• About ACSI
• Project Charter
• ACSI History
• About Sustainability
• About The Natural Step
• The Atlantic Context
• Contact Information
• Coordinating Organization
• Founding Organizations
• Network Partners
• Steering Committee
• Sustainability Partners

ACSI Project Charter

Each organization that has committed to becoming a formal Sustainability Partner in the Atlantic Canada Sustainability Initiative has signed a project charter outlining this commitment. You can also download a copy of our Project Charter (216k pdf).

Purpose

This charter outlines the commitment of our organization to the Atlantic Canada Sustainability Initiative. This Initiative is intended to build capacity and commitment among a diverse group of Atlantic organizations who will advance sustainable development within our own organizations and the Atlantic Region as a whole using the Natural Step Framework as a guide.

Objectives

We view this initiative as a first step in an ongoing commitment and journey towards a more sustainable future. We commit to actively participate in this project in an effort to:

• build capacity and competence within their organization to become better leaders in sustainable development
• implement a plan of action that advances sustainability within their organization through concrete actions
• serve as role models by sharing their own organization’s successes and lessons with respect to sustainability
• build an effective network that collaborates and supports progress towards sustainability
• build regional momentum towards sustainability by engaging citizens, organizations and governments within the Atlantic Region
• identify and act on opportunities collaboratively to help move the region towards sustainability

Our Commitment

As a Sustainability Partner in the Atlantic Canada Sustainability Initiative, we commit to:

• Collaborate on the design and delivery of this initiative.
• Commit time and finances for 3 – 5 individuals from our organization to attend training sessions and meetings as part of the program.
• Ensure that the senior leaders from our organization attend strategic functions of the program including the launch dinner.
• Advance sustainability within our organization by committing to do one or more of the following (informed by the Natural Step Framework):
• Develop a Sustainability Action Plan
• Develop an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan
• Integrate sustainability into the community’s Municipal Development Plan
• Develop a program to incorporate sustainability into the culture of our organization
• Participate in an initial training workshop and two subsequent workshops, at six months and one year following the initial workshop, to share success stories and lessons learned, engage in additional learning from each other and/or from identified resources, and to collaboratively identify and act on opportunities to help move the Atlantic region towards sustainability.
• Participate in peer-to-peer networking with other sustainability partners.
• Play a leadership role in the community and in the region with respect to sustainability.
• Cover the workshop fees for our own participation and the associated travel and accommodations.
• Help to ensure sufficient resources are in place to cover the costs of the entire project and assist with raising/investing funds to support the regional initiative.
• Assist with evaluating the success and effectiveness of this initiative.

The Natural Step (TNS) Canada agrees to:

• Provide high level direction and support, and assist with project management.
• Collaborate on the design and delivery of this initiative to ensure that project objectives are met.
• Design and deliver the training workshops.
• Recruit additional speakers and expertise as appropriate.
• Provide 2 days of coaching for each of the sustainability partners.
• Commit grant money to this initiative to support TNS Canada’s participation.

The Project Coordinator will:

• Collaborate on the design and delivery of this initiative.
• Facilitate peer to peer networking amongst project partners.
• Co-develop and implement a funding plan for the initiative.
• Provide fund-raising support and financial oversight of the project.
• Secure venues and provide logistical support for the initiative.
• Provide internal and external communications.
• Facilitate the development of a communications plan for the regional initiative.
• Assemble and maintain a resource centre (books, papers, case studies, PowerPoint presentations, etc.) to support sustainability partners.

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