NCC Board of Directors approves the 2014–2015 Annual Environment Report

The National Capital Commission’s (NCC) Board of Directors approved the 2014–2015 Annual Environment Report today. The report on the NCC’s Environmental Strategy: _ Building a Greener Capital _ provides an account of the NCC’s performance in five key action areas: waste reduction, biodiversity protection, pollution prevention, leadership in environmental practices and combatting climate change. In 2016, the NCC will start developing the next environmental strategy as the current one is up for renewal. ** Highlights of the NCC’s accomplishments **

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A total of 8.2 tonnes of materials were recycled and composted from the Rideau Canal Skateway through the sorting and treatment by a firm specialized in waste management.

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Continued efforts are being made to improve the energy efficiency of NCC infrastructure to reduce the environmental footprint of NCC operations.

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The NCC has been a leader in raising awareness of environmental sustainability by organizing public forums at its
[
 Capital Urbanism Lab
](http://www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca/about-ncc/urbanism-lab/news/2015-09-08/ncc-launches-capital-urbanism-lab-program-2015-2016)
on topics such as green urbanism, capital illumination, design excellence and invasive species.

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All high-value NCC ecosystems and habitats have now been designated using the applicable
[
 International Union for Conservation of Nature
](http://www.iucn.org/about/)
categories.

The NCC launched its environmental strategy in June 2009. In November 2013, several objectives were modified in order to address the change in the NCC’s mandate and to align with the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy . ** Current initiatives **

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The
[
 Capital Illumination Plan
](http://www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca/capital-planning/public-meetings/news/2015-07-23/lighting-design-team-begins-work-capital-illuminati)
will enhance the Capital’s nighttime beauty while reducing energy consumption, identifying dark areas and fostering sustainability.

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Vegetation management in urban natural habitats to protect their ecological integrity by controlling invasive plant species.

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Design of 7 Clarence Street to meet high-performance environmental standards.

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Study to evaluate the economic value of the NCC lands’ ecosystem services.

The new environmental strategy will include the following priorities:

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An urban forest strategy to protect trees and ensure sufficient tree cover on urban lands.

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Shoreline restoration to improve water quality, and aquatic and riparian habitat, in order to protect urban biodiversity and landscapes.

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Continued efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

As steward of federal lands in Canada’s Capital Region, the NCC remains committed to environmental sustainability. It strives to improve public access, and to protect plants and wildlife, through sound management of the natural and built environment.

For more information about the NCC, the public may contact the NCC at 613-239-5000 , 1-800-465-1867 (toll-free), 613-239-5090 (TTY) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY), follow us on Twitter @NCC_CCN or Facebook|National Capital Commission , or visit the website at www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca .