Recent Updates
- Urgent Call for Climate Plan Updates and New Finance Goals at COP29
Attention sustainability teams: Last week, country negotiators received their first formal correspondence for the UN Climate Summit, COP29, happening from November 11-22, 2024, … Continued - Stricter Mercury Limits and Lamp Phase-Outs
Attention all retailers who sell products containing mercury: Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has finalized amendments to the Products Containing … Continued - Vancouver to Fine Commercial Buildings That Don’t Reduce GHG
Attention Retailers Operating in Vancouver: Owners of large commercial buildings (over 100,000 square feet) should have submitted their energy and … Continued
Canada’s plan to reach net-zero
The measures announced in Canada’s strengthened climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, at the UN climate change conference (COP26), and Budget 2021 will help Canada meet its enhanced Paris Agreement target to reduce emissions by 40-45% from 2005 levels by 2030.
The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, which became law on June 29, 2021, enshrines in legislation Canada’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The Act ensures transparency and accountability as the government works to deliver on its targets.
As part of a requirement under the Act, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change released the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan – Canada’s Next Steps for Clean Air and a Strong Economy on March 29, 2022. The plan was informed by previous consultations with provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, the Net-Zero Advisory Body, and interested Canadians.
For more information, please read:
Collaboration
To further support our apparel and footwear retailers, RCC is proud to be a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and supports their efforts to “lead the industry toward a shared vision of sustainability that is based on a joint multi-stakeholder approach for measuring, improving and sharing performance.” Visit SAC’s website to learn more about their membership, decarbonization program, collaboration and impact, and the Higg Index suite of tools.
Tools and resources
Climate Action and Carbon Management – Overview
In November 2021, governments from across the world recommitted to the 1.5°C climate change goal at COP26 summit in Glasgow. To help prevent the worst effects of climate change, and to align with the 1.5°C climate goal, a growing number of companies are actively working to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and some, are pledging to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Grants & Incentives: Energy & Transportation
To help members make operations and fleets more sustainable, RCC has prepared a list of energy and transportation-related grants and incentives.
Retail’s Route to Net-zero Emissions: The Canadian Retail Sector and Effective Climate Governance
A guide by Dr. Janis Sarra, Retail’s Route to Net-zero Emissions: The Canadian Retail Sector and Effective Climate Governance, provides an accessible summary of the legal duties of retail directors and officers in the transition to a net-zero economy.
RCC Webinar: Sustainable Impact Through Partner Collaboration
As retailers continue to invest in sustainable development, partner collaboration for sustainable procurement becomes increasingly critical for end-to-end visibility on footprint and impact. This 2022 panel discussion looked at the foundation and benefits of partner collaboration in working towards sustainability goals including the importance of sustainable procurement, working towards collaborative goals, and the most valuable tools for education and measurement of success.
Gracee Shorter presented Ecovadis’ latest insights from the 2022 Impact Report which promotes a greater understanding of sustainable impact, what it is, and how it is measured and illuminates how the network is helping drive impact at scale.
RCC Webinar: Race to Zero with H&M, IKEA and Walmart
In 2021, RCC hosted a webinar in collaboration with H&M, IKEA and Walmart to discuss their involvement in the Race to Zero Breakthroughs: Retail Campaign. This international campaign encourages retailers to come up with detailed plans for how they will cut carbon emissions and help meet the globally established goal of limiting worldwide warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.
RILA Climate Action Blueprint
The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is a US-based trade association that worked closely with its members to prepare this Climate Action Blueprint to help companies seek a path to a net zero emissions future.
Member committee
ESG & Climate Action Committee
Governments around the world, including Canada’s federal government, are participating in global efforts to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5C. Moreover, ESG reporting frameworks and rating agencies have emerged as an important area for corporates to both monitor and inform. This committee is looking to help facilitate best practice sharing, monitor policies/trends, explore collaborative opportunities and develop related resources. (Meets bi-monthly)
Contact Harrison Brook, Manager, Sustainability, at hbrook@retailcouncil.org, for questions or additional information.