Our Approach
Defining Sustainable Development
Hydro-Québec originally embraced the principles of sustainable development in 1989, following the report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, also known as the Brundtland Report. In this document, published in 1987, sustainable development is defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." At the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, this definition was broadened to include the notion of the three pillars of sustainable development: environmental protection, social progress and economic development.
In the Sustainable Development Act, passed in 2006, the Québec government adopted the Brundtland Report's definition with the following elaboration: "Sustainable development is based on a long-term approach which takes into account the inextricable nature of the environmental, social and economic dimensions of development activities."
Hydro-Québec's actions are based on the three pillars of sustainable development. The table below presents these three pillars in terms of the related development objectives. The diagram shows how the concept of sustainable development is applied at Hydro-Québec.
| Sustainable development pillars and development objectives | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pillars | Objectives | |||
| Sustainability | Equity | Diversification | Collaboration | |
| Economy | Produce long-lasting spinoffs. | Promote interregional and intergenerational equity. | Respect the diversity of economic structures. | Develop human capital. |
| Society | Respond to present and future social needs. | Promote social and interpersonal equity. | Respect local identities. | Develop participation and partnership. |
| Environment | Prevent the destruction of natural resources. | Promote equal access to environmental assets. | Promote diversity in the biophysical and human environments. | Develop environmental awareness. |
| Adapted from Larrue, Corinne, Évaluation environnementale préalable: Des contrats de Plan État-Région et documents uniques de programmation 2000-2006, Ministère de l'Aménagement du territoire et de l'Environnement, France, 1999. | ||||
| Sustainable development concept and Hydro-Québec |
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