Driving sustainable growth: Water Institute at the 2024 Great Lakes Sustainable Growth Forum
By international visiting graduate student Bente-Sophie Van Kalken and The Water Institute
In late June, the Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) in collaboration with the Toronto Region Board of Trade, hosted the Great Lakes Sustainable Growth Forum. This significant event united leaders from various sectors to tackle critical challenges, explore how to responsibly grow the Great Lakes regional economy, and protect the Great Lakes - one of North America's key economic regions.
According to the Council of the Great Lakes Region, “the Great Lakes megaregion spans eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces and is an economic powerhouse with an annual GDP exceeding CA$8.0 trillion (US$6.0 trillion). Accounting for more than 50% of the total value of two-way goods trade between the United States and Canada, the region supports over 50 million jobs, roughly one-third of the combined American and Canadian workforce.”
It was an engaging and insightful event, highlighting critical discussions on freshwater stewardship. Roy Brouwer, Executive Director of the University of Waterloo's Water Institute, led the panel entitled "Freshwater Future: Advancing Corporate Water Stewardship in the Great Lakes Region." The panel delved into essential topics such as corporate water stewardship and economic feasibility of sustainable water use within industry.
The panel featured distinguished guest speakers, including:
- Noelle Brigham, Director of ESG, A.O. Smith
- Brian Bruce, President, Municipal Water – Central Region, Veolia North America
- Alan Gilden, Vice President, Global Quality, Watts Water Technologies
- Andreanne Simard, Senior Natural Resources Manager, BlueTriton Brands Canada
The discussions centered around innovative strategies and best practices for corporate water management, exploring the economic and environmental benefits of effective water stewardship. The panelists shared their expertise on navigating the challenges of implementing sustainable water practices within the corporate sector, emphasizing the importance of regulatory compliance, technological advancements, and the role of public-private partnerships.
Sustainable growth in the Great Lakes Region is only possible if we engage pro-actively with industry and hear directly from them what they need to incentivize companies to invest in water savings and clean tech. We need to rethink our water use and the values of water. Events like these are instrumental to get us moving towards a more circular economy of water. The Council of the Great Lakes Region is a key catalyst in this discussion.
The forum provided a valuable networking opportunity, bringing together professionals from various industries, academia, and non-governmental organizations as well as senior government officials. Key speakers included the premier of Ontario, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change and former premier of Ontario and Canada’s Ambassador to the UN, Bob Rae. The breakout and networking sessions were particularly enriching, allowing participants to exchange insights and collaborate on solutions to advance water stewardship in the Great Lakes Region.
Overall, the Sustainable Growth Forum was an inspiring event that reinforced the critical role of corporate water stewardship in achieving sustainable growth and environmental resilience in the Great Lakes Region.
Photos courtesy of: Council of the Great Lakes Region and Bente-Sophie Van Kalken.