We’re building more than pipelines
“We believe that to be a good corporate citizen, we have a responsibility to give back to the communities that contribute to our business success. Investing in these communities helps sustain them as vibrant and healthy places to live and work – which, in turn, sustains us as a healthy company.”
Enbridge is in the business of delivering energy to communities throughout North America, and we believe we have an obligation to do so in a responsible and sustainable way.
Carbon management strategy
Enbridge has already exceeded its target of reducing direct greenhouse gas emissions of Canadian operations to 20% below 1990 levels by 2010. By 2008, we had achieved a 23% reduction. We are in the process of developing a more comprehensive Carbon Management Strategy that will include further actions to reduce the Company's own direct emissions. We also have comprehensive energy-efficiency programs in place that help our natural gas distribution customers use energy more efficiently.
Looking ahead to a future where society makes greater use of renewable energy sources, we are investing in green energy technologies, including wind power, fuel cells, waste-heat recovery and solar. We are also participating in the emerging technology of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, pipelining and sequestration.
Stakeholder engagement and consultation
Enbridge is building an unprecedented number of projects in North America.
To ensure specific concerns are identified and understood, we engage stakeholders (e.g., landowners) and communities (e.g., Aboriginal communities) early in the project planning. This enables us to adjust our plans as appropriate and resolve remaining concerns, where possible. Communication with stakeholders continues through regulatory review to construction and into operations.
Enbridge aims to meet or exceed regulatory requirements regarding public consultation. For example, for the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project we established community advisory boards to guide the design, construction and operation of the proposed project. We have also implemented an Aboriginal and Native American Policy that encourages partnerships, program sponsorships, employment opportunities and other capacity-building efforts.
Community partnerships and investment
For communities to be sustainable, they must have solid infrastructure and programming in four areas: Education, Health & Safety, Culture & Community and the Environment. Enbridge also believes that the time, effort and investments it makes in communities contribute to maintaining our social licence to operate. We launched three flagship programs in 2009:
Safe Community
This program supports first response emergency organizations in communities near Enbridge's rights-of-way.
Natural Legacy
Enbridge is committed to environmental stewardship and habitat remediation and conservation, and this program focuses on planting and maintaining native trees and plants in urban and rural areas along Enbridge's rights-of-way.
School Plus
Established in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations, School Plus supports enriched programming and extracurricular activities in First Nations schools near major Enbridge pipeline routes and the Ontario Wind Power Project.
Image detail:
Enbridge’s School Plus program helped Randelle Pete of the Little Pine First Nation and her grade 11 classmates from Sãkewew High School in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, participate in a field trip to study the aquatic and terrestrial ecology of nearby Finlayson Island. To date, the School Plus Program has benefited children from kindergarten to high school in 42 First Nations schools.
