Our Approach

Sustainable Development Action Plan

The Québec government passed the Sustainable Development Act in 2006. In 2008, Québec's Government Sustainable Development Strategy put this law into concrete terms, setting benchmarks to guide the actions of government departments, agencies and corporations.

In response to the government strategy, Hydro-Québec has drawn up the Sustainable Development Action Plan 2009–2013. Because Hydro-Québec has been applying sustainable development principles for many years, both our day-to-day management and our infrastructure projects are already imbued with a culture of sustainability. Nevertheless, as the action plan indicates, we plan to harmonize our efforts with those of the government to ensure environmental protection, social progress and economic development.

Sustainable development action plan 2009–2013
Action	Target
Action 1: Implement hydropower projects and contribute to the development of wind power.	Increase generating capability by close to 10 TWh and capacity by 1,056 MW by completing projects already in progress. Carry out the Romaine project.
Action 2: Increase the capacity of existing hydroelectric generating stations.	Optimize three existing stations to increase peak capacity by 54 MW.
Action 3: Step up energy efficiency initiatives.	Achieve savings of 11 TWh by 2015.
Action 4: Continue to help low-income customers.	Increase the number of payment arrangements with low-income customers.
Action 5: Reduce transport-related GHG emissions.	Raise the vehicle fleet GHG emission reduction target from 5% to 10% (compared to 2005).
Action 6: Promote reduction at source, reuse and recycling.	Improve the performance of administrative centres, substations and generating stations in terms of reduction at source and reclaiming of 10 types of residual materials, excess goods and residual hazardous materials by 2013.
Action 7: Establish specifications for sustainable procurement.	Implement sustainable specifications for five more commonly used products by 2013.
Action 8: Inform and educate employees regarding sustainability and the company's approach. Help employees learn to apply sustainability principles to their daily activities.	Educate 80% of employees by 2011, ensuring that 50% of that number have enough knowledge to incorporate these principles into their daily activities.
Action 9: Improve vegetation control methods on the distribution system to better protect biodiversity.	By the end of 2013, incorporate specific biodiversity reinforcement guidelines into 90% of planned vegetation control operations.
Action 10: Organize sustainable events and promote responsible management of events sponsored by Hydro-Québec.	Integrate, on average, 75% of the measures defined as sustainable when managing events organized by Hydro-Québec, by 2013.¹

Twenty-five measures have been defined, covering all aspects of managing sustainable events.

Download Hydro-Québec's Sustainable Development Action Plan 2009–2013