17 international sustainable development organizations that call Montréal home
Want to make the world better? Great! Come set up shop in Montréal.
As the host city for 2022’s ground-breaking COP15 conference, Montréal was officially put on the global sustainability map. But we’ve actually been there for a while. Montréal’s affordability, hospitality, lifestyle and unique mix of European charm with North American amenities have made us a hot spot for sustainable development organization headquarters for decades now — organizations including C40 Cities and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy. In fact, Montréal has the third largest concentration of international organizations in the Americas. We’re home to more than 60 of them, including the headquarters of six UN agencies.
Here are 17 noteworthy international organizations — all with sustainable development at the heart of what they do — that we bet you didn’t know were proudly located in Montréal.
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
An organization that supports the objectives established at the convention on biological diversity.
Rights and Resources Initiative
A global network for protecting the land and forest rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.
Future Earth
A multi-hub organization that accelerates transformations towards global sustainability through research and innovation.
Commission for Environmental Cooperation
Intergovernmental organization for North American cooperation to promote the conservation, protection, and improvement of the environment.
Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montréal Protocol
A UN organization dedicated to reversing the deterioration of the ozone layer.
Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership
A CEO-led alliance of leading global electricity companies that promotes the development of sustainable energy sources.
Centre for International Sustainable Development Law
An international organization that integrates environment, human rights and economy through legal scholarship and empowerment.
International Secretariat for Water
A secretariat that mobilizes and advocates for universal access to water and sanitation, and the preservation of natural resources.
International Francophone Secretariat for Environmental Assessment
An organization that promotes environmental impact assessments in the French-speaking world.
GODAN
An institution dedicated to achieving global food security for millions of people across the globe via the proactive sharing of open data.
UN-Habitat
A UN organization that leverages the latest advances in science and technology to support the sustainable development of cities worldwide.
NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence
A multi-nationally sponsored NATO-accredited international military organization that enhances NATO’s ability to understand, anticipate and respond to the security implications of climate change.
GEO BON
A global biodiversity observation network that contributes to effective management policies for the world’s biodiversity and ecosystem services.
International Social Tourism Organization - Americas
An international non-profit organization whose mission is to promote access to leisure, holidays and tourism for all.
International Society of Limnology
An organization that aims to prompt excellence in studying and managing island waters and fostering the transfer of knowledge.
International Sustainability Standards Board
A not-for-profit organization that develops high quality and globally accepted accounting and sustainability disclosure standards.
Regional Information for Society
An organization that amplifies World Climate Research Programme activities by expanding their scope of influence.
A welcome mat for all sustainability organizations
Our colleagues over at Montréal International provide personalized support to international associations and organizations who are seeking to establish offices in Montréal. And we — Business Events Montréal, a branch of Tourisme Montréal — provide support to associations and organizations interested in hosting events in Montréal. Do get in touch!