Highlights from IISD's 2003–04 Sustainable Development Report
IISD’s Internal Sustainable Development Assessment and Reporting Team consists of the following personnel: Marlene Roy (Team Leader), Stephan Barg, Jodi Browne, Dennis Cunningham, Janice Gair, Catherine Muir, Darren Swanson, Henry Venema 
IISD is committed to promoting a global transition to sustainable development. In doing so, we follow operating policies that conserve and protect resources needed for the survival of future generations. We endeavour to exceed, wherever possible, environmental, health, safety and employment regulations. To track our progress, we follow the Global Reporting Initiative Guidelines.
The indicators on which we report here present a snapshot of our progress. The complete IISD Sustainable Development Report will be available in September 2004.
Economic Indicators
Alignment among IISD's mission, internal capacity and donors' goals creates circumstances for success that will ultimately benefit humanity. The indicator for this success is positive changes in revenue suggesting that IISD is able to manage this alignment process and provide programming that is necessary and ongoing.
Direct economic impact
Total revenue financing programs, projects and institutional infrastructure:
- 2001/02: 10,390,954
- 2002/03: 11,019,357
- 2003/04: 11,995,151
Total salary, benefits and payments to associates, consultants and other collaborators
Payments flowing to IISD employees, Associates and consultants (our internal stakeholders):
- 2001/02: 7,172,000
- 2002/03: 7,686,000
- 2003/04: 8,327,000
Environmental Indicators
Total materials used other then water
As a knowledge organization, the principal material used is paper. Even though we use recycled paper, our goal is to reduce the amount of paper we use to the extent possible.
Computer and photocopier paper used
- 2001/02: 6,989 sheets of paper printed per employee
- 2002/03: 9,558 sheets of paper printed per employee*
- 2003/04: 6,710 sheets of paper printed per employee
*We believe the increase in printing in 2002/03 was a result of (1) the increased delivery of publications to IISD in PDF; and (2) increased production of documents for one specific project. Electronic filing solutions have since been implemented, explaining the drop in paper usage in 2003/04.
Carbon management strategy
Our carbon management strategy in 2003/04 featured several activities, including:
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participation in the Green Commuter Challenge (a program designed to promote environmentallyfriendly ways of getting to and from work);
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registering our commitment to reduce emissions with the Voluntary Challenge Registry;
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completing a 375 tonne carbon offset credit purchase to offset our 2002/03 CO2 emissions;
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establishing baseline measurements for electricity, natural gas and water consumption in the Winnipeg office;
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gathering information on employee commuting habits through an online survey developed in partnership with a local environmental NGO; and
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expanding air travel emissions data collection to include Reporting Services consultants and IISD Associates.
Carbon offset purchase
For the fiscal year 2002-2003, IISD achieved net-zero carbon emissions through the purchase in 2003/04 of 375 tonnes of certified emissions reduction credits. This amount represented emissions related to IISD air travel. These credits were purchased from Saskatchewan-based Clear-Green Environmental, Inc.—for their Biogas Digester Project—and registered through the Voluntary Challenge Registry.
Carbon emissions from business travel
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2002/03: 375 tonnes of carbon (business travel for employees and associates)
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2003/04: 527 tonnes of carbon (business travel for employees, associates and consultants*)
*During the first year of carbon emissions tracking we enhanced our data collection, making it possible to efficiently count emissions from our Reporting Services consultants in the second year. This resulted in a substantial increase in recorded emissions, as Reporting Services consultants travel extensively to international meetings.
Carbon emissions from natural gas consumption (heating of Winnipeg office)
- 2003/04: 78 tonnes of carbon
Carbon emissions from electricity use (Winnipeg office)
2003/04
Data were collected for the first time this year. The emissions from electricity use can be calculated using one of two methods. The first uses Canadian average emissions, from electricity generated from all fuel types, which gives a carbon emission of 700 tonnes. This is the method recommended by the World Business Council on Sustaibale Development/World Resources Institute protocol that we used. The second method is based on a marginal calculation, and assumes that any electricity conserved by IISD will displace electricity generation from fossil fuel emissions in the Mid-Area Power Pool (MAPP) region of the U.S., which is where Manitoba Hydro sends electricity that is surplus to Manitoba demand. This gives a higher level value to savings, but also a higher emission calculation for the emissions that we do cause.
Total carbon emissions for 2003/04
The upper estimate is 980 metric tonnes CO2e (using marginal use calculation for electricity generation) and the lower estimate is 700 metric tonnes CO2e (using the Canadian average calculation for electricity generation).
Social Indicators
Employment
Workforce by type
Administration, Accounting and Technical (AAT): 24
Research and Reporting Services (RRS): 36
Corporate Management and Directors (CMD): 9
CMD also doing research: 7
CMD also doing administration or accounting: 2
Net employment creation and average turnover
Net employment creation 2003/04: 10 persons
Staff retention - (% retained from previous year)
- RRS staff retained: 2001/02: 96% - 2002/03: 85% - 2003/04: 98%
- AAT staff retained: 2001/02: 96% - 2002/03: 74% - 2003/04: 92%
Critical mass of researchers
Percentage of total staff that are researchers
Education and training
Staff training modules were developed and delivered as required using a variety of communication methods. A training and development fund of CDN$50,000.00, open to all staff (except Directors), was established to ensure equitable access for training and development opportunities. These funds are retained in a common pool and requests are considered by a cross-functional committee.
The committee received 14 requests for assistance in 2003-2004 and $9,387 was disbursed to support them. An additional $6,675 is expected to be disbursed in FY 04-05 to cover some deferred requests. Forty-seven per cent of the money expended supported requests from research and program staff.
Workplace diversity and opportunity
IISD Staff and Associates
Overall Male/Female Ratio
Accounting, administration and technical staff
Research and Reporting Services staff
Corporate Management and Directors
Board of Directors
Nationalities* represented by staff and associates
- 2002/03: 9 different nationalities represented;
73% of staff and associates were Canadian.
- 2003/04: 14 different nationalities represented; and
68% of staff and associates were Canadian.
*Nationality is defined here as country of birth
Academic disciplines of staff and associates (based on highest degree obtained)
- 2002/03: 15 different academic degrees
- 2003/04: 20 different academic degrees
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