The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is committed to achieving the following objectives in the area of sustainable development:

• We will strive to anticipate and prevent potential environmental degradation in our projects and initiatives.



• We will comply with all relevant legislative requirements and we require, as part of our normal business practices, that our applicants comply with all applicable local, national and international environmental regulations. Beyond compliance, we regard sound environmental practices as one of the key factors demonstrating effective corporate management.



• We will set an example in our internal operations by pursuing the best practices in environmental management and pollution prevention, including energy efficiency, recycling and waste reduction. We will encourage our suppliers to meet our environmental procurement criteria.



• We recognize that environmental risks should be part of the normal criteria of risk assessment and management. As part of our assessment, we ensure that all projects undergo environmental assessments in accordance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.



• We are committed to encouraging and supporting innovation and "eco-efficiency" in small and medium sized businesses.



• We will support the emerging environmental industries by facilitating access to information and market opportunities, and by encouraging innovation and growth.



• We will educate ACOA staff on environmental issues and concerns and provide them with the resources needed to carry out the Agency's sustainable development agenda.



• We will conduct periodic internal environmental reviews to measure our operational activities against our environmental goals.



• We will set measurable targets, report our progress on a yearly basis and review our sustainable development strategy at least once every three years.



• We will communicate publicly the ACOA commitment to sustainable development and share relevant information with out stakeholders.