More on FPAC “30 by 30” Challenge

Forest Products Association of Canada “30 by 30” Climate Challenge

Canada’s forests are carbon sinks, and the forest-products industry argues it can use the land its companies manage to contribute the equivalent of 13 per cent of the federal government’s goals to reduce carbon emissions.

Canada’s forest products industry is aiming to be a major contributor to Canada’s 2030 climate goal, but is touting better forest management and increased use of wood products – rather than emissions reductions at its operations – as the key strategies.

In a statement Monday, the Forest Products Association of Canada said its companies aim to remove 30 megatonnes (MT) a year of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, representing 13 per cent of the country’s overall commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 225 MT between 2005 and 2030.

Half of the promised reductions will come from improved forest practices, including the use of the entire harvested tree rather than burning the brush or letting it rot and emit methane. The industry is also target- ting expanded use of wood products – which sequester carbon and can displace high-carbon materials – to account for most of the rest of the reductions. It is urging provincial governments to change building codes to allow more wood construction, including in high-rise structures.

The association endorsed the adoption of carbon pricing – either taxes or cap-and-trade systems – to help drive down emissions, and encouraged the use of lower-carbon materials such as wood. New FPAC CEO Derek Nighbor said at the PwC Forestry, Paper and Packaging conference this week in Vancouver, BC, it is important that the revenue generated by the pricing be recycled to support innovation in the industry. He add- ed that provinces need to be careful not to place an onerous burden on Canadian mills when US and other competitors don’t face carbon levies.

Highlights

• Improved forest management: FPAC expects to meet half of its target through better practices, using more climate-resistant and higher-yielding tree species to increase the amount of carbon absorbed.
• Better use of wood products: One cubic metre of sawn timber holds about one tonne of carbon. The adoption of more wood products into construction and manufacturing could contribute another 13-14 million tonnes of carbon savings.
• Emissions reductions: Canada’s forest industry has reduced its emissions by 65 per cent already. More innovation can yield incremental gains that would contribute to its 30 megatonne goal.
• Innovation: The industry continues in- vesting in developing new products such as mass-timber, biofuels, and wood-fibre- based materials.
• Government support: To make a bigger carbon-consuming impact.

Madison’s caught up with Nighbor Thursday in the midst of the annual Forestry Week frenzy in Vancouver, BC.

“If the provinces are developing new carbon pricing schemes, they need to take into account what Canada’s forest products industry has already done,” detailed Nighbor to Madison’s in a phone interview Thursday.

“The ‘heavy lifting’ is done, there has already been a more than 65 per cent reduction in GHG emissions at Canada’s sawmills.”

In answer to Madison’s question about accounting for progress already made with energy efficiency, cogeneration, and reduced fossil fuel consumption, Nighbor explained, “Natural Resources Canada, by way of the Canadian Forest Service has already started calculating from the data that is publically available. FPAC took those numbers and has identified some places where we thought we could do better.

“Access to data is important, FPAC will report out on our findings every three years.”

In regards to potential government funding, Nighbor answered Madison’s, “Our main message to government is that if there is a provincial program that sawmills will have to pay into, those funds must be redeployed back to mills.

“Also, if they are going to do this, they need to factor in the historic contribution of Canada’s forest industry.”