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Corporate Services Sector

Doing Our Part to Prevent Climate Change
Meeting the One-Tonne Challenge is not necessarily a tonne of challenges.

By Paul Provost , M.Sc., Senior Environmental Advisor

The Government of Canada recently announced the One-Tonne Challenge (OTC), a new climate change initiative calling on all Canadians to cut their personal green house gas (GHG) emissions by one tonne (1,000 kilograms). The program also includes a public service in-reach component to encourage climate change leadership by all federal employees.

We have the power to make a difference and the OTC is a great chance for all Correctional Service of Canada employees to get involved and show Canadians what committed climate change action can achieve. The only thing required now is for you to participate!

Join the One-Tonne Challenge¹

Reducing by one tonne our personal GHG emissions, that's equivalent to a reduction of about 20 percent of energy consumption for the average Canadian. For example, if you drive 20,000 kilometres a year, reducing your annual distance by 2,000 kilometres or 10 percent will reduce your GHG emissions by half a tonne. By doing so, you'll save money, protect our climate and help give us cleaner air. Thus, besides pursuing its own emission targets, the government is encouraging all federal employees to take up the One-Tonne Challenge by reducing their personal GHG emissions at work, at home and on the road.

Benefits for Everyone

Did you know that the average Canadian produces about five tonnes of GHG emissions every year? Just one tonne is enough to fill the average, two-storey, three-bedroom house. Every time we drive to the store, start up the computer or do anything that uses energy from fossil fuels, we create GHGs. Altogether, individual Canadians account for more than a quarter of our national GHG emissions.

If we're part of the problem, we can also be part of the solution. Governments, business, industry and municipalities are all doing their bit and so can we. Besides saving you money, using energy more efficiently at work, at home and on the road will improve the quality of our air, our health, our lifestyles and our communities, and help ensure a sustainable supply of resources for generations to come.

Let's Get Started

Need a few tips on how to get started? It's easy. In your home you can reduce your GHGs and energy bills by more than 20 percent by caulking around your windows and doors and turning down your furnace by three degrees at night. Conserving water, reducing waste, avoiding over-packaging and buying locally will all help reduce your GHG emissions. If you're in your car, don't let it idle. Restarting the engine uses less fuel than 10 seconds of idling. Keeping your tires properly inflated can reduce your car's GHG emissions by five percent and using ethanol-enhanced gas will reduce them five percent more. You can reduce your driving by 10 percent by walking, biking or car pooling. Using public transit will cut your emissions most of all.

A Group Effort

We all have an important role to play in making the One-Tonne Challenge a success and the Correctional Service Canada strongly encourages all employees to get involved at work, at home and on the road. The OTC is a real opportunity for our department and for each of us as individuals to demonstrate leadership through meaningful, sustainable action with long-term results. So let's show Canada what we can do. Tools and support are available for any employee interested in starting an OTC initiative of their own with peers and other working groups inside the department. Help spread the word. Take action on climate change and join the One-Tonne Challenge today!

For more information and to get your free copy of the One-Tonne Challenge Guide and to try out the personalized GHG emissions calculator, or for lots of tips on how to reduce your GHG emissions, visit the Government of Canada Website on climate change at www.climatechange.gc.ca/onetonne/.

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1 The content was extracted and adapted from Environment Canada Website.