Montréal
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A s the first city in Canada to join Montréal resides on the traditional territory the Global Destination of the Kanien ’ kehá : ka , ‘ Mohawk ’ and the Sustainability Index , Montréal in Anishinabeg , ‘ Algonquin ’, peoples under Québec has sustainable the traditional territory name of Tiohtiá : ke . practices built into its
To honour these communities , the city foundations . The city has been a member of provides chances for visitors to experience an international network of mayors indigenous culture , arts , language , and implementing measures to combat the history from the local leaders and experts climate crisis , C40 Cities , since 2016 - themselves . Alongside these opportunities , becoming a steering committee member of Tourisme Montréal offers opportunities for the group . attendee groups of all sizes to give back to The city ’ s passion for sustainability is also the local community by getting involved evident in its approach to the events with a volunteering initiative of the event industry . planner ’ s choice .
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Urban greenery Social sustainability is deeply important to Montréal is renowned as one of the Montréal , and to Canada as a whole – a greenest cities in the world , boasting 19 crucial part of the sustainability plan ’ s pillars . Montréal ’ s Système alimentaire local et intégré à Montréal ( SALIM ) initiative certainly embodies this practice . By investing in initiatives like SALIM , fresh and healthy food can be distributed to one in 10 Montréal citizens without secure access to sustainable food . When organising an event in Montréal , organisers can be assured that they ’ re hosting in a destination that is always looking for ways to benefit its citizens .
Cultural sustainability is also included in Montréal ’ s social commitments , which include the destination ’ s commitment to indigenous communities and organisations . large parks and 1,200 neighbourhood parks . This results in 26 % of the city ’ s surface area being green , complete with 846km of bike lanes and paths – making it easy for delegates to get around the city sustainably . But you won ’ t just find lush grassland in Montréal – buildings are in on the action too . 557 sqm of the Palais de congrès de Montréal ’ s rooftop has been turned into an urban farm and garden , starting with the instillation of the Culti-VERT farming system and including 100,000 urbanised bees .
Whether they ’ re calling Montréal home for just a day or several , conference delegates will see first-hand the city ’ s commitment to sustainability . In 2019 the Palais de congrès convention centre launched its Palais Boréal initiative , which strives to make sustainable event planning easier for organisers . The five-step programme not only provides organisers access to a host of facilities to move towards net zero , but delegates are also provided with tools to offset travel with strictly Gold-Standard certified carbon credits .
The progress doesn ’ t stop there . In a joint initiative with Business Events Montréal , Palais ’ ‘ eco-conditionality policy ’ offers up to 10 % off on rental fees to organisers who are putting words into practice by running their events sustainably .
Several sustainability events have called Montréal home in recent years , including :
• UN Biodiversity Conference ( COP15 ) 2022
• Ecologoical Society of America Annual Meeting 2022
• IFRS Sustainability Symposium 2023
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