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 - Clean Air Agenda

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. (NRCan)

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

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. Under Sub Activity - Forest Product Innovation (PAA 1.1.3), NRCan conducts research through its Canadian Wood Fibre Centre and provides financial contributions to forest sector research partners to develop new products and processes.

Under this Sub Activity, NRCan assesses the role of bioenergy and biorefining in a transformed forest sector. This analysis will determine the policy implications and tradeoffs between different biomass uses, strategies and products, taking into account the diversity of policy drivers including climate change, rural economy and industry competitiveness that can lead to different outcomes. The main objective of this work is to understand the role of bioenergy and biorefining as part of a more diversified, market-driven product focus for the sector that aims at generating more value from the forest, while not compromising Canada’s global leadership in demonstrated forest sustainability.

This work will lead to an improved understanding through studies of what impacts are expected from supplying biomass to bioplants: ecological sustainability; biophysical potential and economic solutions; regional/national level employment impacts, and understanding of policy tradeoffs around biomass use.

Relationship to FSDS

On-the-ground research and analysis conducted under Sub Activity - Forest Product Innovation contributes to quantifying (through lifecycle and carbon footprint analyses) the potential carbon benefits of utilizing forest biomass based products and energy to replace more carbon intensive technologies and products. Thus, this project under Sub Activity - Forest Product Innovation indirectly contributes to Target 1.1 - Climate Change Mitigation.

Non-Financial Performance Expectations

Expected Result and Indicator (Sub Activity 1.1.3)

New forest products and processes.

• Number of new forest products and processes produced.

Studies will be completed before March 31, 20123.

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 - 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;
• 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.