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The Government of Canada made every effort to organize a sustainably managed G-8 summit when it planned this summer’s meeting in Huntsville, Ontario. Consistent with the approach taken during previous high-level international events hosted by Canada, every effort was made to ensure the environmental equilibrium was maintained. Summit planners consulted with community partners and experts to understand and minimize any possible adverse impacts that hosting such an event might have on the natural environment.

The plan

Our greening plan placed environmental concerns at the forefront of managing each facet of the G-8 Summit, including:

Muskoka 2010 G-8 Summit: A Carbon-Neutral Summit: Through its carbon neutral strategy, the Government of Canada will offset greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the G-8 Summit.

Signature Project: In consultation with the Town of Huntsville, a solar lighting system was chosen as the environmental signature project for the Muskoka 2010 G-8 Summit.

Ecosystem Impact Analysis: The Muskoka 2010 G-8 Summit was held in an area that is prized for its pristine natural beauty. One of the first components of the sustainability plan for the Muskoka 2010 G-8 Summit was an ecosystem impact analysis that identified potential environmental impacts summit activities might have on the local environment.

Green Transportation: Working to reduce the environmental impact of transportation associated with the Muskoka 2010 G-8 Summit was a key element of the summit sustainability strategy.

Green Venues: The Government of Canada was pleased to host the Muskoka 2010 G-8 Summit in the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario, a venue that has taken a number of measures to reduce its overall environmental footprint.

Tree Planting: The Government of Canada’s commitment to hosting a sustainable Muskoka 2010 G-8 Summit included leaving a positive environmental legacy in Muskoka by planting several thousand trees that will contribute to the environmental health of the region.

Green Power: In order to reduce greenhouse gas and other air emissions associated with the generation of electricity, the Government of Canada purchased “green” power for the Deerhurst Resort for the duration of the Summit.

Zero Waste: The Government of Canada reduced and managed the solid waste generated as a result of the Muskoka 2010 G-8 Summit. The Summit diverted as much waste as possible from landfill.

Muskoka

Muskoka, the region where Huntsville is located, is the place where the farmland of southern Ontario gives way to the forests and ancient bedrock of the Canadian Shield, where the cities and towns begin dotting the landscape with decreased frequency.

To the west are the enigmatic expanses of Georgian Bay; to the east, the iconic highlands of Algonquin Park.

Muskoka is justly known for its natural beauty – a place where year-round and seasonal residents alike enjoy the restorative and recreational benefits of plentiful lakes and forests. It is a place where balance between capitalizing on natural resources and protecting the land is increasingly a reality.

Muskoka boasts some of the cleanest, well-monitored freshwater in the world, and its residents are working to understand and balance the effects of day-to-day living in this unique, sensitive landscape. Muskoka is home to a world-class research station for acid rain and the University of Waterloo environmental research facility.

The G-8 Summit will unfold in full appreciation of the incalculable value of Muskoka’s natural heritage.

News

• 18 June 2010
  Minister of State Kent Unveils Government Plan to Green G-8 and G-20 Summits
• 9 June 2010
  Sugar Maples a Sweet Tribute to Summit
• 11 May 2010
  Planting a green legacy