As Canada’s production industry makes efforts to green up its act, CBC/Radio-Canada’s third Annual Environmental Sustainability Report provides some insight into how companies can produce content in a more sustainable way.  

Released yesterday, the report details how the CBC reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 16% in 2023/2024, compared to a 2019/2020 baseline. By 2026, the goal is to get to 25%, as well as reducing energy consumption by 15%. 

In 2023/2024, the CBC reduced its Scope 1 (direct emissions from its owned assets, including vehicles and equipment), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from energy purchased, like electricity) and Scope 3 (all other indirect emissions, like waste, business travel and purchased goods & services) emissions by converting several Canadian facilities to LED lighting, reducing travel and updating its fleet with electric vehicles. By 2026, the broadcaster would like 50% of its fleet to be fuel-efficient, with at least 20% relying on electric power (plug-in hybrid, hybrid, zero-emission). Currently, 35% qualify as fuel-efficient, and 17% are some sort of EV. 

Touted as one of the broadcaster’s sustainability highlights of the year, UK-based carbon calculator and green certification service albert awarded seven CBC facilities (including the CBC Kids studio in Toronto) the albert Studio Sustainability Standard. This is a voluntary global standard, and companies that achieve it get reports on emissions that can help them work towards reducing their carbon footprint further. 

CBC is also focused on putting green-centric storytelling on its platforms. As one recent example, youth news program MAJ put environment, climate change and biodiversity on screen for kids in the 2023/2024 year. 

As part of its sustainability journey, the CBC has committed to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Net-Zero Challenge, a voluntary initiative encouraging businesses to develop and implement plans for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Internationally, broadcasters and producers are becoming increasingly focused on reducing their carbon footprint to both save money and protect the environment. All major UK broadcasters now require that the content they commission/renew gets certified (meaning producers must report their carbon footprint, develop a plan to reduce emissions, and provide evidence of implementation) by UK-based carbon calculator albert. While Canada isn’t as far along in the process, Canadian companies are making strides. In September, CBC/Radio-Canada and 10 other Canadian content orgs/financiers teamed up to form Green Frame, a group committed to increasing the media industry’s environmental sustainability efforts. 

Pictured is CBC Kids’ series Gary’s Magic Fort.