Executive Council
January 21, 2015

Taking Action on Energy Conservation and Environmental Management

Provincial Government Releases Greening Government Action Plan

Today the Provincial Government released its Greening Government Action Plan outlining several steps to improve the environmental sustainability of government operations.

"Creating a culture of environmental sustainability within government requires a sustained commitment over the long term. The release of this action plan is an important step in that direction and we are committed to leading by example to make greening our government a priority. We believe the culture of an organization can be transformed by strong leadership, active employee engagement, and through this action plan we are establishing both to achieve our goal."
- The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Environment and Conservation and Minister Responsible for the Office of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency

The plan outlines 46 commitments across five strategic objectives including increasing waste diversion, improving the sustainability of government buildings, integrating green considerations into fleet management and travel practices, increasing the procurement of environmentally preferable products and services, and effectively engaging employees on each of these issues.

The action plan will be implemented over a five-year period from 2015 to 2019.

The Greening Government Action Plan can be found online at:

www.exec.gov.nl.ca/exec/ccee/publications/greening_gov_action_plan.pdf

QUICK FACTS:

• The Provincial Government has released the Greening Government Action Plan which outlines steps to improve the environmental sustainability of government operations.
• The Greening Government Action Plan applies to all core departments and agencies within the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
• The development of the Greening Government Action Plan was a commitment in the Provincial Government's 2011 Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Action Plans.
• Budget 2014 invested $9.3 million into energy conservation, climate change, and environmental protection initiatives.

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• Ministerial Statement-Provincial Government Releases Greening Government Action Plan

Media contact:

Deborah Thomas Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation Office of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency 709-729-2575, 728-8092 DeborahThomas@gov.nl.ca

2015 01 21                              2:45 p.m.