ARCHIVED - Sustainable Development

Report on Plans and Priorities 2011-2012
Electronic Layer of Reporting
Elements of NRCan's Sustainable Development Strategy

FSDS Target 1.1 - Climate Change Mitigation

Relative to 2005 emission levels, reduce Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) 17% by 2020.

FSDS Implementation Strategy - Forestry

1.1.55 Support the development and adoption of clean energy technologies in the forest sector and the use of wood as a green building material in Canada and abroad. (NRCan)

You will find below details about NRCan’s activities that contribute to this implementation strategy:

• Forest Product Market Access and Development
• Forest Product Innovation
• Pulp and Paper Green Transformation

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Forest Product Market Access and Development

This activity is nested within NRCan’s Program Activity Architecture (PAA) as follows:

• Strategic Outcome 1 - 
  Economic Competiveness
  • Program Activity 1.1 - 
    Economic Opportunities for Natural Resources
    
    
    • Sub Activity 1.1.2 - 
      Forest Product Market Access and Development
      
      

Description

Canada must develop new wood products and end uses, and diversify markets to expand sales and reduce barriers to market access. Under Sub Activity - Forest Product Market Access and Development (PAA 1.1.2), NRCan provides financial contributions to Canadian forest industry associations to support initiatives aimed at expanding exports to international markets, increasing the use of wood in North American non-residential construction, and improving market opportunities for value-added wood product manufacturers. Under this Sub Activity are two key Sub Activities that contribute to this FSDS implementation strategy:

• Sub Sub Activity - Market Opportunities Expansion (PAA 1.1.2.1): NRCan provides financial contributions aimed at expanding wood use in international word product markets and North American non-residential construction, and improving market opportunities for value-added wood product manufacturers (Canada Wood Export Program, North American Wood Initiative, Value to Wood).
• Sub Sub Activity - Leadership for Environmental Advantage in Forestry (PAA 1.1.2.2): NRCan, in collaboration with the provinces, provides science-based information to forest sector stakeholders to support market outreach activities, as well as financial contributions aimed at promoting the environmental credentials of Canada’s forest practices and policies in international markets.

Relationship to FSDS Target

Life cycle analysis of wood building products conducted under Sub Activity - Forest Product Market Access and Development demonstrates lower carbon and environmental impact of forest products compared to other building materials. As a result of the increase use of wood construction platforms, activities under Sub Activity - Forest Product Market Access and Development Contribute indirectly to FSDS Target 1.1 - Climate Change Mitigation.

Non-Financial Performance Expectations

Expected Result and Indicators (Sub Sub Activity 1.1.2.1)

Data is collected annually, and the project ends on March 31, 2012.

Increased wood products in international markets and new market segments.

• Percentage increase in share of Canadian wood product exports to targeted offshore markets.
• Use of wood products in non-residential construction projects.
• Number value-added wood products and processes developed and/or modified.

Expected Result and Indicators (Sub Sub Activity 1.1.2.2)

Positive perception of Canadian forest practices and products among targeted stakeholders in key international markets.

• Percentage of targeted stakeholders who have a positive perception of Canadian forest practices and products.

Other FSDS Linkages

Sub Activity - Forest Product Market Access and Development further contributes to FSDS Target 1.1 - Climate Change Mitigation through one other implementation strategy:

• 1.1.58 - Negotiate international agreement to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD).

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Forest Product Innovation

This activity is nested within NRCan’s Program Activity Architecture (PAA) as follows:

• Strategic Outcome 1 - 
  Economic Competiveness
  
  
  • Program Activity 1.1 - 
    Economic Opportunities for Natural Resources
    
    
    • Sub Activity 1.1.3 - 
      Forest Product Innovation
      
      

Description

Canada’s forest sector, traditionally the world’s largest exporter of forest products, has experienced a decrease in its market share as a result of changing global and regional demand and increasing competition. To regain its competitive position, the sector must develop new products and processes to extract more value from Canada’s forest. Through Sub Activity - Forest Product Innovation, NRCan conducts research through its Canadian Wood Fibre Centre and provides financial contributions to FPInnovations (to which the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre is a partner), and other forest sector research partners to develop new products and processes.

Under this Sub Activity, NRCan provides financial contributions to eligible forest product companies to implement new and advanced technologies (e.g. bioenergy, biomaterials, biochemicals, and next generation building products). A key Sub Activity under Sub Activity - Forest Product Innovation contributes to this FSDS implementation strategy:

• Sub Sub Activity - Investment in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) (PAA 1.1.3.2): The primary objective is to demonstrate and deploy new and advanced technologies in the forest sector through investments in innovative processes.

Relationship to FSDS Target

Through financial contributions, this initiative may result in products which will reduce the demand for petroleum-based products and reduce GHG emissions. Thus, Sub Activity - Forest Product Innovation contributes indirectly to FSDS Target 1.1 - Climate Change Mitigation.

Non-Financial Performance Expectations

This data is collected annually, and the project ends on March 31, 2014.

Expected Result and Indicators (Sub Sub Activity 1.1.3.2)

A diversified mix of higher-value Canadian Forest Products is available for commercial application.

• Trend in number of bio-products produced by project proponents.
• Trend in number of new or modified facilities that are implementing innovative processes.

Other FSDS Linkages

Sub Activity - Forest Product Innovation further contributes to FSDS Target 1.1 - Climate Change Mitigation through the following implementation strategies:

• 1.1.55.1 - Investment in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT): Enable renewal and transformation in the forest sector by supporting the development, commercialization and implementation of advanced clean energy technologies in the forest sector;
• 1.1.56 - Develop multidisciplinary assessments of the risks associated with the new and emerging bio-technology in the Forest sectors and the risks they may have on the environment.

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Pulp and Paper Green Transformation

This activity is nested within NRCan’s Program Activity Architecture (PAA) as follows:

• Strategic Outcome 2 - 
  Environmental Responsibility
  
  
  • Program Activity 2.1 - 
    Economic Opportunities for Natural Resources
    
    
    • Sub Activity 2.1.5 - 
      Pulp and Paper Green Transformation
      
      

Description

The pulp and paper manufacturing process is energy intensive. Efficiency improvements as well as increases in the production of renewable energy have the potential to deliver significant environmental benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Under Sub Activity - Pulp and Paper Green Transformation (PAA 2.1.5), NRCan provides funding to eligible pulp and paper mills in Canada to improve their environmental sustainability in areas such as improved energy efficiency and increased production of renewable energy from biomass.

Relationship to FSDS Target

Through financial contributions provided under Sub Activity - Pulp and Paper Green Transformation, NRCan supports industry improvements in energy efficiency, the increased generation of renewable energy, and other environmental benefits such as reducing the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions and improving its air quality emissions. Thus, Sub Activity - Pulp and Paper Green Transformation contributes directly to FSDS Target 1.1 - Climate Change Mitigation.

Non-Financial Performance Expectations

This data is collected annually. While the program ends March 31, 2012, data will be collected for another 2 years (to March 31, 2014).

Non-financial performance expectations include a more sustainable pulp and paper industry through improved energy efficiency, increased renewable energy production from biomass, and other environmental benefits, such as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Expected Results and Indicators (Sub Activity 2.1.5)

Increased energy efficiency by participating Canadian pulp and paper companies.

• Quantity of energy consumed by participating pulp and paper companies.

Production of renewable energy by participating Canadian pulp and paper companies.

• Quantity of renewable energy produced by participating pulp and paper companies.

Other FSDS Linkages

Sub Activity - Pulp and Paper Green Transformation further contributes to FSDS Target 1.1 - Climate Change Mitigation through one other implementation strategy:

• 1.1.55.2 - Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program: Support innovation and environmentally friendly investments in pulp and paper mills in areas such as energy efficiency and renewable energy production. The aim is for pulp and paper mills in Canada to further reduce their greenhouse gas emissions while helping to position them as leaders in the production of renewable energy from forest biomass.