Leading the way to a sustainable internet
We recognize the need to operate the .CA domain and all other operations in a sustainable manner on behalf of Canadians. That’s why we’re working to minimize our energy consumption, emissions and waste impact on the planet through three guiding pillars.
Green workplace
CIRA helps create an environmentally sustainable office where employees can thrive by supporting:
- A Green Team powered by staff engagement, educational activities, recycling, e-recycling and donation initiatives.
- Sustainable commuting options (hybrid work, carpooling, public/active transit access, EV charging stations).
- Operations out of a LEED Silver certified building.
Green operations
CIRA recognizes the environmental impact of our operations and addresses it by:
- Actively strengthening our data collection accuracy.
- Implementing sustainable procurement as it relates to equipment suppliers where possible and responsibly disposing of end of life equipment.
- Prioritizing data centre locations with lower grid emissions intensity, where viable.
Green internet
CIRA is dedicated to building a greener internet in collaboration with our external partners by:
- Collaborating on and sharing strategic knowledge and best practices via our CENTR CSR Group membership and our partnerships.
- Publicly reporting on our progress towards sustainability goals and intensity metrics to contribute to a transparent and accountable internet community.
- Hosting this very site on Cloudflare, a green system, with data stored in Canadian data centres and run on hydroelectricity.
Sustainability in action
The United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals
CIRA focuses its support on several of the of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including (but not limited to!) the following which impact environmental sustainability.
SDG 2
Zero hunger
“End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.”
- Proud donor of the Ottawa Food Bank
- Supply in-office Inuit-produced coffee, focused on sustainable growing practices with proceeds benefiting Inuit culture
SDG 2
Zero hunger
SDG 9
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
“Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.”
CIRA invests in solutions that make the internet more accessible. resilient and high performing, including:
- Our Net Good Grants program
- A partnership with National Capital Freenet on the CommuniFi program
- CIRA Internet Performance Tests
- Emission tracking of equipment and supply purchases
SDG 9
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
SDG 13
Climate action
“Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.”
- Achieved carbon neutrality as of fiscal year 24
- Committed to reducing scope one and two emissions by 40% by 2030, compared to our baseline
- Maintain disaster recovery plans recognizing impacts to CIRA operations, employee wellbeing and revenues due to extreme weather events.
SDG 13
Climate action
Fiscal year 25 GHG Inventory Report: a summary
Reporting on our sustainability performance progress is a core tenet of CIRA’s environmental sustainability strategy. In collaboration with Canadian consulting team Ostrom Climate Solutions, we’re proud to share the release of our Fiscal year 25 GHG Inventory Report. Highlights from this year’s report include:
- Reduced CIRA’s overall annual footprint by 15.7% compared to FY24
- Maintained Carbon Neutrality status through Anew – Quinte Forestry Project credits, purchasing more than our total FY25 footprint
- Emission intensities (the emissions attributed to different facets of our business)
- 6.6 tCO2e / employees, -14% reduction year-over-year
- 247 gCO2e / domains under management (DUMs), -16%
- 34.3 tCO2 e / data centres (DC), -21%
- 16 gCO2e / delegation, -19%
Learn more about CIRA’s fiscal year 25 GHG footprint.