OUR MISSION

Ottawa Biosphere Eco-City (OBEC) is working to achieve sustainability in partnership with our stakeholders by sharing ideas, knowledge, and experience.

ABOUT OUR CHARITY

Founded in 2009, Ottawa Biosphere Eco-City (OBEC) is a charitable organization developing a culture of sustainability in Ottawa. Running through its activities are ten Themes that engage interests around all action areas of sustainability (Transportation, Energy, Design, Habitat, Food, Natural Capital, Waste, Health, Recreation, and Sense of Place). OBEC also explores Science, Education, Culture and Communication to improve project success for each Theme.

OBEC engages people and organizations with four simple Tools – a Database of Projects, Sustainability Plans, Demonstration Projects and a Council of Stakeholders. Each of these further the understanding, involvement, initiative, and sharing of information needed to create a culture sustainability.

From the start, OBEC has been demonstrating its Themes and Tools, and helping other organizations use them. For example, in 2014 it coordinated over 60 volunteers from over two dozen organizations to create the self-guided Ottawa Sustainability Tour. As well, OBEC has trained many university and high school students to lead development of school sustainability plans.

The Biosphere Eco-City approach has potential for many cities. OBEC has explained the application through international presentations and workshops, and plans to do more of this in the future. Locally, it is exploring ways to help Ottawa organizations improve their sustainability projects.