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World Environment Day team effort
Atlantic Canada Sustainability Initiative celebrates first year

The Chronicle-Herald, June 3, 2008

On Jun. 5, World Environment Day, an eclectic and diverse collection of partners will come together at the Halifax Shambhala Centre to celebrate a very successful first year of the Atlantic Canada Sustainability Initiative (ACSI).

The lead members of ACSI put out a call to different organizations last year when setting up and now have diverse members such as Aliant, the Halifax Shambhala Centre, Jacques Whitford, various municipalities, non-governmental organizations and universities.

"You wouldn’t normally see all of these organizations together, but what brought us together is the common goal of sustainability," says Stephen King, a spokesperson for Halifax Regional Municipality. "Our ultimate goal is to make Atlantic Canada one of the most sustainable regions in the world."

He says high-consumption lifestyles make this easier said than done.

"If everyone on Earth enjoyed the same lifestyle as the average Canadian, we would need four planets to meet the needs. Everything is interconnected and we must live within the ecological limits of the planet."

King says sustainability is one of the greatest challenges transcending social, cultural, economic and environmental sectors.

"Wise use of our resources, reducing waste, energy-efficiency and looking at the bigger picture is all part of it," says King. "Sustainability affects everything we do from how we get to work everyday to how we look after our homes, heat our homes, etc. It’s really a big deal."

He says individuals, groups, or organizations can all make a big difference by better understanding the social and ecological impacts of their decisions before they are made.

"HRM is committed to being a healthy, sustainable community that includes wise use of our resources, reducing waste, healthy, active lifestyles and an integrated systems approach to clean air, land, water and energy. Cleaning up the harbour, reducing emissions and other air pollutants, enhanced public transit, compost and recycling are some examples. Each of these actions contributes to a healthy, sustainable community."

The United Nations Environment Programme website says World Environment Day is commemorated each year on Jun. 5 and is one of the principle vehicles through which it stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.

The World Environment Day slogan for 2008 is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy. Recognixing that climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era, UNEP is asking countries, companies and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. World Environment Day will highlight resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and life-styles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption.

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations in 1972.

© 2008 The Halifax Herald Limited

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