Research Report: Sustainability and CSR in Canada for CSR600 Course

This research report examines the concept of sustainability and its relationship with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), focusing on the Canadian context. The report defines sustainability as efforts to safeguard the environment and explores CSR as a business model for social accountability. It highlights sustainability issues in Canada, including air and water pollution, and discusses the impact of the tourism industry, using G Adventures as a case study. The report also outlines initiatives to manage these issues, such as government programs, and provides recommendations for companies to contribute to sustainability, focusing on conservation, waste reduction, and cultural awareness. The report emphasizes the importance of ethical behavior, transparency, and respect for stakeholder interests in achieving sustainability goals.

Running Head: SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note:

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ABSTRATCT
The aim of the paper is to introduce the topic of sustainability and its issues. The paper will
demonstrate the relation between sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility. For this
study, G Adventure, a representative from the tourism industry will be described. The
sustainability activities of the company will be mentioned in this paper. Additionally, the paper
will suggest some fruitful recommendation to make a contribution towards development of
sustainability.
Keywords – (Sustainability, CSR, Tourism industry, Government initiatives)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction..........................................................................................................................3
Discussion............................................................................................................................3
Sustainability and CSR....................................................................................................3
Sustainability issues in Canada, Ontario.........................................................................3
Sustainability issues in the tourism industry...................................................................4
Initiatives to manage the issues.......................................................................................4
Recommendation and conclusion........................................................................................5
References............................................................................................................................6

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Introduction
The term sustainability can be defined as the initiative taken by business, human being
for safeguarding the environment. This is domain that bridges the gap between social science and
civil engineering to develop and secure environment with technical efficiency. It is a study about
the functionality of natural system. It has been emerged to balance the ecology of environment.
Living within a consumerist modern world the human being utilize the natural resources at its
extent on a regular basis (Lange, Deborah, and Dodds). Comparing the urban and rural setting,
the former one uses more natural resources than the later. Hence, the term sustainability defines
the procedure of balancing the competing needs and preserving the environment where the entire
generation is residing.
Discussion
Sustainability and CSR
The abbreviation CSR stands for Corporate Social Responsibility. It is a kind of business
model that helps the organizations to emerge as socially accountable for the self, stakeholders,
and the consumers. Company engaged in CSR refers to the organization is improving the
functionality to enhance the community and environment in spite of contributing for negative
outcomes. It is a broader concept and its nature varies according to the nature of the business or
industry (Hahn and Rüdiger). According to the researches, CSR is often subjected to criticism as
it infers an obligation for the society and the upcoming generation from the initiatives taken for
containing the combination of legal needs of a business. Sustainability and CSR contributes the
aspects in favor of ethical decisions, the effect of intangible aspects within ethical dilemmas, and
the right practices to develop ethical behavior within the organization (Bailey et al). The notion
of sustainability is centered on the factor of eliminating environmental impact by reducing the
natural consumption. Similarly, corporate responsibility is centralized around the relationship of
sustainability, organization, the direct and indirect stakeholders and the society.
Sustainability issues in Canada, Ontario
Canada is a comparatively large country, and the volume of the land mass is 9,970,610
square kilometers approximately. Hence, the ecosystem of Canada is also a huge one. Lakes and
rivers consumed almost 7% of the entire country. The concept of Arctic warming has a serious

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impact on the climate of Canadian environment. The country produces enough amount of wealth
from its oil and gas functions. The 2030 agenda for sustainability development by United Nation,
declares all the countries and stakeholders should act in collaborative partnership to implement
sustainability plan. This Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) plan is dedicated to resolving
the human being from the cruelty of poverty to save and heal the world (Veiga et al). In Canada,
the majority of the population is living in the urban areas with a poor quality of air. The
Canadian sustainability issue is remarkable in the dominion of sir pollution that is affecting the
wildlife, natural vegetation, water and soil. Researchers observed that Canada is a reservoir of
freshwaters. However, the World Wildlife Fund exhibited concerns about the damning of rivers
and water usage in Canada (Schussler and Elizabeth). According to the SDG plan, the activities
of sustainability will be dedicated for the community, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership.
Sustainability issues in the tourism industry
G Adventures is a well-known organization in Canada belongs to tours and travel
industry. Canada is a nation of amazing geography. Hence, the tours and travel is comprising a
remarkable position in Canadian market. Hall and Michael stated that, the travel industry of
Canada is also responsible for sustainable issues within Canada (Hall and Michael). Over
tourism is one of the reasons that is giving birth to the sustainable issues in Canada. The research
states that, almost five percent of emission of global carbon dioxide is raised by tourism industry.
The natural beauty of Canada is the greatest attraction of the travelers, which is becoming a
gradual threat for the environment, communities, animals, and traditions of the place. The place
is a home for unique ecosystems that includes deserts, wetlands, and forests (Wheeler and
Stephen). G Adventures is well aware about the importance and sustainability and its impact on
the earth. Every journey with G adventures supports the initiative to protect the universe for the
upcoming generation.
Initiatives to manage the issues
Canada has taken remarkable steps to protect its beauty and the balance of the entire
universe. Innovative government initiatives and Green Tourism program are the most precious
initiatives taken by Canadian government for the sake of sustainability. The Canadian
Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) is a program that helps to track the performance
of the entire nation on particularly sustainability issue. This issues include quality of air, water,

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and natural beauty. CESI also used to track the strategy of Federal Sustainable Development.
This is a four-year plan to protect the country from the serious sustainable issues (Ellis and Erin).
Recommendation and conclusion
G Adventure made a greater contribution to preserve the natural resources of Canada.
However, for a better impression of the serious issue of sustainability, there are some
recommendation for the company to be implement in future programs. These recommendations
are solely dedicated for preserving the earth from arctic warming.
 Include conservation resources for the nature. It means allowing the visitors to promote
some sustainable activities including cycle tours.
 Encouraging the visitors to eliminate waste production and considering electric vehicles
for tours.
 Providing proper guidance to the visitor about the culture of Canada to act according to
the local residents of the place they are visiting.
 Make the sustainable tourism an integral part of the ethos of G Adventures.
 Initiate several programs to promote economic activity and sustainable development with
motion.

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References
Bailey, Megan, et al. "The role of corporate social responsibility in creating a Seussian world of
seafood sustainability." Fish and Fisheries 19.5 (2018): 782-790.
De Lange, Deborah, and Rachel Dodds. "Increasing sustainable tourism through social
entrepreneurship." International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality
Management (2017).
Ellis, Erin. "An Evaluation of Environmental Sustainability Reporting in Canada." (2013).
Hahn, Rüdiger. "ISO 26000 and the standardization of strategic management processes for
sustainability and corporate social responsibility." Business Strategy and the
Environment 22.7 (2013): 442-455.
Hall, C. Michael. "Policy learning and policy failure in sustainable tourism governance: from
first-and second-order to third-order change?." Tourism Governance. Routledge, 2013.
249-272.
Schussler, Elizabeth, et al. "PLANT SCIENCE BULLETIN Editorial Committee Volume 59."
Veiga, Célia, et al. "Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes."
Wheeler, Stephen M. Planning for sustainability: creating livable, equitable and ecological
communities. Routledge, 2013.