A Saskatoon business association has been funded over $700,000 to launch a decarbonization education initiative for businesses across Saskatchewan.

Executive Director of NSBA – Saskatoon’s Business Association, Keith Moen, says the funding over three years will mean organizing presentations and seminars for businesses with experts speaking on why and how to reduce carbon emissions and the NSBA is also building a website for information handy whenever you need it. The website will include a carbon footprint calculator. Moen explains that the calculator will enable companies to enter a few variables and it will come up with a calculation on what their carbon footprint is.

Other than the reason for everyone to try to reduce their emissions, Moen suggests it can also be in the best interest of business owners. “With the expansion of the Saskatchewan economy to include large multinationals which have stringent ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) policies and targets, it only makes sense for small and medium-sized businesses to work in lockstep to be part of the equation of the economy, as well as part of the solution for reducing greenhouse gases.” He adds, “If you want to play in the sandbox with these folks, you’ve got to play by their rules,”

Minister of PrairiesCan, Terry Duguid, says decarbonization, or the removal and reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is important to help Canada achieve a low carbon future. He states that the NSBA project aims to promote sustainable practices that aren’t just the right thing to do for our environment, but also good for Saskatchewan businesses.