National
Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
Annual Report 2005-2006
Communications and Publications
In 2005–2006, the NRTEE continued
to ensure that decision makers, the media and the public recognize
it as a leader in providing objective views and analysis relating
to the “state of the debate” on the environment and
the economy in Canada. The NRTEE was very active this year, organizing
a side event at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP11)
entitled Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy and Greening
of Government Executive Forum – which focused on results,
implementation and lessons learned in the “greening”
of several multi-national organizations. The Round Table released
the NRTEE’s Advice to the Prime Minister in Advance
of COP11, NRTEE’s Study on Vehicle Feebates,
as well as five program-related background papers, and provided
speakers on a variety of issues at numerous venues including CANSEE
2005, Rethinking Development Conference, GLOBE 2006 and 2006 ForestLeadership
Conference.
As well, the Round Table received
extensive national media coverage throughout the year on a number
of issues including ecological fiscal reform and energy, conserving
Canada’s national capital in the boreal forest, vehicle
feebates and energy and climate change.
The NRTEE Web site remains an important
tool for disseminating key information to stakeholders and members
of the public. In 2005–2006, the number of “unique”
or new visitors to the Web site continued to grow, increasing
by approximately 54 per cent over 2004–2005. The Web site
was the primary source for information on the NRTEE’s Advice
to the Prime Minister in Advance of COP11, the background
papers for the Capital Markets and Sustainability program, the
NRTEE’s Briefing Note and background documents on the study
of vehicle feebates, the NRTEE e-Brief (an electronic e-mail update
on current events and program information) and information on
the Round Table, its members, current issues and upcoming events.
The Web site’s Virtual Library
feature enables users to easily access over 300 NRTEE documents
on sustainable development. All NRTEE publications obtained through
the Virtual Library are free. The Round Table’s signature
series, the State of the Debate reports, continues to
have strong brand recognition. The most popular reports downloaded
in this fiscal year included four State of the Debate
reports: Environment and Sustainable Development Indicators
for Canada; Economic Instruments for Long-term Reductions
in Energy-based Carbon Emissions; Environmental Quality
in Canadian Cities: The Federal Role; and, Securing Canada’s
Natural Capital: A Vision for Nature Conservation in the 21st
Century. Demand was also high for a stand alone report: Cleaning
up the Past, Building the Future: A National Brownfield Redevelopment
Strategy for Canada and a background paper entitled Financial
Reporting Disclosures about Social, Environmental and Ethical
(SEE) Issues.
NRTEE publications also continued
to be marketed and distributed on a partial cost-recovery basis
through Renouf Publishing Company Ltd.
