New Sustainability Program Now Accepting Firms

To support firms in integrating climate change and sustainability considerations into their work, Engineers and Geoscientists BC has created the Firm Practice Enhancement Program (Sustainability) to guide firms interested in taking a more comprehensive approach to sustainability and achieving greater impact. 

“From our 2025 Organizational Climate Change Action Strategy, one of the goals was to support registrants and firms in incorporating climate change considerations into their professional practice,” said Virginie Brunetaud, Acting Manager of Climate Change and Sustainability Initiatives at Engineers and Geoscientists BC. “Last year's external engagement with focus groups helped us to design a program that could best support firms.” 

Firms are currently being recruited for the first cohort of the free program, which will begin in January 2027. Participating firms will receive tailored guidance on managing climate change-related risks and/or integrating sustainability into their practice.

Firms will also participate in peer learning (including collaborative workshops with participating firms) and personal coaching from Engineers and Geoscientists BC staff. Resources, tools, and education will also be available to participating firms and registrants. However, no certification will be issued to firms as the program’s intention is to provide support to firms rather than evaluate them.

At the beginning of the program, firms will complete a comprehensive self-assessment questionnaire that will yield a personalized package of resources that relate to the firm’s identified priorities and opportunities.

“The self-assessment gives us a better idea of the firm’s priorities and based on that, we'll be preparing a tailored package of resources and coaching where they can create their own specific actions,” said Brunetaud. “In addition, there will be opportunities for peer learning, where like-minded firms can learn from each other.” This customized approach is what makes this program innovative, said Brunetaud.

The program was developed as a collaborative effort between staff, a consultant who specialized in sustainability, and an Engineers and Geoscientists BC working group consisting of registrant volunteers.

Photo: Mark B Pixels / Shutterstock