Hydro-Québec adhered to the concept of sustainable development in 1989, in response to the report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, commonly referred to as the Brundtland Commission, which filed its report in 1987.
Sustainable development at Hydro-Québec is based on the three pillars of the Johannesburg Declaration of 2002: economic development, social development and environmental protection.
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This is the most widely accepted definition of sustainable development and is taken from the report of the World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission, 1987).
The Québec government has also adopted this 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 (Sustainable Development Act, 2006).
The following table shows the three pillars in question and some examples of related development objectives.
| 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 Larue, 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. |
| The Sustainable Development Concept and Hydro-Québec |
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