This special edition of Innovation, Science, Environment includes reflections from a number of Canada's leading sustainable development thinkers, two decades after the 1987 publication of the seminal United Nations report Our Common Future. Published by the World Commission on Environment and Development - and often referred to as the Brundtland Commission Report after its Chair Gro Harlem Brundtland former Prime Minister of Norway - the report popularized the concept of sustainable development which continues to influence economic, environmental, and social policy decisions and structures in individual countries and international organizations.

Contributors analyse a number of dimensions of the Canadian experience in implementing sustainable development and critically assess how the country has done over this twenty year period. They discuss both the breakthroughs and disappointments of the Canadian experience, and look toward the future to discuss what additional steps need to be undertaken domestically if Canada is to once again achieve a position of leadership in the world and get on a truly sustainable trajectory.

Contributors include David V.J. Bell (York), Serena Boutros (Carleton), Francois Bregha (Stratos), Ann Dale (Royal Roads) , Roger Gibbins (Canada West Foundation), Lillian Hayward (Carleton), James Meadowcroft (Carleton), Anique Montambault (Carleton), Laura Smallwood (Carleton), Annika Tambly (NRTEE), Glen Toner (Carleton), David Wheeler (Dalhousie), and Mark Winfield (York).