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GLOBAL RENEWABLES ONLINE - DECEMBER 2011
T he idea for Sustainable
Waterloo Region came from
two undergraduate research proj-
ects completed by Mike Morrice
and Chris DePaul, under the
guidance of Dr. Barry Colbert at
Wilfrid Laurier University’s School
of Business & Economics. Their
research focused on the business
implications of imminent carbon
pricing mechanisms and the viabil-
ity of establishing a not-for-profit
in Waterloo Region that would help
organizations achieve carbon re-
ductions through collaboration and
education.
Inspiration was found in the busi-
ness model and success of Sustain-
able Silicon Valley and CivicAction
(formerly the Toronto City Summit
Alliance). And in July 2008, Sustain-
able Waterloo Region incorporated
as a not-for-profit with a vision
towards a thriving Waterloo Region
with a healthy environment and a
vibrant economy. Sustainable Water-
loo Region hosted its first Educa-
tional Forum in January 2009 with
over 200 people in attendance,
confirming community-wide inter-
est in GHG reductions and support
of the organization.
LAUNCH OF THE REGIONAL
CARBON INITIATIVE
Sustainable Waterloo Region’s
next goal was to launch the Regional
Carbon Initiative (RCI). To achieve
this goal a partnership was formed
with e3 Solutions Inc to provide
future RCI members with a carbon
reporting tool, two community
Working Groups were formed to
establish the RCI carbon reduction
framework, additional staff were
hired, and a team of 20 volunteers
emerged.
On June 16th 2009, Sustainable
Waterloo Region held its Regional
Carbon Initiative Launch Event, with
well over 200 local supporters in
attendance. The organization an-
nounced the first three Pledging
Partners of the RCI and the publica-
tion of the Guide to the Regional
Carbon Initiative, which details the
official reduction framework, re-
porting procedure, and GHG
accounting methodology used by all
RCI Pledging Partners.
Today, Sustainable Waterloo Re-
gion is continuing to grow the
membership and value of the
Regional Carbon Initiative, and is
looking at new initiatives that will
advance the environmental sustain-
ability of organizations across Wa-
terloo Region through collaboration.
SUSTAINABLE
WATERLOO REGION
SUSTAINABLE WATERLOO REGION - REGIONAL FOCUS: CANADA
Regional Focus: Canada