ris’ng ecologlcal consciousness among also a special session on UNCED which
purchasers A book about the conference resulted n a joint communique being
will be publisned with an update of the crafted ant passed on to the Prime
situation as it currently stands. Mlnlnster.
Additlo?al meetings are held throughout
tne year to allow Round Tables to keep
abreast of each others work.

24. INITIATIVES
PUBLISHING BOOKS, GUIDES, NEWSLETTERS, AND VIDEOS
On the Road to Brazil: The Earth Summit -which
assists Canadians in understanding the
The NRT’s Communications Department issues before the United Nat:ons
publIshed 10,000 boxed sets of five Conference on the Environment and
handbooks on sustainable development Development at Rio de Janeiro. It IS a
and distributed them to a targeTed collection of papers on the summit
audience. Each set contained: produced by the United Na;;ions
Association In Canada com>lned wth
The Notional Waste Reduction Handbook - edited versions of two researc- papers
which identifies new waste management commissioned by the NRT to ass/St It n
strategies for Canadian mun;c:pal ;les. IT developing recommendations for t-e
was sponsored by the Federation of Prime Minister.
Canadian Municipalities, and Browning-
Ferris Industries Ltd.
Preserving Our World: A Consumer’s Guide to the
Brondtland Report -which is aimed at re’ping
Discussions on Decision Making Practices for
Canadians understand the nature cf
Sustainable Development - which is a practical
sustainable development. IT is a -epubllca-
guide illustrating approaches to dlf5cuit
tion of Warner Troyer’s handbook wi-ich
environmental decisions affectirg compa-
first appeared in I990 and was lncldded in
nies, unions, governments, non-govern-
the boxed set with sponsorship from
mental organizations, and professIonal
Canadian Pacific Hotels and Resorts
organizations. It was sponsored by Procter
& Gamble Inc. and includes rrater al
donated by the Manitoba Round Tar,le
and the British Columbia Rohnc Table.
In partnership with author Mark Roseland,
Sustainable Development: A Manager’s
the National Round Table pub ished
Handbook - which is designed to assist
“Towards Sustainable Communities A
managers in grading the pe-iormance of
Resource Book for Municipa’ aid Local
their organizations in relation to s,stain-
Governments” which wili be d’strlb,:ed
able development, and to guide them in
across Canada in August 1992. IT wil qave
undertaking a “do-it-yourself’ envlronmen-
a strong focus on tools to address s,th
tal audit. it was sponsored “y the Royal
issues as atmospheric change, air qua1 ty,
Bank of Canada.
the greening of cities, procurement
policies, and community development.

25. Trude, Lc'noi~
'id/i, h d/i CoinyMiti~5enes.r:
('II:
Su5f ffiniig G,h 01/ii , i’g i/c$eri[lj
The National Round Table Review, a
This book, edited by John Kirton and The Nationa! Round Table published a kit national newsietter that ran to 28 pages in
Sarah Richardson, provides a tlmely that shows young peop e how to simulate its Spring issue, IS published quarterly and
overview of the issues and perspectives a round table usng a ‘ocal ecological issue distributed free of charge to more than
involved in pursuing trade agreements that and adopting the roles of interested 12,000 businesses, environmental groups,
respect the precepts of sustainable devel- parties such as company officials, unionists, academic institutions, government
opment. This volume, due to be released ecologists, government officials, and agencies, municlpal;aes, media, provincial
in the fall, is based on the edited version citizen advocates. The kit can be used by and municipal round tables, and individuals
of twenty-one major presentations made teachers in classrooms or by young people Its purpose is to provide a national
at the Toronto Conference on “Trade, in clubs or informal groups. It can engage audience with news and analysis concern-
Competitiveness, and the Environment” participants In communication and negotia- ing sustainable cevelopment.
(November 4, I99 I) hosted by the tion skills not necessarily taught in formal
National Round Table Foreign Policy education systems ~ such as debate,
Committee. This conference brought consensus decision makIng, and conflict
together the leading Canadran and resolution. In its continuing effort to promote aware-
International stakeholders from the ness of sustainable development among
government, business, environmental, and Canadian youth, the NatIonal Round Table
academic communities to exchange views is preparing a music vice0 for release in
on the multifaceted linkages between the fall of I992 featuring Juno Award
trade and the environment. The National Round Table is preparing for winner the Infidels and other special guests
publication a “Youth Action Gurde for performing lyrics and music specially
Sustainable Develooment” to provide commissioned by the NRT to highlight
young people with a s:mple straightfor- pressing ecological concerns.
ward overview of globa, issues and their
With the assistance of the Canadian interdependence. The guide will examine
fli2inzntfd 1 I Iif,J?I/f Ii;‘, i ain,jQ
uter Dlske/tij
Labour Congress as a co-sponsor, the the issues and suggest possible approaches
National Round Table neared completion and solutions aimed at achieving sustain- The National Round Table produced a
of a book designed to help workers better ability. It will offer widely diverse views of computer diskette that uses a combination
understand ti-e issues surrounding sustain- youths from around the world and will be of graphics and text to help explain the
able development, especially. as they apply a followup to the AIESEC Global Seminar round table process. The interactive
in the workplace. Series and World Theme Conference features allow a viewer to choose what to
(AIESEC - Association internationale des see and what questions to have answered.
etudiants en sciences, economrques et
commerciales)
PUblil sem i .Il;//i~~,.,/‘;‘7n~‘l?/.~
Throughout the year four, 30.second
messages aboldt sustaInable development
were aired in both English and French over
Radio Quebec, CFCF I2 Montreal, TVA
R/vi&-e-du-loup, NTV Newfoundland, and
STV in both Regina and Saskatoon.

26. “No one we’d get that far” _
o..the laeest Society, and various other Company Ltd., the past president
environmental groups, compa- of the Canadian Pulp and Paper
nies, and associations. There Association, and a member of
were twenty-five in all and they
posed as great a challenge to
I the National Round Table.
operating by consensus as He is himself is an example of
anyone might conceive. what the National Round Table
is trying to achieve as it seeks to
ind
Yet, a year and six meetings overcome institutional barriers to
almost anything a try - but few e Forest Round Table has sustainable development - as
d to twenty-six “Principles he is the first to admit during a
stainable Development”; conversation in his St. Catharines
ants are completing office
idual action plans to imple-
= x.
&$presentative,‘So did%& S;
harvesting practices and
cantly of all, it has devel-
oped a remarkable esprit
de corps.
ABORIGINAL FORESTRY Association ’
I -
“I got a lot of pride out of I
all this,” says Houghton and that He has changed both “profes-
feeling seems to be widespread. sionally and personally”, he says.
Houghton is chairman of Like many executives in the
Quebec and Ontario Paper forestry industry, Houghton
t w e n r y - f o u r