Thanks to the expertise of its members in the public, private and academic sectors, Réseau Environnement bridges the gap between technical expertise and public policy. Seeing as we are a central actor of the environmental sector, our association strives be at the forefront of new trends and innovations. This implies a close collaboration with entrepreneurs, innovators and research centers, for these are the actors who stimulate reflection and progress in the field.
Our association brings together the different experiences of these various actors in order for the sector as a whole to move forward in the same direction. For instance, we ensure that research is in line with the reality of actors innovating on-the-ground. We are the weavers who bridge these different fields that make up Quebec’s green economy sector. Our aim is to enable innovators and entrepreneurs to push their boundaries, and to inspire and stimulate our other members by their many innovations.
Here are a few examples that show how our recommendations have led to significant environmental changes over our 60-year history:
• Wastewater remediation in the 1980s and Sanitation 2.0 today aiming to modernize our infrastructure. Saving drinking water and changing the lead standards;
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), the circular economy, the BAPE investigation on final residues and energy recovery;
• Traceability of contaminated soils, which led to the Traces Québec tool and the implementation of new regulation;
• The consolidation of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program for Quebec, started in 2017 on behalf of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and ICLEI Canada;
• The creation of seven programs of excellence to support and recognize municipalities in terms of best practices, including a new program for biodiversity.
Réseau Environnement offers several opportunities for innovators to promote their work and amplify their message: giving talks at our events – webinars, symposia, the Salon des technologies environnementales du Québec, Americana – or publishing articles in Vecteur Environnement, the only multisectoral technical journal dealing with the environment in Quebec.
If you would like to benefit from these exchanges and our expertise, we invite you to join our network by becoming a member of the largest group of environmental specialists in Quebec!
*The green economy is an approach to implementing sustainable development (ISQ, 2020). It is an economy that leads to improved human well-being and social equity while significantly reducing environmental risks and resource scarcity (UNEP, 2011 and MELCC, 2022).
